Sector-wise, selling pressure was seen across realty, metal, auto and information technology stocks, which witnessed the sharpest declines. Realty stocks fell nearly 2 per cent, while metal, auto and IT indices lost over 1 per cent each.

Weakness extended beyond frontline indices, with broader market indices under pressure as Nifty Midcap 100, Midcap 150 and Smallcap indices declined close to 1 per cent each.

Meanwhile, crude oil prices traded higher, with international benchmark Brent crude rising 4 per cent to 96.90 US dollar. US WTI gained 4.64 per cent to 94.75 US dollar. Asian markets largely traded in the negative territory, with Japan’s Nikkei falling nearly 4 per cent, South Korea’s KOSPI plunging 5 per cent, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng declining about 1 per cent.

The meeting was attended by district officials and public representatives from Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar districts. Discussions focused on municipal affairs, women and child development, social welfare, disaster management, sanitation, drainage, waste management, traffic regulation and the implementation of various government schemes.

Later, addressing the media, Ms. Paul said strict measures will be taken to improve urban infrastructure and cleanliness. She announced that parking would be permitted only in designated areas from July 1, with penalties for illegal parking. She also stressed the need for transparency in parking fee collection and called for a thorough probe into alleged corruption in the Siliguri Municipal Corporation.

The Minister said Darjeeling, Mirik, Kurseong, Kalimpong, and Siliguri will soon be developed as five Himalayan cities. She added that Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal has expressed support for developing these towns, which are expected to boost tourism, trade, the tea industry, and the regional economy, as well as generate employment opportunities. 

A wreath-laying ceremony with full military honours was held at the Air Force Station in Jammu. Besides, Lieutenant Governor Sinha, senior military, police and civil officials also paid tributes to the officer before his mortal remains were taken to his native village in Uttarakhand’s Almora district for the last rites.

Lieutenant Goswami died after slipping into a deep gorge during an anti-terror operation in the Dorimaal area of the Gambhir Mughlan belt last evening.

The Army’s White Knight Corps expressed profound grief over his demise and extended condolences to the bereaved family.

Lieutenant Goswami was part of Operation Sheruwali, launched to track down two to three Pakistani terrorists believed to be hiding in the forested areas of Rajouri district. The operation entered its 16th consecutive day today.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has hailed Moscow’s strategic partnership with New Delhi and asserted that Western attempts to force India into scaling back its cooperation with Russia are futile and damaging to global stability. In an interaction with heads of leading global news agencies, Putin lauded India’s economic growth and its independent foreign policy and said Russia is determined to expand its economic engagement with the country. He said that India’s economic growth is the result of the hard work that the government of India has been doing under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Russian President said that India’s diplomatic engagement with the United States does not hinder or undermine its time-tested relationship with Russia. He said Russia considers India as a reliable partner and it sees no negative consequences from New Delhi’s bilateral relations with any other country. He said that India is a great nation and a democracy, and Russia will continue to expand its relations with it.

 Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies have clarified that there is no shortage of petrol, diesel, or LPG in Puducherry and that fuel supplies remain normal across the Union Territory.

A statement issued by the State Level Coordinator (SLC) for the Oil Industry in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry informed that adequate stocks of all petroleum products are available and supplies are being maintained without interruption. All retail fuel outlets of Indian Oil, BPCL and HPCL are functioning normally, while LPG distribution is continuing as per schedule.

The companies have advised consumers not to be influenced by rumours or unverified information regarding fuel availability and assured that sufficient stocks of petrol, diesel, and LPG are available throughout Puducherry.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said India and the US have finalised most elements of the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement, and negotiations are now focused on a few minor issues, “commas and full stops”. He said that the US team is in New Delhi to hold talks on finalising the first phase of Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). The talks will take place in New Delhi from June 2-4. India’s chief negotiator is Darpan Jain, Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce, while the US team is led by its chief negotiator, Brendan Lynch. 

On February 3, both sides announced the framework for the first phase of the BTA.

The two sides are proposed to finalise the details of the interim agreement and take forward the negotiations under the broader BTA on multiple areas, such as market access, non-tariff measures, customs and trade facilitation and investment promotion.  

India and the US issued a joint statement on February 7, finalising the framework of the first phase of the BTA, also referred to as an interim trade agreement. Both sides will now have to finalise the legal text for the deal. The framework reaffirmed the countries’ commitment to the broader India-US BTA negotiations. The US was the second-largest trading partner of India in 2025-26. 

