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A day after an Air India pilot reported a malfunction in the fuel control switch of a Dreamliner flight from London Heathrow, the airline has ordered an inspection of the fuel control switches across its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. The inspection of half the fleet have been completed while the examination of the remaining aircraft are still ongoing. Notably, no fault has been found in any of the flights so far, reported news agency ANI, citing sources.&nbsp;The issue has been escalated by Air India to Boeing for a priority evaluation.&nbsp;On Monday (Feb 2) an Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft from London's Heathrow airport to Bengaluru was grounded after the pilot reported a malfunction with the fuel control switch of the flight.<h2>Why is the inspection crucial?</h2>&nbsp;Notably, this problem of malfunction has again come to the fore with Air India's Dreamliner plane after the horrifying Ahmedabad plane crash ( a Air India Dreamliner plane) in which all passengers including the crew was killed, barring one survivor.&nbsp;The preliminary investigation report into the July 12 Ahmedabad crash revealed that both engine fuel control switches shifted from RUN to CUTOFF shortly after takeoff, cutting engine thrust. Audio from the cockpit captured one pilot questioning why the fuel had been cut, while the other denied initiating the action. Following the loss of power, the aircraft’s Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deployed automatically to provide emergency power. Although one engine showed signs of recovery after the switches were reset, the aircraft failed to climb. A distress call was transmitted moments before the crash.&nbsp;In total Air India owned by the Tata group has 33 Boeing 787s — 26 legacy Boeing 787-8s and 7 Boeing 787-9s, including 6 from Vistara and a custom-made plane that was inducted into its fleet in January.&nbsp;And since the problem has been reported for the second time, the airline does not want to take any chance with the safety of its passengers and avoid any repetition of the Ahmedabad crash, even if it was not linked to the fuel control switches.&nbsp;

On Monday (Feb 2) an Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft from Londons Heathrow airport to Bengaluru was grounded after the pilot reported a malfunction with the fuel control switch of the flight.

A day after an Air India pilot reported a malfunction in the fuel control switch of a Dreamliner flight from London Heathrow, the airline has ordered an inspection of the fuel control switches across its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. The inspection of half the fleet have been completed while the examination of the remaining aircraft are still ongoing. Notably, no fault has been found in any of the flights so far, reported news agency ANI, citing sources. The issue has been escalated by Air India to Boeing for a priority evaluation. On Monday (Feb 2) an Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft from London's Heathrow airport to Bengaluru was grounded after the pilot reported a malfunction with the fuel control switch of the flight. Why is the inspection crucial? Notably, this problem of malfunction has again come to the fore with Air India's Dreamliner plane after the horrifying Ahmedabad plane crash ( a Air India Dreamliner plane) in which all passengers including the crew was killed, barring one survivor. The preliminary investigation report into the July 12 Ahmedabad crash revealed that both engine fuel control switches shifted from RUN to CUTOFF shortly after takeoff, cutting engine thrust. Audio from the cockpit captured one pilot questioning why the fuel had been cut, while the other denied initiating the action. Following the loss of power, the aircraft’s Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deployed automatically to provide emergency power. Although one engine showed signs of recovery after the switches were reset, the aircraft failed to climb. A distress call was transmitted moments before the crash. In total Air India owned by the Tata group has 33 Boeing 787s — 26 legacy Boeing 787-8s and 7 Boeing 787-9s, including 6 from Vistara and a custom-made plane that was inducted into its fleet in January. And since the problem has been reported for the second time, the airline does not want to take any chance with the safety of its passengers and avoid any repetition of the Ahmedabad crash, even if it was not linked to the fuel control switches.

On Monday (Feb 2) an Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft from London's Heathrow airport to Bengaluru was grounded after the pilot reported a malfunction with the fuel control switch of the flight.

Air India orders inspection of fuel control switches in its Boeing 787 fleet, but why does this matter?

India and US finally broke the trade deal stalemate as Donald Trump on Monday (Feb 2) announced a new deal with India featuring lower reciprocal tariffs. This slashes the tariffs from 50% to 18% for India. Under this agreement New Delhi would need to halt purchases of Russian oil and sharply increase imports of American goods.&nbsp;Trump had imposed a 25% tariff on Indian exports late last year as his deadline to sign a deal with countries had lapsed. Trump later doubled the tariffs on India to 50% as he accused Delhi of continuing to buy oil from Russia and thereby supporting Moscow in its war against Ukraine.&nbsp;The tariff reduction by the US was confirmed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who took to X to say, “Wonderful to speak with my dear friend President Trump today. Delighted that Made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18%. Big thanks to President Trump on behalf of the 1.4 billion people of India for this wonderful announcement."<h2>What does the slash in US tariff mean for India?</h2>This lowering of tariffs from 50% to 18% gives India an advantageous position in comparison to competing economies like Indonesia that faces tariff of 19%, Vietnam 20%, Bangladesh 20%, China 34% and Pakistan 19%.&nbsp;The new trade deal is effective immediately.&nbsp;While India as claimed by Trump will cut tariffs and non-tariff barriers on US goods to zero. It will also buy over $500 billion in US goods and energy, including coal, along with technology, agricultural and other products.&nbsp;But what is to be noted is that the duties levied by the US on trade with India are still higher when compared to European partners like Japan and South Korea.&nbsp;The new trade deal, according to External Affairs Minister will boost &nbsp;boost job creation, spur economic growth, promote innovation and give a fillip to the &nbsp;'Make in India' initiative.&nbsp;Welcoming to move Jaishankar took to X to write, "This will create more jobs, spur growth and promote innovation in both economies. It will strengthen 'Make in India' endeavours and encourage trusted technology ties."&nbsp;

US president Donald Trump doubled the tariffs on India to 50% as he accused Delhi of continuing to buy oil from Russia and thereby supporting Moscow in its war against Ukraine.

India and US finally broke the trade deal stalemate as Donald Trump on Monday (Feb 2) announced a new deal with India featuring lower reciprocal tariffs. This slashes the tariffs from 50% to 18% for India. Under this agreement New Delhi would need to halt purchases of Russian oil and sharply increase imports of American goods. Trump had imposed a 25% tariff on Indian exports late last year as his deadline to sign a deal with countries had lapsed. Trump later doubled the tariffs on India to 50% as he accused Delhi of continuing to buy oil from Russia and thereby supporting Moscow in its war against Ukraine. The tariff reduction by the US was confirmed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who took to X to say, “Wonderful to speak with my dear friend President Trump today. Delighted that Made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18%. Big thanks to President Trump on behalf of the 1.4 billion people of India for this wonderful announcement." What does the slash in US tariff mean for India? This lowering of tariffs from 50% to 18% gives India an advantageous position in comparison to competing economies like Indonesia that faces tariff of 19%, Vietnam 20%, Bangladesh 20%, China 34% and Pakistan 19%. The new trade deal is effective immediately. While India as claimed by Trump will cut tariffs and non-tariff barriers on US goods to zero. It will also buy over $500 billion in US goods and energy, including coal, along with technology, agricultural and other products. But what is to be noted is that the duties levied by the US on trade with India are still higher when compared to European partners like Japan and South Korea. The new trade deal, according to External Affairs Minister will boost boost job creation, spur economic growth, promote innovation and give a fillip to the 'Make in India' initiative. Welcoming to move Jaishankar took to X to write, "This will create more jobs, spur growth and promote innovation in both economies. It will strengthen 'Make in India' endeavours and encourage trusted technology ties."

US president Donald Trump doubled the tariffs on India to 50% as he accused Delhi of continuing to buy oil from Russia and thereby supporting Moscow in its war against Ukraine.

India-US trade tariff stalemate ends, what does this mean for New Delhi and its economy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed the trade deal with the United States on Monday and appreciated President Donald Trump’s leadership, terming it “vital for global peace, stability, and prosperity”.&nbsp;“Wonderful to speak with my dear friend President Trump today. Delighted that Made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18%. Big thanks to President Trump on behalf of the 1.4 billion people of India for this wonderful announcement,” PM Modi wrote on X.&nbsp;<h2>‘Two large economies and world’s largest democracies…’</h2>&nbsp;“When two large economies and the world’s largest democracies work together, it benefits our people and unlocks immense opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation,” the PM added.“President Trump’s leadership is vital for global peace, stability, and prosperity. India fully supports his efforts for peace. I look forward to working closely with him to take our partnership to unprecedented heights,” the Indian PM added further on his social media post.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-dials-indian-pm-modi-says-us-ambassador-sergio-gor-1770048397476">‘We agreed to trade deal’: Trump dials PM Modi, reduces tariffs on India from 25% to 18%</a>&nbsp;Trump had imposed a 25% tariff on Indian exports late last year as his deadline to sign a deal with countries had lapsed. Trump later doubled the tariffs on India to 50% as he accused Delhi of continuing to buy oil from Russia and thereby supporting Moscow in its war against Ukraine.&nbsp;<h2>Trade deal, tariff reduction huge fillip for India&nbsp;</h2>&nbsp;The trade deal with the United States is a huge fillip for India, and the reduction in tariffs from 50% to 18% puts it in an advantageous position in comparison to competing economies.&nbsp;&nbsp;India now has lower tariffs compared to several competing economies. After the announcement, US tariffs on India are 18%, while Indonesia faces 19%, Vietnam 20%, Bangladesh 20%, and China 34%.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-rogue-drone-sightings-near-uk-military-bases-doubled-in-2025-troops-to-get-shooting-down-powers-1770050063503">‘Rogue drone’ sightings near UK military bases doubled in 2025, troops to get shooting down powers</a>&nbsp;The resilience of Indian negotiators finally ended on a happy note after months of trade tensions and inappropriate criticism from Trump’s trade adviser Peter Navarro several times.&nbsp;PM Modi and Trump had spoken on multiple instances in recent times, raising hopes of the trade deal being sealed eventually.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>‘Limitless potential,’ says US Ambassador Sergio Gor</h2>&nbsp;The deal comes just days after US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor took charge. Just a few minutes before Trump announced the deal, Gor wrote on his handle on X, “President Trump just spoke to PM Modi. STAY TUNED...”&nbsp;After the trade deal announcement, Gor hailed the development and said the relationship between the United States and India has “limitless potential”.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-s-president-masoud-pezeshkian-orders-start-of-nuclear-talks-with-us-report-1770037263043">Iran‘s President Masoud Pezeshkian orders start of nuclear talks with US: Report</a>&nbsp;In his following post on X, the US Ambassador wrote, “As I have said many times, President Trump genuinely considers Prime Minister Modi a great friend! Thrilled by the news of the trade deal this evening. The relationship between the United States and India has LIMITLESS POTENTIAL!”&nbsp;Gor also confirmed that the US tariffs had in fact come down from 50 per cent to 18 per cent.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/epstein-files-stash-reveals-norway-diplomat-terje-r-d-larsen-s-derogatory-remark-on-indians-social-media-erupts-1770028653881">Epstein files stash reveals Norway diplomat Terje Rød-Larsen’s derogatory remark on ‘Indians’; social media erupts</a>&nbsp;When asked by CNN News 18 whether the additional 25 per cent tariffs on India have been removed, Gor said, “That is correct. As you saw in the Truth of the President wrote, part of the agreement is that all nations around the world stop buying oil from Russia in order to bring peace. I know the Prime Minister deeply cares about bringing peace in that conflict, as does President Trump. So the number as it gets finalised will be 18 per cent.”&nbsp;In his Truth Social post, Trump had only mentioned that reciprocal tariffs were being reduced from 25 per cent to 18 per cent with no clarification on the status of the additional 25 per cent tariffs imposed on India later for buying Russian oil. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar also hailed the deal and retweeted PM Modi’s post on X.

The trade deal with the United States is a huge fillip for India, and the reduction in tariffs from 50% to 18% puts it in an advantageous position in comparison to competing economies. US tariffs on India now are 18%, while Indonesia faces 19%, Vietnam 20%, Bangladesh 20%, and China 34%.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed the trade deal with the United States on Monday and appreciated President Donald Trump’s leadership, terming it “vital for global peace, stability, and prosperity”. “Wonderful to speak with my dear friend President Trump today. Delighted that Made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18%. Big thanks to President Trump on behalf of the 1.4 billion people of India for this wonderful announcement,” PM Modi wrote on X. ‘Two large economies and world’s largest democracies…’ “When two large economies and the world’s largest democracies work together, it benefits our people and unlocks immense opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation,” the PM added. “President Trump’s leadership is vital for global peace, stability, and prosperity. India fully supports his efforts for peace. I look forward to working closely with him to take our partnership to unprecedented heights,” the Indian PM added further on his social media post. Also Read: ‘We agreed to trade deal’: Trump dials PM Modi, reduces tariffs on India from 25% to 18% Trump had imposed a 25% tariff on Indian exports late last year as his deadline to sign a deal with countries had lapsed. Trump later doubled the tariffs on India to 50% as he accused Delhi of continuing to buy oil from Russia and thereby supporting Moscow in its war against Ukraine. Trade deal, tariff reduction huge fillip for India The trade deal with the United States is a huge fillip for India, and the reduction in tariffs from 50% to 18% puts it in an advantageous position in comparison to competing economies. India now has lower tariffs compared to several competing economies. After the announcement, US tariffs on India are 18%, while Indonesia faces 19%, Vietnam 20%, Bangladesh 20%, and China 34%. Also Read: ‘Rogue drone’ sightings near UK military bases doubled in 2025, troops to get shooting down powers The resilience of Indian negotiators finally ended on a happy note after months of trade tensions and inappropriate criticism from Trump’s trade adviser Peter Navarro several times. PM Modi and Trump had spoken on multiple instances in recent times, raising hopes of the trade deal being sealed eventually. ‘Limitless potential,’ says US Ambassador Sergio Gor The deal comes just days after US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor took charge. Just a few minutes before Trump announced the deal, Gor wrote on his handle on X, “President Trump just spoke to PM Modi. STAY TUNED...” After the trade deal announcement, Gor hailed the development and said the relationship between the United States and India has “limitless potential”. Also Read: Iran‘s President Masoud Pezeshkian orders start of nuclear talks with US: Report In his following post on X, the US Ambassador wrote, “As I have said many times, President Trump genuinely considers Prime Minister Modi a great friend! Thrilled by the news of the trade deal this evening. The relationship between the United States and India has LIMITLESS POTENTIAL!” Gor also confirmed that the US tariffs had in fact come down from 50 per cent to 18 per cent. Also Read: Epstein files stash reveals Norway diplomat Terje Rød-Larsen’s derogatory remark on ‘Indians’; social media erupts When asked by CNN News 18 whether the additional 25 per cent tariffs on India have been removed, Gor said, “That is correct. As you saw in the Truth of the President wrote, part of the agreement is that all nations around the world stop buying oil from Russia in order to bring peace. I know the Prime Minister deeply cares about bringing peace in that conflict, as does President Trump. So the number as it gets finalised will be 18 per cent.” In his Truth Social post, Trump had only mentioned that reciprocal tariffs were being reduced from 25 per cent to 18 per cent with no clarification on the status of the additional 25 per cent tariffs imposed on India later for buying Russian oil. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar also hailed the deal and retweeted PM Modi’s post on X.

The trade deal with the United States is a huge fillip for India, and the reduction in tariffs from 50% to 18% puts it in an advantageous position in comparison to competing economies. US tariffs on India now are 18%, while Indonesia faces 19%, Vietnam 20%, Bangladesh 20%, and China 34%.

