App-based taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers strike over panic-button costs, illegal bike taxis, and fare policies.
Drivers announced a nationwide one-day strike alleging that state declarations of many Central Government-approved panic button providers as unauthorized have forced costly device replacements (about Rs 12,000 each), causing severe financial hardship. The union also protests alleged illegal bike taxi services that purportedly deny accident victims insurance benefits, disputes ride aggregator fare policies as arbitrary, and links income loss to an expanded open permit policy for auto-rickshaws.

Four family members found dead by hanging in a Rajgir dharmshala; police seized evidence and launched a special investigation team.
Four family members were found dead by hanging in a locked dharmshala room; police entered with a magistrate, conducted dog squad inspection and forensic photography, and seized phones, identity documents, cash, personal effects and 25 strips of sleeping pills. An inquest report was prepared, bodies sent to the district hospital for autopsy by a medical board with videography, and a special investigation team was constituted with inter state police coordination and a two member team sent to the victims' hometown.

Chabahar port faces changing US sanction waivers, prompting India to assess exposure of its port operator.
The article highlights Chabahar's strategic role for access to Afghanistan and Central Asia and reports recent US sanctions developments: the revocation of a 2018 sanctions exception effective September 29, 2025, and a conditional waiver extended to April 26, 2026. India confirmed IPGL's ten-year contract to operate the Shahid Beheshti Terminal and its USD 120 million equipment contribution, and states it is engaging with relevant parties to assess and mitigate exposure to potential secondary sanctions.

Return of Kashmiri Pandits depends on restoring their sense of security, beyond packages and housing measures.
Return of Kashmiri Pandits depends on restoring their sense of security; packages alone cannot ensure return. The government focuses on non-monetary measures including construction and allotment of transit accommodations (6,000 units targeted), community facilities, a PoK displaced persons bhawan, expanded civic and utility services, extension of health insurance benefits, and strengthened digital service delivery with a dedicated online platform for migrant certificates and grievance redressal.

Amaravati Quantum Valley will be founded to build a quantum research hub through industry, academia and government partnerships.
The Amaravati Quantum Valley foundation will establish a quantum research and innovation hub through government, academia and private sector collaboration, formalised by launches, Memoranda of Understanding and agreements. Key components include the AQV launch, quantum cloud services from major firms, an IBM TCS Quantum Innovation Center, a Quantum Talent Hub, a Quantum Reference Facility by a private university, a quantum safe application, and agreements with nine companies to develop the ecosystem.

Jammu and Kashmir budget secures SASCI interest-free loans and mandates SPARSH/Aadhaar DBT to streamline funding.
Jammu and Kashmir's budget secures inclusion in the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme for 50 year interest free loans, reports utilisation and matching approvals for capital and disaster works, and implements financial-administration reforms including the SPARSH payment system and mandatory Aadhaar-based direct benefit transfers to streamline fund flow and bill processing.

CyFi units improve detection of cyber and financial crimes in Navi Mumbai, raising detection rates and expanding CCTV infrastructure.
CyFi units at every police station in Navi Mumbai increased detection of cyber and economic offences: cybercrime detection rose from 18% (2024) to 35% (2025) and economic offence detection from 51% to 66%. The police also report a 6.5-minute average response time and forthcoming inauguration of a CCTV Command Centre; overall recorded cases rose from 7,369 (2024) to 7,835 (2025) with detections increasing from 5,678 to 6,278.

Proposed anti-hate speech law aims to criminalise hateful statements; critics warn it may be used to target political rivals.
Proposed anti-hate speech law in Telangana aims to criminalise or regulate speech deemed hateful, modelled on a neighbouring state's draft, and is expected to create new bases for investigation and prosecution; critics allege selective enforcement targeting specific political actors and that the measure is intended to suppress political competition.

Haryana to launch a block-level mental health scheme, expand infrastructure, strengthen digital health systems and train staff.
Launch of a block-level mental health scheme to integrate mental healthcare into primary public health services, improve access across urban and rural areas, and strengthen digital health systems. Operational measures include completion of infrastructure projects, expansion of critical care capacity, and enhanced training for medical staff; the programme is supported by increased state health budget allocations and concurrent projects under state funding and the National Health Mission.

West Bengal welfare budget defends expansive social spending, claiming major poverty reduction and targeted farmer transfers.
The interim welfare budget emphasizes sustained social spending and targeted transfers to reduce poverty and unemployment, citing a 1.72 crore poverty reduction claim and a 45.65% decline in unemployment for those aged 15+ between 2017-18 and 2023-24. Core measures include near-universal food and health coverage under Khadya Sathi and Swasthya Sathi, Rs 27,016 crore disbursed to 1.10 crore farmers under Krishak Bandhu, Kharif 2025 payouts, irrigation fee waivers, increased ASHA/ICDS honoraria and benefits, expanded support for gig workers, and contested central dues to the state.