Myanmar President U Min Aung Hlaing has assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Myanmar’s territory will not be allowed to be used against India’s security interests. The two leaders held wide-ranging talks to boost bilateral ties in trade, defence, energy, and connectivity in New Delhi yesterday.

Mr Aung Hlaing is on a five-day visit to India. Briefing media after the talks, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, President of Myanmar reiterated the assurance that Myanmar’s territory will not be permitted to be used against India’s security interests. Mr Misri said Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India’s support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Myanmar and both sides underscored the importance of preventing the misuse of sovereign territory for activities “inimical” to their security interests.

Foreign Secretary said that the issue of certain militant groups operating in the Northeast from Myanmar side was raised by PM Modi. Mr Misri said the talks between the two sides focused on the entire gamut of bilateral issues that included trade and economic ties, defence and security related issues, border management, development assistance, as well as the regional situation.

Both sides expressed interest in forging closer cooperation, particularly in areas of trade and investment, health, education, energy, and critical technologies like artificial intelligence. Mr Misri said, Myanmar President’s visit has once again reaffirmed the shared commitment of both sides to deepen their long-standing partnership and to work together for mutual benefit, growth and prosperity in the region. Myanmar is one of India’s strategic neighbours and it shares a 1,640-kilometer-long border with a number of northeastern states, including Nagaland and Manipur.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met Mr Aung Hlaing and discussed key issues relating to bilateral ties.

The Myanmarese leader is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising several cabinet ministers, senior officials and business leaders. The Myanmarese president will travel to Mumbai today for business and industry interactions and site visits.

Director, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Opesh Kumar Sharma said that the Ministry continues to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs , Indian Missions and Maritime stakeholders to ensure seafarers welfare and uninterrupted maritime operations. He informed that a merchant vessel Nissos Keros, a crude oil tanker safely transited the Strait of Hormuz and is expected to arrive at Visakhapatnam on 3rd of June. He said, the vessel is carrying crude oil about 2 lakh and 70 thousand metric tonnes. He said, all indian seafarers are safe in the region and no incident involving Indian seafarers either on Indian flagged or foreign flagged merchant vessel has been reported.

An oil tanker carrying sorely needed petroleum for India has cleared the Strait of Hormuz, according to several sites that track maritime traffic. An India-bound oil tanker, Nissos Keros, has successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz and is en route to Visakhapatnam, with an expected arrival on June 3. The Marshall Islands-flagged vessel departed Sharjah on May 21 and was tracked in the northern Arabian Sea off India’s west coast this morning.

Iran’s news agency reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy had facilitated the passage of 23 commercial vessels through the strait in 24 hours, amid ongoing tensions over proposed transit fees by Tehran. Iran has proposed regulating maritime traffic via a new authority, while the United Nations maintains that imposing transit fees in international waters is illegal. The United States, led by Donald Trump, has called for free navigation through the strategic waterway, which handles a significant share of global oil and gas shipments. Iran’s actions have effectively tightened control over a critical global energy chokepoint, through which nearly 20% of the world’s oil and gas shipments pass, triggering a wider energy crunch and economic disruption.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national leadership has appointed sitting MLA Abhishek Debroy as the new President of the BJP Tripura Pradesh unit with immediate effect. Debroy succeeds Rajya Sabha MP Rajib Bhattacharjee, who served as the state party president from 2022 to 2026. According to an official notification issued on May 28, 2026, by BJP National General Secretary Arun Singh, the appointment was finalized by BJP National President Nitin Nabin.

Congratulating the newly appointed chief, Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha expressed confidence that under Debroy’s dynamic leadership and organisational vision.

 Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held a series of high-level engagements in Toronto aimed at strengthening economic and investment ties between India and Canada, while advancing negotiations for the proposed India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

In a series of posts on X, Goyal said he addressed the opening ministerial plenary session titled “From Political Reset to Commercial Delivery” alongside Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu.

During the session, Goyal highlighted India’s continued efforts to improve ease of doing business and create an investor-friendly environment. He invited Canadian businesses and industry leaders to actively participate in India’s growth journey.

The Union Minister said the proposed CEPA would serve as a major catalyst for expanding bilateral trade and investment while opening new avenues for cooperation across sectors. He expressed confidence that the next phase of India-Canada economic relations would be driven by trust and shared prosperity.