PM Modi thanks Trump, as US tariffs on Indian exports come down from 50% to 18%

"We have not come across any report of sabotage as of now," India's Space Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh said in New Delhi, referring to multiple failures of the space agency ISRO's strategic missions in the past year. His remarks come after the Government-run Indian Space Research Organization failed in three of six missions that it carried out from home soil over the last 12 months. All three failed missions were meant for strategic purposes: NVS-02 satellite, PSLV-C61/EOS-09, PSLV-C62/EOS-N1. In 33 years of its spaceflight, the PSLV has had only four major failures. Which is why, the back-to-back mid-flight failures of ISRO's workhorse PSLV rocket in May 2025 and January 2026, have raised serious concerns. &nbsp;"As a Minister of Space, I'm responsible for the launches, not for checking sabotages or even conducting sabotages... There are other Ministries... I think the question could be directed to the Ministry of Defence or Ministry of Home Affairs or Ministry of External Affairs," Dr. Singh said smilingly at a press briefing. But as of now, we have not come across any report(of sabotage), added the Minister, who holds strategic portfolios under the Indian Prime Minister's Office.&nbsp; &nbsp;Referring to the back-to-back failures of the PSLV rocket, Dr. Singh said, "a popular notion that has gone around is that the fault happened last time(May 2025), it is happening again(Jan 2026), you are not able to rectify it... the answer is, what happened last time has not happened now". The Minister implied that, though both PSLV rockets failed during the third stage of flight, each failure had a different reason. The Minister also expressed faith in the appraisal(failure analysis) at ISRO, adding that it is done "analytically and minutely". &nbsp;ISRO has had the practice of publicly sharing a summary of their mission failure analysis.&nbsp;However, it must be noted that ISRO did not make public the failure analysis of the PSLV-C61/EOS-09 mission that failed in May 2025. While the report was submitted to the Prime Minister's Office, it has not been made public. Similarly, no specific updates have been provided about the PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 January 2026 failure, other than the Minister's remarks.&nbsp;&nbsp;Here's the list of five Indian strategic space missions that have failed over the last nine years:January 2026, PSLV-C62/EOS-N1The PSLV-C62 flight on Monday (12th Jan 2026) marked PSLV's return to flight after a rare setback during the previous launch in May 2025, and this was also ISRO's first launch of 2026. The primary satellite was the 'EOS-N1' or 'Anvesha', an Earth Observation satellite built by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). This satellite was to be placed 511 km above the Earth. 'EOS-N1' was a Hyperspectral imaging satellite, which means it can see much more than the human eye or a conventional optical imaging satellite. As the surface of the Earth gets illuminated by sunlight, different materials(soil, water, metal, vegetation, and concrete structures) reflect light across various wavelengths. A hyperspectral sensor can capture these reflections, classify them and help identify what material it is made of. In addition to 'EOS-N1', there were 15 co-passenger satellites aboard the PSLV-C62. The rocket and all satellites were lost due to a mid-flight failure in the PSLV's third stage.May 2025, PSLV-C61/EOS-09On Sunday, 18th May, barely six minutes after liftoff, ISRO's PSLV-C61 rocket that was carrying the EOS-09 satellite faced trouble mid-flight. "Up to the second stage, performance was normal. The third stage ignited, but we made an observation regarding its functioning. Mission could not be accomplished," said ISRO Chief Dr V. Narayanan regarding the status of the four-stage PSLV rocket that was supposed to perform an 18-minute-long mission.EOS-09 was a radar imaging satellite(earlier known as RISAT) that was capable of day and night imaging. It was meant to see through clouds and deliver images under all weather conditions. The mid-flight failure led to the loss of the rocket and satellite.January 2025, GSLV-F15/NVS-02On 29th January 2025, the NVS-02 was launched aboard the GSLV-F15 rocket, in what was the 100th rocket launch from the Indian spaceport in Sriharikota. While the GSLV rocket accomplished its task of placing the NVS-02 satellite in the initial orbit, the satellite encountered an anomaly. &nbsp;This anomaly prevented it from firing its on-board engines and moving to the final orbit. Owing to the on-board engines not firing, the satellite remained stuck in its initial orbit and was rendered unusable for its core purpose of Position, Navigation, Timing. NVS-02 is one among five satellites in India's planned five-satellite NAVIC constellation, which is meant to serve as a GPS-equivalent in India's neighbourhood.August 2021, GSLV-F10/EOS-03Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, ISRO had launched a sophisticated Earth-imaging satellite known as GISAT-1 aboard the GSLV-F10 rocket. GISAT-1 or EOS-3 was an agile earth observation satellite, which could use different types of imaging technologies to provide constant monitoring of a region of interest/calamity/weather pattern. GISAT-1 was meant to provide almost real-time imaging of large regions of interest at frequent intervals.This mission was ready for launch in early-2020, but was delayed for "technical reasons". Finally, the rocket lifted off on August 12th 2021, but the mission ran into trouble mid-flight, after a malfunction in the Cryogenic upper stage that was meant to place the satellite into orbit. ISRO later revealed that a valve leak in the liquid hydrogen tank led to the failure.August 2017, PSLV-C39/IRNSS-1HIndian Regional Navigation Satellite System(IRNSS), later known as Navigation with Indian Constellation(NAVIC) is a Position, Navigation, Timing service meant to be used by the various ministries of the Indian Government and the country's Armed Forces. Simply put, NAVIC is an Indian-made, scaled-down equivalent of America's Global Positioning System.During the late-night launch of PSLV-C39 on August 31st 2017, all flight events took place exactly as planned, except heat shield separation. Eventually, the satellite remained trapped inside the heat shield, which led to mission failure.The impact of ISRO's strategic mission failuresThe five aforementioned ISRO mission failures occurred in rockets and satellite variants or their components that have been operational with ISRO for decades. Going by rocket and satellite cost estimates, these five mission failures in the last nine years would have cost the Indian Government a few hundred million dollars, if not more. Further, the Government would have to spend the same amount of money once again to redo these missions. Also, one must factor in the cost of the lost opportunities. Because, in the absence of these homegrown strategic satellites, India would have to purchase similar satellite-based services from foreign firms. Having to commit resources to redo failed missions would also considerably slow down India's planned rocket launch missions and the overall pace of executing space launches.As per limited information released by ISRO, each mission failure over the last nine years was caused by a different component/system. This re-emphasises that rocketry is a zero-error business, where even the smallest of errors or defects can lead to catastrophic failures and immense losses. While such losses offer valuable lessons for future missions, it is also important to note that these costly failures are delaying the deployment of several important space-based capabilities developed by Indian scientists.

Repeated failures of ISRO’s strategic space missions, including back-to-back PSLV setbacks, have raised concerns over transparency, national security impact, and delays in deploying critical defence and navigation satellite capabilities.

"We have not come across any report of sabotage as of now," India's Space Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh said in New Delhi, referring to multiple failures of the space agency ISRO's strategic missions in the past year. His remarks come after the Government-run Indian Space Research Organization failed in three of six missions that it carried out from home soil over the last 12 months. All three failed missions were meant for strategic purposes: NVS-02 satellite, PSLV-C61/EOS-09, PSLV-C62/EOS-N1. In 33 years of its spaceflight, the PSLV has had only four major failures. Which is why, the back-to-back mid-flight failures of ISRO's workhorse PSLV rocket in May 2025 and January 2026, have raised serious concerns. "As a Minister of Space, I'm responsible for the launches, not for checking sabotages or even conducting sabotages... There are other Ministries... I think the question could be directed to the Ministry of Defence or Ministry of Home Affairs or Ministry of External Affairs," Dr. Singh said smilingly at a press briefing. But as of now, we have not come across any report(of sabotage), added the Minister, who holds strategic portfolios under the Indian Prime Minister's Office. Referring to the back-to-back failures of the PSLV rocket, Dr. Singh said, "a popular notion that has gone around is that the fault happened last time(May 2025), it is happening again(Jan 2026), you are not able to rectify it... the answer is, what happened last time has not happened now". The Minister implied that, though both PSLV rockets failed during the third stage of flight, each failure had a different reason. The Minister also expressed faith in the appraisal(failure analysis) at ISRO, adding that it is done "analytically and minutely". ISRO has had the practice of publicly sharing a summary of their mission failure analysis. However, it must be noted that ISRO did not make public the failure analysis of the PSLV-C61/EOS-09 mission that failed in May 2025. While the report was submitted to the Prime Minister's Office, it has not been made public. Similarly, no specific updates have been provided about the PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 January 2026 failure, other than the Minister's remarks. Here's the list of five Indian strategic space missions that have failed over the last nine years: January 2026, PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 The PSLV-C62 flight on Monday (12th Jan 2026) marked PSLV's return to flight after a rare setback during the previous launch in May 2025, and this was also ISRO's first launch of 2026. The primary satellite was the 'EOS-N1' or 'Anvesha', an Earth Observation satellite built by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). This satellite was to be placed 511 km above the Earth. 'EOS-N1' was a Hyperspectral imaging satellite, which means it can see much more than the human eye or a conventional optical imaging satellite. As the surface of the Earth gets illuminated by sunlight, different materials(soil, water, metal, vegetation, and concrete structures) reflect light across various wavelengths. A hyperspectral sensor can capture these reflections, classify them and help identify what material it is made of. In addition to 'EOS-N1', there were 15 co-passenger satellites aboard the PSLV-C62. The rocket and all satellites were lost due to a mid-flight failure in the PSLV's third stage. May 2025, PSLV-C61/EOS-09 On Sunday, 18th May, barely six minutes after liftoff, ISRO's PSLV-C61 rocket that was carrying the EOS-09 satellite faced trouble mid-flight. "Up to the second stage, performance was normal. The third stage ignited, but we made an observation regarding its functioning. Mission could not be accomplished," said ISRO Chief Dr V. Narayanan regarding the status of the four-stage PSLV rocket that was supposed to perform an 18-minute-long mission. EOS-09 was a radar imaging satellite(earlier known as RISAT) that was capable of day and night imaging. It was meant to see through clouds and deliver images under all weather conditions. The mid-flight failure led to the loss of the rocket and satellite. January 2025, GSLV-F15/NVS-02 On 29th January 2025, the NVS-02 was launched aboard the GSLV-F15 rocket, in what was the 100th rocket launch from the Indian spaceport in Sriharikota. While the GSLV rocket accomplished its task of placing the NVS-02 satellite in the initial orbit, the satellite encountered an anomaly. This anomaly prevented it from firing its on-board engines and moving to the final orbit. Owing to the on-board engines not firing, the satellite remained stuck in its initial orbit and was rendered unusable for its core purpose of Position, Navigation, Timing. NVS-02 is one among five satellites in India's planned five-satellite NAVIC constellation, which is meant to serve as a GPS-equivalent in India's neighbourhood. August 2021, GSLV-F10/EOS-03 Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, ISRO had launched a sophisticated Earth-imaging satellite known as GISAT-1 aboard the GSLV-F10 rocket. GISAT-1 or EOS-3 was an agile earth observation satellite, which could use different types of imaging technologies to provide constant monitoring of a region of interest/calamity/weather pattern. GISAT-1 was meant to provide almost real-time imaging of large regions of interest at frequent intervals. This mission was ready for launch in early-2020, but was delayed for "technical reasons". Finally, the rocket lifted off on August 12th 2021, but the mission ran into trouble mid-flight, after a malfunction in the Cryogenic upper stage that was meant to place the satellite into orbit. ISRO later revealed that a valve leak in the liquid hydrogen tank led to the failure. August 2017, PSLV-C39/IRNSS-1H Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System(IRNSS), later known as Navigation with Indian Constellation(NAVIC) is a Position, Navigation, Timing service meant to be used by the various ministries of the Indian Government and the country's Armed Forces. Simply put, NAVIC is an Indian-made, scaled-down equivalent of America's Global Positioning System. During the late-night launch of PSLV-C39 on August 31st 2017, all flight events took place exactly as planned, except heat shield separation. Eventually, the satellite remained trapped inside the heat shield, which led to mission failure. The impact of ISRO's strategic mission failures The five aforementioned ISRO mission failures occurred in rockets and satellite variants or their components that have been operational with ISRO for decades. Going by rocket and satellite cost estimates, these five mission failures in the last nine years would have cost the Indian Government a few hundred million dollars, if not more. Further, the Government would have to spend the same amount of money once again to redo these missions. Also, one must factor in the cost of the lost opportunities. Because, in the absence of these homegrown strategic satellites, India would have to purchase similar satellite-based services from foreign firms. Having to commit resources to redo failed missions would also considerably slow down India's planned rocket launch missions and the overall pace of executing space launches. As per limited information released by ISRO, each mission failure over the last nine years was caused by a different component/system. This re-emphasises that rocketry is a zero-error business, where even the smallest of errors or defects can lead to catastrophic failures and immense losses. While such losses offer valuable lessons for future missions, it is also important to note that these costly failures are delaying the deployment of several important space-based capabilities developed by Indian scientists.

Repeated failures of ISRO’s strategic space missions, including back-to-back PSLV setbacks, have raised concerns over transparency, national security impact, and delays in deploying critical defence and navigation satellite capabilities.

'No report of sabotage': Indian Govt on ISRO's strategic mission failures

US President Donald Trump praised New Delhi’s India Gate, calling it “India’s beautiful Triumphal Arch,” and said that a similar monument planned in the United States would surpass all others. Standing 42 metres tall, India Gate, often compared to the Arc de Triomphe, commemorates nearly 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives while serving in the British Army during World War I and the Third Anglo-Afghan War. Trump shared an image of the landmark on Truth Social, writing that while India’s monument is impressive, America’s version would be “the greatest of them all.”&nbsp;Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One over the weekend, Trump revealed that his administration is exploring plans to construct a grand arch in Washington, DC, inspired by Paris’s Arc de Triomphe. He noted that while 57 cities around the world already have such monuments, Washington lacks one. According to Trump, the proposed structure would be “the most beautiful in the world” and larger than any existing arch. He added that a committee is being formed to oversee the project, emphasizing that the monument should reflect the stature of the United States as the world’s most powerful nation.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-india-grounds-boeing-787-after-fuel-switch-issue-on-london-bengaluru-flight-1770042563356">Air India grounds Boeing 787 after fuel switch issue on London–Bengaluru flight</a>

According to reporting by The Washington Post, Trump evaluated several smaller designs before settling on the tallest option, saying he wanted the monument to leave a lasting visual impact on visitors. Earlier concepts reportedly included heights of 165 feet and 123 feet. Despite Trump’s earlier suggestion that construction could begin quickly, progress has been slow. Federal design approvals have not yet been finalized, and the proposed location, Memorial Circle, falls under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service, requiring multiple regulatory clearances.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/-arab-nations-block-trump-s-attack-plan-fearing-iranian-missiles-drones-1770043883630/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/-arab-nations-block-trump-s-attack-plan-fearing-iranian-missiles-drones-1770043883630/embed</a>&nbsp;If approved, the arch would loom over nearby landmarks, including the White House and the Lincoln Memorial. Sources told The Post that Trump frequently refers to the plan as “250 for 250,” framing the monument’s height as symbolic of the nation’s historic milestone.

'Ours will be greatest': Trump eyes India Gate-inspired arch for America’s 250th Independence anniversary

US President Donald Trump praised New Delhi’s India Gate, calling it “India’s beautiful Triumphal Arch,” and said that a similar monument planned in the United States would surpass all others. Standing 42 metres tall, India Gate, often compared to the Arc de Triomphe, commemorates nearly 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives while serving in the British Army during World War I and the Third Anglo-Afghan War. Trump shared an image of the landmark on Truth Social, writing that while India’s monument is impressive, America’s version would be “the greatest of them all.” Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One over the weekend, Trump revealed that his administration is exploring plans to construct a grand arch in Washington, DC, inspired by Paris’s Arc de Triomphe. He noted that while 57 cities around the world already have such monuments, Washington lacks one. According to Trump, the proposed structure would be “the most beautiful in the world” and larger than any existing arch. He added that a committee is being formed to oversee the project, emphasizing that the monument should reflect the stature of the United States as the world’s most powerful nation. Also Read: Air India grounds Boeing 787 after fuel switch issue on London–Bengaluru flight

Trump has proposed a 250-foot triumphal arch in Washington, inspired by India Gate, to commemorate the US’s 250th Independence anniversary

US President Donald Trump dialled the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US Ambassador Sergio Gor said via post on X. The American President later shared a post on his social media platform Truth Social handle and said, “It was an honour to speak with Prime Minister Modi of India this morning. He is one of my greatest friends and a Powerful and Respected Leader of his Country. We spoke about many things, including Trade, and ending the War with Russia and Ukraine. He agreed to stop buying Russian Oil, and to buy much more from the United States and, potentially, Venezuela.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump just spoke with Prime Minister Modi. STAY TUNED… <a href="https://t.co/IFcxrJj04m">pic.twitter.com/IFcxrJj04m</a>&mdash; Ambassador Sergio Gor (@USAmbIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/USAmbIndia/status/2018350438933037154?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"This will help END THE WAR in Ukraine, which is taking place right now, with thousands of people dying each and every week! Out of friendship and respect for Prime Minister Modi and, as per his request, effective immediately, we agreed to a Trade Deal between the United States and India, whereby the United States will charge a reduced Reciprocal Tariff, lowering it from 25 per cent to 18 per cent. They will likewise move forward to reduce their Tariffs and Non Tariff Barriers against the United States, to ZERO," POTUS added. The American president also said, “Prime Minister Modi and I are two people that GET THINGS DONE, something that cannot be said for most.”&nbsp;<h2>‘Unlocks immense opportunities’: PM Modi confirms reduction in US tariffs&nbsp;</h2>&nbsp;Prime Minister Narendra Modi also confirmed the developments and said in a post on X, “Wonderful to speak with my dear friend President Trump today. Delighted that Made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18%. Big thanks to President Trump on behalf of the 1.4 billion people of India for this wonderful announcement.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Wonderful to speak with my dear friend President Trump today. Delighted that Made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18%. Big thanks to President Trump on behalf of the 1.4 billion people of India for this wonderful announcement. When two large economies and the…&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/2018377090840830101?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;“When two large economies and the world’s largest democracies work together, it benefits our people and unlocks immense opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation. President Trump’s leadership is vital for global peace, stability, and prosperity. India fully supports his efforts for peace. I look forward to working closely with him to take our partnership to unprecedented heights.”&nbsp;US Ambassador Sergio Gor also shared in a post on X, “As I have said many times, President Trump genuinely considers Prime Minister Modi a great friend! Thrilled by the news of the trade deal this evening. The relationship between the United States and India has LIMITLESS POTENTIAL!”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">As I have said many times, President Trump genuinely considers Prime Minister Modi a great friend! Thrilled by the news of the trade deal this evening. The relationship between the United States and India has LIMITLESS POTENTIAL!&mdash; Ambassador Sergio Gor (@USAmbIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/USAmbIndia/status/2018375085661523976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

US President Donald Trump dialled the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US Ambassador Sergio Gor said via post on X.

