Here are the top 5 news of the day:

Govt cuts excise duty to Rs 3 a litre on petrol, to nil on diesel amid Middle East tensions

Government has revised its fuel duty structure, lowering the special additional excise duty on petrol to Rs 3 per litre while removing it entirely on diesel. The decision comes against the backdrop of ongoing disruptions in global oil supply chains due to the conflict in the Middle East, where Iran continues to tighten control over the Strait of Hormuz. According to a government order dated Thursday, “the additional excise duty on petrol was cut to Rs 3 per litre from Rs 13 per litre earlier. Meanwhile, the excise duty on diesel was cut to Rs 0 from Rs 10 per litre earlier.” Read full story

Rajnath Singh to head inter-ministerial group to monitor issues arising from Middle East conflict

Union minister Rajnath Singh is set to head an inter ministerial group to oversee issues arising from the ongoing Middle East conflict. According to ANI sources, while Rajnath will lead, the group will have union home minister Amit Shah, union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and union petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri are among the members, along with other ministers. Read full story

India-US defence partnership: US envoy 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 advancing the India-US defence partnership and key elements of the 2026 National Defence Strategy. The official trip, which began on Tuesday, involved high-level consultations with senior Indian officials and strategic discussions on defence cooperation. Read full story

‘Hats off to him’: Yograj Singh’s rare praise for MS Dhoni, slams retirement calls

In a surprising shift in stance, former India cricketer Yograj Singh has come out in strong support of MS Dhoni, urging the veteran to continue playing in the IPL while taking aim at those calling for his retirement. Yograj, 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, insisting that age should not be a factor in judging a player’s future. Read full story

From Fattah-2 to Qassem Basir: Where are Iran’s top missiles and why Tehran could be holding them back

As the Middle East continues to be shaken by near-daily missile attacks from Tehran, one key question stands out: what happened to Iran’s most advanced missiles? The likes of Qassem Basir, the Etemad and Fattah 2. According to a Financial Times report, Iran’s defence ministry unveiled its newest missile, the Qassem Basir, in May last year, claiming it could strike enemies “wherever they are and whenever necessary.” With a manoeuvrable 500kg 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 full story