Morning Digest: Trump considering ‘winding down’ Iran war but rules out ceasefire; UNI office sealed in Delhi as staffers allege manhandling by the police, and more

The Hindu Morning Digest gives a select list of stories to start the day. Read the top news today on March 21, 2026

President Donald Trump said that the United States was considering “winding down” military operations against Iran but was not seeking a ceasefire with the Islamic republic. Mr. Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said the United States was “getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East”.

India’s core industrial growth slowed sharply even before the crisis in West Asia began, with government data showing growth in the eight core sectors of the economy slowing to a three-month low of 2.3% in February 2026. This slowdown in February, as shown by the data on the Index of Eight Core Industries released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Friday, comes at a time when economists and policymakers are expecting a further slowdown in March in response to the supply and export constraints brought on by the war in West Asia. 

The Delhi Police along with paramilitary forces allegedly dragged at least 50 journalists out of the United News of India’s (UNI) Rafi Marg office following a court order over a land dispute. Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Sachin Sharma told The Hindu that the Delhi Police along with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel visited the premises of the UNI office to provide security to the Land and Development Office after the High Court gave an order to vacate the premises in favour of the latter. “

The Uttarakhand High Court refused to quash an FIR lodged against Kotdwar-based gym owner Deepak Kumar who came into national focus after he confronted a group of right-wing activists accused of harassing a 71-year-old Muslim shop owner and pressuring him to rename his store in the town on January 26. A video of the confrontation later went viral, particularly for the moment when he identified himself as ‘Mera naam Mohammad Deepak’.

The Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026, that is likely to be tabled in the Rajya Sabha next week, states that in all CAPFs, 50% of the total posts in the rank of Inspector General, at least 67% posts in the rank of Additional Director General and all posts in the rank of Special Director General and Director General shall be filled by Indian Police Service (IPS) officers on deputation. Till now, such postings were done based on executive orders, and the Bill will codify the provisions.

The Supreme Court observed that State officials who by their “lethargy and inaction” allowed sand mining to flourish in the fragile lotic ecosystem of the National Chambal Sanctuary would be vicariously liable aiding and abetting. A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, in a suo motu case, reminded Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, in whose tri-junction the sanctuary is located, that every act of destruction of wildlife habitat in a protected area would attract offences and penalties under multiple laws, including the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.