The Times of India

SC rejected Bengal govts defence it lacked funds and said it is not open for the State to shirk its responsibility of paying DA on account of financial difficulty, given that it is an obligation arising out of a statute of its own creation. SC said the least that is expected of a State in a democracy is that it honours its obligations and commitments arising from a legislation or judicial decisions, for such obligations are not discretionary.

Possibility of a re-unification grew stronger after Pawar Senior took the lead to minimise tension within the family when he went to meet Sunetra and her sons at their Baramati residence for the second consecutive day on Thursday. Some senior NCP members, including Patel and state chief Sunil Tatkare, have refuted Sharad Pawars claim that his nephew had initiated steps for NCPs merger.

India and Malaysia have an extradition treaty, but the case, as Malaysia maintains, will be resolved based on judicial consideration. The official said that Modi and his counterpart Anwar Ibrahim will review progress under the India-Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, especially in priority areas of cooperation such as trade, investments, defence, security, semiconductors, digital technologies, renewable energy, education, healthcare, and people-to-people exchanges.

Addressing central observers at India International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Management (IIIDEM) here, chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said they had been picked by EC to act as its beacons for the assembly polls in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Polls in the four states and Puducherry are likely to be held in April-May. A total of 1,444 observers are to be briefed in three batches on Thursday and Friday.

Global Teacher Prize 2026 was presented at World Governments Summit in Dubai, an annual gathering of leaders and policymakers. Now in its tenth year, the prize an initiative of Varkey Foundation along with Unesco honours teachers whose work reshaped learning outcomes and communities. Nagi, who has developed pedagogy around art, began her work in the slums of Mumbai about a decade ago.

In a written reply, housing and urban affairs ministry said during 202324 and 202425, CPWD procured 300 air purifiers. The devices were issued to offices, chambers, VVIP lounges, dining halls of judges and registrar of SC, courtrooms, ministers, Constitution Club of India, LS/RS secretariats in Parliament complex and various offices of ministries, departments at Nirman Bhavan, Sewa Bhavan, Vigyan Bhavan, and CPWD offices at Jodhpur and Varanasi, it said.

Had such an unpleasant act happened, then its sight would have torn the countrys democratic traditions to shreds, Om Birla said amid protests from opposition MPs. PM Modis scheduled reply to the Motion of Thanks on the Presidents address was called off at last minute on Wednesday due to intense protest from opposition MPs.

As part of the arrangement, there will be devolution of powers relating to 46 subjects to FNTA, which will cover the districts of Tuensang, Mon, Kiphire, Longleng, Noklak and Shamator. The autonomy and greater say will address the long-standing grievances of ENPO over lack of equitable development in eastern Nagaland districts.

The withdrawal of the corporate resolution order by NCLT, a rare occurrence, happened after Enforcement Directorate approached the Delhi bench with evidence of money laundering by the group and how the promoters had allegedly created a front entity with proceeds of crime, making it a financial creditor with 97% voting rights to grab the firm under insolvency proceedings.

West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose read out portions of the address highlighting law and order, including references to Kolkata being among the safest cities in the country. In a rare display of cordiality, he was even seen briefly holding hands and speaking with CM Mamata Banerjee after his address, prompting BJP legislators to sarcastically comment well done, as he exited the House.

Asked how the directive will be implemented, additional chief secretary (home) Sanjay Prasad said, We are working on a legal and procedural framework to ensure any death caused due to the use of banned Chinese manjha is treated as a case of murder. Clear instructions will be issued to the police so that strict action can be taken against all those involved in its sale, supply or use.

The influential Kuki Zo Council declared a social boycott of any legislator from the community joining CM Yumnam Khemchand Singhs govt. Protesters burned tyres and blocked roads in Kangpokpi district, and at least one group called for a shutdown in the hills. In Kangpokpi, roads littered with burning tyres signalled a return to unrest after a period of relative calm across the hills.

State-wise figures show Assam topping the list with Rs 1,012.87 crore pending across 35 projects, followed by Manipur (Rs 441.38 crore), Nagaland (Rs 406.09 crore) and Arunachal Pradesh (Rs 395.37 crore). Other states with large unpaid amounts include Tripura (Rs 308.71 crore), Mizoram (Rs 275.81 crore), Meghalaya (Rs 258.05 crore) and Sikkim (Rs 107.90 crore).

Consistent with Indias approach to energy security, India remains open to exploring the commercial merits of any new crude supply options, including from Venezuela, said the official. On Indias energy sourcing, the official recalled that govt had stated publicly on several occasions that ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion Indians was the supreme priority of govt.

Kharges reference to LS proceedings drew a sharp response from BJP, with Leader of the House in RS JP Nadda mocking Rahul as abodh balak (ignorant child) and reminding Kharge that events of one House cannot be debated in another. Nadda asked Kharge not to let Congress become hostage to Rahul and said arrogance and ignorance should not dictate actions.

Enumerating various sections of the newly enacted Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, a bench of Justices M M Sundresh and N K Singh said a notice under Section 35(3) of the law to an accused or any individual concerned, qua offences punishable with imprisonment of up to 7 years, is the rule.

PM Modis remarks in Rajya Sabha, during the debate on the motion of thanks on the Presidents address, came even as the treaty with the US is yet to be formally signed. Its being seen as an indication that the two sides may have resolved their differences. The formal announcement of the deal is likely next week.

A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan said in such cases, a woman was not eligible to get married due to the subsistence of her marriage and she could not invoke the ground of false promise of marriage. It passed the order while quashing criminal proceedings against a lawyer on a complaint filed by a woman advocate alleging that he had raped her on the false promise of marriage.

The row comes weeks after PDP president Mehbooba Mufti pitched for a separate administrative division comprising Rajouri and Poonch in Pir Panjal along with Chenab valley districts, citing remoteness, hilly terrain and lack of infrastructure a demand BJP opposed. The region refers to the mountainous belt along the Pir Panjal range south of Kashmir valley and close to the LoC.

Govt also sought clarity on the financial burden of granting Ladakh full statehood with a legislature, including salaries, provident fund liabilities and other expenditures for about 19,000 employees. Running a state or a Union territory with a legislature involves managing deficits and long-term fiscal responsibility, prompting the panel to press Ladakhi activists for detailed projections, the sources said.

the Delhi CM asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led administration prioritised policy decisions and accountability after forming government on February 20, 2025.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Malaysia on February 7-8 to strengthen ties and expand cooperation under a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He will hold bilateral talks with PM Anwar Ibrahim, review key sectors like trade and defense, and address the Indian community. The visit aims to deepen engagement with the ASEAN region and boost business ties.

Pollution is a legacy problem resulting from the negligence of previous governments. If we look at pollution only from the perspective that the air should be clean, we will not get results. You have to work on dust, air and water together, with a holistic vision, she said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a strong speech in Rajya Sabha criticising the Congress for decades of misgovernance and alleged deep hatred towards him. Modi also targeted Rahul Gandhi's recent comments, calling them an insult to Sikhs. The Prime Minister stated that much of the NDA's work involves correcting past mistakes.

Reacting on X, Tharoor wrote: The bizarre thing about this so-called business decision by The Washington Post is that @ishaantharoors column flourished on the Internet, adding that Ishaan Tharoor had 500,000 (half a million plus!) individual subscribers for his WorldView newsletter. He said he had met foreign ministers, diplomats and scholars around the world who read the newsletter daily, and argued that the newspaper could have tried monetising that reach instead of abolishing it.

Lok Sabha was adjourned amid security concerns over alleged Congress plans to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi, despite his presence. Opposition rejected the claims, accusing the government of stalling proceedings. The Prime Minister is expected to address the Rajya Sabha later.

The Ministry of External Affairs has firmly denied a Bloomberg report alleging National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding a trade deal. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal called the claims baseless, stating no such meeting occurred. This rebuttal follows recent announcements of a trade agreement between India and the US.

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AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday raised concern over the safety and security of vulnerables after 807 people, mostly women and children, went missing in the first 15 days of the year 2026.

The Supreme Court has ordered West Bengal to pay dearness allowance to its employees as per the 2008 pay rules, stating financial constraints are no excuse. While upholding the entitlement to DA under state rules, the court clarified it's not a fundamental right, unlike a previous High Court ruling.