India News

In this special report from India Today, political strategist turned politician Prashant Kishor shares his explosive predictions for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. Kishor, the founder of the Jan Suraaj Party, claims both the JDU and BJP will see their seat numbers reduce. 'Main yah kah sakta hun ki Nitish Kumar ko 25 se kam seat aayegi,' Kishor stated, predicting a massive drop for the incumbent Chief Minister from the 43 seats his party won in 2020. Kishor attributes this to anti-incumbency, Nitish Kumar's perceived weakness, and his own party, Jan Suraaj, fielding prepared candidates in over 100 constituencies. He also revisits the 2020 polls, arguing that Tejashwi Yadav's RJD tally was inflated due to Chirag Paswan's LJP splitting the JDU's vote, a factor absent in the current election.

This special report focusses on the recruitment crisis in Madhya Pradesh for over 900 sub-inspector and assistant sub-inspector posts, where a nearly eight-year delay has left thousands of aspirants overaged.

This special report focuses on India's complex diplomatic and economic choices under pressure from Donald Trump's administration, featuring analysis from KC Singh, Ashok Malik, Willem Buiter, Rahul Ahluwalia, and Alexander Slater. Rahul Ahluwalia advises, 'never argue with a fool, they'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.' The discussion weighs the strategic importance of a trade deal with the United States against the benefits of importing discounted Russian oil. Experts debate whether India should publicly confront Trump's assertions or pursue quiet, backroom diplomacy to resolve the standoff over US tariffs, which have impacted key Indian export sectors like textiles and jewellery. The panel also explores the broader implications for India's foreign policy, its 'strategic autonomy', and the necessity of domestic economic reforms, particularly in agriculture.

India has rejected US President Donald Trump's claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured that New Delhi would stop buying Russian oil.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah outlined the NDA's strategy for the Bihar Assembly elections during a special report and on Panchayat Aaj Tak. Shah addressed critical issues including seat-sharing and the leadership of Nitish Kumar, expressing confidence in the alliance's smooth functioning. He challenged the opposition's stance on voter list purification, questioning the inclusion of "Muslim infiltrators" as voters and advocating for a "detect, delete, and deport" policy for infiltrators. Shah dismissed RJD leader Tejaswi Yadav's job promises as financially unviable and criticized the RJD's past governance as "Jungle Raj," contrasting it with the NDA's development agenda and welfare schemes. The Home Minister also outlined the government's firm stance on Naxalism, setting a deadline for its elimination by March 2026, and defended the Election Commission's process for purifying voter lists. Shah discussed the new 130th Constitutional Amendment, which proposes automatic removal from office for ministers jailed for over 30 days, and touched upon the recent cabinet reshuffle in Gujarat and the issue of statehood for Ladakh, predicting the NDA's best-ever electoral performance in Bihar.

This special report dives into the heated political landscape ahead of the Bihar elections, focusing on the contentious issues of seat-sharing and candidate selection within the NDA and Mahagathbandhan alliances. The debate, featuring spokespersons like Swetha Priya of the JDU and Sanju Verma of the BJP, ignites over allegations of dynastic politics and fielding tainted candidates. The anchor's blunt challenge to the BJP spokesperson, 'Yaha koi doodh se dhula hua nahi hai...The BJP list is full of dinners,' encapsulates the central theme that both major alliances are accused of fielding candidates with criminal backgrounds and from political families. The discussion scrutinises internal friction in the NDA over seat distribution and the disarray in the Mahagathbandhan, as both sides trade barbs over their choices, including relatives of prominent figures like Anand Mohan Singh, Shahbuddin, Jitan Ram Manjhi, and Upendra Kushwaha.

This special report focuses on the intensifying deadlock within Bihar's Mahagathbandhan over seat-sharing ahead of the assembly elections, with key figures like Vikassheel Insaan Party's (VIP) Mukesh Sahni, and leaders from the RJD and Congress at the centre of the turmoil. Summarising the political chaos, anchor Rajdeep Sardesai noted, 'the Mahagatbandhan has clearly failed in terms of optics when it comes to seat-sharing formula'. The crisis deepened after VIP chief Mukesh Sahni abruptly cancelled a press conference with less than 24 hours until the nomination deadline for the first phase. The report highlights the ongoing, tense negotiations between the Congress and RJD, the possibility of 'friendly fights' on several seats, and the intervention of top leaders like Rahul Gandhi, who reportedly called RJD's Lalu Prasad Yadav to find a resolution. This disarray is contrasted with the NDA, which appears to have settled its internal disputes.

This bulletin focuses on the high-stakes Bihar assembly elections, highlighting the contrasting fortunes of the NDA and the Mahagatbandhan alliances. Key figures discussed include Chirag Paswan, Jitendra Manji, Tejashwi Yadav, Mukesh Saini, and Congress leaders such as Amita Bhushan and Rajesh Ram. As Akshita Nandgopal reports, 'there's only that one hiccup of Jitendra Manji saying, "Look, we will go ahead and throw a spanner in the works in those two seats by going ahead and fielding our own candidates."' The NDA has finalised and announced all its candidates, projecting unity, while the Mahagatbandhan remains mired in disagreements over seat-sharing and leadership, with Congress unilaterally announcing candidates on social media. The looming nomination deadline adds urgency to the unresolved issues within the opposition alliance.

This report covers the escalating controversy over the Election Commission's (EC) directive to verify the identity of burqa-clad women at polling stations in Bihar. The move, protested by opposition groups like the Samajwadi Party, is being defended by the EC as a crucial step for fair elections. The Election Commission stated this move is based on a 1994 order and is 'a step towards making sure that elections are fair.' The commission, led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, has clarified that the verification will be conducted by female polling officers to ensure dignity and privacy. This decision revives a rule from the tenure of former Chief Election Commissioner T.N. Seshan, aimed at preventing fraudulent voting. Opposition parties, however, have labelled the directive as undemocratic and discriminatory, demanding its immediate withdrawal.