Goyal also co-chaired the “Canada-India Investment Roundtable” with Sidhu, where discussions were held with leading Canadian pension funds, sovereign and institutional investors, members of the Canada-India Business Council, and other stakeholders.

The discussions focused on India’s infrastructure expansion, financial sector reforms and policy initiatives aimed at attracting global investments. Goyal invited investors to explore opportunities in clean energy, technology, digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, manufacturing and supply chain diversification.

He also underlined the importance of stronger collaboration in financial markets to support sustainable economic growth in both countries.

During his visit, Goyal held separate meetings with several prominent business leaders and corporate executives.

He met V. Prem Watsa, Chairman & CEO, Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, to discuss India’s economic growth trajectory and opportunities for collaboration in infrastructure, manufacturing, logistics, financial services and clean energy. The minister acknowledged Fairfax Financial Holdings’ long-standing investments in India, including its stake in Bengaluru International Airport.

Goyal also met Philip Witherington, President & CEO of Manulife Financial Corporation, to discuss investment opportunities in India’s expanding financial services ecosystem.

In another meeting, he interacted with Kevin Strain, President & CEO, Sun Life Canada, regarding opportunities for collaboration in insurance, retirement solutions, healthcare financing and long-term investments. Goyal noted Sun Life’s longstanding contribution to India’s insurance and financial services sector.

The Union Minister also held talks with Raymond Chun, President & CEO of Toronto Dominion Bank Group (TD Canada), on enhancing cooperation in banking, fintech, digital payments and investment facilitation.

In the strategic minerals sector, Goyal met Rahim Suleman, President & CEO of Neo Performance Materials, to discuss strengthening India-Canada cooperation in critical minerals, rare earth processing and advanced materials essential for clean technologies and future industries. The discussions also focused on building resilient supply chains and promoting value addition in the sector.

Goyal further met Max Koeune, President & CEO of McCain Foods, and discussed expanding cooperation in food processing, cold-chain infrastructure, sustainable agriculture and supply chain innovation. He acknowledged McCain Foods’ longstanding presence in India and its support for local farmers through potato sourcing initiatives.

During his visit, Goyal also paid tribute at the Air India Flight 182 Memorial at Humber Bay Park, remembering the victims of the 1985 Air India Flight 182 bombing. He met family members of several victims and reiterated that India and Canada are working together to ensure such tragedies are never repeated.

Addressing members of the Indian diaspora at a community reception hosted by the Consulate General of India in Toronto, Goyal highlighted India’s economic transformation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also emphasised the opportunities emerging through CEPA in trade, investment, innovation and people-to-people partnerships.

The minister said the Indian diaspora continues to act as a strong bridge between India and Canada through contributions in business, technology, academia and community leadership.

Goyal also visited the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, where he offered prayers for peace, prosperity and well-being. He described the temple as a symbol of spirituality, harmony and the deep cultural ties connecting India and Canada.

The central focus of the visit is the advancement of India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, CEPA negotiations. The Terms of Reference were signed during Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to India in March this year. The first round of negotiations was conducted virtually in March, and the second round concluded on 8th May.

During this visit, a further round of negotiations will be conducted in Ottawa from 25th to 29th May. Both sides are working towards an early conclusion of a balanced and mutually beneficial CEPA by end of 2026, with a shared ambition to expand bilateral trade to 70 billion Canadian dollars by 2030. 

The CBSE noted that in all cases of excess payment, the exact excess amounts will be refunded to the same payment method which was used for payment. Similarly, in cases where lesser payment was deducted, candidates shall be informed separately regarding payment of the balance amount, if required. It further noted that scanned copies of the evaluated answer books shall be provided in all such cases, without candidates being required to submit fresh requests.

In a post on X, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said the supplies have been sent in response to the emerging Ebola public health emergency. He added that India remains committed to supporting Africa in responding to the crisis, in coordination with the African Union.

The assistance reflects India’s continued engagement with African nations in strengthening public health systems and responding to health emergencies. New Delhi has consistently extended support to partner countries during outbreaks and natural disasters as part of its global humanitarian outreach.

Ebola is a severe and often fatal viral disease, with outbreaks requiring urgent public health response and coordinated international support. 

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio today held wide-ranging discussions in New Delhi.

Both leaders reaffirmed the strength of the India-US strategic partnership and outlined key areas of cooperation, including trade, energy, mobility and regional security.

Dr Jaishankar said India and the US share a comprehensive global strategic partnership with deep and broad-based cooperation. He said both countries’ ties impact and influence the world and that they have converging interests across several regions.

