Morning brief: Freezing of boundaries may further defer Census 2021, and all the latest news

Here are today's top news, analysis, and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Freezing of boundaries may further delay Census 2021 The Census 2021 exercise may not commence till at least September 2023 since the government has extended the date for states and Union territories to finalise their administrative boundaries by June this year, people aware of the matter said.

Smriti Irani birthday: Actress turned politician turns 47 today

Union Minister Smriti Irani celebrates 47th birthday today; Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP leaders, cricketer Mithali Raj and others extend birthday wishes. Irani, an actress-turned-politician, has served as Union Minister for Education, Information & Broadcasting and Textiles.

‘Amritpal said he would kill if I don't give clothes': What happened in gurdwara

Radical Sikh leader Amritpal Singh took refuge in a gurdwara and threatened the priest's family at gunpoint to give him clothes. He stayed there for 45 minutes and escaped on a bike, which was later found abandoned by the police.

Nation remembers Ram Manohar Lohia on 113th birth anniversary

On his 113th birth anniversary, leaders pay tribute to freedom fighter Ram Manohar Lohia, a forebearer of backward caste and agrarian assertion who changed politics in the heartland forever. PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, and others paid their respects to the great leader.

Gujarat court to pronounce order in case against Rahul Gandhi over Modi remark

A court in Gujarat's Surat is set to deliver its verdict in a criminal defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over an alleged derogatory remark about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surname. Gandhi pleaded not guilty and the Gujarat high court vacated an interim stay on the trial imposed in March 2022. Gandhi will be present in the court when the order is passed and the Congress party has expressed full faith in the judiciary system.

Morning brief: Vijay Mallya had ₹7,500 crore in 2017, enough to repay banks, says CBI; all the latest news

Fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya had ?7,500 crore in 2017, Union Finance Ministry reported over 95,000 UPI fraud cases in 2022-23, Joe Biden expressed solidarity with China's Uyghur minority in a Ramadan message, Sunil Gavaskar warned India for forgetting losses, Nick Jonas shared a video of animated versions of himself and Priyanka Chopra, Malaika Arora looked stunning in a black gown and Shah Rukh Khan reacted to Irfan Pathan's son dancing to his song.

Watch: PM Modi bows to Padma Shri awardee Hirbai Ibrahim Lobi, who is she?

President Droupadi Murmu conferred 106 Padma awards to honour people from different fields for their contributions to society. Among them, Hirbai Ibrahim Lobi, a 70-year-old from Gujarat, was recognised for her work for the Siddi community and women's empowerment. On seeing her, the hall echoed with clapping and PM Modi bowed. Lobi thanked him for bringing the Siddi community to the forefront. She has previously been awarded several prizes for her work.

Over 95,000 UPI fraud cases reported in 2022-23: Centre in Parliament

95,000 fraud cases of UPI transactions were recorded in India in 2022-23, worth ?125 crores, with Singapore, UAE, Mauritius, Nepal and Bhutan adopting the Indian digital payments system. The government has launched a national cybercrime reporting portal to register grievances.

UK-India ties thriving, violence unacceptable: UK foreign secy amid pro-Khalistan protests

UK foreign secretary James Cleverly has assured the security of the Indian High Commission in London after pro-Khalistani groups protested outside and threw water bottles and smoke flares at the main gate. India has responded with a tit-for-tat move, reducing security outside the British High Commission and envoy's residence in New Delhi.

Shaheed Diwas: Nation remembers Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on death anniversary

On March 23, 'Shaheed Diwas' is commemorated to remember Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Hari Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar who were hanged in 1931. Several events are organised across India to pay tribute to the iconic freedom fighters. Union minister Nitin Gadkari, Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla, Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya paid their respects. Chandigarh has announced a holiday today.

'Whose dargah? Will build temple if': Structure razed after Raj Thackeray's dare

MNS Chief Raj Thackeray warned that if an 'illegal dargah' near Mahim coast in Mumbai is not demolished, the party would construct a Ganpati temple at the same place. He showed a video of the stretch with people visiting and offering their respect. He asked Indian Muslims to speak against Pakistan and praised Javed Akhtar for doing the same.

Amritpal Singh on a cart with bike in new photo; wife, mother questioned

Punjab Police spotted the motorbike in which Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh was ferried out of the gurdwara. A new photo has surfaced showing him on a three-wheeler cart with an associate. Police have questioned his mother and wife and suspect he changed his appearance to deceive them. He changed cars and then a motorbike before being seen on a three-wheeler cart.

Indian railways reduces fare of AC 3-tier economy class tickets

Railways on Wednesday issued an order to restore the fare for AC 3-tier economy class travel which had been merged with AC 3-tier in November last year. This will allow passengers to book tickets under a separate category and refund of extra amount for pre-booked tickets will be given. The class offers better facilities than normal AC 3 coaches and generated Rs 231 crore in its first year of introduction.

Delhiwale: Chelmsford lives

On Chelmsford Road in Delhi, stark disparities exist between elegant bungalows and homeless citizens living on the footpath. Each homeless person seems to be alone, and barely noticeable. Encounters with the homeless reveal tales of poverty, loneliness and despair, while colourful drawings of a white heron and the current year bring a glimmer of hope.

Shah inaugurates temple in Kashmir, lauds Modi for restoring peace

Union Home Minister Amit Shah virtually inaugurated the Mata Sharda Devi temple near the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district. He said the abrogation of Article 370 has restored the Valley and Jammu to their old traditions and Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb. The temple was constructed following a campaign by Ravinder Pandita, a Kashmiri migrant. The minister also promised to open the Sharda Peeth pilgrimage on the lines of Kartarpur Corridor.

Khalistan supporters again stage stir at Indian mission in London

Pro-Khalistani groups staged a massive protest outside the Indian high commission in London on Wednesday, throwing water bottles and smoke flares at the main gate. The protest was in response to the Punjab Police's attempt to nab Amritpal Singh and the alleged police repression in Punjab. The Indian high commission unfurled an additional Tricolour from its terrace, which seemed to further rile the protestors. New Delhi has apprised the UK authorities about the activities of pro-Khalistani groups, demanding sterner action. Indian high commissioner, Vikram Doraiswami, denied the "sensationalist lies" on social media about the situation in Punjab.