US President Donald Trump dialled the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US Ambassador Sergio Gor said via post on X. The American President later shared a post on his social media platform Truth Social handle and said, “It was an honour to speak with Prime Minister Modi of India this morning. He is one of my greatest friends and a Powerful and Respected Leader of his Country. We spoke about many things, including Trade, and ending the War with Russia and Ukraine. He agreed to stop buying Russian Oil, and to buy much more from the United States and, potentially, Venezuela.”

US President Donald Trump dialled the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US Ambassador Sergio Gor said via post on X.

‘We agreed to trade deal’: Trump dials PM Modi, reduces tariffs on India from 25% to 18%

New Delhi: India has firmly rejected the ruling of the Court of Arbitration in The Hague concerning the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), calling the body “illegal” and its decisions “void”. The body ordered India to disclose operational data on the Baglihar and Kishanganga projects in Jammu and Kashmir in the ruling. Sources pointed out that the Indus Waters Treaty remains suspended and the arbitration body stands infructuous.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-s-president-masoud-pezeshkian-orders-start-of-nuclear-talks-with-us-report-1770037263043">Iran‘s President Masoud Pezeshkian orders start of nuclear talks with US: Report</a>&nbsp;In 2025, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) had issued a “supplemental award”, affirming its competence to hear disputes over India’s Kishanganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir.&nbsp;&nbsp;Back then, in a strong statement, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it has “never recognised the existence in law of this so-called Court of Arbitration”.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/epstein-files-stash-reveals-norway-diplomat-terje-r-d-larsen-s-derogatory-remark-on-indians-social-media-erupts-1770028653881">Epstein files stash reveals Norway diplomat Terje Rød-Larsen’s derogatory remark on ‘Indians’; social media erupts</a>&nbsp;The Ministry of External Affairs emphasised that India placed the IWT in abeyance in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April 2025, in which Pakistan-trained terrorists killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-political-transition-from-maduro-regime-remnants-unstoppable-maria-machado-1769968808332">Political transition from Maduro regime remnants unstoppable’: Maria Machado</a>&nbsp;Following the Pahalgam terrorist attack, India had placed the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance. The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, allocates the waters of the Indus River system between the two neighbours. As per the treaty, India controls the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej), while Pakistan receives the bulk from the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab), with India permitted limited use for non-consumptive purposes like hydropower.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-even-before-ajit-pawar-s-ashes-were-immersed-bjp-slams-ncp-sp-s-desperation-for-merger-1770034915580">‘Even before Ajit Pawar’s ashes were immersed…’: BJP slams NCP (SP)’s ‘desperation’ for merger</a>

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) emphasised that India placed the IWT in abeyance in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April 2025, in which Pakistan-trained terrorists killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists.

New Delhi: India has firmly rejected the ruling of the Court of Arbitration in The Hague concerning the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), calling the body “illegal” and its decisions “void”. The body ordered India to disclose operational data on the Baglihar and Kishanganga projects in Jammu and Kashmir in the ruling. Sources pointed out that the Indus Waters Treaty remains suspended and the arbitration body stands infructuous. Also Read: Iran‘s President Masoud Pezeshkian orders start of nuclear talks with US: Report In 2025, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) had issued a “supplemental award”, affirming its competence to hear disputes over India’s Kishanganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir. Back then, in a strong statement, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it has “never recognised the existence in law of this so-called Court of Arbitration”. Also Read: Epstein files stash reveals Norway diplomat Terje Rød-Larsen’s derogatory remark on ‘Indians’; social media erupts The Ministry of External Affairs emphasised that India placed the IWT in abeyance in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April 2025, in which Pakistan-trained terrorists killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists. Also Read: Political transition from Maduro regime remnants unstoppable’: Maria Machado Following the Pahalgam terrorist attack, India had placed the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance. The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, allocates the waters of the Indus River system between the two neighbours. As per the treaty, India controls the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej), while Pakistan receives the bulk from the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab), with India permitted limited use for non-consumptive purposes like hydropower. Also Read: ‘Even before Ajit Pawar’s ashes were immersed…’: BJP slams NCP (SP)’s ‘desperation’ for merger

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) emphasised that India placed the IWT in abeyance in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April 2025, in which Pakistan-trained terrorists killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists.

India dismisses Arbitration Court’s authority over J&K hydro projects

On Monday, (February 2), Air India admitted a potential technical issue involving the fuel control switch on one of its Boeing 787-8 aircraft operating the London–Bengaluru route. The airline confirmed that the aircraft has been grounded as a precautionary measure while the issue is examined in coordination with the aircraft manufacturer. The disclosure has revived concerns linked to the tragic June 12 crash of Air India Flight 171 from Ahmedabad to London, which claimed 260 lives. Investigators probing that accident had highlighted a malfunction involving fuel control switches as a critical factor.&nbsp;In a statement, Air India said a pilot had flagged irregular behaviour in the fuel control switch. “Following the report, the aircraft was immediately withdrawn from service, and the OEM has been engaged to investigate the matter on priority,” the airline said. The carrier added that India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has been informed. Emphasising safety, Air India stated that passenger and crew welfare remains its foremost concern. According to the airline, inspections of fuel control switches across its entire Boeing 787 fleet had earlier been completed as per DGCA instructions, with no anomalies detected at the time. Similar checks had also been conducted on its Boeing 737 aircraft.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-he-was-saying-he-has-a-file-of-opposition-alleges-conspiracy-seeks-high-level-investigation-in-death-of-ajit-pawar-1770033477010">'He was saying he has a file of...': Opposition alleges conspiracy, seeks high-level investigation in death of Ajit Pawar</a><h2>What happened on the London–Bengaluru flight?</h2>The incident involved Air India flight AI132 from London Heathrow to Bengaluru. A press release issued by the Safety Matters Foundation, now circulating online, said the flight crew observed unusual behaviour in the left engine fuel control switch of the Boeing 787-8 aircraft registered as VT-ANX. During engine start-up, the switch reportedly failed twice to stay secured in the RUN position and instead drifted towards CUTOFF. Under certain circumstances, such a fault could potentially result in an unintended engine shutdown while airborne.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/air-india-grounds-boeing-787-8-over-fuel-control-switch-defect-1770042046912/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/air-india-grounds-boeing-787-8-over-fuel-control-switch-defect-1770042046912/embed</a><h2>Link to the Ahmedabad crash investigation</h2>The preliminary investigation report into the July 12 Ahmedabad crash revealed that both engine fuel control switches shifted from RUN to CUTOFF shortly after takeoff, cutting engine thrust. Audio from the cockpit captured one pilot questioning why the fuel had been cut, while the other denied initiating the action. Following the loss of power, the aircraft’s Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deployed automatically to provide emergency power. Although one engine showed signs of recovery after the switches were reset, the aircraft failed to climb. A distress call was transmitted moments before the crash.

Air India grounds Boeing 787 after fuel switch issue on London–Bengaluru flight

On Monday, (February 2), Air India admitted a potential technical issue involving the fuel control switch on one of its Boeing 787-8 aircraft operating the London–Bengaluru route. The airline confirmed that the aircraft has been grounded as a precautionary measure while the issue is examined in coordination with the aircraft manufacturer. The disclosure has revived concerns linked to the tragic June 12 crash of Air India Flight 171 from Ahmedabad to London, which claimed 260 lives. Investigators probing that accident had highlighted a malfunction involving fuel control switches as a critical factor. In a statement, Air India said a pilot had flagged irregular behaviour in the fuel control switch. “Following the report, the aircraft was immediately withdrawn from service, and the OEM has been engaged to investigate the matter on priority,” the airline said. The carrier added that India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has been informed. Emphasising safety, Air India stated that passenger and crew welfare remains its foremost concern. According to the airline, inspections of fuel control switches across its entire Boeing 787 fleet had earlier been completed as per DGCA instructions, with no anomalies detected at the time. Similar checks had also been conducted on its Boeing 737 aircraft. Also Read: 'He was saying he has a file of...': Opposition alleges conspiracy, seeks high-level investigation in death of Ajit Pawar What happened on the London–Bengaluru flight? The incident involved Air India flight AI132 from London Heathrow to Bengaluru. A press release issued by the Safety Matters Foundation, now circulating online, said the flight crew observed unusual behaviour in the left engine fuel control switch of the Boeing 787-8 aircraft registered as VT-ANX. During engine start-up, the switch reportedly failed twice to stay secured in the RUN position and instead drifted towards CUTOFF. Under certain circumstances, such a fault could potentially result in an unintended engine shutdown while airborne. https://www.wionews.com/videos/air-india-grounds-boeing-787-8-over-fuel-control-switch-defect-1770042046912/embed Link to the Ahmedabad crash investigation The preliminary investigation report into the July 12 Ahmedabad crash revealed that both engine fuel control switches shifted from RUN to CUTOFF shortly after takeoff, cutting engine thrust. Audio from the cockpit captured one pilot questioning why the fuel had been cut, while the other denied initiating the action. Following the loss of power, the aircraft’s Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deployed automatically to provide emergency power. Although one engine showed signs of recovery after the switches were reset, the aircraft failed to climb. A distress call was transmitted moments before the crash.

Air India has grounded a Boeing 787-8 after a pilot reported fuel switch irregularities, reviving concerns linked to the tragic Ahmedabad crash last year

A controversy erupted after the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday (Feb 1) challenged the central government over its objection to quoting excerpts from an unpublished memoir of former Army Chief General MM Naravane, asking why the government was "so scared" of the content of the book. According to a report from the Carvan, the memoir details developments and communication between the Army Chief and political leadership during the Rechin La in eastern Ladakh and the Doklam standoff with China.&nbsp;General Manoj Mukund Naravane served as the 28th Chief of Army Staff (COAS) from December 31, 2019, to April 30, 2022. He led the Army during border clashes with China, including the Galwan Valley clash, resulting in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and an undisclosed number of Chinese casualties. He wrote his memoir Four Stars of Destiny, which was scheduled for publication in 2024. The link to the book is still available on Amazon, but it shows the message “Currently unavailable.&nbsp;“From his fi­rst encounter with the Chinese as a young officer in Sikkim to dealing with them in Galwan when he was Chief, from daily incidents of fi­ring across the LC to implementing a ceasefi­re with Pakistan, General Naravane takes us through his distinguished career spanning over four decades that saw him serve in all corners of the country,” the description of the book on Amazon reads. Penguin Random House is the publisher of the book.&nbsp;<h2>Controversy surrounding Naravane's book- A timeline</h2>December 2023: Excerpts were released by news agencies. These snippets reveal sensitive details about the 2020 Galwan clash and the Agnipath scheme, specifically noting that the Army’s original proposal for Agnipath differed significantly from the final government version.&nbsp;January 2024: The Ministry of Defence and the Indian Army officially stall the publication. The publisher, Penguin Random House, is asked to stop the circulation of soft copies and excerpts while a full security review is conducted.&nbsp;October 2025: At the Khushwant Singh Literature Festival, Gen Naravane reportedly said that the book is still "maturing like aged wine" in the review process. He clarifies that the responsibility for obtaining permission lies with the publisher.&nbsp;January 31, 2026: The Caravan magazine publishes a detailed essay titled "Naravane’s Moment of Truth," quoting from the unpublished typescript. It highlights a critical moment in August 2020 where the PM reportedly told Naravane to "do whatever you deem appropriate" regarding Chinese tanks, shifting the weight of a potential war decision entirely onto the General.<h2>What are the rules regarding Ex-Military officers writing books?</h2> While retired officers have greater freedom than serving personnel, they are still bound by several legal and institutional frameworks:&nbsp;The Official Secrets Act (OSA), 1923 This is the primary law. No officer, serving or retired, can disclose classified information, operational secrets, or "sensitive" communications that could harm national security or foreign relations.&nbsp;CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 (2021 Amendment)A significant rule change in June 2021 tightened the rules on retired officials from intelligence or security-related organisations.&nbsp;Prior Permission: They must seek clearance from the head of their former organisation before publishing any material related to their work.&nbsp;Pension Risk: Failure to comply can lead to the withholding or withdrawal of their pension, as it is viewed as a violation of the "good conduct" clause.&nbsp;Army Rules, 1954 Section 21 prohibits serving personnel from publishing anything related to political questions or “service subjects without sanction. While the written rules for retired officers are less explicit, the MoD maintains that a ”review for sensitivity" is a standard and mandatory practice for high-ranking officials (like a former COAS) to ensure no breach of the OSA occurs.&nbsp;

While retired officers have greater freedom than serving personnel, they are still bound by several legal and institutional frameworks such as CCS (pensions) rules, which mandates clearance from government before publishing.


A controversy erupted after the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday (Feb 1) challenged the central government over its objection to quoting excerpts from an unpublished memoir of former Army Chief General MM Naravane, asking why the government was "so scared" of the content of the book. According to a report from the Carvan, the memoir details developments and communication between the Army Chief and political leadership during the Rechin La in eastern Ladakh and the Doklam standoff with China. General Manoj Mukund Naravane served as the 28th Chief of Army Staff (COAS) from December 31, 2019, to April 30, 2022. He led the Army during border clashes with China, including the Galwan Valley clash, resulting in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and an undisclosed number of Chinese casualties. He wrote his memoir Four Stars of Destiny, which was scheduled for publication in 2024. The link to the book is still available on Amazon, but it shows the message “Currently unavailable. “From his first encounter with the Chinese as a young officer in Sikkim to dealing with them in Galwan when he was Chief, from daily incidents of firing across the LC to implementing a ceasefire with Pakistan, General Naravane takes us through his distinguished career spanning over four decades that saw him serve in all corners of the country,” the description of the book on Amazon reads. Penguin Random House is the publisher of the book. Controversy surrounding Naravane's book- A timeline December 2023: Excerpts were released by news agencies. These snippets reveal sensitive details about the 2020 Galwan clash and the Agnipath scheme, specifically noting that the Army’s original proposal for Agnipath differed significantly from the final government version. January 2024: The Ministry of Defence and the Indian Army officially stall the publication. The publisher, Penguin Random House, is asked to stop the circulation of soft copies and excerpts while a full security review is conducted. October 2025: At the Khushwant Singh Literature Festival, Gen Naravane reportedly said that the book is still "maturing like aged wine" in the review process. He clarifies that the responsibility for obtaining permission lies with the publisher. January 31, 2026: The Caravan magazine publishes a detailed essay titled "Naravane’s Moment of Truth," quoting from the unpublished typescript. It highlights a critical moment in August 2020 where the PM reportedly told Naravane to "do whatever you deem appropriate" regarding Chinese tanks, shifting the weight of a potential war decision entirely onto the General. What are the rules regarding Ex-Military officers writing books? While retired officers have greater freedom than serving personnel, they are still bound by several legal and institutional frameworks: The Official Secrets Act (OSA), 1923 This is the primary law. No officer, serving or retired, can disclose classified information, operational secrets, or "sensitive" communications that could harm national security or foreign relations. CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 (2021 Amendment) A significant rule change in June 2021 tightened the rules on retired officials from intelligence or security-related organisations. Prior Permission: They must seek clearance from the head of their former organisation before publishing any material related to their work. Pension Risk: Failure to comply can lead to the withholding or withdrawal of their pension, as it is viewed as a violation of the "good conduct" clause. Army Rules, 1954 Section 21 prohibits serving personnel from publishing anything related to political questions or “service subjects without sanction. While the written rules for retired officers are less explicit, the MoD maintains that a ”review for sensitivity" is a standard and mandatory practice for high-ranking officials (like a former COAS) to ensure no breach of the OSA occurs.

While retired officers have greater freedom than serving personnel, they are still bound by several legal and institutional frameworks such as CCS (pensions) rules, which mandates clearance from government before publishing.

Row over ex-Army chief Naravane’s memoir: What is the controversy and what can retired officers disclose?

Marking the 3rd&nbsp;anniversary of his political party Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), actor-politician Vijay addressed cadre on Monday, (Feb 2), at his party office in Panaiyur, near Chennai. His party is to make its electoral debut in the Tamil Nadu state elections that are due in less than four months.&nbsp;&nbsp;Expressing confidence about his party's electoral prospects, he said that on the polling day, Vijays and Vijis (his male and female fans and supporters) will step out of every home and queue up at the polling booth to vote for their party. These remarks are widely seen as Vijay's counter to the view that his popularity as an actor and massive fan following need not translate into votes. He also likened his fans and followers to blood relatives, adding that they cannot be bought by other parties.&nbsp;&nbsp;With barely four months to go for the polls, Vijay's TVK party has not yet formed any alliance, despite it having made public that it is willing to share power with potential allies. However, there have been signals from sections of the Congress party about a potential tie-up with Vijay's TVK. This comes at a time when the Congress has not agreed to a final seat-sharing deal with longtime ally DMK. Though he isn't a representative of the TVK, Vijay's father had recently made remarks about how Vijay's TVK could revive the Congress party's political fortunes.&nbsp;&nbsp;Throughout his campaign, Vijay has been unsparing in his criticism of Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK, and Chief Minister MK Stalin. Continuing his attacks against the DMK, Vijay said half-jokingly that even DMK Chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, would prefer to vote for the TVK. Notably, in recent times, Vijay has not been as critical of the BJP and AIADMK, which comprise the opposition alliance in Tamil Nadu.&nbsp;&nbsp;Speaking about the emerging poll landscape in the state, Vijay said that it is being referred to as a three-cornered fight or a four-cornered fight. "There is the TVK(our party), then the DMK alliance, and then the alliance of the BJP and others. Irrespective of how many forces emerge, only TVK can defeat the ruling DMK," he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;In connection with his final film Jana Nayagan's release, Vijay has been facing challenges due to a censor certificate not being granted by the Indian Government's CBFC. Despite multiple Court hearings, there is no closure in the issue, which further prolongs the uncertainty over the film's release. Jana Nayagan's markers were targeting a release on Jan 9th, ahead of the Pongal festive week. Congress had alleged that the BJP was attempting to block the Jana Nayagan film release and attacking Tamil culture by using the Government machinery.&nbsp;&nbsp;DMK too had voiced out in favour of Vijay's film release. While parties such as the Congress and DMK voiced out in support of Vijay's film, interestingly, the actor-politician has maintained silence over his own high-profile film and the impact of its delayed release.

