In order to improve the EV charging infrastructure, HD Kumaraswamy, the union minister for steel and heavy industries, established the Light Electric-Vehicle Acceleration Forum (LEAF) on Monday. This industry-led group seeks to promote the widespread adoption of light electric vehicles.

The forum has been established as a neutral forum to unite stakeholders from throughout the light electric vehicle (LEV) industry, such as original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), charging infrastructure providers, component manufacturers, and technology suppliers.

It will collaborate with industry organizations and governmental and regulatory agencies to promote the development of EV charging infrastructure and hasten the adoption of electric two- and three-wheelers in the nation.

The minister stated in a tweet that the project will help expedite the development of light electric mobility and improve the EV ecosystem via increased interoperability, dependability, and the expansion of the charging infrastructure.

He stated that the action promotes larger objectives of sustainable mobility and carbon emission reduction, and that it is consistent with the government’s goal of creating a self-sufficient and future-ready India.

Additionally, Kumaraswamy highlighted the necessity of a robust industry-government partnership in order to develop an electric mobility ecosystem that is sustainable, affordable, and competitive on the world stage.

By increasing access to public charging infrastructure, the program hopes to promote interoperability between charging networks, boost dependability, and offer a uniform user experience.

As part of this effort, programs like the Light Electric Combined Charging System (LECCS), which was authorized by the Bureau of Indian Standards, are being created to enable both slow and rapid charging via a single connector standard.

More than 20 organizations from throughout the EV ecosystem, including vehicle manufacturers, charge point operators, suppliers, and software developers, have already joined the forum, and its membership is anticipated to increase in the next months.

Industry leaders emphasized that overcoming obstacles like disparate charging networks and inconsistent user experience will be essential for the next stage of India’s EV adoption.

They stated that enhancing interoperability and creating a scalable public charging infrastructure would be essential to expediting the transition to electric mobility in the nation.

In the second game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton scored scintillating half-centuries to lead the Mumbai Indians to a six-wicket victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders, breaking a sad streak of 13 seasons without winning their opening match.

The Mumbai Indians reached 224/4 in 19. 1 overs, thanks to Rickelton’s explosive 81 off 43 balls and Rohit Sharma’s spectacular 78 off 38 balls. This gave them their first season-opening victory since 2012. The Mumbai Indians’ rampage was previously brought to a halt by pacer Shardul Thakur, who had 3-39 wickets, while KKR’s skipper Ajinkya Rahane (67) and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (51) each scored half-centuries.

Just as everyone was wondering how long he would keep playing in T20 after retiring from international cricket, the former captain rolled back the years with a stunning knock in the Rohit Sharma style of old.

Rohit Sharma gave the team a great start by smashing a 23-ball fifty, his fastest in the IPL, with three fours and five sixes. In IPL, he also became the fourth batsman to reach a half-century of 50+ scores.

With this, Rohit has now scored 50 half-centuries in 268 IPL games, putting him in the company of Virat Kohli (73, 261 matches), David Warner (66 in 184), and Shikhar Dhawan (53 in 221).

The former India captain unleashed on the KKR bowlers following two solid overs in which Rohit collected 12 runs off eight balls. Before Ryan Rickelton, his opening partner, put Arora down for consecutive sixes, Rohit initially pulled him into the stands.

When Rohit retreated and slashed Blessings Muzarabani over deep backward point, he hit his second six. The third occurred when Rohit retreated and scythed Muzarabani over deep backward point. He lofted Varun Chakravarthy over covers before assisting him over square-leg, scoring three more sixes. As the Mumbai Indians surged to 80 for no loss in the Power-play, Kartik Tyagi, the Impact substitute, was struck for another six.

On the other end, Rickleton matched Rohit’s shot for shot, hitting six sixes and two fours as he sprinted to his fifty off 24 deliveries.

