Smoke and flames arise from an Israeli airstrike that hit the Qasmiyeh Bridge near the coastal city of Tyre, Lebanon. Photo: PTI
LIVE: PM Modi speaks to Trump on Strait of Hormuz crisis
Meanwhile, US has delayed a deadline for Iran to open the strategic Strait of Hormuz for shipping or see its power stations targeted by airstrikes, briefly driving down oil prices and boosting stocks
Here is the top, trending news of Tuesday, March 24, 2026, including Iran war, Indian politics, states' politics, geopolitics, federal issues, economics, development issues, sports, entertainment, and so on.
Read updates below.
Live Updates
- 24 March 2026 2:11 PM IST
India has diversified energy imports: PM Modi
“Indi’s effort is whether it's oil, gas, and fertiliser reach the country. But if the conflict drags on, there can be serious difficulties. So we have taken steps to ensure that the country can face such a situation. We have diversified our energy imports. Earlier imported energy from 27 countries, and now we import from 41 countries,” said PM Modi.
- 24 March 2026 2:07 PM IST
Indian sailors onboard ships in the Strait of Hormuz remain a cause of concern: PM Modi
“Lot of ships are stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. There are a lot of Indian sailors on board those ships. It is cause concern. Since the war started we have been in touch with all the Middle Eastern countries. India has condemned attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure. We are making all efforts to ensure safe passage of Indian ships. We advocated for diplomacy and peaceful resolution of the conflict,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday (March 24)
- 24 March 2026 1:38 PM IST
DMK-VCK seal seat-sharing deal: Eight seats for Thirumavalavan's party
The DMK has finalised its seat-sharing arrangement with the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), allotting the party eight assembly constituencies--six reserved and two general seats.
The pact was signed between Chief Minister M K Stalin and VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan at Anna Arivalayam on March 24.
The VCK had pushed for a double-digit seat count and a Rajya Sabha berth, but settled for eight. It is still an improvement on the six seats it contested in the 2021 assembly election, when it won four.
That strong strike rate gave the VCK ground to negotiate harder this time, and the DMK responded with a modest increase in allocation.
With the pact signed, the DMK moves a step closer to completing its full alliance seat-sharing picture ahead of the nomination deadline.
- 24 March 2026 12:48 PM IST
India's oil reserves at two-thirds capacity, imports diversify: Govt tells Parliament
India’s strategic petroleum reserves currently hold about 3.372 million tonnes, roughly two-thirds of their total capacity, junior Petroleum Minister Suresh Gopi told Parliament on Monday, citing data from Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve Ltd. He added that stock levels shift with changes in supply and consumption and are separate from refined fuels such as petrol and diesel.
Including reserves held by oil marketing companies, India has enough fuel to meet demand for 74 days. “… which includes stores with oil marketing companies,” Gopi said. The government is also moving to expand storage by 6.5 million tonnes, with a new facility planned in Odisha and additional capacity in Karnataka.
India’s reliance on West Asian crude remains a concern as tensions disrupt shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil route. To reduce exposure, imports have been diversified. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “In the last 11 years, we have diversified energy imports... earlier we used to import from 27 nations. Now we import from 41.”
- 24 March 2026 12:46 PM IST
Elderly woman killed in Jharkhand forest
A 60-year-old woman was allegedly murdered in a forest in Jharkhand's Chatra district, police said on Tuesday (March 24).
A resident of Kishunpur Colony in the Sadar police station area, she had gone to a forest near her house on Monday to collect Mahua flowers, they said. "She was killed with an axe. Her body was found lying under a tree," said Awdhesh Kumar Singh, the officer in charge of the Sadar police station.
Efforts are being made to identify those behind the killing, he said, adding that her body has been sent for post-mortem examination.
- 24 March 2026 12:41 PM IST
CPI(M) candidate Dhar saddened at RG Kar victim’s mother joining BJP
CPI(M) candidate Dipsita Dhar is disheartened at the RG Kar hospital rape-murder victim’s mother wanting to fight the West Bengal assembly elections on a BJP ticket, but says her emotional connection to the polls continues to centre around the cause of justice for the tortured medical intern.
