India news: Jaishankar discusses Middle East conflict in UAE

That's a wrap from New Delhi. 

My colleagues will be back tomorrow morning to tell you all you need to know from India. Meanwhile, enjoy your Sunday!

India rejected China's "mischievous attempts" to assign "fictitious names" to places in India's territory, the Ministry of External Affairs' spokesperson said on Sunday. 

In a Statement, Randhir Jaiswal said: "Such attempts by China at introducing false claims and manufacturing baseless narratives cannot alter the undeniable reality that these places and territories, including Arunachal Pradesh, were, are, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India." 

Beijing has periodically released its own list of names of territories in Arunachal Pradesh, a North Eastern state of India which shares a long strategic border with China. India has objected to its actions before well.

Meanwhile China, which rejects the existance of 'Arunchal Pradesh' and calls the state Zangnan, has previously said it was "ludicrous" to say that the region was part of India's territory.

While both New Delhi and Beijinghave made some recent efforts to revitalize diplomacy, they are still economic and territorial rivals. In 2022, Indian and Chinese soldiers clashed at least two times in 2022 along their Himalayan frontier where they had been involved in a bitter standoff since 2020, only pulling back in 2024.

Jaishwal warned that renaming attemps detracted "ongoing efforts to stabilize and normalize India-China bilateral ties." 

"China should refrain from actions which inject negativity into relations and undermine efforts to create better understanding," he said.

After news of Bhosle's demise broke, celebrities took to social media to recall their cherished moments spent with her; others remembered and shared their favorite songs of the playback icon.

Bollywood actor and global star Shah Rukh Khan said Bhosle's voice was one of the pillars of Indian cinema, which would "resonate world over for centuries to come." 

"A talent that will outlive many, she always showered me with blessings and love and I will miss her. Rest in Peace Asha Tai… love you," he said on a post. 

The chief minister of her home state, Maharashtra, fondly remembered the time she made him sing. "We were together at a World Radio Day programme where she insisted that I sing 'Abhi Na Jao Chhodkar' and remarked with a smile, 'See, I made the Chief Minister sing.' It is hard to believe that we will no longer have her presence among us," Devendra Fadnavis wrote.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said she was "one of the most iconic and versatile voices" of India. "I'll always cherish the interactions I’ve had with her," he said, sharing images of their past meetings in a post on X.  

Riaz Hamidullah, Bangladesh High Commissioner to India, said millions across his country would "mourn" the singer's "departure."

"While she hails from India, millions beyond borders own her. She‘ll remain etched in our memory," he said, speaking of some of her most cherished songs in Hindi and Bengali.

For more on the news of Asha Tai's death, read our report.

Veteran playback singer Asha died in Mumbai on Sunday, a day after being hospitalized for a chest infection. She was 92 years old. 

Born in a village called Sangli in the western state of Maharashtra, Bhosle was one of the most popular playback voices of Indian cinema. She began her music career in the late 50s and sang through the 1980s. 

In 2011, the legendary singer was officially recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the most-recorded artist in music history.

Read our report for more on this story.

Indian-flagged vessel Jag Vikram crossed the Strait of Hormuz and "successfully sailed out of the Gulf region," on Saturday, officials have said. 

The liquified petroleum gas (LPG)-laden ship is expected to reach India on April 15, said India's ports minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, in a shipping update on social media. 

As per Indian media reports, Jag Vikram is the first Indian-flagged vessel to cross the strategic chokepoint since the US and Iran agreed to a temporary ceasefire this week. 

India, which imports about 60% of its LPG needs, has been facing a shortage of cooking gas since the US and Israel began their war with Iran. 

That's because the Islamic Republic effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz which is a transit point for one-fifth of the world's crude oil. More importantly, about 80% of the crude and gas passing the strait is destined for Asian markets as per the International Energy Agency.

The Indian Express reported that Jag Vikram had been waiting to cross the Strait of Hormuz for over a week now.

Indian Foreign Minister Subramanyam Jaishankar met with the UAE's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi to discuss the implications of the Middle East conflict

"Conveyed our deep appreciation for ensuring the well-being of the Indian community in the UAE. Confident that our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will advance further," Jaishankar said in a post on social media, along with pictures of the two leaders. 

Millions of Indians work and live in the UAE, some of whom were repatriated to India amid Iranian drone and missile attacks on other nations in the Gulf.

The UAE is India's third-largest trading partner after the US and China. Moreover, it is the second-largest export destination for Indian goods after the US.

India's government has made several temporary concessions for India's export sector over the last month to cushion the impact of higher transport costs and disrupted shipping routes.

