Total lunar eclipse on March 3 to be visible across India with totality from 4.34 pm to 5.33 pm
New Delhi: A total lunar eclipse will occur on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 which will begin at 3.20pm IST and end at 6.48pm IST, according to a notification published by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
According to The Hindu, the eclipse will be visible from most parts of India. It's totality will occur between 4.34 and 5.33 p.m. IST, when the Moon is entirely immersed in the Earth's deepest shadow.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon during a full moon. It casts its shadow on the lunar surface. During totality, the Moon appears red due to a phenomenon known as Rayleigh scattering. During this phenomenon shorter wavelengths of light are scattered more strongly by the Earth’s atmosphere, allowing the longer red wavelengths to reach and illuminate the Moon.
According to the India Meteorological Department, most of the country will view the eclipse's last phase at moonrise. However, in areas of the Northeast and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the end of the complete phase will be evident. Cities include Chennai and Kanniyakumari are anticipated to see the eclipse for up to 31 minutes.
There are three distinct forms of lunar eclipses. During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon enters the Earth's umbra and may seem scarlet. A partial eclipse happens when a section of the Moon passes through the Earth's darkest shadow. A penumbral eclipse happens when the Moon crosses into the Earth's feeble outer shadow, resulting in a slight reducing that is occasionally difficult to see with the human eye.
The last lunar eclipse visible from India occurred on September 7-8, 2025, and it was also a total eclipse. The next partial lunar eclipse viewable from India will occur on July 6-7, 2028, with the next total lunar eclipse set for December 31, 2028.
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Annamalai left out of BJP’s candidate list for Tamil Nadu polls, party cites High Command decision
Chennai/New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party has released its list of 27 candidates for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, triggering political discussion after the absence of former state president K Annamalai from the roster.
Despite being widely seen as the party’s most prominent face in the state and a key figure in its southern expansion strategy, Annamalai was not fielded in the list. Senior leaders, including Tamilisai Soundararajan from Mylapore, Vanathi Srinivasan from Coimbatore North, and Union Minister L. Murugan from Avinashi, have been nominated.
Responding to questions on the omission, Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran said the decision was taken by the party’s central leadership. He expressed confidence that all 27 candidates would emerge victorious in the polls.
Annamalai, a former IPS officer who joined the BJP in 2020 and rapidly rose to prominence, had earlier been replaced as state chief by Nagendran. Known for his aggressive political style and grassroots outreach, he has been instrumental in amplifying the party’s presence in Tamil Nadu, a state traditionally dominated by Dravidian parties.
In a message posted on X, Annamalai congratulated the candidates and reaffirmed his commitment to the party. He said he would campaign actively for BJP and NDA nominees, expressing confidence in the alliance securing a decisive mandate. He also criticised the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government, calling it ineffective and self-serving.
The BJP is contesting the elections as part of the National Democratic Alliance led by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Seat-sharing arrangements allocate 169 constituencies to the AIADMK, 27 to the BJP, 18 to the Pattali Makkal Katchi, 11 to the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, five to the Tamil Maanila Congress, and one seat each to the Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi and Puratchi Bharatham.
Tamil Nadu will vote in a single phase on April 23 across all 234 constituencies, with counting scheduled for May 4. The primary contest is expected between the DMK-led alliance and the AIADMK-led NDA, although actor-turned-politician Vijay is also positioning himself as a potential challenger, raising the possibility of a multi-cornered contest.
#WATCH | Chennai | Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagendran says, "A list of 27 candidates has been released by the BJP High Command... All the 27 candidates will surely win this time..."
— ANI (@ANI) April 3, 2026
On Annamalai's name not appearing in the recently released list, he says, "This is a… https://t.co/pDd0HodSAW pic.twitter.com/29gkGK9AaP
