Feb 02 – Feb 08
No sunset date for old tax regime, 95% of refunds disbursed, says CBDT chair
CBDT Chairman Ravi Agrawal confirmed that the Income Tax Department has no "sunset date" in mind for discontinuing the old tax regime, even ...
16th Finance Commission: Among poll-bound states, 3 see a spike in tax share, Bengal dips
The 16th Finance Commission (16th FC) report for 2026-31 revealed divergent outcomes for poll-bound states in their share of central tax dev...
March 2026 deadline around the corner, 51 Maoists surrender in Sukma, Bijapur
A total of 51 Maoists, carrying a collective bounty of Rs 1.61 crore, surrendered before police in Chhattisgarh's Bastar division on 7 Febru...
Tamil Nadu slows land push for Hosur airport but keeps project alive
The Tamil Nadu government has slowed the land acquisition process for the proposed Hosur greenfield airport in Krishnagiri district, though ...
Hyderabad scientists identify metabolic trigger behind deadly fungal infections
Scientists at CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, led by Dr. Sriram Varahan, discovered that a metabolic link ...
27 deaths later, Meghalaya orders massive crackdown on rat-hole mines
Following the explosion that killed 27 miners in an illegal rat-hole mine at Mynsyngat village, East Jaintia Hills, on 5 February 2026, the ...
‘Reduced to near skeleton’: Maoist party is now one-tenth of what it used to be in 2024
The Communist Party of India (Maoist), or CPI (Maoist), has been reduced to approximately one-tenth of its operational strength compared to ...
On terrorism, no double standards, no compromise: PM Modi in Malaysia
During his visit to Malaysia on February 8, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared India's position on terrorism as "no double standard...
Karnataka set to get another Vande Bharat train; check route
Indian Railways is planning to launch a new Vande Bharat Express service connecting Bengaluru and Mangaluru, with extension to Karwar along ...
Why Karnataka is demanding a third bullet train corridor
Karnataka's political leaders, including Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and former CM H.D. Kumaraswamy, have urged the Centre to approve a thi...
Security info channel opens with Canada post Ajit Doval visit
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited Canada and held talks with Nathalie Drouin, Deputy Clerk and National Security and Intelligence...
Only ERO, not micro observers, can accept or reject eligibility of electors: Election Commission
The Election Commission of India (ECI) clarified that only the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), and not micro observers, has the author...
From business to tech, India inks key pacts with Malaysia
During PM Modi's visit to Putrajaya on February 8, 2026, India and Malaysia signed 11 MoUs and cooperation documents across semiconductors, ...
Explained: Why Kunal Kamra approached Bombay HC against Sahyog Portal, amended IT Rules
Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra and senior advocate Haresh Jagtiani filed separate writ petitions in the Bombay High Court challenging the con...
27 die in Meghalaya: What is rat-hole mining, why it continues despite ban
At least 27 miners were killed and 9 injured in an explosion at an illegal rat-hole coal mine in Mynsyngat village, Thangsko area, East Jain...
Explained: From cutting-edge tech research to jobs, what Andhra Pradesh’s new Quantum Valley project aims for
On February 7, 2026, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh laid the ...
China This Week | Trump’s ‘excellent’ call with Xi, and US claims of secret Chinese nuclear test
President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone call on February 4, 2026, which Trump described as "excellent." The cal...
Expert Explains: As Pakistan again points fingers at Afghanistan over terror, a look at Kabul-Beijing ties
Pakistan accused Afghanistan of harbouring terror groups following the February 6, 2026 suicide attack on the Khadija Tul Kubra Mosque in Is...
Why does Thwaites glacier matter?
Scientists from the UK and South Korea reached the most inaccessible part of Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica in early February 2026 to d...
Zydus gets orphan drug status for Sickle Cell Disease medication
Zydus Lifesciences received Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for Desidustat, an oral drug for ...
Myanmar’s military-scripted polls, India’s strategic bind
Myanmar's military junta conducted elections in three phases between December 2025 and January 2026, with the military-aligned Union Solidar...
FPIs turn net buyers in February; invest ₹8,100 crore in a week on U.S. trade deal
Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) turned net buyers in the first week of February 2026, investing Rs 8,129 crore in Indian equities after t...
India-U.S. trade deal: Congress leader dares Piyush Goyal to cancel UPA-era pacts
Former Commerce Minister Anand Sharma challenged the current Commerce Minister's narrative on the India-US trade deal, citing historical dat...
Indian refiners avoid Russian oil purchase in push for US trade deal
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), and Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) have stopped accepting offers f...
India will stop importing fruits, vegetables, flowers: Union Minister Chouhan
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan declared that India will stop importing fruits, vegetables, and fl...
Gig hiring likely to surge in 2026 as qcom, ecom expand beyond metros
E-commerce and quick commerce platforms are projected to add nearly 1 million gig workers in 2026, driven by last-mile delivery demand and r...
India-US trade deal will boost farmers' incomes, says Piyush Goyal amid criticism: ‘18% tariff to give competitive edge’
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal addressed concerns about the India-US interim trade deal's impact on agriculture, asserting that the agreemen...
Cyber threats, geopolitical shocks, climate change top risks for Indian businesses, finds industry survey
The FICCI-EY Risk Survey 2026 found that 51% of Indian businesses rank cybersecurity breaches as the top risk to organisational performance,...
India, Malaysia to promote bilateral trade and investment in local currencies
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim held official talks in Putrajaya on February 8, 2026, and agreed to ...
16th Finance Commission identifies Tamil Nadu as one of top three States suffering heavy losses of public sector enterprises
The 16th Finance Commission (16th FC) report (Volume 1) identified Tamil Nadu as one of the top three states suffering heavy losses from pub...
India-U.S. trade deal is a blow to India’s strategic autonomy
The India-US interim trade agreement framework announced on February 7, 2026 has triggered a debate about India's strategic autonomy, with a...
India-US trade deal: Will refiners cut back on Russian oil imports and pause new orders? Here's what we know
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), and Reliance Industries have reportedly stopped accepting offers ...
Netanyahu Hastens to Meet Trump Over Scope of Iran Diplomacy
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Washington on February 11, 2026 to discuss the scope of US-Iran nuclear diplomacy with Pre...
Can a common hospital gas help fight drug-resistant pneumonia?
A study published in *Science Translational Medicine* (January 2026) by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital demonstrated that inha...
India-US trade deal: Industry awaits clarity on agri products tariff cuts
India and the US announced an interim bilateral trade agreement framework on February 7, 2026, under which the US will reduce reciprocal tar...
Digital fraud cases: RBI plans compensation up to Rs 25,000 even if victim shares OTP
RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, during the Monetary Policy Committee meeting on February 6, 2026, announced a proposed framework to compensate...
Vidarbha holds 75% of Maharashtra’s minerals and best iron ore; aim is to produce steel cheaper than China: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, inaugurating the Advantage Vidarbha 2026 summit in Nagpur, stated that nearly 75% of Maharashtra's mineral res...
India, US reach interim deal: Sensitive sectors safeguarded, Piyush Goyal on farm, dairy producers
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal informed the Lok Sabha that India's sensitive sectors including agriculture, dairy, poultry, and...
“Soybean and cotton farmers interests are protected”- Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on Indo-US trade deal
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured farmers that soybean and cotton interests are fully protected under the India-US interi...
Tariff cuts on soybean oil, fruits, and wine: What interim agreement on India-US trade entails
Under the India-US interim bilateral trade framework announced on 7 February 2026, India agreed to reduce or eliminate import duties on seve...
What India has really given on agriculture in India-US trade deal
India and the United States announced an interim bilateral trade agreement (BTA) framework on 7 February 2026, the most significant reset in...
India’s GPU capacity may triple to 100,000 by 2026-end: IndiaAI Mission CEO
IndiaAI Mission CEO Abhishek Singh announced that India's GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) capacity is expected to triple from the current app...
A Kuki-Zo MLA speaks on why he joined Manipur govt: ‘Solution has to be at table, not by guns’
Three Kuki-Zo BJP MLAs -- Nemcha Kipgen, L.M. Khaute, and Ngursanglur Sanate -- joined the new Manipur state government, with Kipgen sworn i...
‘Metro Man’ Sreedharan: ‘Centre is silent on Kerala high speed rail as LDF govt has done RRTS stunt’
E. Sreedharan, known as "Metro Man," accused the Kerala LDF government of proposing a Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) as a deliberate p...
70 Brahmins booked in Darbhanga, Bihar minister warns against ‘misuse’ of SC/ST Act: ‘Will affect social camaraderie’
Darbhanga police in Bihar lodged a case under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against 70 people from ...
What is Bihar’s Gender Budget, and why did Nitish government spend Rs 2.5 lakh crore in 5 years?
Bihar has spent Rs 2.5 lakh crore, or approximately 20% of its total budget, on women-centric schemes over the last five financial years thr...
India-US trade deal: 25 per cent penalty is off, monitoring of Russian oil imports in
The US removed the 25% additional tariff that had been imposed on India in August 2025 specifically as a penalty for India's continued purch...
Kerala issues order to block National Population Register in state after Union Budget allocation
The Kerala government issued a formal order blocking the implementation of the National Population Register (NPR) in the state, reaffirming ...
PM Modi embarks on 2-day visit to Malaysia, aims to deepen defence, economic ties
PM Modi embarked on a two-day official visit to Malaysia (7-8 February 2026) at the invitation of PM Anwar Ibrahim, aiming to deepen defence...
Ambush expert who decided against surrender: Who is L Prabhakar Rao, Maoist leader killed in Gadchiroli?
Seven Maoists, including top leader L Prabhakar Rao (alias Ravi/Swamy/Chander), were killed in encounters with Maharashtra's C-60 commando f...
Indian Railways makes ID verification mandatory on reserved trains in Bangladesh, Nepal border areas
The Railway Board issued a circular on February 4, 2026, making identity verification compulsory for all passengers travelling on reserved t...
MP’s Kuno national park celebrates five cubs born to Namibian cheetah ‘Aasha’: Watch
Namibian cheetah Aasha gave birth to five cubs at Kuno National Park on February 7, 2026, raising India's total cheetah population to 35. Th...
India trusted partner for growth, says PM Modi on Day 1 of Malaysia visit
PM Modi and Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim held extensive bilateral talks in Kuala Lumpur on Day 1 of Modi's official visit (7 February 2026), c...
Meet India’s first Dalit Cardinal Poola Anthony, picked to lead Catholic church in country
Cardinal Poola Anthony, the 64-year-old Archbishop of Hyderabad, was elected as the new President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Ind...
A second-time mom at Kuno: Aasha gives birth to 5 cubs
Aasha, a Namibian cheetah translocated to India under Project Cheetah, gave birth to five cubs at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh on Fe...
LS Speaker, RS deputy chairman flag concerns on disruption in legislatures – ‘Adversely affect image of democratic institutions’
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla expressed anguish over the declining dignity and decorum in legislatures across India, describing planned disrupt...
Elephant attacks claim two more lives in Bokaro; toll reaches eight since January
A herd of five elephants attacked Gangpur village in Bokaro district's Mahuatand police station area on February 7, 2026, killing Somar Saw ...
Trust has become India’s strongest currency: PM Modi in Malaysia
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Indian diaspora in Kuala Lumpur during his two-day official visit to Malaysia (7-8 February 2026)...
On agriculture, look for low-hanging fruit, move carefully
The Union Budget 2026-27 prioritized high-value crops such as coconut, cocoa, and cashew, allocating Rs 350 crore to boost farmer incomes th...
Anthropic has sent a message to Bengaluru
US-based AI company Anthropic (maker of Claude AI) is opening its first India office in Bengaluru in early 2026, its second office in the As...
Why SC sent back Flipkart’s alleged market dominance case to the NCLAT
The Supreme Court set aside a 2020 NCLAT order that had directed the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to investigate Flipkart for alleg...
How India-US trade pact can affect GPU access, data centre investment opportunities
The India-US interim trade framework includes a provision to "significantly increase trade in technology products, including GPUs and other ...
Can Indian courts stop divorce proceedings abroad? A plea in top court raises a recurring question
An Indian woman from Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari district filed a petition under Article 32 of the Constitution before the Supreme Court seekin...
Trump order announces rollback of 25% additional tariffs: What it says India has ‘committed to’
President Trump signed an Executive Order on 6 February 2026 suspending Executive Order 14329, which had imposed an additional 25% tariff on...
AI Impact Summit 2026: India aims for a larger share of the AI pie
India is set to host the AI Impact Summit 2026 from February 16-20 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi — the fourth in a series of global AI gover...
Why is the sighting of two tigers in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana worrying officials and people?
An adult Royal Bengal Tiger that travelled over 650 km from Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra was spotted on National Highway 16 n...
Trump effect: Harley-Davidson could make a comeback in India after US deal
The India-US interim trade framework announced on 7 February 2026 grants zero-duty access for US motorcycles in the 800cc to 1,600cc segment...
Bharat Petroleum in talks with Azerbaijan’s SOCAR for LPG procurement, also looks at U.S.
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) is in talks with the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) for LPG procurement, confi...
Trade deal opens the U.S. textile market of $118 billion to India
The India-US interim trade framework opens access to the $118 billion US textile and apparel import market for Indian exporters by reducing ...
Cycles of revolt: On Pakistan and the Baloch rebels
On 31 January 2026, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) launched "Operation Herof 2.0" — coordinated attacks across at least nine district...
Distressing regularity: On Meghalaya’s rat-hole mines
An explosion in an illegal rat-hole coal mine in East Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya on February 5, 2026, killed at least 18 workers (w...
The India-EU trade deal is also a strategic turning point
India and the European Union concluded negotiations on a historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on 27 January 2026, the largest trade deal ever...
Netanyahu to Meet Trump Next Week as Iran Talks Set to Continue
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced he would travel to Washington to meet President Donald Trump to discuss the ongoing US-I...
Qualcomm announces tape-out stage of 2nm semiconductor design in Bengaluru
Qualcomm announced the completion of tape-out for a 2-nanometre (2nm) semiconductor chip design, with the design work carried out entirely a...
India-U.S. deal does not include any item that would hurt Indian farmers, says Piyush Goyal
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal stated that all sensitive agricultural items have been kept out of the India-US interim trade deal, asserting...
Odisha CM launches ambitious economic regional plan BCPPER
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi launched the economic development plan for the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Puri-Paradip Economic Region (BC...
Global firms are now trusting India for their most advanced semiconductor work: Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw
Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that global firms now trust India for their most advanced semiconductor work, ...
India–US trade deal opens zero-duty window for exports worth $44 bn in first phase of pact
Indian exports worth approximately $44 billion will enter the US market with zero reciprocal tariffs under the first phase of the bilateral ...
India-US trade deal: List of US goods that will attract ‘zero tariffs’ in India after BTA deal with United States
Under the interim trade framework, India agreed to eliminate or reduce tariffs on a wide range of US industrial goods and selected agricultu...
Energy security is supreme priority, says MEA as India seeks to diversify sources amid global shifts
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that ensuring energy security for 1.4 billion Indians remains the government's "supreme priori...
I-T dept releases draft rules, forms for new Income Tax Act; seeks public inputs
The Income Tax Department released draft rules and forms for the new Income Tax Act 2025, along with two navigators that map old rules and f...
IT department seeks feedback on rules that make filing easier under Income Tax Act, 2025
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) released draft Income Tax Rules and Forms under the new Income Tax Act, 2025, seeking public feedba...
India-US trade deal: Positive for seafood, neutral for most farm produce, small concern over corn and soya
The India-US interim trade framework reduces reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods entering the US from 50% to 18%, significantly benefiting In...
RBI keeps repo rate unchanged at 5.25%, maintains neutral stance
The RBI retained the policy repo rate at 5.25% and maintained a "neutral" stance at its February 2026 MPC meeting, the first monetary policy...
RBI moves to shield customers from small fraud, caps compensation at Rs 25,000
The RBI released draft directions proposing that victims of small-value digital banking fraud receive compensation of up to ₹25,000, or 85% ...
RBI doubles collateral-free loans to MSMEs to Rs 20 lakh
The Reserve Bank of India announced that the collateral-free loan limit for micro and small enterprises (MSEs) will be doubled from Rs. 10 l...
Monetary Policy Meet: Repo rate steady at 5.25%; FY26 GDP, inflation projections raised
The RBI's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) concluded its February 2026 bi-monthly meeting by keeping the repo rate steady at 5.25% with a una...
Kuki protests test fragile peace in Manipur as new govt takes over, but why Centre isn’t unduly worried
Fresh protests erupted within the Kuki-Zo community in Manipur following the swearing-in of a new state government, with community members a...
RBI Monetary Policy Meet 2026 LIVE: Fraud-hit customers will be compensated up to Rs 25,000, or 85% of amount
The Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), meeting from February 4–6, 2026, unanimously voted to keep the policy repo rate...
No Kuki-Zo MLAs physically in House, Manipur govt passes floor test; Churachandpur sees violent protests
On February 6, 2026, the newly formed Manipur government led by Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh successfully passed a floor test in the st...
J-K has tapped less than a quarter of its hydropower potential: Economic Survey
According to the Economic Survey 2025-26, Jammu and Kashmir has harnessed only 3,540 MW — approximately 24% — of its identified hydropower p...
3 year after it was notified to offset Panna deforestation, NBWL panel approves irrigation project on 272 ha in Durgavati tiger reserve
The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) approved an irrigation project covering 272 hectares of forest land inside ...
Inside Meghalaya’s rat-hole mines: 25 dead, a race against time, and a disaster long foretold
A dynamite explosion in an illegal coal mine at Mynsyngat in the Thangkso area of East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, killed at least 25 labourer...
Tamil Nadu sounds state-wide alert after mass crow deaths: What you need to know about the bird flu scare
Over 1,000–1,500 crows died across Chennai between late January and early February 2026, with mass die-offs reported in Adyar, Velachery, Th...
Oil and beyond: With Russia, India has to balance old ties, new realities
Despite sustained US pressure and tariff threats, India has continued purchasing Russian crude oil in 2026, with Russia remaining India's si...
RBI holds interest rates steady: What drove the decision?
The Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) unanimously voted to keep the policy repo rate unchanged at 5.25% during its Feb...
Trump says India will stop buying Russian oil. That is easier said than done
US President Donald Trump publicly claimed India had agreed to stop purchasing Russian crude oil and would shift to Venezuelan and American ...
For cancer immunotherapy, gently recovering lab-grown cells is key. Indian researchers may have just found a way
Researchers at IIT Bombay, led by Professor Prakriti Tayalia from the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, in collaboration with Mo...
Should the Governor’s address be scrapped?
An opinion piece in The Hindu examines whether the Governor's address to state legislatures — mandated under Articles 175 and 176 of the Con...
Intent and outcome: On India’s climate budget for 2026-27
India's Union Budget 2026-27 has been critiqued for a mismatch between its stated climate ambitions and actual financial allocations — with ...
Voluntary Retention Route – Imparting predictability and increasing ease of doing business
The Reserve Bank of India issued a circular (RBI/2025-26/205, A.P. DIR Series Circular No.21, dated February 19, 2026) rationalising the Vol...
India-US joint statement in days, tariff cuts in a week, says Piyush Goyal
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal announced in early February 2026 that a joint statement on India-US trade would be issued within days, with t...
Duty cuts aimed at supporting local manufacturing, shouldn’t be viewed only from revenue lens: CBIC Chairman
The government defended its customs duty reductions in the Union Budget 2026-27, clarifying they are aimed at supporting domestic manufactur...
India, GCC ink terms of reference to formally launch trade talks
India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) signed Terms of Reference (ToR) for an India-GCC Free Trade Agreement on February 5, 2026, at V...
Allow the Leader of the Opposition to speak
An editorial argued for stronger protection of the Leader of the Opposition's right to speak in Parliament, highlighting recent instances of...
Moral obligation can become a legal one: Delhi HC on granddaughter’s property rights
The Delhi High Court ruled on a petition filed by a granddaughter seeking maintenance from her grandfather, holding that a moral obligation ...
Explained: A 19th-century Adivasi uprising in Jharkhand, and its contested commemoration
The 19th-century Adivasi uprising in Jharkhand — the Munda Ulgulan (1899-1900), led by Birsa Munda — has become the subject of contested com...
The last US-Russia nuclear pact ends today. Is this the beginning of a new arms race?
The New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) — the last remaining bilateral nuclear arms control treaty between the United States and Rus...
The U.S. trade deal, gains from economic diplomacy
An analytical assessment of the India-US interim trade deal — announced February 6, 2026 following PM Modi's call with President Trump — exa...
Tejas MK 1A to fly with IAF latest only by June-July this year. Here’s why
The first batch of Tejas MK 1A fighter jets — originally scheduled for delivery to the Indian Air Force (IAF) in March 2024 — is now expecte...
In a first since 2004, Lok Sabha passes Motion of Thanks on President's address without PM's response
The Lok Sabha passed the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address without a single vote cast against it — the first time this has happene...
Trade deal sorted, India & US move on to pending defence pacts—P-8I aircraft first, engines next
Following the finalisation of an India-US bilateral trade framework, both countries moved to advance pending defence procurement agreements....
HAL says nine LCA Mk1A jets await GE engines; five ready for delivery
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) disclosed that nine LCA Tejas Mk1A aircraft are fully assembled but cannot be delivered because they are...