On poll day, Vijays will step out of every house, says TVK Chief 


Marking the 3rd anniversary of his political party Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), actor-politician Vijay addressed cadre on Monday, (Feb 2), at his party office in Panaiyur, near Chennai. His party is to make its electoral debut in the Tamil Nadu state elections that are due in less than four months. Expressing confidence about his party's electoral prospects, he said that on the polling day, Vijays and Vijis (his male and female fans and supporters) will step out of every home and queue up at the polling booth to vote for their party. These remarks are widely seen as Vijay's counter to the view that his popularity as an actor and massive fan following need not translate into votes. He also likened his fans and followers to blood relatives, adding that they cannot be bought by other parties. With barely four months to go for the polls, Vijay's TVK party has not yet formed any alliance, despite it having made public that it is willing to share power with potential allies. However, there have been signals from sections of the Congress party about a potential tie-up with Vijay's TVK. This comes at a time when the Congress has not agreed to a final seat-sharing deal with longtime ally DMK. Though he isn't a representative of the TVK, Vijay's father had recently made remarks about how Vijay's TVK could revive the Congress party's political fortunes. Throughout his campaign, Vijay has been unsparing in his criticism of Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK, and Chief Minister MK Stalin. Continuing his attacks against the DMK, Vijay said half-jokingly that even DMK Chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, would prefer to vote for the TVK. Notably, in recent times, Vijay has not been as critical of the BJP and AIADMK, which comprise the opposition alliance in Tamil Nadu. Speaking about the emerging poll landscape in the state, Vijay said that it is being referred to as a three-cornered fight or a four-cornered fight. "There is the TVK(our party), then the DMK alliance, and then the alliance of the BJP and others. Irrespective of how many forces emerge, only TVK can defeat the ruling DMK," he added. In connection with his final film Jana Nayagan's release, Vijay has been facing challenges due to a censor certificate not being granted by the Indian Government's CBFC. Despite multiple Court hearings, there is no closure in the issue, which further prolongs the uncertainty over the film's release. Jana Nayagan's markers were targeting a release on Jan 9th, ahead of the Pongal festive week. Congress had alleged that the BJP was attempting to block the Jana Nayagan film release and attacking Tamil culture by using the Government machinery. DMK too had voiced out in favour of Vijay's film release. While parties such as the Congress and DMK voiced out in support of Vijay's film, interestingly, the actor-politician has maintained silence over his own high-profile film and the impact of its delayed release.

With barely four months to go for the polls, Vijay's TVK party has not yet formed any alliance, despite having made public that it is willing to share power with potential allies

On poll day, Vijays will step out of every house, says TVK Chief

The sixth edition of the Gurez Ice Cricket Premier League has grown significantly this year, with the Indian Army expanding participation by introducing more teams and players, turning it into a major sporting event in North Kashmir’s Gurez sector of Bandipora district.&nbsp;Held amid extreme winter conditions, with nearly five feet of snow and sub-zero temperatures, the snowbound region has transformed into a hub of excitement and adventure. Players compete in cricket matches played entirely on ice, while hundreds of local youngsters brave the cold to witness the unique spectacle.&nbsp;A total of 32 teams from the remote villages of Gurez and Tulail are taking part in the tournament. The primary objective of the league is to promote winter sports in areas that remain completely snow-covered and cut off from the rest of the region during harsh winters.&nbsp;The Indian Army has been organising the ice cricket tournament for the past six years, despite heavy snowfall and challenging terrain. Over the years, the event has continued to grow in scale and popularity. In previous editions, visuals from the tournament caught international attention, with renowned cricketers sharing and praising the initiative on social media.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-death-sentence-sheikh-hasina-handed-10-year-imprisonment-in-graft-cases-1770030771942">From death row to jail: Sheikh Hasina sentenced to 10 years on corruption charges</a>&nbsp;Recently, Gurez was awarded the title of one of the best offbeat destinations in the country. With initiatives like winter sports and ice cricket, the region is steadily gaining recognition at both national and international levels.&nbsp;The competition is as fierce as the weather, with significant rewards on the line to encourage local talent. The winners will be awarded ₹50,000, while the runner-up team will receive ₹30,000. Additionally, to celebrate individual excellence throughout the tournament, a cash prize of ₹2,000 is given to the 'Man of the Match' in every single game, ensuring that every performance counts in this winter extravaganza hosted by the Indian Army.&nbsp;The final of the tournament will be held on February 16.&nbsp;

The Indian Army has been organising the ice cricket tournament for the past six years, despite heavy snowfall and challenging terrain.

The sixth edition of the Gurez Ice Cricket Premier League has grown significantly this year, with the Indian Army expanding participation by introducing more teams and players, turning it into a major sporting event in North Kashmir’s Gurez sector of Bandipora district. Held amid extreme winter conditions, with nearly five feet of snow and sub-zero temperatures, the snowbound region has transformed into a hub of excitement and adventure. Players compete in cricket matches played entirely on ice, while hundreds of local youngsters brave the cold to witness the unique spectacle. A total of 32 teams from the remote villages of Gurez and Tulail are taking part in the tournament. The primary objective of the league is to promote winter sports in areas that remain completely snow-covered and cut off from the rest of the region during harsh winters. The Indian Army has been organising the ice cricket tournament for the past six years, despite heavy snowfall and challenging terrain. Over the years, the event has continued to grow in scale and popularity. In previous editions, visuals from the tournament caught international attention, with renowned cricketers sharing and praising the initiative on social media. Also Read: From death row to jail: Sheikh Hasina sentenced to 10 years on corruption charges Recently, Gurez was awarded the title of one of the best offbeat destinations in the country. With initiatives like winter sports and ice cricket, the region is steadily gaining recognition at both national and international levels. The competition is as fierce as the weather, with significant rewards on the line to encourage local talent. The winners will be awarded ₹50,000, while the runner-up team will receive ₹30,000. Additionally, to celebrate individual excellence throughout the tournament, a cash prize of ₹2,000 is given to the 'Man of the Match' in every single game, ensuring that every performance counts in this winter extravaganza hosted by the Indian Army. The final of the tournament will be held on February 16.

The Indian Army has been organising the ice cricket tournament for the past six years, despite heavy snowfall and challenging terrain.

Ice Cricket Premier League grows bigger in North Kashmir’s Gurez

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s Maharashtra state unit leadership took pot shots at the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (SP) on Monday for raising the pitch for a merger with the NCP and its timing, terming it desperation for unification and also questioned about the fate of its “secular” agenda.&nbsp;After former NCP chief and deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s death in a plane crash on January 28, Sharad Pawar claimed that the merger decision was to be announced on February 12. The NCP (SP) said Ajit was keen on merger and that it shared the same view. NCP (SP) leaders also said that Ajit had held several rounds of discussions with them about unifying the two factions.&nbsp;NCP Maharashtra president Sunil Tatkare said on Sunday that his party’s decision to remain with the BJP-led NDA is “permanent”.&nbsp;Keshav Upadhye, chief spokesperson of Maharashtra BJP, told The Indian Express, “The NCP is with the NDA and Mahayuti. If Sharad Pawar’s party wants to join hands with the NCP, it will have to join the government. In that case, what will happen to its secular agenda?”&nbsp;<h2>‘Even before the mourning period ended and ashes were immersed’</h2>&nbsp;“Why is Sharad Pawar’s party so desperate to merge with NCP? Even before the mourning period ended and before Ajit Pawar’s ashes were immersed, they raised the issue of a merger. Why are they in such a hurry to merge?” Upadhye asked.&nbsp;Last Saturday, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar indicated that the process to merge the two NCP factions was slated for February 12 but has come to a halt following the death of Ajit Pawar. He even suggested that leaders from the NCP are no longer keen on the move despite his own party’s willingness.&nbsp;Upadhye also wrote a post on social media in Marathi, questioning Sharad Pawar’s credibility and his party’s desperation to merge.&nbsp;<h2>‘Criticism being aimed at Sunetra Pawar and BJP’</h2>&nbsp;He said questions should have actually been raised on Sharad Pawar’s credibility, but criticism was being aimed at Sunetra Pawar and the BJP.&nbsp;Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra Pawar, was sworn in Saturday as the state’s first woman Deputy Chief Minister.&nbsp;“On the very day the accident occurred, the Pawar faction began talking about merger, and Sharad Pawar himself expressed agreement. Actually, no one from the NCP had officially demanded such a discussion. So, what exactly was the need to push this subject forward with such haste?” he asked.&nbsp;Upadhye said that by raising the issue of merger at the wrong time, the NCP (SP) only showed its desperation. “Was the talk of a merger a sign of the Pawar faction’s political helplessness? Because at that moment, it was clear that Ajit Pawar would remain with the NDA and Mahayuti,” he said.&nbsp;“Why didn’t Sharad Pawar himself take a clear stand by saying no discussions regarding a merger should take place right now? He should have said, as the elder of the family, I stand firmly behind Sunetra Pawar. He should have said I will accept whatever decisions she makes. We shall hold political discussions only after the period of mourning is over.”

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar indicated last Saturday that the process to merge the two NCP factions was slated for Feb 12 but has come to a halt following the death of Ajit Pawar. He even hinted that NCP leaders were no longer keen on a merger despite his own party’s willingness.

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s Maharashtra state unit leadership took pot shots at the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (SP) on Monday for raising the pitch for a merger with the NCP and its timing, terming it desperation for unification and also questioned about the fate of its “secular” agenda. After former NCP chief and deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s death in a plane crash on January 28, Sharad Pawar claimed that the merger decision was to be announced on February 12. The NCP (SP) said Ajit was keen on merger and that it shared the same view. NCP (SP) leaders also said that Ajit had held several rounds of discussions with them about unifying the two factions. NCP Maharashtra president Sunil Tatkare said on Sunday that his party’s decision to remain with the BJP-led NDA is “permanent”. Keshav Upadhye, chief spokesperson of Maharashtra BJP, told The Indian Express, “The NCP is with the NDA and Mahayuti. If Sharad Pawar’s party wants to join hands with the NCP, it will have to join the government. In that case, what will happen to its secular agenda?” ‘Even before the mourning period ended and ashes were immersed’ “Why is Sharad Pawar’s party so desperate to merge with NCP? Even before the mourning period ended and before Ajit Pawar’s ashes were immersed, they raised the issue of a merger. Why are they in such a hurry to merge?” Upadhye asked. Last Saturday, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar indicated that the process to merge the two NCP factions was slated for February 12 but has come to a halt following the death of Ajit Pawar. He even suggested that leaders from the NCP are no longer keen on the move despite his own party’s willingness. Upadhye also wrote a post on social media in Marathi, questioning Sharad Pawar’s credibility and his party’s desperation to merge. ‘Criticism being aimed at Sunetra Pawar and BJP’ He said questions should have actually been raised on Sharad Pawar’s credibility, but criticism was being aimed at Sunetra Pawar and the BJP. Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra Pawar, was sworn in Saturday as the state’s first woman Deputy Chief Minister. “On the very day the accident occurred, the Pawar faction began talking about merger, and Sharad Pawar himself expressed agreement. Actually, no one from the NCP had officially demanded such a discussion. So, what exactly was the need to push this subject forward with such haste?” he asked. Upadhye said that by raising the issue of merger at the wrong time, the NCP (SP) only showed its desperation. “Was the talk of a merger a sign of the Pawar faction’s political helplessness? Because at that moment, it was clear that Ajit Pawar would remain with the NDA and Mahayuti,” he said. “Why didn’t Sharad Pawar himself take a clear stand by saying no discussions regarding a merger should take place right now? He should have said, as the elder of the family, I stand firmly behind Sunetra Pawar. He should have said I will accept whatever decisions she makes. We shall hold political discussions only after the period of mourning is over.”

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar indicated last Saturday that the process to merge the two NCP factions was slated for Feb 12 but has come to a halt following the death of Ajit Pawar. He even hinted that NCP leaders were no longer keen on a merger despite his own party’s willingness.

‘Even before Ajit Pawar’s ashes were immersed…’: BJP slams NCP (SP)’s ‘desperation’ for merger

India unveiled an aggressive manufacturing push in its budget for fiscal 2026-27 on Sunday, allocating RS 1,000 crore for its new Semiconductor Mission 2.0 and RS 40,000 crore for electronics components, while offering tax holidays until 2047 for foreign data centres, even as services continue to outpace industry in driving economic expansion.&nbsp;Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s ninth consecutive budget targets a 7.4% real GDP growth for the current fiscal year ending March 2026, but the composition reveals a persistent tilt: services are projected to expand 9.1%, while manufacturing and construction lag at 7%.<h3>Semiconductor mission 2.0: Beyond assembly</h3>The budget announces India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 2.0 with an allocation of RS 1,000 crore for fiscal 2026-27, aimed at moving beyond chip packaging into equipment manufacturing, materials production, and indigenous intellectual property design.Building on ISM 1.0’s foundation, the government has approved 10 semiconductor projects with a cumulative investment of RS1.60 trillion under the flagship RS76,000 crore India Semiconductor Mission as of January 2026. Most current projects focus on assembly, testing, marking and packaging rather than advanced fabrication.&nbsp;“We will focus on equipment and materials production, develop full-stack Indian intellectual property, and strengthen supply chains,” Sitharaman told parliament, adding that industry-led research and training centres would build a skilled workforce.More significantly, the government proposes to increase the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) outlay to RS40,000 crore, a dramatic jump from the RS22,919 crore allocated when the scheme was launched in April 2025. The scheme has already attracted 46 applications with investment commitments of Rs 54,567 crore across 11 states, double the initial targets.<h3>Data Centres Get 22-Year Tax Holiday</h3>In a bid to position India as “the digital backbone for the world,” the budget offers tax exemptions until 2047 for foreign companies providing cloud services globally using Indian data centres, provided they serve Indian customers through an Indian reseller.The government also proposed a 15% cost-based safe harbour for related-party data centre services and a 2% profit margin safe harbour for component warehousing in bonded warehouses, yielding an effective tax rate of just 0.7%.&nbsp;Industry data shows India generates 20% of global data but hosts only 3% of global data centre capacity. Demand is surging as AI adoption accelerates and data localisation rules tighten.&nbsp;The tax holiday is aimed at attracting long-term capital. But power reliability, not tax breaks, remains the sector’s major hurdle, with investments estimated at around $70 billion flowing into AI infrastructure.<h3>Manufacturing push meets structural limits</h3>The budget allocated Rs 10,000 crores for Bio-pharma SHAKTI to build India into a biologics hub over five years, with three new National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research. It set aside RS1,500 crore for semiconductor components, RS1,004 crore for white goods production-linked incentives (up from RS304 crore), and RS600 crore for three chemical parks.&nbsp;Mobile phone manufacturing grew 30-fold from RS18,000 crore in FY15 to RS5.45 lakh crore in FY25, with iPhone exports hitting RS2.03 lakh crore in 2025, nearly double the prior year. Yet manufacturing’s share of GDP remains stuck around 17%, far below the government’s 25% target set under Make in India in 2014.&nbsp;Capital expenditure is expected to rise from Rs 11.21 lakh crore (3.1% of GDP) in FY 2025-26 to Rs 12.2 lakh crore (4.4% of GDP) in FY 2026-27. Infrastructure projects include dedicated freight corridors, seven high-speed rail corridors, and expanded national waterways.&nbsp;But the budget left glaring gaps. Research and development spending remains below 1% of GDP, well short of China’s 2.4% or the US’s 3.5%. Labour law harmonisation, flexible hiring, and easier exit clauses remain politically untouchable. The National Skill Development Corporation trained just 4.3 million workers in FY24 against a 10 million target, yet skilling allocations stayed flat at RS34,000 crore.<h3>Services: The real driver of the economy&nbsp;</h3>While manufacturing grabbed headlines, services quietly dominated revenue projections. The budget forecasts services sector tax collections at RS22.1 trillion versus RS8.4 trillion from goods, a 2.6:1 ratio virtually unchanged from last year.IT services exports alone are projected at $205 billion for FY26, dwarfing the $98 billion manufacturing export target. During April-December 2025, goods trade generated a $248 billion deficit, but a services surplus of $151.4 billion reduced the overall trade deficit to $96.6 billion.&nbsp;FM Sitharaman announced a high-powered “Education to Employment and Enterprise Standing Committee” to position services as a core driver, targeting a 10% global services share by 2047. She proposed safe harbours for IT and ITeS to provide tax certainty, though details remain sparse.<h3>Automobile Components: Tariff tweaks, not transformation</h3>The budget offered modest customs duty relief for automobile components but no comprehensive sector strategy. It removed export courier limits, simplified baggage rules, and proposed new export opportunities for fisheries and small businesses.The India-EU free trade agreement, finalised January 27, will slash tariffs on automobile parts over 5-10 years and reduce car tariffs from 110% to 10%, benefiting Renault, Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes. But the budget itself stayed silent on auto-specific manufacturing incentives beyond general PLI schemes.&nbsp;Industry groups had sought inclusion in the 15% concessional manufacturing tax regime, expanded testing infrastructure, and value-addition-linked export incentives. None materialised.<h3>Trump Tariffs: Strategic pivot to Europe</h3>President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods in 2025, initially 25% in April, then doubled to 50% in August, citing India’s continued Russian oil purchases. India’s response in Budget 2026-27: pivot to Europe. The budget made no specific provisions to counter US protectionism. Instead, the India-EU FTA, concluded January 27, 2026, just days before the budget, signals a new strategy of diversifying trade partners rather than capitulating to Washington.&nbsp;“The budget seeks to balance ambition with inclusion as India moves toward long-term development goals,” FM Sitharaman remarked, making no mention of US trade tensions.<h3>Critical minerals push</h3>Critical minerals and rare earths got duty exemptions on capital goods, aligning with the budget’s allocation for Rare Earth Corridors in Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. These corridors target mining, processing, and manufacturing to secure supplies for electronics and EVs.<h3>Simplify Taxes &amp; Tariffs</h3>The budget proposed simplifying the tariff structure, continuing work from previous budgets to consolidate customs duty slabs from 21 to eight. But inverted duty structures, where finished goods face lower import duties than inputs, persist in textiles and other sectors, undermining domestic value addition.<h3>Incremental ease of doing business</h3>The budget promised “trust-based governance” through a new Income Tax Act effective April 2026, replacing a six-decade-old legislation. Minimum alternate tax will drop to 14% and become a final tax. TCS rates fall from 5-20% to 2% for overseas tour packages and from 5% to 2% for education and medical remittances under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme.&nbsp;Automated, rule-based processes will replace discretionary approvals for lower or nil deduction certificates for small taxpayers. Customs clearance for Authorised Economic Operators extends from 15 to 30 days.&nbsp;FM Sitharaman also announced a High-Level Committee on Banking for Viksit Bharat to review the financial sector. But execution risk looms large; India’s infrastructure projects routinely face land acquisition delays, environmental clearances, and cost overruns.<h3>Experimental edges</h3>The budget went into uncharted territory with RS2,100 crore for “bio-manufacturing” hubs focusing on lab-grown proteins and sustainable materials. China has invested $6 billion in this sector since 2020; India’s stake is modest but marks new thinking.An RS1,500 crore allocation for “circular economy” infrastructure, recycling facilities, waste-to-energy plants, signals growing environmental consciousness, though implementation pathways remain vague.&nbsp;The budget proposed setting up content creator labs in 15,000 schools and 500 colleges to boost the “Orange Economy”, creative industries from gaming to animation. It’s a nod to India’s demographic dividend, though whether school labs translate to globally competitive studios is another matter.&nbsp;FM Sitharaman announced three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda and mental health infrastructure expansion, including NIMHANS-2. Medical tourism got a push with visa facilitation and infrastructure support, targeting India’s cost advantage in procedures from cardiac surgery to IVF.&nbsp;Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-cites-ex-army-chief-s-unpublished-book-on-india-china-rift-bjp-objects-what-happened-1770020243443"> Rahul Gandhi cites ex-Army chief’s ‘unpublished book’ on India-China rift; BJP objects — What happened</a>