When Rohit reached his fifty, he hit three fours and one six before being the first to be dismissed. In the 12th over, he attempted to slog Arora, but he ended up top-edging it, and Anukul Roy took an excellent catch, running back from mid-on and having to dive all the way to hold it. The 38-year-old struck six boundaries and six maxes in a brilliant knock of 78 off 38 balls. Mumbai got off to a great start when Rohit and Rickleton blasted 148 runs for the first wicket partnership in 72 balls.

Despite only making a small contribution, Suryakumar Yadav, who led India to victory in the T20 World Cup, entered the game as an Impact Substitute for Jasprit Bumrah. In his 16-ball eight, Surya hit three fours.

Before being run out for 81 off 43 balls by Anukul Roy, Rickelton continued to torment KKR with two fours and two more sixes. Muzarabani blocked him as he attempted to reach the non-striker end after Tilak Varma turned down a call for a second. In the 16th over, Mumbai were 184/3 and well on their way to winning.

Tilak Varma was out for 20 as he attempted to secure the win with a significant hit, but captain Hardik Pandya (18 not out) assisted them in crossing the finish line by hitting a four in the last over.

The lack of skipper Rahane, who left the field after experiencing cramps, somewhat slowed down KKR’s efforts in the area.

Hardik Pandya, the captain of the Mumbai Indians, was overjoyed that his side had broken a 13-year losing streak in Indian Premier League season openers. He also praised his predecessor Rohit Sharma for his outstanding performance, which paved the way for their six-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday.

Brief scores:
Kolkata Knight Riders 220/4 in 20 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 67, Angkrish Raghuvanshi 51, Finn Allen 37, Rinku Singh 33 not out; Shardul Thakur 3-39)
Mumbai Indians 224/4 in 19.1 overs (Ryan Rickelton 81, Rohit Sharma 78; Kartik Tyagi 1-43) by six wickets.

In the opening match of the IPL 2026, played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday, defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) made a statement by winning by a score of six wickets against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), kicking off their title defense in style.

Due to smooth half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal, RCB easily chased down the target of 202, galloping home in only 15. 4 overs. In his first T20 match in ten months, Kohli remained undefeated, scoring 69 runs off 38 deliveries, including five boundaries and an equal number of sixes, to record his 64th IPL fifty and captivate the crowd at the Chinnaswamy.

Padikkal, however, set the tone for the chase to be completed with 26 balls left by delivering a superb 61 off 26 balls, replete with seven fours and four sixes, with his stylish timing and wristy stroke-play.

SRH‘s 201/9 was looking competitive at the midway point, but the way Kohli and Padikkal, along with captain Rajat Patidar’s 12-ball 31, decimated a weak bowling attack indicated that even 250 wouldn’t have been enough on the night.

Phil Salt was dismissed by veteran left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat with a length delivery that landed on the batter and bounced up to mid-of, where he avoided colliding with his teammate, giving Sunrisers Hyderabad an early breakthrough in his very first over.

Kohli began his innings with a cut over mid-off, while Padikkal got things rolling with a flick over deep square leg for six in the same over. Nevertheless, Padikkal persisted in his strong start, scoring 28 runs off 10 balls. As RCB scored 51 runs in only four overs, he greeted David Payne to the IPL with a six over cover-point before smashing him for a four and six.

After smashing Unadkat for six, Kohli quickly joined the attack, creating speed against Unadkat’s cutter and flat-batting him through cover. As Padikkal scored two further boundaries, RCB controlled the powerplay, scoring 73 runs for the loss of Salt.

Then, in typical fashion, Kohli smashed a length delivery from Eshan Malinga right over the bowler’s head, sending the Chinnaswamy stadium crowd into a frenzy. On 28, he was saved when Heinrich Klaasen misjudged a chance at long-on.

Before being caught out for 61 by Dubey at long-off, Padikkal kept up his attack, blitzing to a 21-ball half-century, his quickest in the IPL.

In the meanwhile, Kohli displayed his wrist strength by whipping the ball over square leg off Harshal Patel and blasting Dubey down the pitch for yet another maximum.

Rajat Patidar hit a sharp four through backward point and a six over long-on off Patel and Dubey to join the boundary-hitting celebration. As Malinga missed his lengths, Patidar had no trouble hitting him for a four and two sixes, and 22 runs came off the 12th over.

