India US interim trade agreement cuts tariffs to 18% but is criticised as asymmetrical and harmful to textile competitiveness.
The interim Indo US trade agreement reduces reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods from 25% to 18% and eliminates a prior punitive 25% tariff on Indian crude; opposition commentary characterises the pact as asymmetrical, a "coerced opening" that concedes more than India gains and undermines textile export competitiveness relative to Bangladesh.

White House revises trade fact sheet: removes 'pulses' and softens India purchase commitments language.
The White House revised its interim US-India trade fact sheet to remove "pulses" from the list of US agricultural products on which India will eliminate or reduce tariffs and to change wording from India "committed" to buy over $500 billion of US goods to India "intends" to buy more American products and purchase over $500 billion of specified US goods.

Supreme Court to hear challenges on detention of activist, money laundering case, service pay and police reforms.
The Supreme Court will hear petitions challenging the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk; a state chief minister's challenge to Enforcement Directorate money laundering proceedings; a petition concerning pay and allowances of members of the Uttar Pradesh State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission; and a petition concerning police reform.

Puducherry interim budget to be tabled Feb 12, Vote on Account to fund departments pending a full budget.
An interim budget will be tabled on February 12 by the Chief Minister acting as finance minister via a Vote on Account to authorize departmental expenditures for the initial months of fiscal 2026-2027; the Assembly will also pass supplementary grants for the current fiscal year because imminent elections prevent presentation of a full budget, with the House comprising thirty elected and three nominated members.

KSDL appoints Tamannaah as brand ambassador, sparking debate over non-Kannada selection and business-driven committee choice.
KSDL's selection committee appointed Tamannaah Bhatia as a two-year brand ambassador for a reported Rs 6.20 crore fee, defending the merit-based, market-oriented choice because several Kannada actors were ineligible due to other endorsements and Mysore Sandal sales are concentrated outside Karnataka (approx. 8-12% in-state), prompting both political and social-media criticism framed as an attack on local talent and counter-arguments stressing commercial strategy and export-oriented expansion.

2026 27 state budget to prioritize inclusive development, poverty welfare, youth empowerment, farmer prosperity and women's dignity.
The 2026-27 state Budget is positioned as a policy instrument to found long term economic transformation toward Viksit Bharat 2047 and a USD 1 trillion state economy, offering a coordinated action plan emphasizing poverty alleviation, youth empowerment, farmer prosperity, women's dignity, and targeted public investment within the routine legislative budget presentation process.

USTR deletes X post after map depicted Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Aksai Chin as part of India.
The US Trade Representative removed an X post that displayed a map showing Jammu and Kashmir, including Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and Aksai Chin as part of India; the map accompanied a bilateral interim trade framework announcement and the deletion reflects sensitivities about depicting disputed territories in official social media communications.

Regularisation of daily wagers to be initiated this year; Budget ties industrial incentives to local employment and funds key welfare locally.
The government will initiate regularisation of daily wagers this year and has prioritised job creation, infrastructure, targeted welfare across agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries and dairy, and youth entrepreneurship through Mission YUVA. The administration will fund six free LPG cylinders from its own resources, extend free bus travel to persons with disabilities, promote EV bus services, and require industrial beneficiaries of subsidies, land and power concessions to prioritise employment for local youth.

Appointment of Bal Jogi Pargat Nath to lead advisory board to develop Ram Tirath as an international Dalit heritage centre.
The Punjab government appointed Bal Jogi Pargat Nath as chairman of the advisory board of the Bhagwan Valmiki Ji Tirath Sthal shrine board and signalled a policy to develop Ram Tirath as an international centre of Dalit faith, heritage and spiritual philosophy to promote recognition of Dalit contributions and the values of equality, dignity and social justice.

Indo-US trade deal could harm J-K dry fruit and horticulture economy, and CM defends the pro-people Budget.
Omar Abdullah warned that the India-US interim trade deal allowing duty-free imports of tree nuts could harm Jammu and Kashmir's dry fruit and horticulture economy and urged protection for local walnuts, almonds and apples. He defended the Budget as pro-people and growth-oriented, noting capital expenditure at 36% (rising by March 31), distinguishing prior higher revenue spending due to loan settlements, assuring salaries and pensions are safe, and highlighting investments in agriculture, horticulture, dairying and rural economic strengthening.

