Indice dei contenuti per 20 April 2026 in India Today

After a five-week war that scorched nine major economies, we mercifully have a ceasefire of sorts in the Middle East. Yet, much like the ‘Uneasy Truce’ we put on our cover last June, the terms being negotiated are fraught with the possibility of fresh discord between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other. But that is not the focus of this issue. Here, we look at the six other countries to which the war brought disruption on an unforeseen scale. Collectively, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Oman form one of the world’s most vital engines of value creation. Comprising the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), their primary calling card is serving as a critical energy hub, shipping out a fifth…

IF NOT FOR SUCH A THING as an actual Opposition, you would sometimes be hard put to suss out where the enemy lines actually lie in Maharashtra. Check out the latest war report: a fracas during a local election saw two ministers and a Rajya Sabha MP being allegedly assaulted by the police, as two other ministers watched on. Of the victims, one was from the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction); the other two from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Ajit Pawar faction; the onlookers were from the BJP. That is, the three parties that share power in the state. The arrest of self-styled god-man Ashok Kharat, similarly, exacted blood from the NCP, with the state women’s commission chief being scalped and the state president under a cloud. It was…

The expected calm after the announcement of a two-week ceasefire appeared fragile in the United Arab Emirates. Minutes into the ceasefire, a pre-dawn strike hit the Habshan gas complex in the southwestern part of Abu Dhabi—the third attack on the site since March 19. The impact triggered a fire that was quickly contained, but not before three people—including two Emiratis and one Indian—were injured. For many, it was a reminder of how quickly the situation can change. In the Emirates’ first public response, Anwar Gargash, diplomatic advisor to UAE president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, said the country had “triumphed in a war we sincerely sought to avoid”, but cautioned that a ceasefire alone would not resolve the deeper risks driving instability in the region. While the Dubai financial market…

Six weeks into the conflict, the situation in the Gulf has moved from tension to sustained disruption. What was once a narrow diplomatic window, in which Oman was actively engaged in efforts to encourage dialogue and restraint, gave way to a wider crisis marked by significant uncertainty. The announcement of a ceasefire, therefore, is a welcome and important development, offering much-needed space for de-escalation and renewed diplomacy. While it may not by itself resolve the underlying issues, it creates an opportunity to stabilise markets, restore confidence and refocus attention on dialogue, economic resilience and regional cooperation. There is, quite simply, no winner in such a conflict. In the medium to long term, every stakeholder stands to lose. The acceleration of hostilities, coupled with uncertainty about timelines, makes it difficult to…

TAMIL NADU WAR OF WORDS Yes, literally. If you had trouble catching that pun, make that ‘war over words’. Linguistic pride has, well, pride of place as one of the founding strands of Tamil Nadu’s Dravidian politics. Consequently, it’s never been too tough to flash the spectre of ‘Hindi imposition’ to get the native choir to sing in harmony during voting time. The Centre’s renewed invocation of the three-language formula, as a compulsory setting for CBSE schools from Class 6, has only made it a handier plank to deploy, giving M.K. Stalin a red rag to wave about. “Not as long as the DMK is in power,” the CM declares emphatically, in response to Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s imprecations. Like many of his predecessors, he also questioned the lack…

Dark Blooms Writer-photographer Buku Sarkar melds written and visual expression seamlessly in My Dead Flowers, the evocative second volume of Thayil Editions, the poetry series edited and curated by Jeet Thayil for HarperCollins’ Fourth Estate India imprint. The book’s title—which is also the title of one of the poems—echoes Baudelaire’s Les Fleurs du Mal (The Flowers of Evil). The poetry is whimsical and warm, mellow and moody. Sarkar’s subtly crafted black & white photographs, often featuring herself, are sprinkled judiciously across the book and provide the perfect foil to the written word. It is the destiny of flowers to wilt, but poetry, clearly, is not dead. REMEMBRANCE OF THINGS PAST A prolific writer and Indophile, Andrew Robinson has written about everything from Satyajit Ray to Rabindranath Tagore, maharajas, Indian history,…

Q. You are known for comedy, but Jameel Jamali in Dhurandhar is a major shift. How did you land the role and prepare for it? It was a natural process. I worked with Aditya Dhar in Uri; he liked my work, and things progressed from there. As for preparation, my method is very internal. I don’t look like I am obsessively immersed in it, but before shooting, the entire scene plays out in my mind. Q. Do you feel that your image as a comic actor overshadowed the serious actor within you? Not at all. I never gave up on experimentation. I have been continuously doing theatre. Agatha Christie’s famous play Three Blind Mice has been running continuously in London since 1955; we did its Hindi adaptation titled Andhe Chuhe,…