Despite the fact that Payne struck Patidar and Jitesh Sharma in successive balls, Kohli proceeded and reached his fifty in 33 balls before Tim David scored two quick boundaries. After that, Kohli finished off the chase in style by hitting a six, two fours, and an upper cut through third man to complete a resounding chase.

Brief Scores:
Sunrisers Hyderabad 201/9 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 80, Aniket Verma 43; Jacob Duffy 3-22, Romario Shepherd 3-54)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 203/4 in 15.4 overs (Virat Kohli 69 not out, Devdutt Padikkal 61; David Payne 2-35, Jaydev Unadkat 1-29)

With the reigning champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) facing the 2016 winner Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, the 19th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is scheduled to begin on March 28.

The matches will take place from March 28 to May 31. The majority of the games will begin at 7:30 PM, with the toss at 7:00 PM, and will be played in the evening.

On days with doubleheaders, afternoon games will start at 3:30 p. m. IST. There will be 12 days altogether, including doubleheaders.

The top four teams from the group stage will earn a spot in the playoffs; each squad will participate in 14 games. The IPL will continue to use its well-known and exhilarating playoff structure, which includes the Eliminator, Qualifier 1, Qualifier 2, and the Final, ensuring a thrilling competition for the championship.

Which cities will host IPL 2026 games?
The IPL 2026 season will run from March 28 to May 31, 2026, in 12 of India’s major cities, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, Dharamsala, Raipur, and New Chandigarh.

Which teams are participating in IPL 2026?

The teams competing are the Rajasthan Royals (RR), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Mumbai Indians (MI), Punjab Kings (PBKS), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Gujarat Titans (GT), Delhi Capitals (DC), and Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

In India, where can I see the live IPL broadcast?

The entire competition will be broadcast live on Star Sports networks.

In India, where can I watch a live stream of the 2026 IPL?

The JioHotstar website and mobile app allow millions of fans to watch the live stream. With supplemental regional feeds (Bengali, Bhojpuri, and Haryanvi), JioStar’s TV and digital coverage will provide every fixture in five languages: English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada.

On JioHotstar, a live vertical feed will once more be available in Hindi and English for users who prioritize mobile devices. The Multi-cam option will also allow users to watch the games in a 360-degree perspective.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate the long-awaited Noida International Airport at Jewar, Uttar Pradesh, on Saturday, which will be a significant step forward for India’s aviation industry.

At about 11:30 a. m. , he is set to arrive in Jewar, Gautam Buddha Nagar, where he will tour the terminal complex before officially opening it at noon and giving a public address detailing the project’s importance and future plans.

The importance of the Noida International Airport in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh, for local connection was emphasized in images released by Prime Minister Modi on Friday.

“Major boost for NCR connectivity! The Prime Minister announced in a WhatsApp message that the first phase of the Noida International Airport in Jewar will open tomorrow.

With all preparations in place for the high-profile launch on Saturday, Uttar Pradesh’s ambitious airport plan is now fully operational.

The Prime Minister is expected to open the airport on Saturday around noon, after which he will speak at a large public meeting, according to authorities.

To guarantee the program’s seamless operation, the government has put in place sophisticated security arrangements. The entire area has been broken up into several security zones, and there has been a significant deployment of police and paramilitary forces in strategic areas. To ensure there are no untoward events, surveillance has been stepped up throughout the location and surrounding vicinity.

The authorities have also implemented a thorough traffic management strategy in anticipation of a large turnout. For approximately 16 hours, starting at 7 a. m. on Saturday, the Yamuna and Noida highways will have limited vehicular traffic. To reduce disruption to the general public and enable smooth VIP movement, heavy vehicles will be rerouted to alternate routes.

During the restricted time, officials have advised commuters to pay close attention to traffic warnings and avoid unnecessary travel on these routes. To ensure orderly participation in the inauguration ceremony and the public demonstration, attendees have also been provided with comprehensive instructions.

Balendra Shah, the parliamentary party leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has been named the new Prime Minister of Nepal.