Jaishankar's visit to the UAE came soon after the US and Iran reached a temporary ceasefire. India's petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri was in Qatar days ago, also to discuss uninterrupted trade. 

Good morning! and welcome back to DW's weekend India news blog.

This is Mahima Kapoor from the New Delhi Bureau. Most fellow Indians are enjoying a lazy, sunny Sunday morning, cooking up delicacies for the day or playing a round of cricket with their neighbours in the park. 

But I am happy to bring to you the biggest news and talking points of the day from my country. 

India's Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar is on the second day of his two-day trip to the UAE. His trip is part of India's diplomatic outreach to the Middle East as the nation looks to limit the conflict's impact on its energy security. 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under pressure over his handling of the war and Pakistan's role as a mediator, continues to campaign in West Bengal ahead of the high-stakes election later in April.

Stick with us for more. 

That's where we will leave things for today.

I will be back tomorrow with more top stories and anything else of interest taking place in India, until then!

A new draft policy released by the Delhi government proposes to ban new two-wheelers run on fossil fuels from 2028, in an effort to manage emissions in one of the world's most polluted cities.

It cites a recent report identifying vehicular emissions as the largest contributor to air pollution in the National Capital Region of Delhi (Delhi NCR), about 23% in winters.

"Two-wheelers constitute approximately 67% of the total vehicle stock in Delhi, making their rapid electrification critical for achieving meaningful reductions in vehicular emissions," the policy said.

Delhi is regularly cited as one of India's most polluted cities with  thick smog, filled with pollutants, settling over the capital every winter. It has caused lasting health issues in residents and leads to political rows every year.

The draft Delhi Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy 2026-2030 was uploaded on Saturday for feedback. It will remain available for comments for 30 days after which a final policy will be notified and implemented till 2030.

Here's what it proposes: 

• Only electric three-wheelers will be permitted for new registration starting 2027
• Only electric two-wheelers will be permitted for new registration starting 2028
• 30% of all school buses will have to be electric by 2030
• New fossil-fuel two wheelers for fleet aggregators in 2026

The policy offers purchase incentives for electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers and goods vehicles. It also proposes tax breaks for those buying electric vehicles, including cars. 

For the coastal state of West Bengal, fish is more than just food. It's culture, routine and the lifeblood for many communities. But ahead of the 2026 assembly elections, it has also turned into a political symbol. 

As the local Trinamool Congress (TMC) defends its rule against the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), speculation over the state's future access to fish has led to odd sights.

West Bengal's current Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, at a recent rally, warned the BJP would "ban fish, meat and even eggs," if elected to power. At another event, she said: "They are not aware of the traditions and culture of West Bengal... It's a party of outsiders." 

The BJP has previously promoted vegetarianism in parts of the country and banned beef in several states. It argues that the cow is a holy animal for Hindus, often referred to as a 'mother,' and its slaughter can offend religious sentiments. 

The BJP has denied plans to ban fish in the state.

But to drive the point home, local BJP candidate Sharadwat Mukhopadhyay canvassed with a raw fish hanging around his neck. His video went viral on social media, sparking debates and amusement.

Union home minister and BJP leader Amit Shah reiterated that fish would not be banned, in a rally on Friday, and criticized the TMC for "spreading rumours." 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would speed up the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act if elected in West Bengal, ahead of high-stakes elections. 

He warned "infiltrators" to "pack up their bags" while addressing a rally in the Purba Bardhaman district of West Bengal. He simultaneously reassured politically influential refugee communities in the south of the state that their future would be protected. 

"I have come to give a guarantee to the Matua, Namasudra and all refugee families of West Bengal. You are not here by the grace of any TMC leader. You are here under the protection of India's Constitution," Modi said. 

The CAA is a controversial Citizenship law passed by the Modi Government in 2019 despite nationwide protests and criticism. It fast-tracks Indian citizenship applications of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian immigrants who escaped to India from religious persecution in Muslim-majority Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

The law excludes Muslim immigrants from these countries, marking the first time that India had set religious criteria for citizenship. 

Opposition parties, Muslim groups and rights activists say the CAA discriminates against Muslims and undermines India's secular constitution.

The law comes into play in West Bengal's pending election as the state sees significant number of immigrants illegally entering from its porous border with Muslim-majority Bangladesh. 

Home Minister Amit Shah, also a BJP member, was also campaigning in West Bengal on Saturday. "I assure you in this rally, on the 23rd, ensure a massive victory for our candidates, and we will work to identify and remove infiltrators from Bengal and the country," he said. 

While Modi and Shah were referring here to irregular immigrants as "infiltrators",  they have both been accused of using the same term for Indian Muslims in previous election speeches.