Gadchiroli to become a green steel hub with an integrated steel ecosystem and regional industrial development plans.
Transform Gadchiroli into a green steel hub by creating a comprehensive steel ecosystem to produce competitively priced steel, establish multiple industrial magnet hubs, and progress initial MoUs and large private investments. Complementary initiatives include an integrated automobile facility, integrated textile parks, an aviation training school, targeted skills development for industry, and three upcoming industrial clusters aimed at fostering export-oriented industries and regional economic contribution.

Nirav Modi's bid to postpone a Bank of India civil trial over health and prison constraints was rejected.
An adjournment application based on severe vision loss, clinical depression and prison constraints was refused because the defendant would not suffer a substantial disadvantage nor be denied equality of opportunity in the imminent eight day Bank of India trial; the court criticised late notice and repeated delay tactics, treated operational failings by the Prison Service as unsatisfactory but not dispositive, and dismissed a late challenge to a purported personal guarantee.

Kerala CM accuses Congress over Sabarimala gold case, questions need for a CBI probe and criticises Centre on high-speed rail project
The Chief Minister alleges a political nexus in the Sabarimala gold loss case, asserting that Devaswom authorities under a prior Congress administration permitted the prime accused's access and that a purportedly missing temple pedestal was later found in the accused's relative's home. He states a SIT is probing the matter under High Court monitoring while opponents demand a CBI probe and questions the political motives behind that demand.

IndiGo plane experienced landing gear lever issue; manual mode used and aircraft landed safely before resuming flights.
An IndiGo A321 neo on flight 6E2157 experienced a landing gear lever issue that rendered automatic mode inoperative; crew used manual mode to land safely with over 210 persons aboard, the malfunction was addressed, and the aircraft later operated other flights.

Trade deals opposed by unions seeking mass participation in Feb 12 strike over labour codes and agricultural guarantees.
Major workers' and farmers' organisations oppose recent India foreign trade negotiations and domestic policy measures as threats to agriculture, industry, employment and policy autonomy, alleging lack of transparency and stakeholder consultation; they demand parliamentary scrutiny, a legal guarantee of MSP, and rollback of the VB G RAM G Act, while contesting four labour codes as undermining association and collective bargaining rights and objecting to liberalisation measures across insurance, seeds, electricity, education and nuclear liability.

NABARD approvals and halted revenue deficit grant risk major fiscal shortfall for state finances, prompting tougher revenue measures.
The state secured 73 project approvals totaling Rs 713.87 crore for 2025-26 across public works and water management, while the stoppage of the revenue deficit grant - a recurring constitutional transfer - is projected to create an almost Rs 50,000 crore shortfall, prompting plans for increased revenue measures and stricter financial management.

AAP leader Lucky Oberoi shot dead in Jalandhar; police pursuing leads, technical analysis and charges filed.
An AAP leader, Lucky Oberoi, was fatally shot outside a Jalandhar gurdwara as CCTV captured an assailant and an accomplice fleeing on a two-wheeler. Police registered charges for murder, common intention and criminal conspiracy under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and offences under the Arms Act, and report multiple leads. Investigative steps include collection of mobile-tower dumps for technical analysis, IP tracking of an unverified social media claim, and review of reconnaissance possibilities; no organised-crime angle has been confirmed to date.

Jammu and Kashmir tourism budget proposes Rs 180 crore for Amarnath Yatra and increased tourism infrastructure funding.
The budget allocates Rs 180 crore to modernise Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrimage infrastructure in partnership with the Border Roads Organisation, expands environmental infrastructure including a 3.2 MLD sewage treatment plant and solid waste management upgrades, increases tourism and youth affairs capital outlay to Rs 472 crore, and designates Rs 109 crore for culture-sector capital projects focused on heritage revival and museum modernisation.

Jammu and Kashmir seeks economic self-reliance through multi-sector budgets prioritising agriculture, dairy, tourism and infrastructure investments.
The UT government frames economic self reliance as requiring sustained multi sector reforms, directing the budget to agriculture, horticulture, dairy expansion, industry, tourism and handicrafts while treating hydropower as a future, capital intensive revenue source. Operational priorities include strengthening canal irrigation and desilting, protecting productive agricultural land through constrained conversion, finalising the Jammu Master Plan, suspending damaging railway alignments, and allocating social measures such as free LPG cylinders and provisions for Kashmiri Pandits within a realistic fiscal stance.

Sampre Nutrition's subsidiary to build a food processing facility in Egypt on a 30,000 sq m allocated site.
Sampre Nutrition's subsidiary will establish a food processing and confectionery manufacturing facility in Egypt after Orascom Industrial Parks approved allocation of a 30,000 sq m land parcel, enabling cross border expansion of manufacturing capacity and supporting the company's international growth strategy.