According to a statement from the President’s Office, former Kathmandu Metropolitan City mayor Shah, also known as Balen, was named to the post by President Ram Chandra Poudel on Friday in accordance with Article 76(1) of the Constitution.

Shah was chosen as the parliamentary party leader by the RSP on Thursday, after it won a landslide victory in the most recent parliamentary elections with a majority of almost two-thirds, setting the stage for him to become the 47th Prime Minister of the nation.

Accompanied by Hindu rites, Prime Minister Shah will be sworn into office at the President’s Office at 12:34 pm on Friday. According to the scheme, seven conch players will play Shankha Naad, a ceremony thought to guarantee the success of auspicious beginnings.

Other rituals will take place at the same time as he swears the oath. The Ashtamangala, which is seen to be auspicious in both Hindu and Buddhist faiths, will be sung by 16 Buddhist monks, while the Swasti Shanti will be recited by a group of 108 Batuks (Vedic priests).

One of the youngest prime ministers Nepal has ever had was the 35-year-old ex-mayor. The recent elections saw a majority of legislators from younger age groups elected, signaling a generational shift in Nepalese politics.

Shah’s entry into national politics on December 28 of last year is thought to have helped the RSP gain support, making him a well-known person among the younger generation. Shah was announced as the party’s prime ministerial candidate during its election campaign, which lasted for almost four years. In the March 5 parliamentary elections, the party won a resounding victory, capturing 182 out of 275 seats in the House of Representatives.

In eastern Nepal’s Jhapa-5, Shah defeated former Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli by a stunning margin of 49,614 votes, winning 68,348 votes to Oli’s 18,734. Since 1991, this is the most votes any candidate has received in Nepal’s parliamentary elections.

Shah entered politics in 2022, when he won as an independent candidate in the race for mayor of Kathmandu.

Shah was born in Kathmandu on April 27, 1990, to a Madhesi family that placed a high priority on education and culture. He finished his bachelor’s degree in Kathmandu before earning a master’s in structural engineering from India’s Visvesvaraya Technological University.

During his time as mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, his academic training in engineering gave him a useful grasp of infrastructure, urban planning, and public works, which influenced how he ran the city.

At the current 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaounde, Cameroon, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal stated that WTO reforms must be carried out in a transparent, inclusive, and member-led manner, with development as its central focus, according to an official release on Friday.

He also emphasized the importance of maintaining fundamental principles like equity, consensus-based decision-making, and non-discrimination.

During the conference’s sidelines, Goyal spoke with Cameroonian Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute about bilateral and multilateral matters, such as how to improve India-Cameroon ties.

The leaders also talked about fundamental WTO concerns, such as its underlying principles.

Goyal held individual meetings with his counterparts from the Netherlands, France, and Ethiopia to discuss bilateral trade relations, and he also met with WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to discuss the MC14 agenda.

In the interim, Rajesh Agrawal, the commerce secretary, met bilaterally with his counterparts from Chile, Paraguay, the US, Nepal, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Peru, Russia, and New Zealand, as well as with a group of lawmakers from the European Union.

The World Trade Organization’s (WTO) MC14 began on March 26 in Yaounde with an official ceremony presided over by Cameroon’s Trade Minister, and it will end on March 29.

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, trade ministers, and high-level representatives from member states were all present at the inaugural session.

The Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies went into effect after a short ceremony that took place after the session.

The conversation centered on the MC14 agenda and ways to improve bilateral trade relations. Ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations were also discussed during discussions with Chile and Peru, and advancements in the various FTA talks were assessed during meetings with the European Union and New Zealand.

India also restated that, as stated in the Marrakesh Agreement, non-discrimination continues to be a cornerstone of the WTO framework. The country also stressed the need for a development-focused agenda, which includes the reestablishment of a fully functioning dispute resolution mechanism, effective Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT) provisions for developing and least developed nations (LDCs), and a permanent solution for public stockholding (PSH) for food security.

Rumors of a nationwide lockdown are completely untrue, according to Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, who added on Friday that the government has no such plans at the moment. The purpose of the clarification is to allay public fears and offer reliable details about the potential of limitations.