Trump Says Diego Garcia Deal Is ‘Best’ UK Could Do in New Shift
US President Donald Trump described the UK-Mauritius agreement on the Chagos Islands — which includes the Diego Garcia military base — as th...
India-US trade deal to accelerate capital formation: SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey
SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey stated that the India-US trade deal framework is expected to accelerate capital formation in India by impro...
Did IndiGo abuse its market dominance? CCI orders probe into December’s mass flight cancellations
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has ordered an in-depth antitrust investigation into IndiGo (InterGlobe Aviation Ltd), India's lar...
With seven new corridors, India will be 100% atmanirbhar in making Bullet trains, says Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw
Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that with seven new high-speed rail (HSR) corridors planned, India will achieve 100% sel...
Up in arms against India-US deal, farmer bodies flag agri concerns, seek fine print
Major Indian farmer organisations have come out in opposition to the India-US interim trade deal, demanding the release of the full text of ...
Supreme Court ruling on menstrual hygiene invites a broader reckoning with gender and dignity
The Supreme Court's January 30, 2026 ruling in *Dr. Jaya Thakur v. Government of India & Ors.* (2026 INSC 97) invites a broader reckoning wi...
Rupee, GDP growth, interest rates: What the US trade deal means for India’s economic outlook
The India-US interim trade deal signed in February 2026 is projected to have wide macroeconomic consequences beyond the direct tariff change...
RBI’s Monetary Policy: Why the MPC is likely to maintain status quo
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India, meeting from February 4-6, 2026, unanimously decided to keep the policy re...
Budget gives Rs 20,000 crore: Why India needs carbon capture solutions, challenges it faces
Union Budget 2026-27 allocated Rs 20,000 crore (approximately $2.2 billion) over five years to scale up Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Sto...
EU-India Free Trade Agreement | Caviar with caveats
The India-European Union Free Trade Agreement was formally concluded on January 27, 2026, ending nearly two decades of negotiations that beg...
End in sight: On the U.S.-India trade deal, America’s tariffs
The United States and India announced a landmark interim bilateral trade deal in February 2026, the first substantive trade agreement betwee...
President’s rule revoked in Manipur after a year, new CM to be sworn in today
President's Rule imposed in Manipur on 13 February 2025 — following the resignation of N. Biren Singh as Chief Minister amid widespread crit...
There is no case for scrapping MPLADS funds
A commentary in The Hindu argues that there is no persuasive case for scrapping the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPL...
August 29-30, 2020: Inside details of how Indian Army surprised China at Rechin La & PLA ‘blinked first’
Detailed accounts have emerged of how the Indian Army conducted a high-risk surprise operation on the intervening night of 29-30 August 2020...
India made long push with Trump behind scenes to clinch US deal
A detailed account of India's back-channel diplomatic campaign with the Trump administration reveals a sustained effort spanning several mon...
HAL out, Indian private firm to make Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft fighter, all eyes on lowest bidder
The government has excluded Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) from the contract to build five prototypes of India's Advanced Medium Combat...
President's rule revoked in Manipur, Khemchand to be sworn in as new CM at 6 pm today
President Droupadi Murmu revoked President's Rule in Manipur on February 4, 2026, with immediate effect under Article 356(2) of the Constitu...
India–US trade deal announced | Uncertainty over for global capital, China+1 strategy back in game: CEA
Following the announcement of the India-US interim trade deal, India's Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) V. Anantha Nageswaran declared that "unc...
Cash transfers now take 20% of state subsidies — 16th finance panel sounds alarm, seeks exit clauses
The 16th Finance Commission's report flagged that large-group unconditional cash transfers now constitute 20.2% of total state subsidy expen...
From calling India ‘tariff king’ to 25% extra duty for Russian oil, Trump finally fixed the tariff at 18%, one of the lowest
An analytical account traces the arc of Trump's tariff posture toward India: from publicly calling India a "tariff king" and threatening pun...
FC bats for discom privatisation, debt clean-up via SPVs
The 16th Finance Commission, chaired by Arvind Panagariya, has recommended that states actively pursue privatisation of electricity distribu...
Jumping hurdles: How India managed to diversify exports in the face of US tariffs
Despite facing a 25% U.S. reciprocal tariff since mid-2025 — which caused US-bound Indian exports to fall 28.5% between May and October 2025...
US agriculture secretary signals more exports to India, fuelling import concerns
Following the India-US interim trade deal, the US Agriculture Secretary stated that American farm products have gained fresh market access i...
