Morning Digest: Education Ministry notifies NCERT as deemed university; Trump announces destruction of Iran’s tallest bridge, and more

The Hindu Morning Digest gives a select list of stories to start the day. Read the top news today on April 3, 2026

The Centre has discontinued the implementation of several scholarship schemes for minority students beyond 2021-22, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju tells Rajya Sabha on Monday (March 30, 3036). The Minister was responding to a question by Member of Parliament (CPI-M) from Kerala, John Brittas, who had sought details of the scholarship schemes currently available for the minority students at all stages of education and the number of beneficiaries, State-wise.

The Education Ministry has issued a notification declaring the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT), as an institution deemed to be a university, enabling it to offer courses/programmes and confer degrees. The notification confers this status on the NCERT, along with its six regional institutes, provided that a list of conditions is met.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday (April 2, 2026) the tallest bridge in Iran had been destroyed, hours after threatening to bomb the country “back to the Stone Ages.” Ghodratollah Seif, the Deputy Governor of Alborz Province, where the B1 bridge is located, said the strike had killed eight people and wounded 95 others, according to state TV and Fars news agency.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday (April 2, 2026) asked the National Investigation Agency to investigate the violence in Malda district of West Bengal, where seven judicial officers were gheraoed by a mob on Wednesday (April 1, 2026) evening. During the hearing on the matter on Thursday (April 2, 2026), the Supreme Court had directed the commission to entrust the investigation into the incident to an independent agency, such as the Central Bureau of Investigation or the National Investigation Agency.

U.S. President Donald Trump removed Attorney General Pam Bondi from her post on Thursday (April 2, 2026), a White House official said, following mounting frustration with ​her performance, including her handling of investigative files related to the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey ‌Epstein. Mr. Trump had also reportedly grown frustrated that Ms. Bondi was not moving quickly enough ​to prosecute critics and adversaries who he wanted to face criminal charges.

The Delhi High Court on Thursday granted a final opportunity to former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and others to respond to a plea by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking to expunge “unwarranted” remarks made against it by a trial court while discharging them in the liquor case. Noting that none of the respondents except one had filed their replies despite seeking time earlier, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said arguments would be heard on April 22. “Last opportunity is granted to file reply, failing which the right to file reply will close. Arguments will be heard on the next date of hearing,” the court said.