Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi criticised the Centre over complaints linked to CBSE Class 12 board exams. He said students faced wrong marking, answer sheet mix-ups and evaluation glitches under the On Screen Marking (OSM) system. “The Modi government fears the youth and Gen-Z because they are now asking questions,” Gandhi said. He also accused BJP supporters of targeting a student online after he raised concerns about his Physics answer sheet on social media. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also questioned the CBSE’s planning and delayed response to the controversy.

China’s new export restrictions have raised concerns for India’s fast-growing electronics industry. The new rules limit exports of critical machinery, minerals and technologies needed for manufacturing. Industry experts fear this could delay factory expansion and increase dependence on Chinese supply chains. India’s electronics exports have grown from $8.6 billion in 2015 to $47 billion in 2025, with the government targeting $120 billion by the end of 2026. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said the government is preparing plans to reduce dependence on certain countries. Companies are now pushing for stronger local manufacturing and supply chains.

Foreign ministers of the QUAD countries are meeting in New Delhi as the group increasingly focuses on economic cooperation instead of military goals. The QUAD includes India, the United States, Australia and Japan. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other leaders on Tuesday. The grouping was earlier seen as a response to China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region. However, changing global politics, improving India-China ties and recent U.S.-China talks have reduced its military focus. The meeting is expected to discuss trade, regional cooperation and economic partnerships. (PC: X)

Global oil prices dropped sharply on Monday after signs of progress in talks between the United States and Iran. Brent crude fell 5.5% to around $97 a barrel after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a possible agreement could be reached soon. President Donald Trump said negotiations were “proceeding nicely” but warned there could still be “no deal.” Iran also said progress had been made, though a final agreement was not close yet. Markets hope the deal could reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for global oil supplies. Experts, however, warned that supply chains may take months to recover fully. (PC: Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

A new immigration policy by the Trump administration has created concern among Indian students and H-1B workers in the United States. Under the new approach, many Green Card applicants may have to return to their home countries to complete the process. USCIS said temporary visa holders are expected to leave the US after their stay ends. Experts fear the policy could disrupt careers and family life for thousands of Indians waiting for permanent residency. “Immigration pathways are getting tougher and tougher,” education expert Mayank Kumar said. The move has also raised doubts about the US as a stable long-term destination for Indian students. (PC: AP)

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government is closely monitoring the impact of the West Asia crisis on India’s economy. She said rising fuel and fertiliser prices have become major concerns. “India cannot afford fearmongering. We need to give confidence to the people with our words and actions,” Sitharaman said at a SIDBI event. She added that the government is focusing on the “3Fs” — fuel, fertiliser and foreign exchange reserves. The minister also warned about delayed MSME payments and said India’s economic challenges are mostly being driven by global events, not domestic weakness. (PC: X/@nsitharamanoffc)

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Monday declined urgent hearing on petitions linked to the viral Cockroach Janta Party movement and urged lawyers not to react “so sentimentally” to the controversy. A Supreme Court bench led by the CJI said there was no grave urgency in the matter. The petitions sought action against alleged misuse of courtroom remarks and a probe into activities linked to the satirical online campaign. The controversy began after Justice Kant’s remarks comparing some unemployed youth to “cockroaches” during a hearing on fake law degrees triggered backlash on social media. (PC: HT)

The United States and Iran are holding talks to formally end the war in West Asia. U.S. President Donald Trump said the agreement would either be “great and meaningful” or there would be “no deal.” He also told negotiators not to rush the process. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a breakthrough could happen soon and added that Israel has the right to defend itself. Iran confirmed that progress had been made in discussions but warned that a final agreement was not immediate. The proposed deal reportedly includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, Turkiye and Pakistan also joined discussions on the crisis. Meanwhile, two Israeli ministers demanded stronger military action in Lebanon after Hezbollah drone attacks.

US President Donald Trump on Monday said any agreement with Iran would either be a “great and meaningful” deal or there would be no deal at all. Posting on Truth Social, Trump said negotiations to formally end the conflict with Iran were still ongoing and no final agreement had been reached. He criticised Democrats and Republican critics, accusing them of spreading misinformation about the talks. Trump also repeated his opposition to the 2015 nuclear agreement negotiated under former US President Barack Obama, calling it a “disaster” that gave Iran a path to nuclear weapons. (PC: X)

Singapore authorities have charged 26-year-old Indian national Kanojiya Riken for allegedly harbouring 13 Indian immigration offenders whose visit passes had expired. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said officers raided a flat on March 3 and found 11 men and two women aged between 19 and 44 staying illegally in the country. Investigators said Riken allowed them to stay between December 2025 and March 2026 without verifying their immigration status. Two Singaporeans, Song Yi Da and Suba Priyadarshini, were also charged for employing Indian nationals without valid work permits. The overstayers were later deported from Singapore. (PC: HT)