STEAL THE THUNDER When a lipstick is too in your face; lipstain, too subtle a gesture, a lip gloss may be your best bet to seal the deal. YSL LOVESHINE, a plumping lip oil gloss, the latest launch from YSL Beauty, delivers a luscious, hydrated, sparkly pout. Don’t fret much about the slight tingling from the ginger and pepper oil blend that lends a gentle plump, making your lips look fuller and more nourished. This icy-lavender gloss delivers a glassy high-shine finish, while hyaluronic acid and fig pulp hydrate. Price ₹4,000; Availability www.Nykaa.com The Passion Edit When it comes to cinematic expressions of love and passion, Tiffany & Co. has practically reinvented the wheel. The House’s evocative storytelling boldly outlines its V-day collections too, honouring the Maison’s nearly two-century legacy…

Sunken living spaces or ‘conversation pits’ were a popular feature in mid-century homes. The trend slowly disappeared, in part due to the pits’ safety concerns. However, in recent years, there’s been a rise in the popularity of these structures. However, the new, re-imagined pits feature sleek lines, sophisticated materials, and smart technology, which help them become an elegant extension of modern homes. Leading interior designers and architects explain how these spaces are evolving from their 20th-century roots into refined, functional, and aesthetically resonant features of contemporary living. “The old-school sunken seating has evolved into clean, low-profile designs with modular furniture, soft layering through textures, and subtle, integrated lighting,” says Minnie Bhatt, interior designer and founder of Minnie Bhatt Designs. “These spaces are no longer about nostalgia, but about creating warm,…

Breguet’s Tradition line has always been the sort of watch that makes most modern dress watches look a bit timid. While others hide their mechanics behind polished good manners, the Tradition has long put the whole performance on stage, bridges, gears, balance and all. This new 2026 lineup does not tamper with that winning formula so much as sharpen it. The headline move is deceptively simple: Arabic numerals replace Roman ones on select models, Grand Feu enamel steps in where guilloché once held court, and the collection suddenly feels cleaner, fresher and far more current. That sounds like a cosmetic tweak, but it changes the mood entirely. The Tradition still looks unmistakably Breguet, rooted in the architecture of Abraham-Louis Breguet’s early watches, yet now it has a touch more swagger…

For sharp analysis on topical issues by the editors of india today, log on to www.indiatoday.in/india-today-magazine-insight BUSINESS Why a battle for control is brewing at Tata Trusts again By M.G. Arun Starting last October as differences among trustees, the crisis has blown up over a move to ease out non-Parsi trustees from one of the trusts under the Tata Trusts https://shorturl.at/o54t0 NEIGHBOURS Why India needs to be on alert as Pakistan’s western front spirals into chaos By Pradip R. Sagar Military analysts say that the Pakistan Army’s claims of tactical victories are questionable because of their potential for deepening animosity and promoting militancy. This could force it to attempt diversionary posturing on the border with India https://shorturl.at/1HuZ3 GROUND REPORT: FARM FLASHPOINT Procurement pangs: Why MP wheat farmers stare at a…

India may finally be close to getting a dengue vaccine, what public health experts had desperately wanted for years. With dengue cases rising almost every monsoon and cities seeing repeated outbreaks, a vaccine could significantly change how India deals with one of its most persistent seasonal diseases. Japanese drugs manufacturer Takeda Pharma is set to roll out its Qdenga (TAK-003) vaccine in India through a manufacturing partnership with Hyderabad-based Biological E (Bio E). Clinical trials and approval from the health ministry’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) will, of course, be mandatory. The vaccine is already in use in 40 countries, including the UK, Brazil and those in Europe. Dengue is spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito and affects millions in India every year, especially in urban areas. Severe dengue…

The two-week ceasefire agreed to between the United States □ T and Iran late on April 7 has provided a much-needed respite for a conflict that was spiralling frighteningly out of control. For six weeks prior, bewildered populations around the globe—particularly those in south and east Asia most acutely affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz—had anxiously monitored the news, hoping for a positive sign. Their anxiety was exacerbated by the fact that the war’s goals remain undefined, including whether there was any alignment amongst the US, Israel and the Gulf states on the desired outcome. Using his ‘Madman Theory’ of negotiations, President Donald Trump has employed highly disturbing and apocalyptic language—threatening the end of Iranian civilisation—when launching attacks which could have constituted war crimes. Israel, for its part,…

Tensions between the US, Israel and Iran can be traced to the aftermath of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, marking the beginning of a prolonged and evolving confrontation. Over time, this rivalry has largely unfolded through proxy conflicts and strategic positioning, gradually emerging as a central force shaping the geopolitical dynamics of the Middle East. What initially appeared as a contained dispute has expanded into a complex struggle with significant implications for regional stability and the broader international order. One of the most consequential outcomes of this protracted conflict has been the gradual erosion of international law and the weakening of the global system established in the aftermath of the Second World War. Confidence in multilateral institutions and the frameworks governing state behaviours has steadily diminished. Across multiple conflict zones, including…

