Here are the top news headlines for India on Thursday, April 23, 2026, covering the high-stakes Assembly elections, major diplomatic moves, and internal security.
Top 10 India News Headlines
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Assembly Elections: Massive Turnout in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu Phase 1 of the Assembly elections saw record participation. West Bengal recorded a staggering 92.18% turnout, while Tamil Nadu followed with a strong 85%. The Election Commission credited “inducement-free” efforts for the smooth conduct.
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MEA Responds to Trump’s “Hellhole” Comment on India The Ministry of External Affairs issued a restrained response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s use of the term “hellhole” in reference to India. The MEA stated they have “seen the reports,” while opposition parties slammed the remark as an insult to the nation.
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Jaishankar Launches India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-IV) Logo External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar signaled “stability in a turbulent world” while launching the theme and website for the upcoming 4th India-Africa Forum Summit, emphasizing a shared history of decolonization.
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NSA Hosts UK Counterpart for Annual Strategic Dialogue National Security Advisor Ajit Doval hosted UK NSA Jonathan Powell in New Delhi today. The discussions focused on regional security, counter-terrorism, and the growing defense partnership between the two nations.
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Delhi High Court Orders Removal of AAP Courtroom Videos The Delhi HC has directed social media platforms to remove videos related to recent court hearings involving AAP leaders, citing violations of judicial privacy and procedural decorum.
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France Grants Visa-Free Airport Transit for Indian Nationals The MEA welcomed a move by France to allow visa-free transit for Indians through mainland French airports. The agreement, effective since April 10, was a key outcome of the recent Modi-Macron summit.
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Thrissur Pooram to Go “Fireworks-Free” After Blast Incident In a historic shift for the iconic Kerala festival, the Thrissur Pooram will proceed without its signature pyrotechnics display this year following safety concerns and a recent accidental blast.
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Delhi Police Launch “Nasha – Not Cool” Anti-Drug Campaign Following a “Zero Tolerance” policy directed by the Prime Minister, Delhi Police announced a week-long awareness drive starting April 24 to combat narcotics among the youth.
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HSBC Downgrades India to “Underweight” Amid Global Oil Shock Citing the volatility in the Strait of Hormuz and rising crude prices, HSBC has downgraded India’s economic stance, warning that fuel costs could impact corporate earnings and slow recovery.
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Earthquake of Magnitude 3.7 Jolts Leh-Ladakh A mild tremor was felt in the Ladakh region early this morning. The earthquake, with a depth of 60 km, caused brief panic but no reports of casualties or significant structural damage.
