India-China border: BJP accuses Congress of ceding territory and questions alleged China funding to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.
A government spokesperson accused a former ruling party of ceding Indian territory to China and alleged undisclosed Chinese funding to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, demanding disclosure of amounts and purposes. The speaker asserted prior failures in border infrastructure and contrasted them with current measures: record defence expenditure, expanded defence manufacturing, construction of border roads and airfields, and assertive military responses to Chinese encroachments.

Vidarbha to become development hub with 6,600 MW secured by a 25 year power purchase agreement and major investments.
Adani Group projects aim to bolster Vidarbha's energy supply through a 3,300 MW thermal plant, revival of a 600 MW project, and a combined 6,600 MW assured by a 25 year power purchase agreement, alongside a proposed Rs 70,000 crore coal gasification complex expected to generate 30,000 direct jobs and an underground mining project prioritising minimal land use and water conservation.

Sabarimala gold case accused secured bail amid alleged collusion between UDF and LDF, says Nitin Nabin.
Allegations that the UDF and the LDF coordinated to secure bail for accused in the Sabarimala gold loss case are presented as a claim of political collusion that harmed religious sentiment and sanatan traditions. The speaker ties this to broader charges of misgovernance, corruption, appeasement, and threats to centres of devotion, and urges public action while promoting a contrasting development and faith protection agenda.

Jammu and Kashmir budget announces welfare, infrastructure and governance measures with Aadhaar based DBT and targeted sectoral investments.
The Jammu and Kashmir 2026-27 budget implements governance reforms by moving all Centrally Sponsored Schemes to the SPARSH system with mandatory Aadhaar-based Direct Benefit Transfers, proposes incentives for hardship area staff and local employment conditions for concessionary industrial units, and funds market support for artisans including a Unity Mall. It allocates major sectoral investments for a Restructured Weather Based Insurance Scheme, CA storage expansion, irrigation subsidies, livestock embryo transfer labs, education and early childhood upgrades, healthcare infrastructure and specialised departments, and social protection measures including scholarships, orphan sponsorships via DBT, transport for persons with disabilities, and six free LPG cylinders yearly for AAY households.

West Bengal interim budget proposes new social payouts, continuation of pensions, and supplementary grants amid funding shortfalls.
The Rs 4.06 lakh crore interim budget increases Lakshmi Bhandar by Rs 500 for women, launches a Rs 1,500 monthly Yuvasathi stipend for unemployed youth while maintaining Yuvasree, preserves widow and old-age pensions, and targets uplift of tribals and backward communities. The finance minister alleges the Centre has withheld GST and project funds, forcing the state to use its resources and move supplementary budgets. Opposition criticised the vote-on-account as an election-oriented proposal and questioned the lawfulness and beneficiary details. A supplementary grant of over Rs 16,994 crore was tabled.

Laser Power & Infra IPO approved to raise Rs 1,200 crore, including an Rs 800 crore fresh issue.
Sebi approved Laser Power & Infra Ltd's initial public offering of up to Rs 1,200 crore, comprising a fresh issue up to Rs 800 crore and an offer for sale up to Rs 400 crore. The company will use net proceeds from the fresh issue primarily to pre pay or repay outstanding borrowings of Rs 600 crore, with the remainder for general corporate purposes.

Central public sector enterprises must prepare for international competition through technology, innovation and leadership development.
Central public sector enterprises must prepare for intensified international competition while maintaining roles in strategic sectors where long-term national interests and market balancing are critical. Emphasis is placed on technology adoption, innovation, leadership development and capacity building-illustrated by the DAKSH programme's blended curriculum and international exposure-to equip senior executives to lead in areas such as cybersecurity, data governance and energy transition while fulfilling public policy objectives.

Union Budget 2026 27 prioritizes infrastructure, manufacturing, health, skill development, and environmental sustainability through targeted allocations.
The Union Budget 2026 27 allocates major capital expenditure to infrastructure, defence and healthcare-approx. Rs.3 lakh crore for roads, Rs.7.5 lakh crore for defence, and about Rs.1 lakh crore for healthcare including Rs.10,000 crore for Biopharma Shakti-coupled with projectised interventions (high speed rail corridors, Delhi Mumbai Expressway 2027 target, Amrit Bharat station redevelopment) and administrative facilitation (single window approvals) to boost manufacturing, logistics efficiency, and workforce skilling.

Kerala land acquisition for Angamaly-Sabarimala rail initiated; state commits 50% funding via KIIFB; revenue authorities begin acquisition.
Kerala has initiated land acquisition for the Angamaly-Sabarimala railway, directed revenue authorities to begin acquisition, and notified the Union Railway Ministry of a financial commitment to bear 50% of project costs with Rs 1,900 crore provided through the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board.