From the social media network “X,” Puri stated that “the global situation remains in flux, and we are closely monitoring developments across energy, supply chains, and essential commodities on a real-time basis. With the Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi Ji at the helm, every effort is being made to guarantee that our people have continuous access to fuel, energy, and other essential resources. We are completely ready to address any new problems.

“India has consistently shown resilience in the face of global uncertainties, and we will continue to act in a timely, proactive, and coordinated manner,” he stated.

Rumors of a lockdown in India, according to him, are utterly untrue.

The reports of a lockdown in India are utterly unfounded. To be clear, the Indian government is not considering any such plan. It is crucial that we maintain our composure, act responsibly, and remain united during such times. He said that in this kind of circumstance, it is irresponsible and damaging to try to spread rumors and incite fear.

As the world experiences a scarcity of oil and gas, there has been discussion of a potential lockdown in India. There are also concerns about the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which has been described as “worrisome. ” Puri’s comments come at this time.

The Indian government vehemently refuted rumors of a national lockdown earlier this week, claiming that there are no intentions to restrict economic activity or the freedom of movement of citizens. According to government officials, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent statements have been widely misunderstood.

Prime Minister’s allusions to “preparedness” in recent parliamentary speeches, which were delivered in the context of ongoing tensions in West Asia and their possible economic consequences, caused the confusion.

The increase in rumors also occurred at the same time as the sixth anniversary of the 2020 COVID-19 shutdown, which heightened online anxieties. The government, however, stressed that the appeal for “COVID-like preparedness” was only for administrative preparedness and contingency planning, and not a sign of stay-at-home directives or mobility limitations.

In an effort to lessen the effects of rising worldwide oil costs, the government on Friday reduced excise taxes on gasoline and diesel by Rs 10 per liter, bringing the rate for gasoline down to Rs 3 and the rate for diesel to zero.

Additionally, the government has granted duty exemptions for fuel exports and fuel for planes traveling overseas.

The Center has also canceled a prior 2022 announcement and provided customs duty breaks for imported aviation turbine fuel (ATF).

Due to the global energy crisis brought on by the US-Israel conflict with Iran and the subsequent blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the cut occurs at a time of concern about a price increase.

To compensate for growing losses, it is anticipated that oil marketing firms (OMCs) will absorb the cut. Due primarily to high global crude prices, it is now predicted that fuel sales are costing oil marketing firms (OMCs) approximately Rs 48. 8 per liter in losses.

During this period, Brent crude futures saw a 2. 29% drop to $105. 53 a barrel as global oil prices fell. At 8:50 a. m. , US WTI futures also fell 2. 54% to $92. 08.

The government issued a clear declaration on Thursday, urging the public not to be duped by a deliberately malicious, organized disinformation campaign aimed at creating unwarranted panic, and stating unequivocally that India’s petroleum and LPG supply situation is completely secure and under control.

Even though we are on the 27th day of the Middle East crisis, the Petroleum Ministry claims that India has a total reserve capacity of 74 days and a real stock cover of about 60 days, including crude stocks, product stocks, and the specialized strategic storage in caverns. The ministry also notes that all retail gasoline stations have sufficient supplies.

According to a statement, the nation has enough petrol, diesel, and LPG everywhere, and every Indian citizen has enough supply to last for about two months, regardless of what happens elsewhere.

Crude acquisition for the next two months has also been guaranteed. In a supply scenario like this, the quantity of strategic cave storage is less important since India is fully protected for the foreseeable future. For this reason, the ministry emphasized, any depiction of India’s reserves as being depleted or inadequate should be disregarded with the contempt it warrants.

In the face of the West Asian crisis, which is causing a global fuel shortage and price increases, the Modi government’s choice to lower excise taxes on fuel is a welcome relief to the public.

Modi government’s choice to cut excise taxes highlights its people-centric governance and sensitivity-led decision-making, even as many countries have raised diesel and gasoline costs, he said. This choice deserves praise for Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji.