India invited to join Pax Silica; interim trade framework reduces tariffs and removes punitive oil tariffs.
An invitation has been extended to India to join the Pax Silica initiative to secure and diversify silicon and critical minerals supply chains through cooperation on mining, processing, and related manufacturing; a forthcoming signing will integrate India into the programme. Parallelly, the parties reached an Interim Agreement framework under which India will reduce or eliminate tariffs on US industrial and agricultural goods and the US will reduce Indian tariffs to 18%, alongside an Executive Order removing a prior 25% punitive tariff on specified energy imports.

National news schedule: regional political events, public safety incidents, and police advisory to report digital frauds promptly.
The national schedule highlights regional political briefings and official engagements, follow-ups on accidents and law and order incidents, and an operational advisory urging prompt reporting of digital frauds with better coordination among police cyber cells, banks and payment gateways. It also notes central government meetings addressing left wing extremism, reflecting ongoing security coordination and public safety responses.

Shree Cements targets Q4FY26 volume rebound and aggressive RMC expansion to 45 plants while remaining debt free.
Shree Cements targets 9-9.5 million tonnes in Q4FY26 and expects total cement capacity to reach 72 million tonnes by March 2026 while keeping a long term 80 million tonne target. It plans rapid RMC expansion from 19 to 45 plants within six to eight months and has budgeted Rs 500 crore baseline capex next year for RMC and infrastructure. The company reports industry leading cost metrics, 61% green power from 634 MW renewables, a debt free balance sheet with ~Rs 6,000 crore cash, and anticipates a higher total dividend payout for the current fiscal.

Bilateral ties strengthen counter terrorism, defence, intelligence sharing, semiconductor and trade cooperation, with focus on Indo Pacific stability.
The leaders committed to deepen counter terrorism collaboration through intelligence sharing, maritime security and broader defence cooperation, emphasising a policy of no double standards on terrorism. They also pledged expanded economic and technological cooperation in semiconductors, AI and digital technologies, health, food security, and trade to support regional development and Indo Pacific stability.

Congressman Brandon Gill warns constituents that visible Islamic growth and new mosques are transforming local communities.
An elected Member of Congress asserted that visible Islamic presence and new mosques in his district have led constituents to feel their communities are culturally transformed, likening local malls to a foreign country; he linked these concerns to immigration and highlighted his policy focus on border security and related priorities.

India-Malaysia talks to deepen defence and security ties and expand economic and semiconductor cooperation.
Prime Ministerial talks prioritized deepening defence and security cooperation and expanding economic and innovation ties, with expected bilateral agreements including semiconductor cooperation, building on the elevation to a comprehensive strategic partnership and aiming to operationalise strategic alignment across defence, security, economic engagement and technology collaboration.

North Korea's party congress will push nuclear and military expansion alongside economic self-sustenance and closer ties with Russia and China.
North Korea's late-February Workers' Party congress will outline five-year domestic and foreign policy priorities, emphasizing accelerated nuclear and missile development, upgrades to conventional forces and their integration with nuclear capabilities, and policies of mass mobilization and economic self-sustenance. The congress will also signal closer alignments with Moscow and Beijing, a tougher posture toward South Korea, and a rejection of U.S. preconditions for denuclearization.

Japanese national elections: Takaichi seeks majority to push conservative security, immigration, and defence reforms agenda.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi seeks a lower-house majority via a coalition with the Japan Innovation Party to implement a conservative agenda that would revise security and defence policies to expand offensive capabilities, lift the weapons-export ban, and increase defence spending, while imposing tougher immigration, foreign property, and anti-espionage measures; she has pledged to resign if the coalition fails to win a majority.

India's Russian oil purchases unclear after US lifted tariffs tied to a pledge to halt imports.
An executive order revoked an additional tariff in exchange for India's commitment to stop importing Russian crude and to buy U.S. energy; it contemplates recommending the reimposition of duties if the Secretary of Commerce finds India has resumed such imports. India has not confirmed the commitment, instead emphasising energy security and diversification driven by market conditions, and noting a recent fall in Russian oil procurement.

Multi-state WhatsApp investment scam busted, 12 arrested; alleged Rs500 crore fraud averted, assistance sought from international agencies.
Police dismantled a nationwide WhatsApp-based investment racket, arresting 12 suspects and identifying about 600 groups after a complaint; authorities recovered Rs 5.64 lakh for the reporting victim, warned over 500 group members to prevent wider losses, and say actions averted an estimated Rs 500 crore fraud affecting more than 1.5 lakh people. The accused have been charged under relevant provisions of the BNS and the Information Technology Act, and investigators are seeking CBI and Interpol assistance to trace alleged masterminds abroad.