Q. How serious has the impact of the Iran conflict been on Kuwait and the Gulf so far? It’s too early to tell because the conflict has been ongoing for almost six weeks and we just arrived at a temporary (and one can claim, fragile) two-week ceasefire, so a full assessment isn’t possible yet. But the impact has been visible on several fronts: political, economic, social and psychological. Most clearly, on the economic front, with disruptions caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the dismantling of usual supply chains. Then there are direct attacks on critical infrastructure: oil and gas refineries, power plants, desalination plants, government buildings like the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and ministries, and even residential areas. All of the damage need to be tabulated comprehensively to…

The Audi RS Q8 Performance is one of those cars that makes a strong case for having absolutely no chill. It is big, expensive, thunderously overpowered and entirely un-apologetic about all three. Audi has not built an SUV for shrinking violets here, it has built one for people who think subtlety is overrated and speed should come with a proper V8 soundtrack. The RSQ8 looks the part too. It has the stance of something that has already won the argument, a grille large enough to inhale small weather systems, and the sort of road presence that makes lesser traffic part out of self-preservation. Yet it is not vulgar. There is still enough Audi restraint in the design to stop it from descending into caricature. Think Savile Row muscle, not gym…

FOR ABOUT 22 MONTHS beginning in 2022, Samrat Choudhary wore a saffron turban as a symbol of a project unfinished, publicly vowing not to remove it until he had “dethroned” Nitish Kumar from the chief minister’s post. That was after Nitish ditched the National Democratic Alliance to form the Mahagathbandhan government with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). The antagonist turban did not vanish even after Nitish pivoted back to the BJP in January 2024, with Choudhary enlisted as No. 2. Two years on, the picture has emphatically reversed. Choudhary is within striking distance of Bihar’s throne. And his best asset is that he has Nitish’s backing. The Janata Dal (United) supremo is moving to the Rajya Sabha, and will be formally stepping down as CM. By April 15, Bihar is…

WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND. It’s a lesson several senior police officers in Andhra Pradesh have learned, much to their discomfiture. Nearly two years have passed since the change of guard in the state, and eight IPS officers still find themselves off the ‘active duty’ list—five under prolonged suspension (including two of DGP rank), while three still await posting. Weeks after the Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) took charge in mid-2024, 23 officers were placed on the ‘waiting for posting’ list, while the new government reviewed their controversial roles during the previous YSR Congress regime. Some of them were allotted work at some point. As for the others, TDP insiders frame the actions as a ‘correction’ for their alleged excesses. The Opposition YSRCP, though, says the government is being…

At a moment of acute regional tension, the immediate question was simple: how did the war feel inside Saudi Arabia? The answer was complex. Saudi Arabia is the size of western Europe, and the experience of the war varied sharply by geography. The Eastern Province, overseeing the Gulf and closer to Iran, felt it differently from the western or central regions like Riyadh or Jeddah. That scale mattered. In practical terms, even if something happened in one part of the country, people elsewhere did not feel its effects directly. That was one reason why the war felt less intense here than in some neighbouring, smaller-sized Gulf countries. Another factor is political. Iran was arguably violating the Beijing Declaration of 2023, which pushed for a five-point plan to ensure regional peace, including…

The Arabian Gulf has just emerged from one of its most precarious phases in decades, following a fragile ceasefire that has paused a dangerous cycle of escalation involving the US, Israel and Iran. While the guns have fallen temporarily silent, the realities of modern warfare have already left a deep imprint—bringing the consequences of conflict uncomfortably close to civilian life in countries long perceived as relatively insulated from direct confrontation. Bahrain is one such country, now navigating a complex mix of residual security concerns and longer-term economic uncertainty. The announcement of a ceasefire has provided immediate relief. Yet, it does not erase the structural vulnerabilities exposed during the recent period of escalation. In Bahrain, as in parts of the wider Gulf, missile and drone activity extended beyond strictly military contexts.…

On April 2, Amit Shah was at a rally in Bhabanipur where he struck a markedly measured tone. Gone was the fire and brimstone of 2021, when the Union home minister and BJP No. 2 had predicted over 200 seats for the party (in the 294-member assembly). This time, seeking support for leader of the Opposition and party candidate here, Suvendu Adhikari, Shah scaled the target down to “at least 170 seats”. Still, even if the rhetoric appeared tempered, there was no doubting the confidence behind it. The BJP in Bengal, long criticised for its fragile organisation, believes it has rebuilt itself from booth up. Adhikari’s second nomination from Bhabanipur (he’s also contesting from Nandigram), where he’s taking on chief minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chairperson Mamata Banerjee in her…

