February 09, 2026
58 articles published on this date
Top I-T firms earmark Labour Code costs, less than 3% of payroll
Major Indian IT services companies have set aside provisions for increased payroll costs arising from the implementation of India's four Labour Codes, with e...
Exclusive | Citing rules, PMO tells Lok Sabha Secretariat: No questions on PM CARES, relief and defence funds
In a communication dated January 30, 2026, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) directed the Lok Sabha Secretariat that questions, Zero Hour notices, and Specia...
Kuki-Zo-Hmar peace deal in final stage, on lines of Nagaland pact
The peace deal between the Centre and Kuki-Zo-Hmar armed groups in Manipur has entered its final stage, with an understanding reached on feasible terms. The ...
‘One-sided Parliament’: Why Opposition is set to move no-confidence motion against Om Birla, and what comes next
Congress and allied Opposition parties formally moved a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla during the Budget Session of Parliament in Fe...
Exclusive: From file disposal to output, Union Secretaries now get a report card each
The Cabinet Secretariat has introduced annual administrative scorecards for Secretaries in the Central government — the first time top bureaucratic officials...
‘Maoist issue not linked to development’: In Chhattisgarh, Amit Shah reiterates March deadline to uproot Naxalism
Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated the government's commitment to eliminating Naxalism from Chhattisgarh by March 31, 2026, while explicitly rejecting ...
INCOIS to launch mobile apps that track jellyfish, issue storm surge alerts today
The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) launched three new ocean information services on its 27th Foundation Day (9 February 2026)...
Parliament Budget Session 2026 Highlights: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla steps aside after Oppn’s no-confidence motion
The Opposition, led by Congress and supported by over 100 Members of Parliament, submitted a formal no-confidence motion notice against Lok Sabha Speaker Om ...
Villagers flee, houses and govt quarters burnt down as violence rocks Manipur’s Ukhrul district
Fresh ethnic violence erupted in Manipur's Ukhrul district on 8-9 February 2026, with clashes between Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities in and around Litan ...
Bullet train project: Railway Board directs NHSRCL to revise DPRs for new high-speed rail corridors
The Railway Board has directed the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) to revise Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for new high-speed rail co...
‘Next-generation system’: To strengthen tsunami monitoring, Andaman and Nicobar to get regional service centre
India plans to establish a Rs 300-crore Regional Service Centre (RSC) at Vijaynagar on Swaraj Dweep in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to strengthen tsunami ...
After START, need for new stabilising mechanisms
The New START treaty — the last remaining US-Russia nuclear arms control agreement — expired on February 5, 2026 The expiration removes binding limits on US ...
Why borrowings are now biting govts despite RBI rate cuts: Debt, liquidity twin issues
Despite the RBI's monetary easing cycle, government borrowing costs have not declined proportionately, with bond yields remaining elevated due to twin pressu...
PMO says no question on PM CARES, two other funds admissible in Lok Sabha: Reasons it gave
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) informed the Lok Sabha Secretariat that questions on PM CARES Fund, the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF), and ...
Expert Explains | US-Iran talks: Why both sides are negotiating amid military buildup
The United States and Iran engaged in nuclear talks in Oman in early February 2026, with a second round planned in Geneva Negotiations proceed alongside a ma...
RBI tells banks not to insist on collateral security for loans up to ₹20 lakh for MSEs
The Reserve Bank of India has issued a directive mandating banks not to insist on collateral security for loans up to Rs 20 lakh extended to units in the Mic...
Gross NPAs of SCBs hit a historic low of 2.15% as of Sept. 2025: FinMin
The Finance Ministry announced that Gross Non-Performing Assets (GNPAs) of Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) for domestic operations reached a historic low o...
Question and answer: on Parliament, parliamentary norms
An editorial highlighted the declining standards of parliamentary debate and the need for Parliament to function as the primary forum for discussing contenti...
New income tax rules coming soon - and taxpayers can now give feedback
The Income Tax Department has invited stakeholder views on draft rules and forms to be notified under the new Income-tax Act, 2025, which takes effect 1 Apri...
Don’t let poachers sneak through
An editorial has raised concerns that the Forest Department's amnesty scheme for declaring wildlife possession risks creating a legal pathway for poachers an...
Back on track: On Malaysia-India ties
PM Modi undertook an official visit to Malaysia on 7-8 February 2026, at the invitation of PM Anwar Ibrahim This was Modi's third visit to Malaysia and the f...
Oil, tariffs and farming: What we still don't know about US-India trade deal
Opposition leaders, farmers, and trade experts have raised concerns about the interim India-US trade agreement Key unanswered questions centre on three areas...
Are Bangladesh's youth turning against India?
Anti-India sentiment is rising among Bangladesh's youth, pushing bilateral ties to a new low The deterioration followed the ouster of Sheikh Hasina in August...
India’s new startup rules for deep tech | Explained
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) issued a notification on 6 February 2026 replacing the 2019 startup recognition framework...
Blending ethanol up to 25% and accelerating flex-fuel vehicle development will help address overcapacity, Distillers Association chief
The All-India Distillers Association (AIDA) chief stated that the industry holds a cumulative ethanol production capacity of 200 crore litres and advocated r...
RBI plans KCC revamp with 6-year tenure and higher loan limits ahead
The Reserve Bank of India has released draft norms proposing a comprehensive revamp of the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) framework, extending the card validity per...
Delhi HC pulls up MCD for not publishing civic records after 20 years of RTI, says it is ‘no exception’
The Delhi High Court, in a PIL filed by the Centre for Youth, Culture, Law and Environment, pulled up the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for failing to...
A chance for India to polish the Kimberley Process
India assumed the chairmanship of the Kimberley Process (KP) for 2026, positioning it at the forefront of global diamond governance This is the third time In...
ISRO identifies site for Chandrayaan-4 lander
ISRO has identified a specific landing site designated MM-4 in the Mons Mouton region near the lunar south pole for the Chandrayaan-4 mission. Scientists use...
NHAI’s public InvIT wins five highway concessions
NHAI's public Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) — Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust (RIIT) — has won five national highway concessions spanning approxima...
Capital goods dominate India–US import plan, limiting impact on jobs-heavy sectors
The India-US interim trade deal's $500 billion purchase commitment is expected to be dominated by capital goods rather than consumer goods or agricultural pr...
Aadhaar biometric lock explained: How it prevents biometric fraud
UIDAI highlighted its biometric lock feature as a key safeguard against Aadhaar-linked fraud, allowing users to disable fingerprint and iris-based authentica...
EPFO to appoint new partner agencies, change custodian after 15 years
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is preparing to empanel new partner agencies and appoint a fresh custodian to replace Standard Chartered Ba...
Modi government’s trade deal with US resembles an IMF bailout
Analysts have compared the India-US trade deal to an IMF bailout due to its conditionality structure President Trump announced a monitoring committee led by ...
Three areas where the India-US trade deal hangs more in the realm of possibilities than reality
Analysts have identified three areas where the India-US trade deal may face sustainability challenges India's $500 billion purchase target over five years is...
India announces special economic package of $175 million for Seychelles
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a $175 million special economic package for Seychelles during a state visit by Seychelles President Dr. Patrick Hermin...
Maritime security & $175 mn for Seychelles as India takes on China challenge in Indian Ocean Region
Seychelles President Patrick Herminie undertook his first state visit to India after assuming the presidency — signalling New Delhi's priority for the relati...
Will India stop buying Russian oil as Trump claims? FS Misri says ‘approach is to maintain multiple sources of supply’
Foreign Secretary Misri stated that India's approach is to "maintain multiple sources of supply" for energy procurement He highlighted India's commitment to ...
RBI's voluntary retention route move removes parallel limits for FPIs
The RBI has eliminated the Rs 2.5 trillion investment cap under the Voluntary Retention Route (VRR) for Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) and merged it with...