He noted that discussions took place in a complex global environment and expressed confidence in open and productive talks.

He also highlighted the need to conclude a trade agreement at the earliest, welcomed the expansion in energy trade, and stressed that diversified energy supplies are vital for India’s energy security. 

Dr Jaishankar also underlined the importance of people-to-people ties and said legal mobility should not be adversely affected. India’s position in favour of dialogue and diplomacy, as well as safe and unimpeded maritime commerce, was also reiterated.

On the Iran conflict, Mr Jaishankar said that both India and the United States have a strong interest in ensuring that global energy prices remain low and that there is unimpeded commerce.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, strongly underscored the strategic dimension of the partnership, describing India as one of the United States’ most important partners in the world.

He said both countries have suffered due to terrorism and added that India and the US are strategically aligned on all key issues that will define the new century.

Secretary Rubio further said the two countries are also strategically aligned on energy. Responding to a question, he said the United States is modernising its immigration system for the 21st century.

Responding to a question on Iran, he said there is good news on that front and indicated that further positive developments are expected in the next few hours.

The leaders also discussed regional issues, including developments in the Gulf and the Indo-Pacific ahead of the upcoming Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

Earlier in the opening remark, Mr Jaishankar said that India and the United States share a comprehensive global strategic partnership marked by deep and broad-based cooperation.

The External Affairs Minister said that the relationship between India and the US impacts and influences not only the two countries, but also other regions and the wider world.

He said both nations have converging interests on many issues and across several parts of the world. Dr Jaishankar added that these are complicated times, but expressed confidence that the two sides will have open and productive discussions.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in India yesterday on a four-day visit to participate in the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, which will be held on the 26th of this month.

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will participate in the meeting.

The leaders are expected to exchange views on advancing Quad cooperation across priority areas and review progress on ongoing initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region and other issues of mutual concern.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited Swedish companies to enhance their presence in India under initiatives such as Make In India, National Green Hydrogen Mission and National Critical Mineral Mission. During an interaction with selected Swedish CEOs in Gothenburg, Mr Modi made a strong pitch to Swedish companies to enhance their presence in India in manufacturing, the green hydrogen mission, clean energy and other sectors.

Emphasising that India and Sweden are connected by the shared values of democracy, transparency, innovation and sustainability, Mr Modi called for combining Sweden’s strengths in innovation and sustainability with India’s scale, talent and growth momentum. Highlighting India’s rapid economic transformation, Mr Modi mentioned strong domestic demand, digital public infrastructure, manufacturing expansion and next-generation infrastructure development in India.

The discussions also focused on strengthening cooperation in resilient supply chains, green transition, sustainable mobility, life sciences and digital technologies. Prime Minister underlined the importance of combining Sweden’s strengths in innovation and sustainability with India’s scale, talent and growth momentum to co-create solutions for the 21st century.

About India-Sweden relations, Mr Modi said both countries are working on developing a long-term industrial partnership beyond the buyer-seller relationship. In January, India and the European Union (EU) concluded the Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Prime Minister said, the FTA will provide opportunities for “industry, investors and innovators” and quoted the earlier comments by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who had described the pact as the “mother of all deals”.

Tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated once again after President Donald Trump issued a fresh warning to Tehran, with negotiations remaining stalled over uranium stockpiles, sanctions relief, and compensation for war-related damages following months of unrest across West Asia.

In a social media post Trump said, time is running out and urged Tehran to move quickly toward an agreement. The US President’s sharp remarks came just hours after Iranian media revealed Washington’s core conditions for resuming negotiations. According to Iranian media reports, the US wants Iran to hand over 400 kilograms of enriched uranium to US and keep only one nuclear facility active. US also wants to drop demands for war compensation and accept that most frozen Iranian assets will stay blocked.

Washington also reportedly wants regional conflicts to end only after negotiations are completed. Meanwhile, Iran rejected these terms and set its own conditions for restarting talks. Tehran said military operations in the region, especially in Lebanon, must stop, sanctions must be lifted and frozen Iranian assets must be released.

Iran also demanded compensation for war damages and recognition of its control over the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz remains a major point of tension, with Iran tightening shipping controls while the US increases pressure through naval actions and sanctions. Although a ceasefire was reached earlier this year but no long-term political agreement has been achieved. Diplomatic efforts are currently frozen after both Iran and the US rejected each other’s latest proposals last week.