Argus News - News Headlines, April 16

Special Sitting Begins
The three-day special sitting of extended Budget session of Parliament commenced today. In the Lok Sabha, Union Law Minister Arjun Meghwal introduced the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Delimitation Bill, 2026. Home Minister Amit Shah introduced the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the House.

Constitution Amendment Bill Cleared
The introduction of the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, aimed at enabling women’s reservation and facilitating delimitation, was approved in the Lok Sabha following a division of votes in the House. The development came after the Opposition pressed for a recorded vote, leading to a formal division process.

Eight Killed In Road Mishap
Eight people were killed while 12 others sustained injuries after a Bolero collided with a lorry near Chilakaladona in Mantralayam mandal of Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh. The victims were residents of Karnataka’s Chikmagaluru district and were travelling to Mantralayam.

Oath Administered
Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan administered the oath to the newly elected and re-elected members of the Upper House. Among those who took the oath are BJP National President Nitin Nabin, Terash Gowalla, Jogen Mohan, Shivesh Kumar, Vinod Shridhar Tawde. The House also paid obituary references to the passing of former Congress leader Mohsina Kidwai and renowned playback singer Asha Bhosle.

Strengthening Global Partnerships
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Austrian Chancellor Dr Christian Stocker in New Delhi. Both leaders exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, including cooperation in multilateral fora, during their meeting. Stocker hailed India's role bilaterally and in international forums, saying that New Delhi's "voice carries a lot of weight".

Puri Girl Aces CBSE Exam
Odisha’s Teena Rath, Student of Mothers Public School in Puri, has created history by scoring a perfect 500/500 score in the CBSE Class 10 board exams. Her achievement, powered by discipline and hard work, has brought immense pride to her family, school, and state. Aspiring to become a cardiac surgeon to serve poor patients, Teena credited her parents, teachers, and Lord Jagannath for guiding her journey. Her flawless success stands out as a shining inspiration for millions nationwide.

Fierce Encounter
Five personnel of the elite CoBRA unit of the CRPF sustained injuries during the exchange of fire with Maoists in Saranda forest of West Singhbhum district, Jharkhand, near the Odisha border. The encounter occurred after security forces launched a special search operation based on intelligence inputs.

Khaleel Ruled Out
Chennai Super Kings pacer Khaleel Ahmed has been ruled out of IPL 2026 due to a quadriceps injury. Ahmed reported pain in his right hip during the game against KKR on April 14. His absence left a massive void in the CSK camp, which is yet to announce a replacement for the left-arm pacer.

Laskhar Co-Founder Shot
Amir Hamza, a founding member of Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, has been shot by unknown gunmen in Lahore. He's currently admitted to a hospital and said to be in a critical condition. Unidentified attackers opened fire on him outside a news channel office in Lahore. This is the second time in less than a year when Hamza came under attack.