Moody's projects India's GDP to grow 6.4% in FY'27, fastest among G20 economies
Moody's Ratings, in a report released on February 9, 2026, projected India's real GDP to grow at 6.4% in FY2026-27, making it the fastest-growing G20 economy...
US tariff cuts set to revive summer bookings, exports to double in 4-5 years
Following the India-US interim trade deal, labour-intensive export sectors expect US tariff cuts to revive summer booking cycles and potentially double India...
India's Russian oil imports likely to halve after White House trade order
The White House stated in an executive order that "India has committed to stop directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil" Import tariffs on all...
New dragonfly species discovered in Kerala, named Lyriothemis keralensis
A new dragonfly species, *Lyriothemis keralensis*, commonly named the Slender Bombardier, has been formally described from Kerala after a decade-long taxonom...
Foreign Secretary Misri doesn’t refute Trump’s claims, says ‘national interests’ guide oil imports
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that oil imports are decided by "adequate availability, fair pricing, and reliability of supply" He did not directly re...
Can a Lok Sabha speaker be ‘impeached’? What does Constitution say about the process?
The Opposition introduced a resolution to remove Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, alleging partisan conduct and silencing of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi dur...
Industrial Relations Code must balance job security in the AI era
An analysis has highlighted the need for the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 to be recalibrated to balance job security concerns arising from AI-driven autom...
India will support steel exports hit by Europe's carbon tax, federal secretary says
India's federal commerce secretary confirmed the government will provide support to steel exporters adversely affected by the European Union's Carbon Border ...
New income tax rules raise PAN threshold, meal allowances
The draft Income-tax Rules, 2026, under the new Income-tax Act, 2025 (which takes effect 1 April 2026), propose to streamline tax compliance by increasing PA...
Gujarat exchanges Letter of Intent with Starlink for high-speed internet connectivity
The Gujarat state government exchanged a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited, a subsidiary of SpaceX, for high-spee...
India-US trade deal: Tiruppur expects garment exports to double to ₹30,000 crore—why Tamil Nadu textile hub is upbeat
Tiruppur garment exporters expect US-bound shipments to double to Rs 30,000 crore within three years following the India-US interim trade deal. The deal coul...
Opposition to move no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla amid Parliament showdown
Opposition parties announced plans to introduce a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla amid ongoing disruptions in Parliament during the B...
Goldman Sachs raises India’s 2026 growth forecast to 6.9% on lower US tariffs
Goldman Sachs Research upgraded India's calendar year 2026 GDP growth forecast to 6.9% (from its earlier estimate), citing the positive impact of reduced US ...
‘National interest’ guides oil buys, says Misri after Trump’s claims India to stop Russian oil purchase
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that India's energy purchases will be dictated by "national interest," including "adequate availability" and prevailing...
Modi announces $175 million economic package for Seychelles during President Herminie’s visit
India announced a special economic package of $175 million for Seychelles during the state visit of Seychelles President Patrick Herminie to New Delhi The pa...
Moody's sees India's GDP growing 6.4% in FY27, fastest among G20 nations
Moody's Ratings projected India's GDP to grow at 6.4% in FY2026-27, positioning it as the fastest-growing economy among G-20 nations. Growth is expected to b...
India's edible oil output seen covering just 40% demand in 2025-26: IVPA
The Indian Vegetable Oil Producers' Association (IVPA) estimated India's domestic edible oil production at 9.6 million tonnes in the 2025-26 marketing year (...
IOC, HPCL buy Venezuelan oil in second deal since imports resumed
State-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) jointly purchased 2 million barrels of Venezuelan Merey crude oil fro...
Lending to Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) Sector (Amendment) Directions, 2026
The RBI issued an amendment to its Master Direction on Lending to MSME Sector (RBI/2025-26/206), effective 1 April 2026, mandating that banks must not accept...