New Delhi, Apr 1 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 9 pm NATION DEL87 LDALL FCRA (8.43 PM)

As BJP and Oppn spar, debate on FCRA amendment bill in LS deferred New Delhi/Alappuzha: A discussion in the Lok Sabha on a bill to amend the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) scheduled for Wednesday was deferred amid a political slugfest, with the opposition alleging that the new measures could curb minority rights and tighten government control over NGOs.

CAL74 AS-POLL-2NDLDALL PM (8.33 PM)

Assam polls: PM woos tea garden workers, accuses Congress of planning law to protect infiltrators Gogamukh/Behali (Assam): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched the BJP’s poll campaign in Assam, predicting a "hat-trick" for his party with people's blessings and asserted that the Congress will achieve a "century of defeats" in elections.

DEL54 PM-WASIA-MEETING (5.14 PM)

PM Modi to review with senior ministers situation arising following West Asia conflict New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday evening will review with a group of senior cabinet ministers the situation arising due to the West Asia conflict and the availability of critical needs including food, energy and fuel security of common people.

PAR34 LS-LD JAN VISHWAS (8.06 PM)

Lok Sabha passes Jan Vishwas amendment bill to promote ease of doing business New Delhi: The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed a bill to amend 784 provisions in 79 central laws for decriminalising and rationalising minor offences to further improve the country's business environment.

PAR19 LS-AMARAVATI-LD BILL (3.53 PM)

Lok Sabha passes bill to recognise Amaravati as sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh New Delhi: A bill seeking to recognise Amaravati as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh was passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, with the opposition Congress also supporting it along with the NDA.

BOM18 DEF-WASIA-LD NAVY CHIEF (8.47 PM)

Indian Navy was minutes away from striking Pak from sea during Op Sindoor: Admiral Tripathi Mumbai: The Indian Navy was minutes away from striking Pakistan from the sea during Operation Sindoor when Islamabad requested stoppage of kinetic actions, Navy chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi said on Wednesday.

CAL61 WB-POLLS-2ND LD MAMATA (6 PM)

Be cautious while filing nominations, new officers may reject them: Mamata to TMC nominees Kolkata: Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday alleged that officials recently appointed by the Election Commission were entrusted to reject nominations of her party's poll candidates and urged them to be cautious while filing their nominations.

MDS57 KL-POLLS-LD RAJNATH (6.57 PM)

'God not secure in Kerala', LDF betrayed Lord Ayyappa for few pieces of gold: Rajnath Singh Kochi: Senior BJP leader and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the ruling LDF in poll-bound Kerala, alleging that "God was not secure" in the state known as God's own country, as the Left front betrayed Lord Ayyappa for a few pieces of gold -- a reference to the Sabarimala gold loss cases.

DEL73 PB-BJP-OFFICE-2NDLD EXPLOSION (7.34 PM)

Blast outside BJP office in Chandigarh; NIA rushed, no casualties Chandigarh: A blast outside the Punjab BJP headquarters here Wednesday evening sent people panicking, with police saying a "crude" device appeared to have been hurled. No casualties were reported.

MDS48 TN-POLLS-STALIN-NDA (5.02 PM)

'NDA will not hesitate to change TN's name as Dakshina Pradesh,' alleges Stalin Tiruchirappalli: DMK President and Chief Minister M K Stalin on Wednesday alleged that if the NDA assumed power in the state, they will not hesitate to even change Tamil Nadu's name into Dakshina Pradesh.

LEGAL LGD39 SC-WB-2NDLD SIR (6.32 PM)

SIR in Bengal: 19 appellate tribunals to decide on pleas against exclusion or inclusion, says SC New Delhi: Nineteen appellate tribunals headed by former chief justices and high court judges will decide on the pleas of those excluded from the voter list during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in poll-bound West Bengal, the Supreme Court said on Wednesday.

LGD32 DL-HC-CHILD TRAFFICKING (5.24 PM)

Delhi HC says Delhi has become 'mandi' for child trafficking, seeks police's response on PIL New Delhi: The national capital has become a "mandi" for child trafficking, the Delhi High Court said on Wednesday and asked the railways and the police to respond to a petition raising concern over such incidents blatantly happening at railway stations and surrounding areas.

BUSINESS DEL52 BIZ-2NDLDALL ATF-PRICE-HIKE (5 pm)

ATF hike for domestic airlines limited to 8.5%; commercial LPG, premium petrol prices rise New Delhi: Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices for domestic airlines were raised by a calibrated 8.5 per cent on Wednesday, instead of more than doubling as warranted by a war-driven surge in global oil prices, even as rates for commercial LPG and premium petrol were also increased amid firm energy trends.

DEL40 BIZ-LD GST COLLECTION (3.20 pm)

GST collections rise 9 pc to over Rs 2 lakh cr in March, third highest in FY26 New Delhi: GST revenues grew about 9 per cent in March, scaling to the pre-tax cut level of over Rs 2 lakh crore, the third highest monthly collection in the 2025-26 fiscal, buoyed by mop-ups from imports as well as domestic sales and purchases, government data showed on Wednesday.

FOREIGN FGN31 US-H1B (1.03 pm)

USCIS completes H-1B cap selection process for FY 2027 Washington: The US Citizenship and Immigration Services said it has met the annual quota of 85,000 H-1B cap beneficiaries for FY-2027 and completed the regular and advanced-degree selection lotteries.

FGN39 ISRAEL-INDIA-ARMS (1.07 pm)

Israeli defence firm supplies first batch of light machine guns to India Jerusalem: A leading Israeli small arms manufacturer has delivered the first batch of light machine guns (LMGs) to India under the 'Make in India' initiative with technology transfer.

PTI APL APL

GST revenues rise on stronger imports and domestic sales, marking one of the highest monthly collections this fiscal. GST revenues rose about 9 per cent in March to over two lakh crore rupees, reaching the third highest monthly collection in the 2025-26 fiscal. The increase was supported by higher receipts from imports as well as domestic sales and purchases, reflecting a recovery in tax mop-ups after earlier tax cuts.