At least 10 people have died and another five remain missing in Mathura, India, after a boat capsized on the river Yamuna, officials said. 

The accident occurred on Friday, prompting search and rescue operations by local authorities. 

There are conflicting reports about the total number of people on the boat. In a tweet offering condolences, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said there were 32 people on board. However, most media reports reported 10 killed, 22 injured and another five missing, suggesting 37 people were on board.

The boat was retrieved on Saturday morning after rescue operations, but none of the missing persons were found.

"For the past four hours, we had been trying to remove the boat, which had overturned and got trapped in a deep swamp area," news outlet The Hindu quoted Deputy Inspector General of Police Shailesh Kumar Pandey saying.

Pandey acknowledged the possibility that some of the missing may have drowed in the major river, but added that rescue efforts would continue till everyone was found.

Other reports by Indian media said most of those dead were tourists from the northern state of Punjab.

Officials said the accident occurred when the boat carrying over two dozen people moved into deeper waters and hit a floating pontoon. 

Local eyewitnesses said the boat began to sway violently due to strong winds, picked up speed and then crashed into a pontoon bridge, causing it to overturn.

India has long used its influence to try to isolate Pakistan diplomatically.

The two neighbors, who were once part of the same nation, have a history of violence since gaining independence from British colonial rule. They have fought four major wars since 1947 and clashed several more times at their shared borders.

Relations between the nations hit rock bottom in May 2025 after an attack on civilians in Indian administered Kashmir led to cross-border drone and missile attacks.

India has long blamed Pakistan's government for supporting cross-border terrorism, an allegation Islamabad has denied on several occasions.

Moreover, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar blamed Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir's religious outlook as the key reason for the 2025 attack in India. Munir has now emerged as a "very important guy" for US President Donald Trump. 

As leaders from the US and Iran gather in Pakistan to attempt negotiating a truce, many Indians are watching with narrowed eyes.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spent over a decade carefully crafting India's image as a global leader, at least domestically. For those who bought into that narrative, archrival Pakistan's emergence as an influential mediator is difficult to swallow. 

Even those who might dismiss the 'Vishwaguru' label, translating to 'teacher of the world,' Islamabad's diplomatic emergence registers as a failure of India's foreign policy. 

India's largest national opposition party, the Indian National Congress (INC), is pointing the finger of blame squarely at Modi. 

"The government's incompetence has allowed Pakistan to claim a pivotal role in the great-power competition in Asia, which will also give it leverage over India on crucial bilateral matters through third parties, effectively internationalizing India-Pakistan matters," the INC said in a statement.

Akhilesh Yadav, another key opposition leader and Modi critic, said the BJP had "ruined our foreign policy."

"There was a time when it seemed like India would become the world guru, but Pakistan is strengthening its foreign policy at the international level. India appears weak in foreign policy," he said after Washington and Tehran agreed to a temporary ceasefire.

The peace talks in Islamabad come after a difficult year for US-India relations. 

While both remain close partners in trade, security, defense and technology, a string of diplomatic rows — US trade tariffs, Trump's insistence that he brokered peace between India and Pakistan, and New Delhi's ties with Russia — have hit India's image as a diplomatic champion within the country. 

What is the government's stance?

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar previously defended the government when opposition Leaders raised this issue in an all-party meet over the Middle East conflict. 

Jaishankar had called Pakistan a 'dalal,' a word which means 'broker' but has negative connotations.

More recently, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India welcomed the ceasefire between the US and Iran. "As we have continuously advocated earlier, deescalation, dialogue and diplomacy are essential to bring an early end to the ongoing Conflict," he said, without commenting on Pakistan's role as the mediator. 

Good morning! And welcome to DW's India news blog.

This is Mahima Kapoor from the New Delhi bureau where the mercury is starting to rise after a month of exceptionally pleasant weather.

Indians are used to hot summers, but a western disturbance has kept temperatures in check through March and the first week of April. That lucky spell now seems to be coming to an end. 

The heat is also rising in Indian politics with two key states gearing up for assembly elections later in April. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modiis attending threerallies in West Bengal, where his Hindu nationalist party has never won an election in the eastern state’s history. His Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the local Trinamool Congress (TMC) regularly lock horns over topics like irregular immigration, corruption, jobs and even fish. More on that last one later.

But the country's focus remains on the US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad. Opposition leaders are expressing dissatisfaction with the Modi government's foreign policy, which they believe has given its archrival the space to emerge as a mediator on the global diplomatic platform.

Stay tuned as we bring you these angles and plenty more besides in our blog.