Skip to next section 25 leopards sent to Ambani’s private zoo in Maharashtra
March 24, 2026March 24, 2026
Maharashtra sends 25 leopards to private zoo in Ambani
Naik leopard population in Maharashtra has nearly quadrupled in the past decadeImage: RealityImages/Zoonar/picture Alliance
Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik said the state government has asked Reliance Foundation to house leopards at its Vantara facility in Gujarat, with local media reporting that 25 leopards have already been relocated and a total of 50 are scheduled to be relocated.
The mega-zoo Vantara is run by Anant Ambani, the son of Asia’s richest man.
Addressing the Legislative Council on Monday, Naik said the number of wild animals in the state is rapidly increasing and the leopard population has increased almost four times in the last 10 years.
“25 leopards have been sent to Vantara. We have requested (to take them back) as 150 leopards are trapped in Pune district,” Naik said.
The Vantara facility in Jamnagar has come under intense scrutiny over its animal procurement, but has been cleared of any wrongdoing by India’s Supreme Court.
https://p.dw.com/p/5AzGV
Skip to next section to read — Off-price: The cost of gold is reshaping Indian weddings
March 24, 2026March 24, 2026
WATCH — Off-price: The cost of gold is changing the shape of Indian weddings
Gold prices in India have soared to historic highs, pushing wedding budgets to breaking point.
With the cost of the tradition out of reach for many families, the couple is scaling back and recycling old gold.
Falling prices: cost of gold reshaping Indian weddings
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Skip to next section PM Modi warns of long-term economic impact of Iran conflict
March 24, 2026March 24, 2026
PM Modi warns of long-term economic impact of Iran conflict
Prime Minister Modi said the government is working to protect national interests in view of the situation in the Middle East. Image: Narendra Modi Photo Gallery/ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday urged Indians to prepare for the long-term economic impact of the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran, warning of possible disruptions to energy supplies and inflation.
Addressing the Upper House of Parliament, Prime Minister Modi said the government is committed to protecting national interests and maintaining stability, while calling for preparedness in the face of prolonged uncertainty.
He said the government had established seven bodies mandated to monitor fuel, supply chains and inflation, and called on states to prevent black marketing and protect vulnerable people.
“We are also in touch with Iran, Israel and the US. We are also talking about de-escalation and opening of the Strait of Hormuz,” PM Modi said.
https://p.dw.com/p/5B02m
Skip to next section — How an Indian village overcame the water crisisMarch 24, 2026March 24, 2026
Watch — How an Indian village overcame the water crisis
Niveta Thandapani
Balapuram village used to suffer from water scarcity as villagers faced dry wells, crop failure and long walks required for daily life.
However, the villagers worked together to restore the water source, restore the pond, repair the dam, and raise the water table in just five years.
How Indian villages overcame the water crisis
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Skip to next section Opposition parties question Modi’s claim to be a global leader
March 24, 2026March 24, 2026
Opposition parties question PM Modi’s claim to be a global leader
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has come under attack from opposition parties after reports emerged that Pakistan is positioning itself as the “principal mediator” to mediate an end to the US-Israel war against Iran.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has called India’s foreign policy under the Modi government a “joke”.
“Our foreign policy is Prime Minister Modi’s personal foreign policy. You can see the result. This is a universal joke. Everyone considers it a universal joke,” Gandhi was quoted as saying. The Times of India newspaper.
of financial times Pakistan Army Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir met US President Donald Trump on Sunday and suggested Islamabad as a venue for talks, reported Monday.
Negotiations involving senior Trump administration and Iranian officials could begin as early as this week, the report said.
Senior Nationalist Congress Party leader Pawan Khera wrote in X that while Prime Minister Modi is busy praising himself at home, “Pakistan is positioning itself at the diplomatic table at a critical global moment.”
Incidentally, on Monday, Prime Minister Modi said in his speech in Parliament that India is engaging diplomatically with both sides of the conflict.
“India encourages all parties to bring the conflict to a peaceful conclusion,” he said.
