India's national elections will be held in seven phases from April 11.
The country's election commission announced the schedule of voting on Sunday.
It said counting will be completed and final results announced on May 23.
Some 900 million voters are eligible to vote for a new government for the next five years.
The gigantic voting exercise will see Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking another term in office and the opposition attempting to join forces to put up a fight.
Iran says no final decision made on deal
President Donald Trump has announced on Thursday that the US and Iran could sign a peace deal as soon as this weekend that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, but Iran countered that it had not reached a final decision on an agreement.
Trump cancels US strikes on Iran, citing progress in talks
US President Donald Trump called off plans for renewed military strikes on Iran at the last minute on Thursday, saying negotiations with Tehran had advanced to the highest levels of Iran's leadership and had been approved by a broad coalition of regional powers.
US confirms third strike on Indian-crewed tankers this week
A US jet fired two missiles into the engine room of the tanker Jalveer off Oman on Thursday, US Central Command confirmed, as authorities said the 20 crew members were safe after the third strike on Indian-crewed tankers this week.
UK defence minister Healey quits, says PM Starmer's plans fail to keep country safe
British defence minister John Healey quit on Thursday in a dispute over military spending, accusing Prime Minister Keir Starmer of failing to commit the government resources that are needed to defend the country at a time of heightened threat.
False alarm at the Pentagon triggers brief shelter-in-place order
A false alarm at the Pentagon following an air quality warning briefly triggered a partial shelter-in-place order on Wednesday at the US military's headquarters, as first responders worked to rule out exposure to hazardous materials, officials said.
A Dubai court has sentenced a driver to three months in prison and suspended his driving licence for one year after a dangerous road rage incident.
The UAE has launched a humanitarian initiative called 'Step of Hope' to provide prosthetic limbs for Palestinians who have suffered amputations during the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, has condemned the recent hostile Iranian attacks targeting Kuwait in a phone call with Kuwaiti foreign minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