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s ninth consecutive budget targets a 7.4% real GDP growth for the current fiscal year ending March 2026, but the composition reveals a persistent tilt: services are projected to expand 9.1%, while manufacturing and construction lag at 7%.

India unveiled an aggressive manufacturing push in its budget for fiscal 2026-27 on Sunday, allocating RS 1,000 crore for its new Semiconductor Mission 2.0 and RS 40,000 crore for electronics components, while offering tax holidays until 2047 for foreign data centres, even as services continue to outpace industry in driving economic expansion. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s ninth consecutive budget targets a 7.4% real GDP growth for the current fiscal year ending March 2026, but the composition reveals a persistent tilt: services are projected to expand 9.1%, while manufacturing and construction lag at 7%. Semiconductor mission 2.0: Beyond assembly The budget announces India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 2.0 with an allocation of RS 1,000 crore for fiscal 2026-27, aimed at moving beyond chip packaging into equipment manufacturing, materials production, and indigenous intellectual property design. Building on ISM 1.0’s foundation, the government has approved 10 semiconductor projects with a cumulative investment of RS1.60 trillion under the flagship RS76,000 crore India Semiconductor Mission as of January 2026. Most current projects focus on assembly, testing, marking and packaging rather than advanced fabrication. “We will focus on equipment and materials production, develop full-stack Indian intellectual property, and strengthen supply chains,” Sitharaman told parliament, adding that industry-led research and training centres would build a skilled workforce. More significantly, the government proposes to increase the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) outlay to RS40,000 crore, a dramatic jump from the RS22,919 crore allocated when the scheme was launched in April 2025. The scheme has already attracted 46 applications with investment commitments of Rs 54,567 crore across 11 states, double the initial targets. Data Centres Get 22-Year Tax Holiday In a bid to position India as “the digital backbone for the world,” the budget offers tax exemptions until 2047 for foreign companies providing cloud services globally using Indian data centres, provided they serve Indian customers through an Indian reseller. The government also proposed a 15% cost-based safe harbour for related-party data centre services and a 2% profit margin safe harbour for component warehousing in bonded warehouses, yielding an effective tax rate of just 0.7%. Industry data shows India generates 20% of global data but hosts only 3% of global data centre capacity. Demand is surging as AI adoption accelerates and data localisation rules tighten. The tax holiday is aimed at attracting long-term capital. But power reliability, not tax breaks, remains the sector’s major hurdle, with investments estimated at around $70 billion flowing into AI infrastructure. Manufacturing push meets structural limits The budget allocated Rs 10,000 crores for Bio-pharma SHAKTI to build India into a biologics hub over five years, with three new National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research. It set aside RS1,500 crore for semiconductor components, RS1,004 crore for white goods production-linked incentives (up from RS304 crore), and RS600 crore for three chemical parks. Mobile phone manufacturing grew 30-fold from RS18,000 crore in FY15 to RS5.45 lakh crore in FY25, with iPhone exports hitting RS2.03 lakh crore in 2025, nearly double the prior year. Yet manufacturing’s share of GDP remains stuck around 17%, far below the government’s 25% target set under Make in India in 2014. Capital expenditure is expected to rise from Rs 11.21 lakh crore (3.1% of GDP) in FY 2025-26 to Rs 12.2 lakh crore (4.4% of GDP) in FY 2026-27. Infrastructure projects include dedicated freight corridors, seven high-speed rail corridors, and expanded national waterways. But the budget left glaring gaps. Research and development spending remains below 1% of GDP, well short of China’s 2.4% or the US’s 3.5%. Labour law harmonisation, flexible hiring, and easier exit clauses remain politically untouchable. The National Skill Development Corporation trained just 4.3 million workers in FY24 against a 10 million target, yet skilling allocations stayed flat at RS34,000 crore. Services: The real driver of the economy While manufacturing grabbed headlines, services quietly dominated revenue projections. The budget forecasts services sector tax collections at RS22.1 trillion versus RS8.4 trillion from goods, a 2.6:1 ratio virtually unchanged from last year. IT services exports alone are projected at $205 billion for FY26, dwarfing the $98 billion manufacturing export target. During April-December 2025, goods trade generated a $248 billion deficit, but a services surplus of $151.4 billion reduced the overall trade deficit to $96.6 billion. FM Sitharaman announced a high-powered “Education to Employment and Enterprise Standing Committee” to position services as a core driver, targeting a 10% global services share by 2047. She proposed safe harbours for IT and ITeS to provide tax certainty, though details remain sparse. Automobile Components: Tariff tweaks, not transformation The budget offered modest customs duty relief for automobile components but no comprehensive sector strategy. It removed export courier limits, simplified baggage rules, and proposed new export opportunities for fisheries and small businesses. The India-EU free trade agreement, finalised January 27, will slash tariffs on automobile parts over 5-10 years and reduce car tariffs from 110% to 10%, benefiting Renault, Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes. But the budget itself stayed silent on auto-specific manufacturing incentives beyond general PLI schemes. Industry groups had sought inclusion in the 15% concessional manufacturing tax regime, expanded testing infrastructure, and value-addition-linked export incentives. None materialised. Trump Tariffs: Strategic pivot to Europe President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods in 2025, initially 25% in April, then doubled to 50% in August, citing India’s continued Russian oil purchases. India’s response in Budget 2026-27: pivot to Europe. The budget made no specific provisions to counter US protectionism. Instead, the India-EU FTA, concluded January 27, 2026, just days before the budget, signals a new strategy of diversifying trade partners rather than capitulating to Washington. “The budget seeks to balance ambition with inclusion as India moves toward long-term development goals,” FM Sitharaman remarked, making no mention of US trade tensions. Critical minerals push Critical minerals and rare earths got duty exemptions on capital goods, aligning with the budget’s allocation for Rare Earth Corridors in Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. These corridors target mining, processing, and manufacturing to secure supplies for electronics and EVs. Simplify Taxes & Tariffs The budget proposed simplifying the tariff structure, continuing work from previous budgets to consolidate customs duty slabs from 21 to eight. But inverted duty structures, where finished goods face lower import duties than inputs, persist in textiles and other sectors, undermining domestic value addition. Incremental ease of doing business The budget promised “trust-based governance” through a new Income Tax Act effective April 2026, replacing a six-decade-old legislation. Minimum alternate tax will drop to 14% and become a final tax. TCS rates fall from 5-20% to 2% for overseas tour packages and from 5% to 2% for education and medical remittances under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme. Automated, rule-based processes will replace discretionary approvals for lower or nil deduction certificates for small taxpayers. Customs clearance for Authorised Economic Operators extends from 15 to 30 days. FM Sitharaman also announced a High-Level Committee on Banking for Viksit Bharat to review the financial sector. But execution risk looms large; India’s infrastructure projects routinely face land acquisition delays, environmental clearances, and cost overruns. Experimental edges The budget went into uncharted territory with RS2,100 crore for “bio-manufacturing” hubs focusing on lab-grown proteins and sustainable materials. China has invested $6 billion in this sector since 2020; India’s stake is modest but marks new thinking. An RS1,500 crore allocation for “circular economy” infrastructure, recycling facilities, waste-to-energy plants, signals growing environmental consciousness, though implementation pathways remain vague. The budget proposed setting up content creator labs in 15,000 schools and 500 colleges to boost the “Orange Economy”, creative industries from gaming to animation. It’s a nod to India’s demographic dividend, though whether school labs translate to globally competitive studios is another matter. FM Sitharaman announced three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda and mental health infrastructure expansion, including NIMHANS-2. Medical tourism got a push with visa facilitation and infrastructure support, targeting India’s cost advantage in procedures from cardiac surgery to IVF. Also read: Rahul Gandhi cites ex-Army chief’s ‘unpublished book’ on India-China rift; BJP objects — What happened

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s ninth consecutive budget targets a 7.4% real GDP growth for the current fiscal year ending March 2026, but the composition reveals a persistent tilt: services are projected to expand 9.1%, while manufacturing and construction lag at 7%.

India’s budget 2026-27: Manufacturing push meets services reality

Questions are increasing over the death of former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar after leaders from the opposition Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and even the ruling Mahayuti ally NCP expressed suspicion over the plane crash that killed him late last month. Ajit Pawar, 66, died on January 28 when the aircraft he was travelling in crashed while attempting to land at Baramati airport in Pune district. His personal security officer, a cabin crew member, and two pilots were also killed.<h2>What is the Opposition saying about Ajit Pawar's death?</h2>Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut alleged that the circumstances surrounding Pawar’s death were “deeply suspicious,” claiming it occurred shortly after Pawar spoke publicly about possessing documents related to alleged BJP corruption. "Ajit Pawar was constantly saying that he has a file of the BJP's scam and he will make a revelation of this. He said this on January 15, and he died in an accident in the next 10 days. This is mysterious," Raut told reporters. &nbsp;Raut further claimed that Pawar was preparing to break away from the BJP-led alliance and reunite with his uncle, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar. He argued that such a political shift would have been a major setback for the BJP. Raising operational concerns, Raut questioned why no senior official or officer on special duty was present on the flight and alleged lapses in aircraft maintenance and certification. While Sharad Pawar has publicly said that the crash was accidental and urged restraint, Raut insisted that the full truth may be more complex than it appears.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/usibc-applauds-india-s-union-budget-2026-27-urges-faster-reforms-to-drive-innovation-investment-1770024942871">USIBC applauds India's Union Budget 2026–27, calls for faster reforms to drive innovation &amp; investment</a>&nbsp;Echoing similar doubts, Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar called for a comprehensive investigation, suggesting the possibility of a conspiracy. He questioned last-minute changes to the pilot and raised concerns over how negligence could occur in the case of such a senior leader. Wadettiwar also criticised the political developments that followed Pawar’s death, pointing to Sunetra Pawar’s swearing-in as deputy chief minister within days, and alleged that political power struggles began even before the funeral rites were completed.<h2>BJP hits back</h2>The BJP strongly rejected the allegations. Party MLC Chitra Wagh accused Raut of politicising a tragic death and making baseless claims. She said that if any incriminating documents existed, legal channels were open to pursue the matter. NCP leader Amol Mitkari added that several unanswered questions remain, including discrepancies in passenger details, a sudden route and pilot change, and the disappearance of personal items such as Pawar’s wristwatch. He stressed that raising such concerns should not be equated with spreading rumours.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/police-officer-killed-in-atlanta-shooting-suspect-opens-fire-during-routine-check-1770022293905/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/police-officer-killed-in-atlanta-shooting-suspect-opens-fire-during-routine-check-1770022293905/embed</a>

Opposition leaders allege foul play in Ajit Pawar’s plane crash, citing political timing and safety lapses, as demands grow for a CBI investigation

Questions are increasing over the death of former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar after leaders from the opposition Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and even the ruling Mahayuti ally NCP expressed suspicion over the plane crash that killed him late last month. Ajit Pawar, 66, died on January 28 when the aircraft he was travelling in crashed while attempting to land at Baramati airport in Pune district. His personal security officer, a cabin crew member, and two pilots were also killed. What is the Opposition saying about Ajit Pawar's death? Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut alleged that the circumstances surrounding Pawar’s death were “deeply suspicious,” claiming it occurred shortly after Pawar spoke publicly about possessing documents related to alleged BJP corruption. "Ajit Pawar was constantly saying that he has a file of the BJP's scam and he will make a revelation of this. He said this on January 15, and he died in an accident in the next 10 days. This is mysterious," Raut told reporters. Raut further claimed that Pawar was preparing to break away from the BJP-led alliance and reunite with his uncle, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar. He argued that such a political shift would have been a major setback for the BJP. Raising operational concerns, Raut questioned why no senior official or officer on special duty was present on the flight and alleged lapses in aircraft maintenance and certification. While Sharad Pawar has publicly said that the crash was accidental and urged restraint, Raut insisted that the full truth may be more complex than it appears. Also Read: USIBC applauds India's Union Budget 2026–27, calls for faster reforms to drive innovation & investment Echoing similar doubts, Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar called for a comprehensive investigation, suggesting the possibility of a conspiracy. He questioned last-minute changes to the pilot and raised concerns over how negligence could occur in the case of such a senior leader. Wadettiwar also criticised the political developments that followed Pawar’s death, pointing to Sunetra Pawar’s swearing-in as deputy chief minister within days, and alleged that political power struggles began even before the funeral rites were completed. BJP hits back The BJP strongly rejected the allegations. Party MLC Chitra Wagh accused Raut of politicising a tragic death and making baseless claims. She said that if any incriminating documents existed, legal channels were open to pursue the matter. NCP leader Amol Mitkari added that several unanswered questions remain, including discrepancies in passenger details, a sudden route and pilot change, and the disappearance of personal items such as Pawar’s wristwatch. He stressed that raising such concerns should not be equated with spreading rumours. https://www.wionews.com/videos/police-officer-killed-in-atlanta-shooting-suspect-opens-fire-during-routine-check-1770022293905/embed

Opposition leaders allege foul play in Ajit Pawar’s plane crash, citing political timing and safety lapses, as demands grow for a CBI investigation

'He was saying he has a file of...': Opposition alleges conspiracy, seeks high-level investigation in death of Ajit Pawar

The President of the US-India Business Council (USIBC), Ambassador (ret.) Atul Keshap welcomed India's Union Budget 2026–27, announced on February 1, 2025. He said the budget reflects the ambition of India to sustain momentum as one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies amid geopolitical uncertainties.&nbsp;“USIBC welcomes the Union Budget 2026–27, which underscores the Government of India’s continued focus on economic growth, resilience, and global competitiveness. At a time of continued geopolitical uncertainties, the budget reflects India’s ambition to sustain momentum as one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies and a critical partner for the United States in the Indo-Pacific," Atul Keshap said.&nbsp;“We welcome the government’s emphasis on sustained growth of around 7%, fiscal prudence, and a strong thrust on public investment. These macro priorities, alongside pillars such as strengthening the foundations of growth and trust-based governance, are central to strengthening India’s long-term growth fundamentals and deepening bilateral commercial ties between the world’s two largest democracies,” he added.&nbsp;USIBC has urged the government to fast-track reforms in areas such as taxation, ease of doing business, trade facilitation, and regulatory certainty to strengthen investor confidence and unlock higher levels of foreign investment.  The council also welcomed the Government of India’s emphasis on frontier technologies through initiatives like India Semiconductor Mission 2.0, highlighting its focus on equipment and materials, end-to-end design, domestic intellectual property, resilient supply chains, and industry-driven research and skill development. Additionally, USIBC praised initiatives including the AI Mission, National Research Mission, Innovation Fund, and the National Quantum Mission, noting that they reflect India’s growing ambitions in advanced and next-generation technologies.&nbsp;"USIBC also commends the government’s policies to provide a stronger boost to its strategic sectors by providing tax holidays until 2047 for foreign cloud service providers having data centres in India and various initiatives in the Tourism Sector, including the establishment of Five Hubs for Medical Value Tourism. USIBC encourages further clarity on implementation and private-sector participation to maximise impact and investor interest."&nbsp;"In Energy and Climate, USIBC notes the Rs 20,000 crore Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) scheme, the Basic Customs Duty (BCD) exemptions for Lithium-Ion Cell manufacturing and critical mineral processing and the Scheme for Rare Earth Permanent Magnets. We also welcome the extension of BCD exemptions for Nuclear Power Projects until 2035. In Healthcare and Services, we note the efforts to have a more robust care economy with a stronger focus on addressing concerns relating to mental healthcare, Divyangjans and cancer."&nbsp;"The budget’s focus on Manufacturing in Strategic and Frontier Sectors, including Electronics Components and Container Manufacturing, is an important signal of India’s intent to integrate more deeply into global value chains. Initiatives related to dedicated Chemical Parks, Biopharma SHAKTI, and the scheme to revive 200 legacy industrial clusters have the potential to drive competitiveness, provided they are accompanied by policy certainty, streamlined approvals, and openness to global partnerships," he added.&nbsp;Ambassador (ret.) stated that USIBC is committed to working in close ties with the Government of India and stakeholders across the US–India corridor to figure out significant policy priorities and advance the level of reforms that bolster commercial ties, enhance competitiveness, and lead to the shared economic prosperity.<h3>What is the US-India Business Council?</h3>The US-India Business Council (USIBC) was established in 1975 at the behest of the US and Indian Governments. It has remained a trusted platform for strengthening the US-India strategic and commercial partnership for more than 50 years. USIBC represents over 200 leading Indian and American companies committed to advancing the U.S.-India commercial and strategic partnership.As the premier voice of industry in the U.S.–India commercial partnership, USIBC works closely with governments and stakeholders to advance policy priorities, strengthen bilateral trade and investment, and support sustainable economic growth. &nbsp;&nbsp;

USIBC has urged the government to fast-track reforms in areas such as taxation, ease of doing business, trade facilitation, and regulatory certainty to strengthen investor confidence and unlock higher levels of foreign investment. 

The President of the US-India Business Council (USIBC), Ambassador (ret.) Atul Keshap welcomed India's Union Budget 2026–27, announced on February 1, 2025. He said the budget reflects the ambition of India to sustain momentum as one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies amid geopolitical uncertainties. “USIBC welcomes the Union Budget 2026–27, which underscores the Government of India’s continued focus on economic growth, resilience, and global competitiveness. At a time of continued geopolitical uncertainties, the budget reflects India’s ambition to sustain momentum as one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies and a critical partner for the United States in the Indo-Pacific," Atul Keshap said. “We welcome the government’s emphasis on sustained growth of around 7%, fiscal prudence, and a strong thrust on public investment. These macro priorities, alongside pillars such as strengthening the foundations of growth and trust-based governance, are central to strengthening India’s long-term growth fundamentals and deepening bilateral commercial ties between the world’s two largest democracies,” he added. USIBC has urged the government to fast-track reforms in areas such as taxation, ease of doing business, trade facilitation, and regulatory certainty to strengthen investor confidence and unlock higher levels of foreign investment.  The council also welcomed the Government of India’s emphasis on frontier technologies through initiatives like India Semiconductor Mission 2.0, highlighting its focus on equipment and materials, end-to-end design, domestic intellectual property, resilient supply chains, and industry-driven research and skill development. Additionally, USIBC praised initiatives including the AI Mission, National Research Mission, Innovation Fund, and the National Quantum Mission, noting that they reflect India’s growing ambitions in advanced and next-generation technologies. "USIBC also commends the government’s policies to provide a stronger boost to its strategic sectors by providing tax holidays until 2047 for foreign cloud service providers having data centres in India and various initiatives in the Tourism Sector, including the establishment of Five Hubs for Medical Value Tourism. USIBC encourages further clarity on implementation and private-sector participation to maximise impact and investor interest." "In Energy and Climate, USIBC notes the Rs 20,000 crore Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) scheme, the Basic Customs Duty (BCD) exemptions for Lithium-Ion Cell manufacturing and critical mineral processing and the Scheme for Rare Earth Permanent Magnets. We also welcome the extension of BCD exemptions for Nuclear Power Projects until 2035. In Healthcare and Services, we note the efforts to have a more robust care economy with a stronger focus on addressing concerns relating to mental healthcare, Divyangjans and cancer." "The budget’s focus on Manufacturing in Strategic and Frontier Sectors, including Electronics Components and Container Manufacturing, is an important signal of India’s intent to integrate more deeply into global value chains. Initiatives related to dedicated Chemical Parks, Biopharma SHAKTI, and the scheme to revive 200 legacy industrial clusters have the potential to drive competitiveness, provided they are accompanied by policy certainty, streamlined approvals, and openness to global partnerships," he added. Ambassador (ret.) stated that USIBC is committed to working in close ties with the Government of India and stakeholders across the US–India corridor to figure out significant policy priorities and advance the level of reforms that bolster commercial ties, enhance competitiveness, and lead to the shared economic prosperity. What is the US-India Business Council? The US-India Business Council (USIBC) was established in 1975 at the behest of the US and Indian Governments. It has remained a trusted platform for strengthening the US-India strategic and commercial partnership for more than 50 years. USIBC represents over 200 leading Indian and American companies committed to advancing the U.S.-India commercial and strategic partnership. As the premier voice of industry in the U.S.–India commercial partnership, USIBC works closely with governments and stakeholders to advance policy priorities, strengthen bilateral trade and investment, and support sustainable economic growth.

USIBC has urged the government to fast-track reforms in areas such as taxation, ease of doing business, trade facilitation, and regulatory certainty to strengthen investor confidence and unlock higher levels of foreign investment.

USIBC applauds India's Union Budget 2026–27, calls for faster reforms to drive innovation & investment

Chaos erupted in the Lok Sabha as Leader of Opposition (LoP) and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke in the Parliament on Monday (Feb 2) during the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address debate. He was interrupted several times by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah as he quoted from an “unpublished book” allegedly by former Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane as quoted by a magazine. Rahul Gandhi said that the unpublished book shed light on India and China's Doklam standoff and exposes the lies by the ruling government. The LoP was stopped by the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla from speaking about the said book.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/union-budget-2026-what-gets-cheaper-and-what-becomes-costlier-1769919522225/1769919522237">Union Budget 2026: What gets cheaper and what becomes costlier</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-budget-2026-what-did-the-defence-sector-get-in-the-budget-1770009665581/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-budget-2026-what-did-the-defence-sector-get-in-the-budget-1770009665581/embed</a>&nbsp;<h2>What happened in Lok Sabha?</h2>Speaking in Hindi in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi said he wanted to speak on India-China relations, to which Om Birla said that he wanted the LoP to speak about the President's Address. Rahul Gandhi asked the Chair to clarify which specific rule barred discussion on India’s ties with China. After several warnings when Rahul Gandhi shifted gears and slammed the Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Om Birla responded by saying that allegations against any particular leader inside the House is not allowed. To this, Rahul Gandhi said that BJP leaders questioned their nationalism. Amit Shah interrupted him and said that BJP leaders spoke about the failures of previous governments but never questioned their character and nationalistic feeling. As ruckus continued, Om Birla adjourned the lower House till 3pm.<h2>How BJP leaders reacted</h2>In a sharp rebuttal of Rahul Gandhi's statement, Union Home Minister Amit Shah confronted him and said that he should not put “unverified" information in the Parliament. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, “He should not be allowed to speak on this… I want that LoP, Lok Sabha (Rahul Gandhi), should present before the House the book he is quoting from, because the book he is referring to has not been published." Appealing to Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju said, “The House runs on the basis of rules, if LoP is not following the rules, then we should also discuss what should be the next step. I request Rahul Gandhi ji to teach other members of Opposition how House functions and what rules should be followed.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-ups-budget-allocation-for-afghanistan-mongolia-nepal-sri-lanka-but-a-cut-for-bangladesh-1769933523577">India ups budget allocation for Afghanistan, Mongolia, Nepal, Sri Lanka but a cut for Bangladesh</a>

Chaos broke out in the Lok Sabha after Rahul Gandhi cited an alleged unpublished book on the Doklam standoff during the Motion of Thanks debate. BJP leaders Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah objected, calling the claims unverified, prompting Speaker Om Birla to adjourn the House.

Chaos erupted in the Lok Sabha as Leader of Opposition (LoP) and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke in the Parliament on Monday (Feb 2) during the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address debate. He was interrupted several times by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah as he quoted from an “unpublished book” allegedly by former Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane as quoted by a magazine. Rahul Gandhi said that the unpublished book shed light on India and China's Doklam standoff and exposes the lies by the ruling government. The LoP was stopped by the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla from speaking about the said book. Also Read: Union Budget 2026: What gets cheaper and what becomes costlier https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-budget-2026-what-did-the-defence-sector-get-in-the-budget-1770009665581/embed What happened in Lok Sabha? Speaking in Hindi in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi said he wanted to speak on India-China relations, to which Om Birla said that he wanted the LoP to speak about the President's Address. Rahul Gandhi asked the Chair to clarify which specific rule barred discussion on India’s ties with China. After several warnings when Rahul Gandhi shifted gears and slammed the Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Om Birla responded by saying that allegations against any particular leader inside the House is not allowed. To this, Rahul Gandhi said that BJP leaders questioned their nationalism. Amit Shah interrupted him and said that BJP leaders spoke about the failures of previous governments but never questioned their character and nationalistic feeling. As ruckus continued, Om Birla adjourned the lower House till 3pm. How BJP leaders reacted In a sharp rebuttal of Rahul Gandhi's statement, Union Home Minister Amit Shah confronted him and said that he should not put “unverified" information in the Parliament. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, “He should not be allowed to speak on this… I want that LoP, Lok Sabha (Rahul Gandhi), should present before the House the book he is quoting from, because the book he is referring to has not been published." Appealing to Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju said, “The House runs on the basis of rules, if LoP is not following the rules, then we should also discuss what should be the next step. I request Rahul Gandhi ji to teach other members of Opposition how House functions and what rules should be followed.” Also Read: India ups budget allocation for Afghanistan, Mongolia, Nepal, Sri Lanka but a cut for Bangladesh

Chaos broke out in the Lok Sabha after Rahul Gandhi cited an alleged unpublished book on the Doklam standoff during the Motion of Thanks debate. BJP leaders Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah objected, calling the claims unverified, prompting Speaker Om Birla to adjourn the House.

Rahul Gandhi cites ex-Army chief’s ‘unpublished book’ on India-China rift; BJP objects — What happened

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) launched a series of coordinated raids across multiple districts in the Kashmir Valley early today, intensifying its ongoing efforts to dismantle terror networks and disrupt funding channels operating in the region.&nbsp;The operations, which began in the early hours of the morning, targeted areas in North Kashmir, including the districts of Bandipora and Sopore, as well as Srinagar, according to NIA officials. These raids were focused on residences and properties linked to individuals already in the custody of security forces and currently under investigation for their alleged involvement with terror organisations and terror financing.&nbsp;A senior NIA officer confirmed the development, stating, "The raids were conducted at multiple locations in Srinagar, Sopore, and Bandipora as part of our ongoing investigation into terror-related activities. These actions are crucial to dismantling the networks that support and finance terrorist operations in the region."&nbsp;The NIA’s operation comes as part of an intensified push by security agencies to clamp down on terror financing activities across Jammu and Kashmir. In recent weeks, multiple raids and arrests have been carried out in a bid to break the complex web of terror networks operating in the region, as well as the financial pipelines that fuel them.&nbsp;During the raids, teams from the NIA were assisted by local police forces and paramilitary units. The searches were conducted simultaneously at several residential and other premises connected to suspected individuals with alleged links to terrorist activities. Authorities emphasised that these actions are a part of a broader crackdown to curb terrorism and restore peace in the Valley.&nbsp;The recent raids highlight the ongoing security concerns in the region, as authorities continue to bolster their efforts against extremism and unlawful activities. While the NIA has not disclosed the specific identities of the individuals under investigation, sources indicate that some of those targeted in the raids have been previously detained by security forces in connection with terror activities.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-fitna-al-hindustan-pakistan-claims-killed-145-indian-backed-terrorists-but-offers-no-proof-1770005668700">Pakistan claims killed 145 ‘Fitna al-Hindustan’ terrorists, accuses India without offering proof</a>

The operations, which began in the early hours of the morning, targeted areas in North Kashmir, including the districts of Bandipora and Sopore, as well as Srinagar, according to NIA officials. 

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) launched a series of coordinated raids across multiple districts in the Kashmir Valley early today, intensifying its ongoing efforts to dismantle terror networks and disrupt funding channels operating in the region. The operations, which began in the early hours of the morning, targeted areas in North Kashmir, including the districts of Bandipora and Sopore, as well as Srinagar, according to NIA officials. These raids were focused on residences and properties linked to individuals already in the custody of security forces and currently under investigation for their alleged involvement with terror organisations and terror financing. A senior NIA officer confirmed the development, stating, "The raids were conducted at multiple locations in Srinagar, Sopore, and Bandipora as part of our ongoing investigation into terror-related activities. These actions are crucial to dismantling the networks that support and finance terrorist operations in the region." The NIA’s operation comes as part of an intensified push by security agencies to clamp down on terror financing activities across Jammu and Kashmir. In recent weeks, multiple raids and arrests have been carried out in a bid to break the complex web of terror networks operating in the region, as well as the financial pipelines that fuel them. During the raids, teams from the NIA were assisted by local police forces and paramilitary units. The searches were conducted simultaneously at several residential and other premises connected to suspected individuals with alleged links to terrorist activities. Authorities emphasised that these actions are a part of a broader crackdown to curb terrorism and restore peace in the Valley. The recent raids highlight the ongoing security concerns in the region, as authorities continue to bolster their efforts against extremism and unlawful activities. While the NIA has not disclosed the specific identities of the individuals under investigation, sources indicate that some of those targeted in the raids have been previously detained by security forces in connection with terror activities. Also read: Pakistan claims killed 145 ‘Fitna al-Hindustan’ terrorists, accuses India without offering proof

The operations, which began in the early hours of the morning, targeted areas in North Kashmir, including the districts of Bandipora and Sopore, as well as Srinagar, according to NIA officials.&nbsp;

NIA carries out multiple raids across Kashmir valley in crackdown on terror networks

The Supreme Court of India gave a landmark verdict on Friday (Jan 30, 2026), recognising access to menstrual hygiene as a constitutional right. The decision marks a significant move for the menstrual hygiene of women, providing dignity and stigma-free education. The apex court stated that access to menstrual hygiene is a right to life, dignity, health, and education for the girl child.&nbsp;While observing a quote from American educator Melissa Berton, “a period should end a sentence - not a girl's education,” a Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan stated that under Article 21 of the Constitution, to protect the right to health, the government bears a positive obligation, particularly for the menstrual health of girl children.&nbsp;The Supreme Court also laid down a detailed set of binding instructions for all states and Union Territories, requiring them to provide free sanitary napkins, ensure operational gender-separate toilets, and promote menstrual health awareness in schools nationwide.&nbsp;The court issued a continuing mandamus, allowing it to retain oversight of the case, to monitor implementation, directing both the Centre and state governments to guarantee the availability of free sanitary napkins and properly functioning toilets in all schools.<h3>CSR initiatives</h3>In response to the ruling, Vikas Bagaria of Pee Safe said the ruling was long overdue and marked a defining moment for dignity and access in period care. He noted that Pee Safe has consistently worked to break stigma and improve awareness through initiatives like its CSR programme HaqSePeriod, which partners with NGOs for education and distribution drives.&nbsp;"This landmark Supreme Court ruling is a defining moment for menstrual equity in India. Declaring menstrual hygiene a fundamental right and mandating free sanitary pads in schools, better sanitation facilities, and strict enforcement was long overdue and will ensure no girl is denied education because of her period. At Pee Safe, we have advocated for this change for years, working to break stigma, spread awareness, and make period care accessible across India. Through our CSR initiative HaqSePeriod, we’ve partnered with NGOs to conduct free educational sessions and distribution drives, and our Menstrual Hygiene Day campaign Zero Period continues to push this mission forward. We will remain committed to driving awareness, access, and dignity until period care is truly universal," he said.&nbsp;In response to the verdicts, the court has issued time-bound directions to the central government, states and union territories, to be complied with within three months. The Court has also ordered the National Council of Educational Research and Training and the State Council of Educational Research and Training to include gender-responsive curricula on puberty and menstruation.&nbsp;In addition, district Education Officers (DEO) have also been directed to conduct periodic inspections of schools, preferably annually. And, mandated that DEOs must get anonymous feedback in the form of a tailored survey from the students themselves.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/health-and-wellness/using-same-period-product-for-years-doctors-warn-this-could-be-mistake-1769524845909">Using same period product for years? Doctors warn this could be mistake</a> &nbsp;

The Supreme Court laid down a detailed set of binding instructions for all states and Union Territories, requiring them to provide free sanitary napkins, ensure operational gender-separate toilets, and promote menstrual health awareness in schools nationwide.

