New Delhi, Apr 2 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 5 PM NATION DEL26 PM-LD GOVERNANCE (2.12 PM) **** Need to follow ‘citizen first’ mantra, continuously update governance: PM to public servants New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday stressed the need to continuously update governance with the rapidly changing times to ensure ease of living for citizens. **** DEL25 GOVT-DATA-INDIAN LD LABOURERS (1.50 PM) **** Over 20 Indian workers died abroad daily in last 5 years, most in Gulf nations: Govt data New Delhi: Disturbing statistics about the conditions of Indian workers abroad reveal that over 20 individuals have died on foreign soil each day over the past five years, with most fatalities occurring in Gulf nations. **** DEL40 DEF-INDIA-LD-EXPORTS (4.29 PM) **** India’s defence exports rise 62 pc to hit record Rs 38,424 crore in FY26 New Delhi: India’s annual defence exports touched an all-time high of Rs 38,424 crore in the financial year 2025-26, marking more than 62 per cent growth over the previous fiscal year, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday. **** DEL30 DL-AAP-LD CHADHA (3.01 PM) **** AAP moves to replace Raghav Chadha as Rajya Sabha deputy leader New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has written to the Rajya Sabha secretariat seeking the removal of its MP Raghav Chadha as the party’s deputy leader in the House, and has proposed Punjab MP Ashok Mittal as his replacement, sources said on Thursday. **** PAR9 RS-CESS SHORTFALL (1.18 PM) **** CAG flags Rs 3.69 lakh cr cess transfer shortfall; RJD MP demands accountability in Rajya Sabha New Delhi: A Rajya Sabha member from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Thursday flagged a significant shortfall in the central government’s transfer of cess collections to designated funds, citing a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report that revealed lapses spanning five decades. **** BOM9 CG-HC-MURDER-LD JOGI (3.24 PM) **** Amit Jogi convicted in 2-decade-old murder case of NCP leader; HC orders surrender in 3 weeks Bilaspur: Nearly 23 years after the murder of NCP leader Ramavatar Jaggi, the Chhattisgarh High Court on Thursday convicted former CM Ajit Jogi’s son Amit Jogi in the case, and directed him to surrender within three weeks, the CBI’s counsel said. **** BOM12 MH-COURT-KHARAT-CUSTODY (4.23 PM) **** ‘Godman’ Kharat sent to 7-day police custody by Nashik court in second rape case Nashik: A court in Maharashtra’s Nashik district on Thursday remanded self-styled godman Ashok Kharat to seven-day police custody in a second rape case where he is accused of sexually exploiting a woman on multiple occasions since 2020 under the guise of religious rituals. **** CAL31 WB-POLLS-2NDLD MAMATA (3.23 PM) **** Mamata condemns attack on judicial officers, says BJP ‘plotting’ unrest for President’s rule Suti/Sagardighi (WB): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday stepped up her attack on the BJP and the Election Commission over the Malda judicial officers gherao, accusing Union Home Minister Amit Shah of scripting a “blueprint of conspiracy” to foment unrest in the state and ultimately pave the way for President’s rule ahead of the assembly polls. **** CAL27 AS-POLLS-LD RAHUL (1.43 PM) **** Himanta ‘most corrupt CM’ in India; Modi, Shah, Sarma running ‘land ATM’ in Assam: Rahul Gandhi Bokajan (Assam): Calling Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma the “most corrupt CM” in India, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged that Sarma, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, is running a “land ATM” in the state to give land to big corporates by snatching it from the public. **** MDS61 TN-POLLS-LD STALIN (4.03 PM) **** ”NDA”s betrayal includes strangling MSMEs” amid West Asia crisis, alleges Stalin at poll rally Erode (Tamil Nadu): DMK President, Chief Minister M K Stalin, on Thursday, alleged that the NDA’s betrayals include ‘strangling’ the MSMEs during the ongoing West Asia crisis. **** LEGAL LGD24 SC-WB-2NDLD SIR (4.48 PM) **** SC says Bengal most polarised, orders CBI/NIA probe into judicial officers gherao incident New Delhi: Terming West Bengal as the “most polarised state”, the Supreme Court on Thursday slammed the administration for its “complete failure” and inaction over the “deplorable” gherao and attack on seven judicial officers in Malda district during the electoral rolls revision drive and directed a CBI or NIA probe besides deployment of central forces in the poll-bound state. **** LGD21 SC-ILLEGAL MINING (4.16 PM) **** SC slams Rajasthan, stays notification de-notifying 732 hectares of National Chambal Sanctuary New Delhi: Slamming the Rajasthan government for “facilitating” illegal sand mining, the Supreme Court on Thursday stayed its notification de-notifying 732 hectares of the National Chambal Sanctuary, saying it will not allow de-notification of any reserve land for protected species. **** BUSINESS DEL32 BIZ-PMI-MANUFACTURING (3.39 PM) **** India’s mfg sector growth slips to 4-year low in Mar amid cost pressures, Middle East crisis: PMI New Delhi: India’s manufacturing sector growth eased to a four-year low in March as cost pressures, fierce competition, heightened market uncertainty and the war in the Middle East led to softer increases in new orders and output, a monthly report said on Thursday. **** DEL46 BIZ-2ND LD IMPORT DUTY-CUT (4.55 PM) **** West Asia crisis: Govt exempts import duty on key petrochemical products till June New Delhi: The government on Thursday exempted import of critical petrochemical products from customs duty for three months till June 30, giving relief to sectors like pharmaceuticals, chemicals and textiles, and ensuring supply stability amid the ongoing West Asia crisis. **** FOREIGN FGN26 US-INDIA-CHAUDHARY (9.16 AM) **** People ‘strongest bridges’ of India-US relationship: Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary Washington: The India-US relationship is increasingly anchored in innovation and talent, and people are one of the “strongest bridges” of the bilateral ties, Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary said here. By Sagar Kulkarni **** FGN43 PAK-AFGHAN-FO (4.45 PM) **** Pak holding talks with Afghanistan’s Taliban govt: Foreign Office Islamabad: Pakistan on Thursday confirmed it was holding talks with Afghanistan’s Taliban government to end the ongoing conflict while demanding that Kabul must “demonstrate visible and verifiable actions” against terrorists. By Sajjad Hussain **** PTI APL APL