This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
Today is the 25th of March and here are the headlines.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget 2025-26 Reply
In her reply to the Finance Bill debate, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted that the 2025-26 Union Budget offers "unprecedented tax relief" to honor taxpayers and aims to boost domestic production and enhance export competitiveness. She emphasized the introduction of provisions and reforms via the Finance Bill, hoping for their discussion in the upcoming Monsoon session. Sitharaman also noted that the new Income Tax Bill will be taken up for detailed discussion during Parliament's next Monsoon session.
Mumbai Police Summon Comedian Kunal Kamra Over Eknath Shinde Remarks
Amid controversy over comedian Kunal Kamra’s remarks about Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, Mumbai police have summoned Kamra for questioning. The remarks, calling Shinde a ‘traitor’ during a stand-up show, sparked public debate. Kamra, who lives in Puducherry, has been asked to appear before the Khar police by 11 am Tuesday. In response, Shinde acknowledged the importance of freedom of expression but stressed that satire should have its limits. Shiv Sena workers also vandalized the Mumbai studio where Kamra performed.
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta Unveils BJP's First Budget in 26 Years
On Tuesday, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta presented the BJP’s first budget for the national capital in 26 years. With a record allocation of ₹1 lakh crore for 2025-26, the budget reflects a 31.5% increase over the previous year. Gupta focused on key areas like infrastructure, roads, water, and electricity, aiming to transform Delhi into a "Viksit Delhi." Criticizing the AAP government’s record, she promised modern expressways and congestion-free corridors, vowing to reshape Delhi’s infrastructure.
Second Body Found in SLBC Tunnel Collapse in Telangana
Rescue teams on Tuesday recovered a second body from the site of the SLBC tunnel collapse in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district. The body was found 50 meters from the original collapse site, where eight workers were trapped on February 22. One body was recovered on March 9, identified as Gurpreet Singh from Punjab. The Telangana government had decided to continue search operations, leading to the discovery of the second body the following day, though the identity remains unknown.
Journalist Accidentally Added to US Military Strike Chat on Signal
In a major security breach, journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was accidentally added to a private Signal chat about secret US military plans targeting the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The chat included senior Trump administration officials, such as Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, discussing classified operations. Although Signal is encrypted, it's not approved for sharing sensitive government information. Goldberg deleted the sensitive material, but the incident raised questions about security and accountability in government communications.
That's all for the today. This was the CatchuUp on 3 Things by The Indian Express.
Today is the 25th of March and here are the headlines.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget 2025-26 Reply
In her reply to the Finance Bill debate, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted that the 2025-26 Union Budget offers "unprecedented tax relief" to honor taxpayers and aims to boost domestic production and enhance export competitiveness. She emphasized the introduction of provisions and reforms via the Finance Bill, hoping for their discussion in the upcoming Monsoon session. Sitharaman also noted that the new Income Tax Bill will be taken up for detailed discussion during Parliament's next Monsoon session.
Mumbai Police Summon Comedian Kunal Kamra Over Eknath Shinde Remarks
Amid controversy over comedian Kunal Kamra’s remarks about Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, Mumbai police have summoned Kamra for questioning. The remarks, calling Shinde a ‘traitor’ during a stand-up show, sparked public debate. Kamra, who lives in Puducherry, has been asked to appear before the Khar police by 11 am Tuesday. In response, Shinde acknowledged the importance of freedom of expression but stressed that satire should have its limits. Shiv Sena workers also vandalized the Mumbai studio where Kamra performed.
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta Unveils BJP's First Budget in 26 Years
On Tuesday, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta presented the BJP’s first budget for the national capital in 26 years. With a record allocation of ₹1 lakh crore for 2025-26, the budget reflects a 31.5% increase over the previous year. Gupta focused on key areas like infrastructure, roads, water, and electricity, aiming to transform Delhi into a "Viksit Delhi." Criticizing the AAP government’s record, she promised modern expressways and congestion-free corridors, vowing to reshape Delhi’s infrastructure.
Second Body Found in SLBC Tunnel Collapse in Telangana
Rescue teams on Tuesday recovered a second body from the site of the SLBC tunnel collapse in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district. The body was found 50 meters from the original collapse site, where eight workers were trapped on February 22. One body was recovered on March 9, identified as Gurpreet Singh from Punjab. The Telangana government had decided to continue search operations, leading to the discovery of the second body the following day, though the identity remains unknown.
Journalist Accidentally Added to US Military Strike Chat on Signal
In a major security breach, journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was accidentally added to a private Signal chat about secret US military plans targeting the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The chat included senior Trump administration officials, such as Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, discussing classified operations. Although Signal is encrypted, it's not approved for sharing sensitive government information. Goldberg deleted the sensitive material, but the incident raised questions about security and accountability in government communications.
That's all for the today. This was the CatchuUp on 3 Things by The Indian Express.