Rice company promoters declared fugitive economic offenders; assets worth Rs 123 crore confiscated in alleged Rs 1,200 crore bank fraud.
Two promoters of a Delhi-based rice company were declared fugitive economic offenders under Section 10 of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 after allegedly leaving India to evade prosecution in a Rs 1,201.85 crore bank loan fraud; the court directed confiscation of assets valued at Rs 123 crore in the ongoing money laundering investigation arising from a 2020 criminal complaint and subsequent proceedings.

Haryana milk production leading nationally; call to expand village cooperatives to benefit farmers and boost exports.
Haryana produces 36% of national milk output with locally recognised cow breeds; the Union Minister urged the state to establish village-level cooperative societies to benefit livestock farmers and boost milk exports, and highlighted the administrative separation of Animal Husbandry into a distinct ministry as a structural measure to prioritise sectoral development.

State government reports Rs26,683 crore from own resources; hotel acquisition and higher hydropower royalty boost revenue.
The state government reports receipts of Rs 26,683 crore from its own resources over three years, notes a realised benefit of about Rs 401 crore from acquiring the Wildflower Hall Hotel with projected annual receipts of about Rs 20 crore, and records an increase in the royalty share for the Karcham Wangtoo Hydropower Project from 12% to 18%, estimated to yield an additional ~Rs 150 crore annually.

USTR map depicts Jammu and Kashmir and Aksai Chin as India; US and India agree to cut tariffs to 18%.
The USTR released a map showing Jammu and Kashmir, including Pakistan occupied Kashmir, and Aksai Chin as integral parts of India, signaling alignment with India's territorial claims. Concurrently, India and the US announced a first phase interim trade framework removing a 25% additional duty on Indian goods and reducing reciprocal tariffs, with US tariffs on specified Indian imports to be lowered to 18% to promote bilateral trade.

2026-27 budget balances growth and fiscal discipline, prioritising capital expenditure and infrastructure-led development.
The 2026-27 budget balances growth promotion with fiscal discipline, projects 7.4% GDP growth, and cites low inflation (April-December 2025 average ~1.7%). It prioritises public investment, announcing total capital expenditure of ~Rs 12.2 lakh crore-over 430% above 2013-14-with major increases for highways, defence, health, and education; describes infrastructure spending as a GDP multiplier and underscores defence indigenisation, expansion of higher education and medical institutions, and enhanced transport connectivity.

Zetwerk Electronics launches Manufacturing Excellence facility; government boosts electronics manufacturing funding and infrastructure for high-reliability sectors.
The facility is purpose-built for defence, aerospace and automotive electronics with advanced manufacturing lines, clean rooms and an environmental stress testing laboratory to meet stringent quality and reliability requirements. Officials emphasised adherence to rigorous product and component quality standards. The announcement also highlights augmented central incentive funding and state infrastructure commitments, including assured industrial water supply, roads, power and logistics, and a willingness to adapt policy to industry needs to support high value electronics manufacturing.

Union Budget 2026-27 sets targeted infrastructure, sectoral support and fiscal measures to boost Odisha's economy and employment.
The Union Budget 2026-27 sets out targeted fiscal and programme initiatives to boost Odisha's industrial, mineral and transport infrastructure - including large railway allocations, National Waterway No. 5 development, a Rare Earth Corridor, semiconductor and bio pharma initiatives - alongside reduced kendu leaf tax and support for coastal crops. Complementary measures for fisheries, irrigation in underdeveloped districts, and tourism projects aim to raise incomes, expand employment, and integrate Odisha into national and coastal development corridors.

India trade agreements criticized; leader defends palm oil imports and questions opacity and commitments in the India-US trade deal.
Anand Sharma demands an apology for the Commerce Minister's criticisms of past trade pacts, defending palm oil imports as necessary and persistent across governments. He questions why CEPAs and bilateral trade agreements with regional partners were not cancelled if against national interest, and presses seven questions about the India-US trade arrangement, alleging opacity and potential commitments on agricultural and dairy market access that could affect sovereignty and multilateral trade obligations.

Global engagement should be free from external pressure and not driven by tariffs; buy domestic to support employment.
Global engagement should proceed without external pressure and not be tariff-driven; purchasing choices should favour Indian-made products to support domestic employment. The RSS frames its mission as societal unification through the shakha system, distinct from partisan politics and not seeking power. Hindutva is presented as a civic-cultural identity compatible with individual religious practice, with an emphasis on India leading by example and addressing criticisms through direct dialogue.

Tamil Nadu budget allocations: state demands include funding, tax share, NEET exemption, and protection of state autonomy.
The chief minister contends the Union Budget provided "zero" to Tamil Nadu and sets out specific fiscal and project demands - education funding, new railway projects, completion of Madurai AIIMS, a 50% tax share, and NEET exemption - framing the Budget failure as a denial of actionable state allocations. He advances a federalism critique that centralisation undermines state autonomy and warns against language-policy imposition under the three-language framework. He further argues NEET and similar centralised exam regimes threaten reservation-based social justice and seeks exemptions to preserve equitable educational access.