Prime Minister Modi on Monday said India’s economic fundamentals are strong and will overcome the “unprecedented challenges” posed by the Iran war.Image: ANI/IMAGO
https://p.dw.com/p/5AzcU
Skip to next section Canadian Sikh activist criticizes India’s ‘cross-border repression’
March 24, 2026March 24, 2026
Canadian Sikh activist criticizes India’s ‘cross-border oppression’
Sikh activists in Canada have raised the issue of India’s alleged targeting of Sikh activists abroad.
“We will not be silent,” Moninder Singh, president of the Canadian Sikh Federation, told AFP news agency.
Speaking at the UN’s European headquarters in Geneva, Singh called on the UN to step up oversight of India’s cross-border repression.
Singh said he had been warned multiple times by Canadian police about credible threats to his life, including “immediate” danger involving his wife and children.
His comments highlight nascent tensions between Canada and India, which Ottawa has linked to India following the 2023 killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. New Delhi denied the charges.
Nijjar was a supporter of the so-called Khalistan movement, which sought a homeland for Sikhs by carving out an ethno-religious state in India’s Punjab region.
Why Canada thinks India is behind the murder of Sikh leader
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https://p.dw.com/p/5AyjG
Skip next section Indian stocks open higher
March 24, 2026March 24, 2026
Indian stocks start higher
Indian stock markets opened higher on Tuesday after a sharp decline the previous day.
BSE Sensex rose as much as 2.08% and Nifty 50 rose 1.71%.
The backlash follows a global backlash after US President Donald Trump postponed plans to attack Iran’s power grid and advocated productive dialogue with Tehran, easing fears of a more severe energy shock. Iranian officials have denied talks with the United States.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Ayd5
Skip to next section Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare warns against unregulated use of GLP-1-based weight loss drugs
March 24, 2026March 24, 2026
Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare warns against unregulated use of GLP-1-based weight loss drugs
Sales of weight loss drugs in India have increased 10 times in five years to $153 million (€131.8 million) in 2026, reports AFP (File photo: December 12, 2012) Image: C. Hütter/imageBROKER/picture Alliance
India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday warned against unregulated use of GLP-1-based weight loss drugs as cheaper generic drugs enter the market following the expiry of semaglutide’s patent.
“The recent introduction of multiple generic variants of GLP-1 has raised concerns about their availability on demand through retail pharmacies, online platforms, wholesalers and wellness clinics,” the Ministry of Health said in a statement.
“These drugs can cause serious side effects and associated health risks if used without proper medical supervision.”
India’s drug regulator has stepped up inspections across the supply chain, including online pharmacies, wholesalers and clinics, and issued notifications on irregular sales and promotions. India is the world’s largest supplier of generic drugs.
The agency also reiterated the prohibition against misleading advertising and off-label use.
https://p.dw.com/p/5AydY
Skip to next section India’s Loni named world’s most polluted city
March 24, 2026March 24, 2026
India’s Loni named the world’s most polluted city
Loni in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh has become the world’s most polluted city in 2025, according to a report by Swiss air quality monitoring company IQAir.
Roni’s PM2.5 levels averaged 112.5 micrograms per cubic meter, the report said, referring to harmful particulates in the air.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that safe levels of PM2.5 should not exceed 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air.
Three of the four most polluted Indian cities were included: Birnihat in the northeast and the capital New Delhi.
Last year, Birnihat was named the world’s most polluted city in IQAir’s 2024 report.
Furthermore, the 25 most polluted cities in the world were all in India, Pakistan, and China.
Pakistan ranks as the world’s most polluted country in 2025, with PM2.5 levels up to 13 times higher than WHO guidelines. India came in 6th place.
According to the report, only 13 countries and regions meet the WHO’s annual PM2.5 guidelines.
Researchers use AI to outsmart India’s air polluters
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Please skip the next section.March 24, 2026March 24, 2026
Welcome to the interview
good morning! This is Shakeel from DW New Delhi Studio. On a sunny morning, we bring you the latest news from India.
An Indian city has been named the world’s most polluted city for the second year in a row by Swiss air quality monitoring company IQAir.
Have you heard of the GLP-1-based weight loss drugs that everyone is talking about? Indian regulators are currently investigating the unauthorized sale and misuse of medicines.
Oh, remember yesterday when the market crashed? Well, today they rebounded.
For all this and more, stay tuned as we bring you the biggest news of the day from India.
https://p.dw.com/p/5AyWz