The Supreme Court of India gave a landmark verdict on Friday (Jan 30, 2026), recognising access to menstrual hygiene as a constitutional right. The decision marks a significant move for the menstrual hygiene of women, providing dignity and stigma-free education. The apex court stated that access to menstrual hygiene is a right to life, dignity, health, and education for the girl child. While observing a quote from American educator Melissa Berton, “a period should end a sentence - not a girl's education,” a Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan stated that under Article 21 of the Constitution, to protect the right to health, the government bears a positive obligation, particularly for the menstrual health of girl children. The Supreme Court also laid down a detailed set of binding instructions for all states and Union Territories, requiring them to provide free sanitary napkins, ensure operational gender-separate toilets, and promote menstrual health awareness in schools nationwide. The court issued a continuing mandamus, allowing it to retain oversight of the case, to monitor implementation, directing both the Centre and state governments to guarantee the availability of free sanitary napkins and properly functioning toilets in all schools. CSR initiatives In response to the ruling, Vikas Bagaria of Pee Safe said the ruling was long overdue and marked a defining moment for dignity and access in period care. He noted that Pee Safe has consistently worked to break stigma and improve awareness through initiatives like its CSR programme HaqSePeriod, which partners with NGOs for education and distribution drives. "This landmark Supreme Court ruling is a defining moment for menstrual equity in India. Declaring menstrual hygiene a fundamental right and mandating free sanitary pads in schools, better sanitation facilities, and strict enforcement was long overdue and will ensure no girl is denied education because of her period. At Pee Safe, we have advocated for this change for years, working to break stigma, spread awareness, and make period care accessible across India. Through our CSR initiative HaqSePeriod, we’ve partnered with NGOs to conduct free educational sessions and distribution drives, and our Menstrual Hygiene Day campaign Zero Period continues to push this mission forward. We will remain committed to driving awareness, access, and dignity until period care is truly universal," he said. In response to the verdicts, the court has issued time-bound directions to the central government, states and union territories, to be complied with within three months. The Court has also ordered the National Council of Educational Research and Training and the State Council of Educational Research and Training to include gender-responsive curricula on puberty and menstruation. In addition, district Education Officers (DEO) have also been directed to conduct periodic inspections of schools, preferably annually. And, mandated that DEOs must get anonymous feedback in the form of a tailored survey from the students themselves. Also read: Using same period product for years? Doctors warn this could be mistake

The Supreme Court laid down a detailed set of binding instructions for all states and Union Territories, requiring them to provide free sanitary napkins, ensure operational gender-separate toilets, and promote menstrual health awareness in schools nationwide.

Is menstrual hygiene now constitutional right in India? Here's what Supreme Court says

India's increased aid allocation to Afghanistan in its latest Union Budget has been welcomed by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan govt, with a senior Afghan diplomat describing it as a sign of strengthening bilateral ties. New Delhi's decision to raise its development assistance to Afghanistan from Rs 100 crore to Rs 150 crore in the 2026-27 Union Budget signals a continued commitment to humanitarian and developmental support for the landlocked country.&nbsp;The allocation, announced as part of the Ministry of External Affairs' funding, represents a Rs 50 crore increase over the previous year's figure. It comes against the backdrop of gradually improving engagement between India and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/what-budget-2026-means-for-your-salary-is-there-a-change-in-income-tax-slabs-all-you-need-to-know-middle-class-union-budget-2026-1769931020866">What Budget 2026 means for your salary: Is there a change in income tax slabs? All you need to know</a>Suhail Shaheen, Ambassador of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to Qatar, welcomed the move. "I think the increase of budget allocation by India for Afghanistan indicates that both countries want to boost up their current level of relations and increase cooperation," he told WION.&nbsp;Shaheen highlighted the deep historical bonds between the two nations. "Afghanistan and India have remained traditional friends throughout history, in terms of both government-to-government and people-to-people relations," he added.&nbsp;He also pointed to economic potential as Afghanistan rebuilds. "As we build Afghanistan almost from scratch, I think, there are a lot of opportunities in Afghanistan for Indian investment and trade in the country and in India which need to be explored and benefited from," Shaheen said.&nbsp;The increased funding is seen as paving the way for more Indian-backed projects in Afghanistan. India has maintained a focus on humanitarian assistance, including food aid, medicines, and infrastructure support for Afghanistan.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/budget-2026-24-82-crore-indians-escaped-multidimensional-poverty-under-modi-govt-sitharaman-tells-parliament-1769926760965">Budget 2026: 24.82 crore Indians escaped multidimensional poverty under Modi govt, Sitharaman tells Parliament</a>Ties have shown signs of thaw in recent months. Last year, India upgraded its technical mission in Kabul to full embassy status. In January, the Islamic Emirate appointed a diplomat in New Delhi, further normalising engagements.&nbsp;&nbsp;For Afghanistan, still recovering from decades of conflict and facing severe economic challenges, the assistance is expected to support reconstruction efforts in areas such as infrastructure, education, and health, sectors where India has historically been active.&nbsp;

Suhail Shaheen, Ambassador of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to Qatar, welcomed the move. "I think the increase of budget allocation by India for Afghanistan indicates that both countries want to boost up their current level of relations and increase cooperation," he told WION.

India's increased aid allocation to Afghanistan in its latest Union Budget has been welcomed by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan govt, with a senior Afghan diplomat describing it as a sign of strengthening bilateral ties. New Delhi's decision to raise its development assistance to Afghanistan from Rs 100 crore to Rs 150 crore in the 2026-27 Union Budget signals a continued commitment to humanitarian and developmental support for the landlocked country. The allocation, announced as part of the Ministry of External Affairs' funding, represents a Rs 50 crore increase over the previous year's figure. It comes against the backdrop of gradually improving engagement between India and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Also read | What Budget 2026 means for your salary: Is there a change in income tax slabs? All you need to know Suhail Shaheen, Ambassador of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to Qatar, welcomed the move. "I think the increase of budget allocation by India for Afghanistan indicates that both countries want to boost up their current level of relations and increase cooperation," he told WION. Shaheen highlighted the deep historical bonds between the two nations. "Afghanistan and India have remained traditional friends throughout history, in terms of both government-to-government and people-to-people relations," he added. He also pointed to economic potential as Afghanistan rebuilds. "As we build Afghanistan almost from scratch, I think, there are a lot of opportunities in Afghanistan for Indian investment and trade in the country and in India which need to be explored and benefited from," Shaheen said. The increased funding is seen as paving the way for more Indian-backed projects in Afghanistan. India has maintained a focus on humanitarian assistance, including food aid, medicines, and infrastructure support for Afghanistan. Also read | Budget 2026: 24.82 crore Indians escaped multidimensional poverty under Modi govt, Sitharaman tells Parliament Ties have shown signs of thaw in recent months. Last year, India upgraded its technical mission in Kabul to full embassy status. In January, the Islamic Emirate appointed a diplomat in New Delhi, further normalising engagements. For Afghanistan, still recovering from decades of conflict and facing severe economic challenges, the assistance is expected to support reconstruction efforts in areas such as infrastructure, education, and health, sectors where India has historically been active.

Suhail Shaheen, Ambassador of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to Qatar, welcomed the move. "I think the increase of budget allocation by India for Afghanistan indicates that both countries want to boost up their current level of relations and increase cooperation," he told WION.

Afghan Govt welcomes India's Budget Allocation for Kabul

India will now allow goods worth up to &nbsp;Rs 75,000 to be brought into the country without paying any customs duty. Under the new Baggage Rules, 2026, notified on Sunday, Indian residents and tourists of Indian origin who arrive in India by air or sea can bring such goods of this value, on the condition that they are for personal use and carried in the luggage. The previous limit for passengers bringing duty-free imported goods into India was Rs 50,000. The hike was enforced keeping in mind rising overseas travel and consumption, and the need to align baggage rules with current trends. “A passenger, including an infant arriving in India, shall be allowed clearance of used personal effects required for satisfying daily necessities of life and travel souvenirs, carried on the person or in his bona fide baggage, free of duty,” the official notice read. The new baggage rules come into effect from 2 February midnight. The new rules replace the Baggage Rule that had been in place since 2016.<h2>India baggage rules for foreign tourists</h2>The rules for foreign travellers also stand changed, as those arriving in India shall now be allowed duty-free clearance for articles up to a value of Rs 25,000, an increase of Rs 10,000. A separate limit has been set for jewellery. A resident or tourist of Indian origin residing abroad for more than one year shall be allowed duty-free clearance of jewellery up to 40 grams, if brought by a female passenger. The limit will be 20 grams for anyone other than a female passenger in “bona fide” baggage. Jewellery also has a clear definition - "articles of adornment ordinarily worn by a person, made of gold, silver, platinum or such other precious metals, whether studded or not."&nbsp;The rules extend to crew members finishing their employment on international routes. They can bring their luggage home duty-free during their final pay-off. They are also allowed to bring back small gifts for personal or family use (like snacks or cosmetics), as long as the total value is under Rs 2,500. &nbsp;

Baggage Rules, 2026, have changed the amount of customs-free goods that can be brought to India by Indians, tourists of Indian origin, foreign tourists and crew members. The new regulation replaces a decade-old legislation.

India will now allow goods worth up to Rs 75,000 to be brought into the country without paying any customs duty. Under the new Baggage Rules, 2026, notified on Sunday, Indian residents and tourists of Indian origin who arrive in India by air or sea can bring such goods of this value, on the condition that they are for personal use and carried in the luggage. The previous limit for passengers bringing duty-free imported goods into India was Rs 50,000. The hike was enforced keeping in mind rising overseas travel and consumption, and the need to align baggage rules with current trends. “A passenger, including an infant arriving in India, shall be allowed clearance of used personal effects required for satisfying daily necessities of life and travel souvenirs, carried on the person or in his bona fide baggage, free of duty,” the official notice read. The new baggage rules come into effect from 2 February midnight. The new rules replace the Baggage Rule that had been in place since 2016. India baggage rules for foreign tourists The rules for foreign travellers also stand changed, as those arriving in India shall now be allowed duty-free clearance for articles up to a value of Rs 25,000, an increase of Rs 10,000. A separate limit has been set for jewellery. A resident or tourist of Indian origin residing abroad for more than one year shall be allowed duty-free clearance of jewellery up to 40 grams, if brought by a female passenger. The limit will be 20 grams for anyone other than a female passenger in “bona fide” baggage. Jewellery also has a clear definition - "articles of adornment ordinarily worn by a person, made of gold, silver, platinum or such other precious metals, whether studded or not." The rules extend to crew members finishing their employment on international routes. They can bring their luggage home duty-free during their final pay-off. They are also allowed to bring back small gifts for personal or family use (like snacks or cosmetics), as long as the total value is under Rs 2,500.

Baggage Rules, 2026, have changed the amount of customs-free goods that can be brought to India by Indians, tourists of Indian origin, foreign tourists and crew members. The new regulation replaces a decade-old legislation.

India Baggage Rules 2026: Customs duty-free limit, how much jewellery is allowed and more

Pakistani security forces on Sunday (Feb 1) claimed they have killed more than 100 “Indian-backed terrorists” in sweeping counterterrorism operations across Balochistan. However, the nation did not share any proof to back the claim that the "terrorists" had Indian links. These counterterrorism operations come a day after a wave of deadly coordinated suicide and gun attacks left dozens of civilians and security personnel dead.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/former-uk-ambassador-to-us-peter-mandelson-quits-labour-party-after-compromising-undies-pic-from-epstein-files-goes-viral-1769998928340">Ex-UK envoy seen in compromising undies pic in Epstein files, quits Labour Party</a><h2>Major operations after deadly attacks</h2>As per reports, the raids began early Saturday (Jan 31) at multiple locations in the southwestern province of Balochistan, a day after coordinated suicide bombings and gun assaults killed 33 people, most of them civilians.According to provincial authorities, at least 18 civilians, including five women and three children, and 15 members of the security forces were killed during the violence over the past 40 hours.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-than-200-killed-in-intense-clashes-between-separatists-and-army-in-pakistan-s-balochistan-1769957610746">Over 200 killed as separatists, army clash in Pakistan’s Balochistan</a><h2>Fitna al-Hindustan</h2>Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, as cited by ABC News, told reporters in Quetta that Pakistani troops and police had killed 145 militants belonging to what the government calls “Fitna al-Hindustan”, a term it uses for the allegedly India-backed, banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).“The bodies of these 145 killed terrorists are in our custody, and some of them are Afghan nationals,” Bugti said, describing the toll as the highest in decades.He claimed the attackers had planned to take hostages and storm government offices in Quetta’s high-security zone, but were stopped before reaching the city centre. “We were aware of their plans, and our forces were prepared,” he said.<h2>Pakistan's unsubstantiated accusations against India and Afghanistan</h2>Bugti repeatedly accused India and Afghanistan of backing the assailants, alleging that senior BLA leaders were operating from Afghan territory. Both New Delhi and Kabul deny the claims.He said Afghanistan’s Taliban had pledged under the 2020 Doha agreement not to allow Afghan soil to be used for attacks on other countries, but argued that “unfortunately, the Afghan soil was still being used against Pakistan.”

Pakistan claims its forces killed over 100 “Indian-backed terrorists” in major operations across Balochistan after deadly attacks that killed 33 people. Officials accused India and Afghanistan of backing the militants, but offered no evidence. Both countries have denied the allegations.

Pakistani security forces on Sunday (Feb 1) claimed they have killed more than 100 “Indian-backed terrorists” in sweeping counterterrorism operations across Balochistan. However, the nation did not share any proof to back the claim that the "terrorists" had Indian links. These counterterrorism operations come a day after a wave of deadly coordinated suicide and gun attacks left dozens of civilians and security personnel dead. Also read | Ex-UK envoy seen in compromising undies pic in Epstein files, quits Labour Party Major operations after deadly attacks As per reports, the raids began early Saturday (Jan 31) at multiple locations in the southwestern province of Balochistan, a day after coordinated suicide bombings and gun assaults killed 33 people, most of them civilians. According to provincial authorities, at least 18 civilians, including five women and three children, and 15 members of the security forces were killed during the violence over the past 40 hours. Also read | Over 200 killed as separatists, army clash in Pakistan’s Balochistan Fitna al-Hindustan Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, as cited by ABC News, told reporters in Quetta that Pakistani troops and police had killed 145 militants belonging to what the government calls “Fitna al-Hindustan”, a term it uses for the allegedly India-backed, banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). “The bodies of these 145 killed terrorists are in our custody, and some of them are Afghan nationals,” Bugti said, describing the toll as the highest in decades. He claimed the attackers had planned to take hostages and storm government offices in Quetta’s high-security zone, but were stopped before reaching the city centre. “We were aware of their plans, and our forces were prepared,” he said. Pakistan's unsubstantiated accusations against India and Afghanistan Bugti repeatedly accused India and Afghanistan of backing the assailants, alleging that senior BLA leaders were operating from Afghan territory. Both New Delhi and Kabul deny the claims. He said Afghanistan’s Taliban had pledged under the 2020 Doha agreement not to allow Afghan soil to be used for attacks on other countries, but argued that “unfortunately, the Afghan soil was still being used against Pakistan.”

Pakistan claims its forces killed over 100 “Indian-backed terrorists” in major operations across Balochistan after deadly attacks that killed 33 people. Officials accused India and Afghanistan of backing the militants, but offered no evidence. Both countries have denied the allegations.