The 32-year-old Left candidate from the Dum Dum Uttar seat in the northern fringes of Kolkata asserted that her poll plank spills over to the fight for the state’s women at large, who continue to suffer gender-based violence.
Dhar, who takes on TMC’s heavyweight nominee and minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, said the elections provided her with yet another opportunity to seek justice for ‘Abhaya’ (fearless), a moniker given to the RG Kar victim by the state’s protesting millions.
Her assembly segment borders Panihati constituency in North 24 Parganas district, which houses the residence of the victim of the horrific crime that rocked the state a little over a year ago, and from where her mother is being seen as a likely candidate for the saffron camp.
The BJP has, so far, neither confirmed nor declined her candidacy.
- 24 March 2026 12:32 PM IST
DMK likely to finalise seat sharing with VCK: Minister Sivasankar
The ruling DMK is likely to sign a seat-sharing pact with its alliance partner VCK on Tuesday (March 24), for the April 23 election, Minister for Transport and Electricity, S S Sivasankar, has said.
DMK, which is leading the Secular Progressive Alliance, finalised a pact with CPI(M) by allocating it five seats on Monday (March 23) and it is expected to sign the pact with VCK on Tuesday, the senior DMK leader added.
The party has allotted 28 seats to Congress, four to Vaiko-led MDMK, two seats each to the Indian Union Muslim League and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, and two seats to Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi (KMDK). It has also earmarked five seats each to the Left parties CPI and CPI (M) after several rounds of talks.
- 24 March 2026 12:30 PM IST
Gold futures drop Rs 2,260 to Rs 1.37 lakh/10g amid geopolitical uncertainty
Gold prices declined Rs 2,260 to Rs 1.37 lakh per 10 grams in futures trade on Tuesday (March 24), marking their decline for the fifth straight session amid uncertainty over geopolitical developments in West Asia.
On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), the yellow metal for April delivery decreased by Rs 2,260, or 1.62 per cent, to Rs 1,37,000 per 10 grams.
Analysts said the precious metal prices remained under pressure due to conflicting statements surrounding tensions in West Asia.
Gold futures fell toward the USD 4,300 per ounce, staying under pressure amid heightened tensions in West Asia as Iran denied holding talks with Washington to end the conflict, Jigar Trivedi, Senior Research Analyst at IndusInd Securities, said.
- 24 March 2026 12:03 PM IST
Iran targets Israel, Gulf Arab states as Trump says US in talks to end war
Iranian missiles and drones targeted Israel and Gulf Arab states Tuesday, even as US President Donald Trump said the US was in talks with the Islamic Republic to end the war.
Trump also delayed a deadline for Iran to open the strategic Strait of Hormuz for shipping or see its power stations targeted by airstrikes, briefly driving down oil prices and boosting stocks.
The delay offered a reprieve after the US and Iran traded threats over the weekend of strikes that could have cut electricity to millions in Iran and around the Gulf and knocked out desalination plants that provide many desert nations with drinking water, while raising fears of possible catastrophe if nuclear plants were hit.
But any information on the talks described by Trump remain in dispute with Iran, which denied any talks had been held.
“No negotiations have been held with the US,” Iranian parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf posted on X, adding that “fakenews is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said Israel will continue to strike Iran and Lebanon even as the US considers a ceasefire.
“There's more to come,” he said.
- 24 March 2026 11:14 AM IST
TN CM Stalin slams PM Modi for ''LPG unpreparedness''
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Tuesday (March 24) slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over what he alleged as LPG unpreparedness and asserted that "preparedness cannot be outsourced to the people." The chief minister slammed the prime minister, saying Modi wants the country to be prepared to tackle the impact of the West Asia conflict as it did for the coronavirus pandemic.
The DMK chief shot back and asked, "Prepared for what — leadership, or its absence?" Stalin, also the DMK President, asked PM Modi. "Who should be prepared? Is it the union government or the people?" Stalin asked.
Further, the CM said: "preparedness cannot be outsourced to the people...why were you not prepared to protect us? In a statement, the DMK chief recalled that he had written to the prime minister urging immediate steps to ensure uninterrupted LPG supply for domestic, commercial, and industrial consumers in Tamil Nadu.
