India News Bulletin – Top National Headlines | April 13, 2025

???? 1. North India Battles Early Heatwave

Several parts of Rajasthan, Delhi, and Haryana are recording soaring temperatures, with Barmer hitting 46.4°C—well above the seasonal average. Health experts warn of dehydration risks, and IMD predicts a hotter-than-usual summer with frequent heatwaves.
(source: The Guardian)

✈️ 2. Air India Mandates Economy Travel for All Staff

Air India has rolled out a new cost-saving directive—staff, including senior executives, must travel only in economy class. Premium upgrades will only be considered if unsold 50 minutes before departure.
(source: Reuters)

???? 3. Indian Railways to Run 13,000 Trains for Maha Kumbh 2025

Ahead of the world’s largest spiritual gathering, Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Indian Railways will operate 13,000 trains—3,134 of them being special services. Over 40 crore devotees are expected to attend.
(source: Business Standard)

???????????????????? 4. ‘Tiger Triumph’ Strengthens India-US Military Ties

The latest edition of joint Indo-US military exercise ‘Tiger Triumph’ concluded in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. Focused on disaster response and maritime coordination, the exercise saw participation from over 3,000 personnel.
(source: Indian Defence Updates)

⚠️ 5. Murshidabad Sees Violent Clashes Over Waqf (Amendment) Act

Protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act in West Bengal’s Murshidabad escalated into violence, resulting in three fatalities, property damage, and internet shutdowns. Over 100 people have been arrested.
(source: State Police Briefing)

???? 6. Vande Bharat to Connect Katra & Srinagar Soon

The new SMVD Katra–Srinagar Vande Bharat Express will launch this month, linking Jammu’s pilgrimage centres with the Kashmir Valley, cutting travel time and boosting regional tourism.
(source: Indian Railways Officials)

???? 7. IPL 2025 In Full Swing: Big Players, Bigger Stakes

With record-breaking bids, the IPL 2025 season has begun. Jos Buttler joined Gujarat Titans for ₹15 crore, while Rishabh Pant was signed by Lucknow Super Giants for ₹25 crore. Fan anticipation remains sky-high.
(source: IPL Media Brief)

???? 8. Standard Chartered Appoints New India CEO

Standard Chartered has announced the appointment of P.D. Singh as its new India and South Asia CEO. Singh previously led operations at JPMorgan India.
(source: Bank Industry Sources)

???? 9. Zarin Daruwala to Retire as Standard Chartered India Head

After over three decades in banking, Zarin Daruwala will step down as CEO of Standard Chartered India on April 1. She led the bank’s digital and retail growth strategy in South Asia.
(source: Internal Company Memo)

⚡ 10. India Extends Full Production Mandate for Coal Power Plants

Due to rising power demand this summer, India has extended its directive requiring all coal-fired plants using imported coal to run at maximum capacity through April.
(source: Ministry of Power)