Pakistan claims killed 145 ‘Fitna al-Hindustan’ terrorists, accuses India without offering proof

The Union Budget 2026, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1, 2026, focuses on boosting domestic manufacturing and easing the burden on the middle class. Here's a list of items that will get cheaper and costlier after the announcement

Union Budget 2026: What gets cheaper and what becomes costlier

Union Minister for Railways, Information &amp; Broadcasting, and Electronics &amp; Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Sunday (Feb 1) dubbed Budget 2026 as a roadmap for Viksit Bharat and said the increased outlay for Railways and Semiconductor manufacturing is a step in that direction. He highlighted the rapid growth of India's electronic and digital econsystem saying that the sector has witnessed unprecedented expansion over the last decade.&nbsp;"The electronics manufacturing sector today employs about 25 lakh individuals. This is a huge jump over the last decade. In 10 years, electronics manufacturing has grown sixfold, and electronics exports have grown eightfold. Given the need to accelerate growth in electronics manufacturing, the finance minister announced Rs 40,000 crore for the electronics component manufacturing scheme and simultaneously announced Semicon 2.0. This is again a major achievement for our country and for our Prime Minister's vision that a futuristic industry like semiconductors, which will feed into AI, will be a significant boost to the economy. Data centres will be the backbone of the AI-led fifth industrial revolution." Vaishnaw said in an interview with ANI.&nbsp;His comment followed the announcement of Semiconductor Mission 2.0 to strengthen the supply chain with a budget outlay of Rs 40,000 crores during the Budget speech by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Underlining the importance of Digital infrastructure, the minister stated, "India will become one of the largest data centre hubs following today's policy announcement. Data centres will have a 20-year tax holiday. This will be a significant change. Overall, in the creator economy, 20 lakh new employment opportunities will be created, as the IICT (Indian Institute of Creative Technologies) will now be connected to 15,000 high schools and 500 colleges through the creator labs."&nbsp;The Union Budget set aside the biggest ever outlay ever for Indian Railways for 2026 and announced 7 high-speed rail corridors connecting key economic centres across the country.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-than-200-killed-in-intense-clashes-between-separatists-and-army-in-pakistan-s-balochistan-1769957610746">More than 200 killed in intense clashes between separatists and army in Pakistan’s Balochistan</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;"Seven new high-speed corridors have been announced today. These high-speed corridors will significantly reduce travel time, bringing about a major change in people's lives," he said.&nbsp;"Chennai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad--that southern triangle -- will drive significant economic growth across the southern states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka. This will be a major, major win for all five southern states," he added. Vaishnaw declared that about 4,000 kilometres of high-speed corridors will attract Rs 16 lakh crore in investment.

The Union Budget set aside the biggest ever outlay ever for Indian Railways for 2026 and announced 7 high-speed rail corridors connecting key economic centres across the country.

Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Sunday (Feb 1) dubbed Budget 2026 as a roadmap for Viksit Bharat and said the increased outlay for Railways and Semiconductor manufacturing is a step in that direction. He highlighted the rapid growth of India's electronic and digital econsystem saying that the sector has witnessed unprecedented expansion over the last decade. "The electronics manufacturing sector today employs about 25 lakh individuals. This is a huge jump over the last decade. In 10 years, electronics manufacturing has grown sixfold, and electronics exports have grown eightfold. Given the need to accelerate growth in electronics manufacturing, the finance minister announced Rs 40,000 crore for the electronics component manufacturing scheme and simultaneously announced Semicon 2.0. This is again a major achievement for our country and for our Prime Minister's vision that a futuristic industry like semiconductors, which will feed into AI, will be a significant boost to the economy. Data centres will be the backbone of the AI-led fifth industrial revolution." Vaishnaw said in an interview with ANI. His comment followed the announcement of Semiconductor Mission 2.0 to strengthen the supply chain with a budget outlay of Rs 40,000 crores during the Budget speech by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

The Union Budget set aside the biggest ever outlay ever for Indian Railways for 2026 and announced 7 high-speed rail corridors connecting key economic centres across the country.

Electronics manufacturing grows sixfold in a decade; high-speed corridors to draw Rs 16 lakh crore: Vaishnaw

PM Modi described Budget 2026 as the roadmap for India’s ‘Reform Express’, saying it lays a strong foundation for achieving the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’. He also hailed Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for presenting the Union Budget for the ninth consecutive time.

Budget 2026: Major announcements across sectors, from defence push to Semiconductor Mission 2.0

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced several major direct tax reforms in the Union Budget 2026–27, which was announced on Sunday (February 1, 2026). The budget also included the rollout of the new Income Tax Act, 2025, from April 1, 2026.&nbsp;The presented budget proposed changes aimed to simplify tax laws, improve compliance, and reduce disputes for both individuals and businesses. The new law aims to replace the decades-old Income Tax Act, 1961, with clearer provisions, streamlined rules and easier filing processes. While several measures offer relief to taxpayers, others increase costs for specific segments.&nbsp;Here’s a closer look at who stands to gain and who may lose under Budget 2026:<h3>Who Gains</h3><h3>Students and families funding education or medical treatment abroad</h3>Tax Collected at Source on overseas remittances under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme for education and medical treatment will be reduced from 5 per cent to 2 per cent from April 1, 2026, easing cash flow pressures.<h3>Taxpayers filing revised returns</h3>The deadline to file revised returns will be extended from nine months to 12 months after the end of the relevant assessment year. This gives taxpayers who filed belated returns more time to correct errors.<h3>Small taxpayers and salaried individuals</h3>A new automated system will allow eligible small taxpayers to obtain lower or nil TDS certificates without approaching tax officers. Depositories will also be allowed to accept Form 15G and 15H and forward them to companies, simplifying compliance for investors.<h3>Residents buying property from NRIs</h3>Resident buyers will no longer need to obtain a Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number (TAN) when purchasing property from NRIs. Tax can now be deducted using PAN, reducing delays and compliance hurdles.<h3>HNIs and long-term investors in buybacks</h3>The Budget restores capital gains taxation on share buybacks, allowing investors to pay tax only on net gains rather than the full payout, making buybacks more attractive than dividends.<h3>Who Loses</h3><h3>Equity derivatives traders</h3>Security Transaction Tax on equity futures will rise from 0.02 per cent to 0.05 per cent, while STT on options trades will increase from 0.1 per cent to 0.15 per cent, raising transaction costs for traders.<h3>Promoters using buybacks for tax arbitrage</h3>While investors benefit, promoters will face a higher effective capital gains tax on buybacks to curb misuse, with stricter tax treatment than other shareholders.<h3>Secondary market buyers of Sovereign Gold Bonds</h3>Capital gains tax exemption on SGB redemption will be limited to investors who purchase bonds at the original RBI issue price and hold them till maturity. Those buying SGBs in the secondary market may lose this benefit.<h3>Crypto exchanges and non-compliant taxpayers</h3>Strict penalties have been proposed for crypto exchanges that fail to report transactions. Non-reporting could attract a penalty of Rs 200 per day, while incorrect reporting may lead to fines of up to Rs 50,000.<h3>Mixed Impact Measures</h3><h3>Foreign asset disclosure scheme</h3>A one-time six-month foreign asset disclosure window aims to encourage voluntary compliance. Small and partially compliant taxpayers benefit from reduced penalties, while fully non-compliant taxpayers will still face tax and penalty substitutes.<h3>ITR deadlines clarified</h3>The July 31 deadline for ITR-1 and ITR-2 remains unchanged, while non-audit taxpayers can file till August 31. Revised returns will be allowed until March 31 with a nominal fee.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/union-budget-2026-what-gets-cheaper-and-what-becomes-costlier-1769919522225/1769919522226">Union Budget 2026: What gets cheaper and what becomes costlier</a>

The new law aims to replace the decades-old Income Tax Act, 1961, with clearer provisions, streamlined rules and easier filing processes. While several measures offer relief to taxpayers, others increase costs for specific segments.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced several major direct tax reforms in the Union Budget 2026–27, which was announced on Sunday (February 1, 2026). The budget also included the rollout of the new Income Tax Act, 2025, from April 1, 2026. The presented budget proposed changes aimed to simplify tax laws, improve compliance, and reduce disputes for both individuals and businesses. The new law aims to replace the decades-old Income Tax Act, 1961, with clearer provisions, streamlined rules and easier filing processes. While several measures offer relief to taxpayers, others increase costs for specific segments. Here’s a closer look at who stands to gain and who may lose under Budget 2026: Who Gains Students and families funding education or medical treatment abroad Tax Collected at Source on overseas remittances under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme for education and medical treatment will be reduced from 5 per cent to 2 per cent from April 1, 2026, easing cash flow pressures. Taxpayers filing revised returns The deadline to file revised returns will be extended from nine months to 12 months after the end of the relevant assessment year. This gives taxpayers who filed belated returns more time to correct errors. Small taxpayers and salaried individuals A new automated system will allow eligible small taxpayers to obtain lower or nil TDS certificates without approaching tax officers. Depositories will also be allowed to accept Form 15G and 15H and forward them to companies, simplifying compliance for investors. Residents buying property from NRIs Resident buyers will no longer need to obtain a Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number (TAN) when purchasing property from NRIs. Tax can now be deducted using PAN, reducing delays and compliance hurdles. HNIs and long-term investors in buybacks The Budget restores capital gains taxation on share buybacks, allowing investors to pay tax only on net gains rather than the full payout, making buybacks more attractive than dividends. Who Loses Equity derivatives traders Security Transaction Tax on equity futures will rise from 0.02 per cent to 0.05 per cent, while STT on options trades will increase from 0.1 per cent to 0.15 per cent, raising transaction costs for traders. Promoters using buybacks for tax arbitrage While investors benefit, promoters will face a higher effective capital gains tax on buybacks to curb misuse, with stricter tax treatment than other shareholders. Secondary market buyers of Sovereign Gold Bonds Capital gains tax exemption on SGB redemption will be limited to investors who purchase bonds at the original RBI issue price and hold them till maturity. Those buying SGBs in the secondary market may lose this benefit. Crypto exchanges and non-compliant taxpayers Strict penalties have been proposed for crypto exchanges that fail to report transactions. Non-reporting could attract a penalty of Rs 200 per day, while incorrect reporting may lead to fines of up to Rs 50,000. Mixed Impact Measures Foreign asset disclosure scheme A one-time six-month foreign asset disclosure window aims to encourage voluntary compliance. Small and partially compliant taxpayers benefit from reduced penalties, while fully non-compliant taxpayers will still face tax and penalty substitutes. ITR deadlines clarified The July 31 deadline for ITR-1 and ITR-2 remains unchanged, while non-audit taxpayers can file till August 31. Revised returns will be allowed until March 31 with a nominal fee. ALSO READ: Union Budget 2026: What gets cheaper and what becomes costlier

The new law aims to replace the decades-old Income Tax Act, 1961, with clearer provisions, streamlined rules and easier filing processes. While several measures offer relief to taxpayers, others increase costs for specific segments.

Union Budget 2026: Major income tax changes announced — Who gains, who loses

Several high-altitude regions of Uttarakhand experienced light to moderate rainfall and snowfall over the past 24 hours, prompting the Meteorological Centre in Dehradun to issue avalanche advisories for multiple hill districts amid unstable weather patterns. The weather department reported precipitation in areas situated above 2,800 metres across Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Bageshwar, and Pithoragarh districts until 8.30 am on Sunday (February 1). Officials noted that similar mixed weather conditions are expected to persist on Monday, particularly in elevated regions of these districts.&nbsp;Isolated spells of very light rain or snowfall may also occur in the higher reaches of Dehradun and Nainital districts, while most other parts of the state are likely to remain dry. The IMD Dehradun centre has issued a yellow alert for Tuesday (Feb 3), warning of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning in Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Bageshwar, and Pithoragarh. Gusty winds reaching speeds of 30–40 kmph, along with thunderstorms, are also expected at isolated locations in Dehradun, Pauri, Haridwar, Nainital, and Udham Singh Nagar districts.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/air-india-resumes-direct-delhi-shanghai-flights-after-nearly-six-years-1769951393018">Air India resumes direct Delhi-Shanghai flights after nearly six years</a>&nbsp;The State Emergency Control Centre has cautioned residents and visitors in high-altitude zones about heightened risks due to both avalanches and volatile weather conditions. According to the Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE), Chamoli district has been placed under Danger Level 2 (Yellow Alert) for avalanche risk for 24 hours starting Sunday evening. Rudraprayag and Pithoragarh districts have been issued a Level 1 (Green Alert), signalling the need for caution in snow-covered areas. Authorities have urged people to avoid steep slopes and avalanche-sensitive zones, remove snow buildup from rooftops, and stay alert while travelling in snowbound terrain. Travellers have also been advised not to halt in vulnerable locations and to watch out for trees or rocks that could obstruct snow movement.&nbsp;IMD Dehradun Centre Director CS Tomar said that the current western disturbance is expected to linger overnight, while another weak system is forming but is unlikely to significantly impact weather conditions. He added that clearer weather is anticipated from February 4 onward. In the Uttarkashi district, light snowfall was recorded in Yamunotri Dham, Kharsali, and upper regions near Gangotri. As a precaution, authorities temporarily suspended the movement of pilgrims and travellers in these areas.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-budget-2026-did-budget-2026-deliver-for-poll-bound-tamil-nadu-1769952949214/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-budget-2026-did-budget-2026-deliver-for-poll-bound-tamil-nadu-1769952949214/embed</a>&nbsp;Rainfall data showed Kashipur receiving the highest precipitation at 10 mm, followed by Jaspur with 5 mm and the Uttarakhand Technical University area with 4 mm. Light rainfall was also noted in Chakrata, Kotdwar, and Roorkee. Strong winds swept through parts of the state, with Jeolikote in Nainital registering the highest surface wind speed at 50 kmph. Champawat, Maldevta, and Kashipur also recorded notable wind activity.&nbsp;While Dehradun saw thunderstorms and recorded the state’s highest maximum temperature at 25.1°C, cold day conditions prevailed in Roorkee and Pantnagar. Mukteshwar remained the coldest location, with temperatures dropping to 3.8°C. Despite the weather-related challenges, farmers across hill districts welcomed the precipitation, saying it has provided much-needed relief to crops stressed by extended dry spells late last year. Local farmers believe continued rainfall and snowfall could significantly benefit wheat, lentil, and apple cultivation.

Rain, snow and strong winds lash Uttarakhand, IMD issues avalanche and thunderstorm warnings

Several high-altitude regions of Uttarakhand experienced light to moderate rainfall and snowfall over the past 24 hours, prompting the Meteorological Centre in Dehradun to issue avalanche advisories for multiple hill districts amid unstable weather patterns. The weather department reported precipitation in areas situated above 2,800 metres across Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Bageshwar, and Pithoragarh districts until 8.30 am on Sunday (February 1). Officials noted that similar mixed weather conditions are expected to persist on Monday, particularly in elevated regions of these districts. Isolated spells of very light rain or snowfall may also occur in the higher reaches of Dehradun and Nainital districts, while most other parts of the state are likely to remain dry. The IMD Dehradun centre has issued a yellow alert for Tuesday (Feb 3), warning of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning in Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Bageshwar, and Pithoragarh. Gusty winds reaching speeds of 30–40 kmph, along with thunderstorms, are also expected at isolated locations in Dehradun, Pauri, Haridwar, Nainital, and Udham Singh Nagar districts. Also Read: Air India resumes direct Delhi-Shanghai flights after nearly six years The State Emergency Control Centre has cautioned residents and visitors in high-altitude zones about heightened risks due to both avalanches and volatile weather conditions. According to the Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE), Chamoli district has been placed under Danger Level 2 (Yellow Alert) for avalanche risk for 24 hours starting Sunday evening. Rudraprayag and Pithoragarh districts have been issued a Level 1 (Green Alert), signalling the need for caution in snow-covered areas. Authorities have urged people to avoid steep slopes and avalanche-sensitive zones, remove snow buildup from rooftops, and stay alert while travelling in snowbound terrain. Travellers have also been advised not to halt in vulnerable locations and to watch out for trees or rocks that could obstruct snow movement. IMD Dehradun Centre Director CS Tomar said that the current western disturbance is expected to linger overnight, while another weak system is forming but is unlikely to significantly impact weather conditions. He added that clearer weather is anticipated from February 4 onward. In the Uttarkashi district, light snowfall was recorded in Yamunotri Dham, Kharsali, and upper regions near Gangotri. As a precaution, authorities temporarily suspended the movement of pilgrims and travellers in these areas. https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-budget-2026-did-budget-2026-deliver-for-poll-bound-tamil-nadu-1769952949214/embed Rainfall data showed Kashipur receiving the highest precipitation at 10 mm, followed by Jaspur with 5 mm and the Uttarakhand Technical University area with 4 mm. Light rainfall was also noted in Chakrata, Kotdwar, and Roorkee. Strong winds swept through parts of the state, with Jeolikote in Nainital registering the highest surface wind speed at 50 kmph. Champawat, Maldevta, and Kashipur also recorded notable wind activity. While Dehradun saw thunderstorms and recorded the state’s highest maximum temperature at 25.1°C, cold day conditions prevailed in Roorkee and Pantnagar. Mukteshwar remained the coldest location, with temperatures dropping to 3.8°C. Despite the weather-related challenges, farmers across hill districts welcomed the precipitation, saying it has provided much-needed relief to crops stressed by extended dry spells late last year. Local farmers believe continued rainfall and snowfall could significantly benefit wheat, lentil, and apple cultivation.

Rain and snowfall in Uttarakhand’s high-altitude districts trigger avalanche alerts, thunderstorm warnings, and safety advisories as unstable weather continues

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Rain, snow and strong winds lash Uttarakhand, IMD issues avalanche warning