The identity of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was confirmed through personal belongings after a plane crash near Baramati on Wednesday morning. The impact and fire were so severe that the faces of the five victims could not be recognised. Locals and first responders said Pawar was identified by the wristwatch he was wearing, along with his clothes. A resident at the site said the watch was clearly visible on his hand. The detail drew attention because a clock is the election symbol of the Nationalist Congress Party, which Pawar led. Police and officials later completed formal identification procedures. (PC: X)

More than 1,200 stray dogs have been killed across Telangana in the past month, most of them by poisoning, activists and police records show. The deaths were reported from several districts, including Hanumakonda, Kamareddy, and Nagarkurnool. Animal welfare groups say the killings began after gram panchayat elections, where some candidates promised to remove street animals. Police have filed cases in a few villages under animal cruelty laws. Activists claim the actual number may be higher due to under-reporting. The incidents have triggered protests and renewed debate on stray animal management, including sterilisation and vaccination, as ordered by the Supreme Court. (PC: India Today)

A civil aviation ministry note has detailed the final radio exchanges before the Learjet 45 carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar crashed at Baramati. The aircraft took off from Mumbai at 8:10 am and contacted Baramati at 8:18 am. Baramati is an uncontrolled airfield. The pilots made two landing attempts after reporting the runway was not visible. During the approach, cockpit voice records included the phrase, “Runway not in sight, oh shit,” according to the transcript cited by officials. At 8:43 am, the crew confirmed visual contact and was cleared to land. A minute later, ground staff saw flames near Runway 11. All five people on board died. (PC: X)

The Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned whether India was moving away from the goal of a casteless society while hearing a case on UGC regulations. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said the 2012 UGC rules will remain in force until further orders, pausing the new 2026 regulations. The court said reforms must promote equality while protecting those who need support. It warned against segregation in education and said unity must be reflected in institutions. The bench also noted inequalities within reserved groups and raised concerns about separate hostels or practices that could divide students. The matter will be heard again on March 19.

The black box of the chartered aircraft that crashed near Baramati, killing Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, has been recovered, the Civil Aviation Ministry said. The Bombardier Learjet 45 went down on Wednesday while trying to land at the Baramati airstrip near Pune. The plane caught fire on impact and was fully gutted. All five people on board were killed. Officials said teams from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau and the DGCA reached the site the same day. The black box will help investigators reconstruct the final moments of the flight. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. (PC: X)

The Indian rupee slipped to a fresh record low against the US dollar on Tuesday. It fell to 91.9850, moving past its earlier all-time low of 91.9650 seen last week. This is the first time the rupee has come so close to the 92 mark. The currency has now declined about 2% so far this year. Traders said pressure came from a strong dollar and steady foreign fund outflows. Demand for dollars from importers also weighed on the rupee. Market participants are watching global interest rate trends and crude oil prices for further direction in the currency market.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was identified after the Baramati plane crash through his wristwatch, as his face was not recognisable due to severe fire damage, according to locals and officials. The aircraft caught fire immediately after impact, making visual identification impossible. First responders and residents at the site noticed the wristwatch and clothing, which helped confirm his identity before formal procedures. The crash claimed the lives of five people onboard and has deeply shocked Baramati and the state. Authorities later conducted post-mortem and forensic identification, while the AAIB continues its investigation into the cause of the accident. (PC: HT)

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s last rites began on Thursday in Baramati, his political stronghold, following his death in a plane crash near Baramati airport on January 28, 2026 that also killed four others. His mortal remains were taken to Vidya Pratisthan ground, where thousands gathered to pay respects before the funeral at 11 am, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, state ministers, MLAs and supporters. A three-day state mourning has been declared. Post-mortems for the crew were conducted, and an AAIB investigation is underway into the crash. (PC: X)

Senior political leader Sharad Pawar has described the plane crash that killed his nephew, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, as a pure accident with no political motives, urging parties and public not to politicise the tragedy. Ajit Pawar, 66, died along with four others when the aircraft crashed near Baramati airport during landing. Some leaders, including West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, called for a Supreme Court‑monitored probe amid suggestions of foul play. Sharad Pawar appealed for restraint, stressing the loss to Maharashtra and dismissing conspiracy claims as baseless. (PC: India Today)

Before boarding the chartered flight carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to Baramati, flight attendant Pinky Mali made a final phone call to her father, Shivkumar Mali, saying: “Papa, I am flying to Baramati with Ajit Pawar… we’ll talk tomorrow” as she planned to continue to Nanded afterward — a call that tragically became her last. Pinky, a resident of Worli in Mumbai, had accompanied Pawar on several recent trips. After the Learjet 45 crashed near Baramati airport, killing all five on board including Pawar, her father expressed deep grief and said he only wishes to receive her body to perform her last rites with dignity. (PC: HT)