Evening news wrap: Govt cuts fuel duty, Rajnath to lead Middle East crisis group & more | India News
- The government has reduced special additional excise duty on petrol to Rs 3/litre and diesel duty to zero (from Rs 10).
- Rajnath Singh was made the head of an inter-ministerial panel on the Middle East crisis among the members Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman and Hardeep Singh Puri.
- Elbridge Colby concluded his visit to India and pushed for deeper military cooperation under the 2026 Defense Strategy.
- Former cricketer Yograj Singh supported MS Dhoni, urging him to continue in the IPL and rejecting calls for retirement.
- Advanced systems such as the Qasem Basir and Fattah-2 have been questioned as Tehran’s missile program continues.
Here are the top 5 news stories of the day:
Government cuts excise duty on petrol to Rs 3 per liter, zero on diesel amid Middle East tensions
The government has revised its fuel duty structure, reducing the special additional excise duty on petrol by Rs 3 per liter and removing it entirely on diesel. The decision comes against the backdrop of ongoing disruption to the global oil supply chain due to conflict in the Middle East, where Iran continues to tighten its control over the Strait of Hormuz. According to a government order dated Thursday, “Additional excise duty on petrol has been reduced from Rs 13 per liter to Rs 3. Meanwhile, excise duty on diesel has been reduced from Rs 10 per liter to Rs 0.” Read the full story
Rajnath Singh will head the Inter-Ministerial Group to monitor issues arising out of the Middle East conflict
Union Minister Rajnath Singh is set to head an inter-ministerial group to oversee issues arising out of the ongoing Middle East conflict. According to ANI sources, while Rajnath will lead, the group has Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri among its members along with other ministers. Read the full story
India-US defense partnership: US ambassador wraps up New Delhi visit, calls for closer military cooperation
US Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby concluded his official visit to India on Thursday. The visit focused on India-US defense partnership and progress on key elements of the 2026 National Defense Strategy. The official visit, which began on Tuesday, involved high-level consultations with senior Indian officials and strategic discussions on defense cooperation. Read the full story
‘Hats off to him’: Yogaraj Singh’s rare praise for MS Dhoni, calls for retirement
In a surprising change of stance, former Indian cricketer Yograj Singh has come out in strong support of MS Dhoni, urging the veteran to continue playing in the IPL, targeting those calling for his retirement. Yogaraj, who has been a vocal critic of Dhoni in the past, struck a markedly different tone ahead of IPL 2026. In an interview with InsideSport, he praised Dhoni’s longevity, discipline and commitment to the game, stressing that age should not be a factor in judging a player’s future. Read the full story
From Fattah-2 to Qassem Basir: Where are Iran’s Top Missiles and Why Tehran Can Hold Them
As the Middle East shakes with Tehran’s near-daily missile attacks, a key question looms: What happened to Iran’s most advanced missiles? Like Kasem Basir, The Itemad and Fattah 2. According to a Financial Times report, Iran’s defense ministry unveiled its new missile, the Qassem Basir, in May last year, claiming it can hit enemies “wherever they are and whenever needed.With a tactical 500 kg warhead and an optically guided “terminal seeker” that cannot be electronically jammed, it is considered one of the most sophisticated weapons in Iran’s arsenal. Read the full story