Use: Tumour genome sequencing, targeted therapy Success: Survival 2–3 times higher than chemotherapy Cost: Test Rs 20,000–80,000; therapy Rs 1.5–3 lakh/month Available at: AIIMS Delhi, Tata Memorial Hospital Mumbai, Narayana Health Use: Genome testing detects drug resistance early Success: Higher cure rates, faster correct treatment Cost: Genomic test Rs 10,000–Rs 25,000 Available at: AIIMS Delhi, ICMR labs, MedGenome centres Use: Gene therapy replaces defective gene Success: Improvement in survival/mobility Cost: Therapy can cost several crores Available at: AIIMS Delhi, Medanta Gurgaon, Apollo Hospitals Use: Genetic testing identifies disease pathways Success: Helps targeted therapy and clinical trials Cost: Rs 20,000–Rs 50,000 for tests Available at: NIMHANS Bengaluru, AIIMS Delhi, Apollo Hospitals Use: Genetic risk score predicts early heart disease Success: Prevention can start years earlier Cost: Test Rs 10,000–Rs 20,000 Available at: AIIMS…

On April 16, 2026, Safdarjung’s Tomb in Delhi will host a special evening marking the birth centenary of Pandit Chatur Lal—one of the first musicians to take Indian classical percussion to global audiences. Curated by his family, the programme is designed to go beyond performance. It will open with a gallery of archival material, including photographs, documents and personal accounts sourced from across the many countries he performed in. “It’s really about helping people understand who he was, beyond just the name,” says Shruti Chatur Lal, his granddaughter and artistic director and curator of the Pandit Chatur Lal Festival. A short film will follow, featuring archival footage and reflections from leading figures such as Pandit Jasraj and Ustad Bismillah Khan, situating Chatur Lal within the larger history of Indian classical music.…

Timeless prestige is an enduring OMEGA imprimatur. This 30mm Seamaster Aqua Terra is a case in point. A masterpiece of light and form, cast in the radiant glow of 18K Moonshine™ Gold, this is a keeper. A profound tribute to OMEGA’s maritime soul, its symmetrical case is framed by a polished bezel pavé-set with 46 brilliant diamonds, encircling a stunning sun-brushed dial in deep, lacquered green. Every detail is a pursuit in refinement. From the 11 diamond hour markers to the delicate, tapered hands that emit a serene blue luminescence, the watch balances brilliance with clear legibility. At its heart beats the Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8751, an icon of Swiss precision certified to the highest industry standards by METAS. Completing this exceptional ensemble is an integrated bracelet of Moonshine™…

Some smartphones arrive with fireworks. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra takes a quieter route. On paper, it looks familiar. The same 6.9-inch QHD+ display, a 5,000mAh battery and four cameras on the back. At first glance, it feels like a small refresh. But spend time with it and the story changes. The S26 Ultra is built on changes one had asked for. Each improvement feels subtle on its own, yet together they make the phone quicker, smarter and more intuitive. It is less about flashy upgrades and more about a device that quietly gets better at everything it already did well. Sculpted Power Samsung has refined rather than reinvented the Ultra design. The phone remains large, premium and unmistakably flagship. The frame feels solid, the finish is polished and the…

Helmed by Chef Rahul Sharma, this degustation restaurant that started in January was imagined as a journey rather than a destination—one that draws you in with bold flavours that surprise at every turn. The 12-course tasting menu shifts every three months, currently zeroing in on Nagaland from India’s Northeast, unfolding at its own leisurely pace. Many of these courses are meant to be eaten with hands, keeping the sojourn simple, local and memorable. The open kitchen sits right in the middle and visitors are encouraged to walk around between courses and soak in the entire culinary craftsmanship. The experience kicks off gently in Nila’s ‘living room’ with rhododendron tea and crunchy banana chips—a simple, spot-on duo that sets a cosy tone. The meal then gets going with each course expertly…

While the fabled Goodwood carmaker’s Bespoke programme is already a market leader in customised cars, they decided to take it one step further by introducing the Coachbuild Collection. What this essentially means is that Rolls-Royce will build a motorcar entirely from scratch for the customer, never to be repeated—an absolute treat for the customer who puts a premium on exclusivity. To craft this ‘one-off’, and completely extravagant model, the Coachbuild department starts by designing a new body style, atop an existing chassis style, which is then homologated and rendered road-legal, and ready to drive. The owner who commissions this Coachbuild car is then invited to witness the design process with access to the design ateliers as well as an invite to the private proving grounds, where these cars will be…