US trade deal: Farmers secure, agriculture and dairy interests protected, says Piyush Goyal
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal stated in Parliament and at public events that India's agriculture and dairy sectors have been fully protecte...
Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project: Indian Railways achieves second mountain tunnel breakthrough in Palghar
On February 3, 2026, National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) achieved a breakthrough in the second mountain tunnel (MT-6) on t...
India ‘commits’ to $100 bn/year US imports for 5 years; energy, aircraft parts, tech to dominate
As part of the India-US interim trade framework announced on February 6, 2026, India expressed intent to purchase approximately $500 billion...
Decode Politics: RTI journey — From ‘dawn of a new era’ to fears of ‘tool for idle curiosity’
A long-form political analysis examined the trajectory of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 — two decades after its enactment — chart...
Decode Politics: How and why Manipur finally moved back towards an elected govt
On February 4, 2026, Manipur ended nearly a year under President's Rule with the swearing-in of BJP leader Yumnam Khemchand Singh as Chief M...
Finance Commission strikes a balance – addresses southern states’ concerns, and equity
The 16th Finance Commission released its report (covering 2026-31), introducing a revised horizontal devolution formula that addresses the l...
India-US agree on a big deal, it marks a welcome shift to freer trade, a domestic reform agenda awaits
India and the United States announced a framework for an Interim Trade Agreement on February 3, 2026, following Prime Minister Modi's visit ...
Expert Explains: What 2026 Delhi Declaration tells about India’s approach to the Middle East
The Second India-Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held on January 31, 2026, co-chaired by India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar...
India-US trade deal: How Indian exports diversified in the face of US tariffs, which sectors struggled
Faced with escalating US tariffs — rising to 25% under the Trump administration's "reciprocal tariff" framework and as high as 50% on some I...
India’s rocky road to trade deal with US: The flip-flops, political pitfalls
India and the United States have been locked in protracted trade negotiations, with a framework for an interim Bilateral Trade Agreement (BT...
India-US trade deal may have a $100-bn opportunity for India’s electronics exports. Here’s why
India and the United States agreed on a trade framework announced in February 2026 following a telephonic conversation between PM Modi and U...
How does the trade deal with the US affect India’s macroeconomic outlook?
The India-US interim trade framework announced in February 2026 has significant implications for India's broader macroeconomic picture, part...
US farm exports to India have been surging even with no trade deal
US agricultural exports to India surged significantly in the period leading up to and during the India-US trade negotiations of 2025–26, eve...
A cautious nudge: On the 16th Finance Commission’s recommendations
The 16th Finance Commission, chaired by Dr. Arvind Panagariya, submitted its report on February 1, 2026, covering the period 2026-27 to 2030...
A full stop: On the top court, the right to menstrual health and hygiene
On January 30, 2026, the Supreme Court of India held that the right to menstrual health and hygiene is an integral part of the right to life...
Hope and uncertainty as India and US strike long-delayed trade deal
The United States and India announced a framework for an interim trade agreement on February 6, 2026, following PM Modi's visit to Washingto...
Adani Defence teams up with Italy’s Leonardo to tap India’s mega helicopter market
Adani Defence & Aerospace signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Italy's Leonardo on February 3, 2026, establishing a strategic par...
Hillock butchered, HC tears into Haryana govt for ‘environmental plunder’ at Charkhi Dadri mine
A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court severely criticised the Haryana government over the destruction of a hillock due to al...
When Shanti means nuclear energy
The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act received Presidential assent in December 20...
Defence budget through the years: Big leap for 2026-27, but what numbers since 1999 reveal
The Union Budget 2026-27 allocated Rs 7.85 lakh crore to the Ministry of Defence — the highest-ever allocation, representing a 15.19% jump o...
Corridor to future: High-speed rail, freight, one for rare earths
Union Budget 2026-27 announced a Dedicated Rare Earth Mineral Corridor linking four coastal mineral-rich states — Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pra...
Budget rationalises tax penalty, prosecution framework for individuals; foreign asset disclosure scheme announced
Union Budget 2026-27 proposed a comprehensive rationalisation of penalty and prosecution provisions under the Income Tax Act, with the objec...
Union Budget 2026-27: Manufacturing gets big boost as govt slashes customs duties
The Union Budget 2026-27, presented on February 1, 2026 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, announced significant customs duty reduction...