Jindal India secures approval for Odisha greenfield plant and commissions advanced metal coating line to boost coated steel output.
Jindal India Steel Tech Limited obtained a Letter of Approval to set up a greenfield steel plant in Dhenkanal, Odisha, enabling phased investments of Rs 3,600 crore in phase one and Rs 15,000 crore by 2030. Separately, Jindal (India) commissioned an advanced metal coating line in Howrah as part of a Rs 1,500-crore downstream expansion, increasing coated steel output by about 60% to nearly 0.3 million tonnes and supporting projected revenue growth of roughly 20% in FY26.

Deputy head of Russia's military intelligence wounded in Moscow; officials call it an apparent terrorist act prompting investigations and security measures.
A deputy head of Russia's military intelligence was shot and wounded in Moscow in an attack described by officials as an apparent terrorist act, prompting law enforcement investigations and directives to enhance protection of senior military officers, and framed against prior targeted killings that Moscow has attributed to Ukraine.

Bilaspur airport upgraded to all-weather operations under instrument flight rules, enhancing regional connectivity and safety.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has granted DGCA approval upgrading Bilaspur airport from 3C-VFR to 3C All-Weather Operations (Instrument Flight Rules), authorising operations under instrument flight rules and enabling continuous operations in adverse weather, thereby modifying the airport's operational capabilities, safety compliance requirements, and role in regional connectivity.

RBI keeps repo rate at 5.25%, issues consumer compensation and digital payments safety proposals, and eases MSME and NBFC rules.
The RBI kept the repo rate at 5.25% with a neutral stance due to low underlying inflation and improved growth outlook from recent trade deals. It revised GDP and inflation projections modestly, deferred full FY27 projection pending a revised GDP base, and announced draft guidelines on mis selling, loan recovery, and limiting customer liability for unauthorised electronic transactions, including proposed compensation up to Rs 25,000. Additional measures include digital payments safety papers, doubling collateral free MSME loans to Rs 20 lakh, NBFC registration exemptions, and removal of the VRR investment cap.

Assembly walkout after minister's "humpty dumpty" remark sparked protest over alleged insult to an economist legislator.
Legislative walkout occurred after a Finance Minister repeated and expanded an opposition member's "humpty dumpty" budget critique and questioned the member's language, prompting allegations of insult to the legislator's reputation and a coordinated BJP walkout and protest in the assembly portico.

Shared Buddhist heritage strengthens India's ties with ASEAN via cultural diplomacy, relic expositions, tourism cooperation and capacity building.
Shared Buddhist heritage is central to India's Act East Policy engagement with ASEAN, operationalised through relic expositions abroad, regular exchanges of monks, pilgrims and tourism professionals, Mekong Ganga Cooperation travel programmes, capacity building at academic institutions, participation of state governments and missions in international tourism promotion, and support for ASEAN cultural-heritage initiatives such as a feasibility study for an ASEAN Cultural Heritage List.

Precious metal prices fell as profit booking and volatile markets, influenced by jobs data and US Iran talks, drove sharp swings.
Precious metal prices fell sharply as investors booked profits, pushing silver to Rs 2,55,000 per kg and gold to Rs 1,57,200 per 10 grams, while international spot bullion showed marked intraday volatility-initial plunges followed by recoveries-driven by weak US jobs data supporting metals and ongoing US Iran talks capping gains.

Rado releases three licensed Le Corbusier special edition watches using the Polychromie Architectural palette and high tech ceramic.
A licensed commercial collaboration produced three Rado special-edition watches using Le Corbusier's Polychromie Architectural palette under mandate from the Fondation Le Corbusier; each model features laser engraved high tech ceramic dials inspired by specific architectural works, material-integral colour sintering, digital printing of the 63-colour strips on sapphire casebacks, and shared technical specifications including the Rado calibre R763, 80-hour power reserve and 5 bar water resistance.

Land acquisition in Kerala is lagging at 14%, prompting central appeals for state cooperation and project acceleration.
Land acquisition shortfalls-about 14% acquired-are delaying Kerala railway projects despite a central allocation of Rs 3,795 crore intended to double line capacity; the central government urges state cooperation for land transfer and expedited acquisition. The Silver Line high-speed project is noted to have significant environmental impacts and questionable feasibility, though reconsideration is offered if the state pursues it. Angamali-Sabarimala is cited as an example where state initiation of land acquisition was crucial, while station redevelopment continues under the Amrit Bharat scheme without stopping train operations.

SRM University-AP M.Tech admissions offering full tuition scholarships and monthly stipends; apply by Feb 15, 2026.
SRM University-AP opens M.Tech admissions across eight specialised streams and provides admitted students a 100% tuition scholarship and a monthly stipend of Rs. 6,000; applications must be submitted via the university portal by February 15, 2026, with further programme and contact information available on the university website and toll free number.

Greaves Cotton: GEML proposing an IPO via DRHP; investors warned of risk factors and US offering restrictions.
The release discloses that an investee is proposing an initial public offering and has filed a draft red herring prospectus with the relevant securities regulator and exchanges, cautions that the DRHP should not be relied upon for investment decisions and directs investors to the red herring prospectus and its risk factors, and states the equity shares are not registered in the United States and will only be offered there in restricted private transactions under Rule 144A and offshore under Regulation S, with no public US offering.