This roundup covers the main headlines from India on April 30, 2026, as exit polls in several key state elections dominated the news alongside other major developments.
Exit polls and state elections
A cluster of exit polls forecasted mixed outcomes across five state and union territory ballots held over the past month: Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry. Official counting and the declaration of results are scheduled for Monday, May 4.
– Assam: Multiple forecasts showed the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) retaining power for a third consecutive term in the 126-seat assembly.
– Kerala: All polls predicted a change of power, with the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) expected to emerge victorious.
– Tamil Nadu: Most exit polls projected the incumbent DMK-led alliance, headed by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, to retain power. One poll (Axis My India) unexpectedly suggested actor-turned-politician Vijay’s new party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), could become the single-largest party in its electoral debut. The AIADMK-led NDA was widely predicted to fall short.
– Puducherry: The NDA alliance led by the All India N.R. Congress (AINRC) and the BJP was expected to return for a second term with a comfortable margin.
– West Bengal: Projections were mixed. Two pollsters gave the BJP a narrow majority in the 294-member assembly, while another showed Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) crossing the majority mark. Two more agencies were due to release results later.
Exit polls in India have had a mixed track record given the country’s vast and diverse electorate, so final verification will await the official count.
Supreme Court and abortion law for minors
India’s Supreme Court said the law on abortion must be amended to remove time limits for legally terminating pregnancies that result from the rape of minor girls. The observation came while hearing a curative petition by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) challenging an earlier Supreme Court order that allowed a 15-year-old to terminate a 30-week pregnancy. The court refused to entertain the curative plea and urged lawmakers to amend the medical termination law so that no statutory time limit applies in cases of rape of minors. The bench emphasized that the decision should rest with the minor and her parents rather than the State or medical institutions.
Aviation crisis
Reports highlighted systemic risks in India’s aviation sector after planning changes tied to revised pilot rest rules that took effect in late 2025 left major low-cost carrier IndiGo struggling to roster crews effectively. The resulting disruptions stranded many passengers and exposed vulnerabilities in a market where a single carrier holds significant dominance. Broadcast reports and a DW video examined the nationwide impact and the broader regulatory and planning failures that contributed to the crisis.
Weather: Delhi respite
A sudden weather shift brought rain, gusty winds and hail to the National Capital Region, offering relief from a persistent heatwave. Dark clouds and intense showers hit parts of New Delhi and suburbs such as Ghaziabad and Noida, prompting an Orange alert from the weather agency and noticeably cooler temperatures.
Bengaluru wall collapse and inspections
Following an 8-foot compound wall collapse at the Sri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hospital in Bengaluru that killed seven people, including a child, the Karnataka government ordered inspections of hospital buildings and compound walls under its purview. Three people were injured and hospitalized. The state ordered probes to determine causes, promised action, and announced compensation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as “unfortunate” and announced compensation for victims.
Madhya Pradesh road accident
A pick-up van carrying around 46 passengers overturned and collided with a car in Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh, killing at least 15 laborers and injuring more than 30. Most of the dead were reported to be women and children. Authorities launched an investigation; preliminary reports cited overloading as a possible factor. The Prime Minister expressed sorrow and announced compensation; the state chief minister ordered care for the injured and additional compensation for next of kin.
Koh-i-Noor diamond renewed calls for return
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani used King Charles III’s US state visit as an occasion to urge that Britain return the Koh-i-Noor diamond to India. The 105.6-carat gem, part of the British Crown Jewels and displayed in the Tower of London, remains a contested symbol of colonial-era dispossession; India, Pakistan and Afghanistan have all laid claim historically. Mamdani — who has Indian heritage — said he would encourage the monarch to return the diamond.
Other brief items
– A magnitude 4.1 earthquake struck Leh in Ladakh early on the morning of April 30; no major damage was reported in initial accounts.
– DW’s New Delhi studio updated readers with a daily capsule of the biggest headlines, noting that political attention in New Delhi was focused on the ripples from the exit-poll projections.
Context and next steps
The exit polls set expectations and framed political narratives ahead of Monday’s official count. Given the inconsistencies that sometimes appear in exit-polling results across India’s varied states and constituencies, observers and parties will be watching May 4 for definitive outcomes.