Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw took to X to share a video of Ecuador and wrote, "Clean and well-designed streets in San Cristóbal Island...Bengaluru, hang your head in shame." When a user said, "Just visit Mysuru, Indore, Surat or Rajkot to make the point," Kiran responded, "But the point is even Ecuador, a developing country, is well-maintained by the local municipalities."

Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is down for several users across India, as per several reports. People took to social media platform X and wrote, "UPI services are down, none of the payments or receipts are working," "Nationwide issue or it's only me?" and "Anyone else facing UPI issue?"

The overall run-rate in the first five matches of IPL 2025 has gone up by 17% compared to the first five matches of IPL 2024. There has been a 37% increase in the number of sixes, while the number of fours is up by more than 34%. As per ESPNcricinfo, the percentage of boundary-intent shots has gone up by 66%.

India has responded after US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said India should be designated as "country of particular concern" over religious freedom violations. India called the report "a deliberate agenda", saying, "USCIRF once again continues its pattern of issuing...politically motivated assessments." India added that USCIRF should be designated as an entity of concern.

US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has said India should be designated as "country of particular concern" for "engaging in and tolerating systematic religious freedom violations". It also demanded sanctions against RAW for its "culpability in severe violations of religious freedom". "In 2024, religious freedom conditions in India continued to deteriorate," it further said.

The government has ended parts of the Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS), which included gold deposits for 1-3 years, 5-7 years and 12-15 years. The 5-7 years and 12-15 years of deposits have been discontinued with effect from March 26, 2025, "based on the examination of the performance of the Gold Monetisation Scheme and evolving market conditions," the government said.

India has developed its first indigenous MRI machine, which will be installed at AIIMS Delhi by October 2025 for trials. The move aims to reduce treatment costs and reliance on imported medical devices, as 80-85% of the MRI equipment is currently imported. The indigenous MRI machine will help make India more self-reliant in medical technology, according to AIIMS.

Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the order of Allahabad HC in a child abuse case, which observed that acts like grabbing breasts or breaking string of pyjamas don't constitute attempt to rape. "We're pained to state...it shows total lack of sensitivity," the bench said. The High Court had observed the acts would prima facie constitute offence of 'aggravated sexual assault'.

SRH are leading IPL 2025 points table after the first round of matches. They were placed sixth at this stage last season. RCB, who were ninth at this stage last season, are second. PBKS are third after their opener, same as in IPL 2024. MI, who lost their opener, are seventh just like their position at this stage last year.

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to overhaul elections, including requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections and demanding that all ballots be received by election day. "India and Brazil, for example, are tying voter identification to a biometric database, while the United States largely relies on self-attestation for citizenship," Trump said.

PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer was left stranded on 97*(42) as all-rounder Shashank Singh smashed five fours and took a double in the last over of PBKS' innings against GT in their IPL 2025 opener. Iyer hit five fours and nine sixes in his innings as PBKS posted a total of 243/5, their second-highest total in IPL history.