Gadget charge: Outlay doubled to Rs 40,000 crore for electronic components
Union Budget 2026-27 raised the outlay of the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) to ₹40,000 crore — nearly doubling the orig...
Union Budget: Rs 10,000-crore SME Growth Fund, reform to boost liquidity for MSMEs
The Union Budget 2026-27 announced a dedicated ₹10,000-crore SME Growth Fund to provide equity support to high-potential small and medium en...
Relief for students pursuing education abroad: Overseas spending eased, TCS down to 2%
Union Budget 2026-27 reduced Tax Collected at Source (TCS) on overseas remittances for education and medical purposes from 5% to 2% under th...
Budget 2026 | AI impact on jobs and services: Panel to look at the road ahead
Union Budget 2026-27 announced the establishment of a high-powered "Education to Employment and Enterprises Standing Committee" to assess th...
Union Budget: Rs 10K crore for container scheme amid shortage, dependency
Union Budget 2026-27 announced a ₹10,000 crore Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme, directly targeting India's near-total dependence o...
Union Budget 2026-27: To cut China reliance, support for rare earths, critical minerals
Union Budget 2026-27 announced several measures targeting India's significant dependence on China for rare earth elements and critical miner...
IT boost: Budget offers tax certainty with safe harbour reforms
Budget 2026-27 introduces a comprehensive overhaul of India's Safe Harbour Rules for transfer pricing — specifically targeting IT/ITeS, data...
US lowers tariffs on India to 18% from 50% under trade deal; rates better than Vietnam, Bangladesh & Pakistan
The United States agreed to lower tariffs on Indian goods from 50% to 18% as part of the India-US interim bilateral trade framework announce...
Oil a deal clincher? Trump says India will stop buying Russian crude, will buy more from US, even Venezuela
US President Donald Trump claimed on February 2, 2026 that Prime Minister Modi had agreed to stop purchasing Russian crude oil and instead b...
Growth remains priority, looking at more PSU divestment: FM Sitharaman
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated in post-budget interactions that economic growth remains the government's primary objective, and ...
What Gen Naravane’s memoir says about 2020 Ladakh face-off with China: ‘I had been handed a hot potato’
Former Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane's unpublished memoir, titled "Four Stars of Destiny," reveals significant details about how ...
Trump tariff shadow: Budget addresses US demands, backs vulnerable sectors
The Union Budget 2026-27 (presented February 1, 2026) was shaped in part by the shadow of Trump's tariff threats — Finance Minister Sitharam...
ExplainSpeaking: Making sense of the Budget, and what it means for the economy
The Union Budget 2026-27 balances three simultaneous objectives: fiscal consolidation (deficit 4.3% of GDP), growth acceleration (capex ₹12....
Explained: Proposal to ban non-Hindus from entering Char Dham, amid questions of legality
The managing committees of the four Char Dham shrines in Uttarakhand — Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri — proposed barring entr...
Expert Explains: How Budget 2026 shifts from revenue collection to ‘institutional maturity’
Budget 2026-27, in conjunction with the new Income Tax Act, 2025 (coming into force April 1, 2026), signals a deliberate shift in India's di...
Budget proposes to develop 15 archaeological sites: Check out the list and what it entails
Union Budget 2026-27 announced plans to develop 15 archaeological sites across India into immersive cultural tourism destinations, with a fo...
India-US trade deal: How Trump influenced India’s trade policy in the run-up to the pact
US President Donald Trump imposed a 25% punitive tariff on Indian imports in August 2025, explicitly linked to India's continued purchase of...
India–US trade deal reaffirms what had started looking hazy: India’s role as US ally & China counter
India and the United States announced a framework for an interim bilateral trade agreement on February 2, 2026, with the US agreeing to lowe...
What the new fiscal rule means for growth and spending
Budget 2026-27 introduces a new fiscal framework that replaces deficit-targeting with debt-to-GDP ratio as the primary fiscal anchor, markin...
Pushing welfare towards the States
The Union Budget 2026-27, tabled alongside the 16th Finance Commission Report (for 2026-31 chaired by Arvind Panagariya), signals a structur...
More boots, bigger budget: Agnipath outlay jumps 58%, Army’s share the largest
The Union Budget 2026-27 allocated ₹15,173.68 crore for the Agnipath scheme, representing an approximately 58% jump over the previous financ...
CDS Gen Chauhan in Armenia, focus on deeper defence ties including new deals
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan led a high-level defence delegation on a four-day official visit to Armenia from February ...