Smuggled gold seized and two arrested after airport wax-capsule concealment and linked melting facility exposed.
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized 5.8 kg of smuggled gold worth about Rs 9.22 crore and arrested two syndicate members after surveillance linked intercepted passengers carrying wax-capsule gold to a South Mumbai melting facility where authorities recovered melting and casting equipment, foreign bullion marking dies, record books of smuggled-gold transactions and sale proceeds, and currency notes used as tokens for illegal receipt and delivery; the arrested were booked under the Customs Act and further probe is underway.

Old-age pension discontinuations were administrative safeguards pending verification; valid proof will prompt immediate restoration.
The Haryana government says old-age pensions were administratively discontinued where eligibility could not be verified: cases of recorded deaths identified after Registrar General data arrived in November 2025; beneficiaries under the qualifying age due to manipulated Aadhaar age data, with action initiated for tampering; and cases lacking verified income-based eligibility pending income certificate submission. Valid proof of eligibility will trigger immediate restoration; discontinuations are described as temporary safeguards against ineligible payments.

Mundhwa land deal: accused alleged to have facilitated illegal sale of protected government land at undervalue.
Allegations assert that the accused facilitated illegal regularisation and sale of protected government land in Mundhwa at a substantial undervalue, involved waiver of large stamp duty, execution of documents purportedly on behalf of deceased persons, and connivance with revenue officials, raising serious economic offence concerns and investigative risks from absconding co-accused and potential witness influence.

India-US trade pact: India winding down Russian oil purchases and cutting tariffs on US industrial and agricultural goods.
An interim trade framework establishes reciprocal commitments: the US agreed to remove a punitive 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports in recognition of India's commitment to reduce Russian oil purchases; India has begun winding down Russian energy purchases and increasing American and other energy imports. India will eliminate or reduce tariffs on all US industrial goods and a wide range of US food and agricultural products, while also moving down digital services taxes and other tariffs.

New expressway linking Pashupatinath to Baidyanath Dham proposed, seeking central approval to boost religious tourism.
A 250-km Pashupatinath-Baidyanath Dham high-speed corridor has been proposed, with a detailed proposal sent to the Centre for approval; the project aims to promote religious tourism, cultural exchange and economic activity along a route entering India at Supaul and passing through several Bihar districts, and is presented alongside other expressway initiatives and ongoing India-Nepal border road works totaling 554.08 km.

Parli Thermal Power Station ordered closed for exceeding emission limits and failing pollution control and safety measures.
The Central Pollution Control Board directed the state regulator to immediately stop operation of Parli Thermal Power Station units 6 and 8 for non compliance: units 6-8 operated without a valid Consent to Operate and exhibited PM emissions (87, 85, 91 mg/Nm3) above the 50 mg/Nm3 limit, lacked required online emission and effluent monitoring, discharged untreated sewage and ash into a drain, had effluent pump leakages, missing ash dyke safety audits, no dust suppression at coal yards, and inadequate waste oil management.

Potash exploration in Fazilka approved with Rs 19.03 crore outlay, 21-month timeline and nine-month review.
Approval was granted for a reconnaissance survey potash exploration project in Choharianwali, Fazilka, covering 48 sq km with an approved outlay of Rs 19.03 crore and a 21 month completion period, subject to a programmatic review after nine months and execution by a designated mineral exploration agency under the Trust's sanctioning process.

SASCI scheme: J-K to take Rs 3,000 crore interest-free loan over 50 years; government defends move.
Jammu and Kashmir has secured Rs 3,000 crore under the SASCI scheme as an interest free loan repayable over 50 years; the Chief Minister contends internal financial assessment and the time value of money demonstrate limited present fiscal burden, while opponents urge legislative scrutiny and a committee to examine long term fiscal risks.

XLRI concluded recruitment with highest offer Rs 1.1 crore and average salary Rs 31.4 lakh for the 2024-26 batch.
XLRI concluded its 2024-26 batch recruitment with a highest offer of Rs 1.1 crore per annum, 578 offers from 145 recruiters across Jamshedpur and Delhi NCR, an average salary of Rs 31.40 lakh, a median of Rs 29 lakh for 576 PGDM students, and top roles in consulting, BFSI, and sales and marketing.

Passenger arriving from Bangkok arrested with 12 kg hydroponic ganja worth Rs 4.2 crore at Bengaluru airport.
Passenger arriving from Bangkok was intercepted at Kempegowda International Airport after customs discovered 12 kg of hydroponic ganja concealed in checked baggage, valued at approximately Rs 4.20 crore, and arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.