⌨Following the Pahalgam attack and Pakistan's continued ceasefire violations along the LoC, India escalated responses throughout the day. Prime Minister Modi chaired multiple security meetings, including with Army Chief Dwivedi, Foreign Minister Jaishankar, and NSA Doval. By afternoon, India announced closure of its airspace to Pakistani aircraft until May 23.
Simultaneously, Modi's cabinet made a significant domestic policy shift by approving caste enumeration in the next national census. This decision, coming before Bihar elections, prompted opposition claims of victory, with Rahul Gandhi offering help in designing the census while demanding removal of the 50% reservation cap.
The government also restructured its National Security Advisory Board, appointing a former RAW chief as chairman. Meanwhile, Indian media extensively covered potential military targets in Pakistan, including Hafiz Saeed's Lahore hideout, revealed through exclusive imagery from India Today.