Highlights of India Today Hindi – 15th April 2026 issue:

Cover Story: Assembly Elections 2026 
Kshatrapon Ki Agnipariksha
One a veteran, another a fiery fighter, the third a political scion who has proved his mettle, and the fourth a master of the political game. The coming assembly elections are a contest of towering personalities, each commanding an arena of national import. In West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, seeking a fourth con¬secutive term, faces a high-stakes battle against the BJP. In Kerala, the stakes for Pinarayi Vijayan are existential: a defeat could write the political epitaph of not just the octo¬g¬e¬na¬rian CM but also of the Left. The contests in Tamil Nadu and Assam are about consolidation.

Upfront: Naxalism
Laal Atank Ko Akhiri Sallam
As Amit Shah declares victory over the six-decade-old Naxal insurgency, securing lasting peace is the next step

States: Maharashtra
Tantra Se Tan Ka Shikari
The bizarre case of a multiple rape accused godman, Kharat Baba, stirs up Maharashtra

States: Gujarat
Kuchh Aur Pasre UCC ke Paon
The original home of Hindutva—Gujarat—gets to experiment with India’s second draft of the Uniform Civil Code. Though nuancing Uttarakhand’s version, it preserves its blind spots on constitutional freedoms

Society and Trends: E-sports
Gaming Ki Duniya Me Dikha Rahi Dam
Around 40 per cent of India’s 500 million gamers are now estimated to be women, with many going pro, winning huge audiences, sponsorships and tournaments,