India news: Iran says US strike on Delhi-bound plane a 'war crime

 The Iranian embassy in India has slammed the US strike on Mashhad Airport that reportedly hit a plane used for aid. Meanwhile, India is gearing up for the survey of the decade. Follow DW. Iran has accused the US of targeting a civilian aircraft on the ground at Mashhad Airport, reportedly on a humanitarian mission to India, and is callingit a war crime. India's first digital nationwide census is set to begin, a process that will take an entire year.

Here's a roundup of the biggest headlines from India on Tuesday, March 31:

Iran says strike on India-bound plane a 'war crime' Iran has accused the US and Isarel of carrying out a "war crime" after a Iranian aircraft, reportedly on a humanitarian mission to India, was damaged in a US strike on Mashhad Airport.

The Iranian Embassy in India released a statement by the the Islamic Republic's civilian aviation authority, saying: "The attack on an Iranian aircraft carrying medicines and medical equipment constitutes a war crime and a clear violation of international law."

On Monday, news agency ANI cited Iranian unnamed officials saying the plane in question was scheduled to fly to New Delhi on April 1 as part of India's ongoing mission to provide humanitarian aid to Iran.

Despite its proclaimed neutral stance in the US-Israel war with Iran, New Delhi has been sending aid supplies to the Middle Eastern nation citing long-standing humanitarian ties.

Iran "strongly condemned the Israeli-American attack on an Iranian civilian aircraft transporting medicines and medical equipment from several countries to Iran, which had landed at Mashhad Airport."

The statement said that targeting a civilian aircraft engaged in humanitarian aid missions was a "blatant violation" of international aviation laws and the Geneva Conventions.

The US has not confirmed or responded to allegations of air strikes on civilian planes at the Mashhad Airport. New Delhi is yet to comment on the matter.

Welcome to our coverage Good morning! and welcome to DW's India news blog.

This is Mahima Kapoor from the cloudy New Delhi Bureau and I will bring to you the country's biggest headlines for the day.

The temperature in the national capital remains pleasant, thanks to an atmospheric disturbance, which gave the city one the wettest months of March in recent memory. The weather agency predicts more rain, gusty winds and even thunderstorms for much of Northeast India.

Four states and a union territory in India are gearing up for legislative assembly elections which will see Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling party fight regional parties to extend his political influence. Some parties are announcing candidates, others are releasing their manifestos but all are leaning into the campaign season.

Speaking of gearing up, the government is making final arrangements to launch the mammoth exercise of conducting a population survey. The census will begin on April 1 and go on for a year.

On the international front, Iran has accused the US and Israel of a "war crime" after reports of a US strike damaging an Iranian airplane carrying humanitarian aid from India.