News updates: FM gives final touches to her record eighth Budget

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8:42 PM

FM gives final touches to her record eighth Budget

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday gave final touches to the first full Budget of Modi government's third term that is expected to balance the aspiration of the middle class for tax cut and needs of the economy to boost growth. Sitharaman will on February 1 present a record eighth consecutive Budget that is expected to contain measures to shore up weakening economic growth and ease the burden on the middle class struggling with high prices and stagnant wage growth while being fiscally prudent. "Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. @nsitharaman interacts with the Secretaries and the senior officials involved in the Budget making process @FinMinIndia while giving final touches to the Union Budget 2025-26 at her office in North Block, in New Delhi, today," the finance ministry said in a post on X. Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary also participated in the meeting, it said. The Budget will come in the backdrop of the GDP growth rate projected to fall to 4-year low of 6.4 per cent in the current financial year, close to its decadal average. The Economic Survey 2024-25 tabled by the Finance Minister in both Houses has estimated India's GDP growing in the range of 6.3-6.8 per cent in FY26, much lower than what is needed to become a developed country, and requires deregulation and reforms in areas like land and labour to stimulate growth. It indicated that India's world-beating growth is moderating and more needs to be done to achieve the near 8 per cent annual rate required to achieve the Viksit Bharat target by 2047. The 6.3-6.8 per cent growth rate in the 2025-26 financial year compares to an estimated 6.4 per cent growth in the current year ending March 31 -- the weakest since the pandemic -- and 8.2 per cent in the 2023-24 financial year.

4:56 PM

India will have above-average maximum temperatures in February, weather office says

India is set to see above-average temperatures in February after a warmer January, the weather office said on Friday, posing a risk to key winter-sown crops such as wheat, rapeseed and chickpea.
 

Maximum and minimum temperatures in most parts of the country would be above-average in the month, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director-general of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) told a virtual news conference.

4:21 PM

Fiscal deficit for April-December at 56.7% of full-year target, shows govt data

Net tax receipts for the first nine months of the current financial year were at 71.3 per cent of the annual target, the data showed.

2:57 PM

Sonia Gandhi calling President as 'poor thing' demeans high office, says BJP

The BJP on Friday latched on to former Congress president Sonia Gandhi's reaction to President Droupadi Murmu's address to both Houses of Parliament, alleging the Congress leader referring to the President as a "poor thing" demeans the high office and reflects her feudal mindset.

2:54 PM

1984 Anti Sikh riots: Court reserves order in case against Sajjan Kumar

The Rouse Avenue court reserved its order on judgment in a case against Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar. This case is related to the killing of the father-son duo in the Saraswati Vihar area on November 1, 1984. Special judge Kaveri Baweja reserved the order after hearing additional submissions by the Public Prosecutor Manish Rawat.

2:41 PM

Judicial probe commission reaches Prayagraj, may visit Kumbh stampede spot

A three-member judicial commission set up by the Uttar Pradesh government to probe the Maha Kumbh stampede reached Prayagraj on Friday, an official said. The panel is headed by Harsh Kumar, a retired judge of the Allahabad High Court, and comprises former director general of police (DGP) V K Gupta and retired IAS officer D K Singh.

2:29 PM

BJP constitutes panel to probe vandalism of Ambedkar's statue in Amritsar

Bharatiya Janata Party constitutes a 6-member panel which will visit Amritsar to probe the incident of vandalism of the statue of Dr BR Ambedkar. The panel will submit its report to party president JP Nadda.

2:16 PM

Delhi Assembly polls: Every Delhi family saves Rs 25K per month due to AAP's schemes, says Kejriwal

Every household in Delhi saves an average of Rs 25,000 a month due to the AAP government's welfare schemes and if the party returns to power, its new initiatives will add another Rs 10,000 to people's savings, party supremo Arvind Kejriwal said on Friday. The former chief minister was speaking at the launch of the AAP's 'Bachat Patra' campaign here, aimed at highlighting the financial benefits of the schemes brought by his party's government.

2:10 PM

36-year-old man dies from suspected Guillain-Barre syndrome in Pune

A 36-year-old male from Pimplegurav, who worked as an Ola-Uber driver, was admitted to Yashwantrao Chavan Hospital on January 21 due to suspected Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). The patient's health deteriorated, and he passed away on January 30, 2025, according to a press note issued by the health department of Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation on Friday.

1:39 PM

ECI has said it will investigate entire matter, says Sanjay Singh on Yamuna poison row

After AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, Atishi and Bhagwant Mann met the Election Commission of India (ECI), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh on Friday said that the commission has said that it will investigate the entire matter with facts and then make some decision. Singh said, "Arvind Kejriwal has told the entire chronology about the BJP's conspiracy to poison the water coming to Delhi to the Election Commission. The commission has said that it will investigate the entire matter with facts and then make some decision."

1:27 PM

Indian Youth Congress workers hold a protest against Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi

Indian Youth Congress workers hold a protest against AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi over the Yamuna water issue.

1:11 PM

Arvind Kejriwal claims victory, says ammonia levels in Yamuna dipped after AAP raised issue

AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal congratulated the people of Delhi for the success of their 'struggle' to stop the flow of contaminated water. Taking to X, he said that ammonia levels in the water dropped from 7 ppm to 2 ppm, saving Delhi from a potential water crisis.

1:00 PM

Saif stabbing case: Arrested accused's facial recognition tests positive, says police

Mumbai Police say, Arrested accused Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad's facial recognition tested positive. As per the test, the person in CCTV footage and Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad are confirmed to be the same person.

12:54 PM

Supreme Court refuses to entertain PIL against special treatment for VIPs in temples

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a PIL against the practice of charging an additional fee for "VIP darshan" and according of preferential, selective and special treatment to a certain class of people in temples. A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar said it was for the society and temple management to decide the issue and the court cannot pass any direction.

12:20 PM

18th PBD big success, MEA looks forward to partnering with Odisha for more such events: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said his ministry is looking forward to partnering with the Odisha government for organising events like the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) in future. In a letter to to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Jaishankar congratulated the state government for making the recently held 18th PBD in Bhubaneswar a resounding success. My ministry looks forward to partnering with Odisha for organising similar events in the future, he said.

12:09 PM

India-Nepal Friendship Festival to be held in UP from Feb 5

Uttar Pradesh government will organise 'India-Nepal Friendship Festival' from February 5 to 23 to strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries, an official said on Friday. The festival will see song and dance performances by artists from the state and Nepal. A cultural tour will also be also be taken out in districts bordering Nepal. The tour will start from Siddharthnagar on February 5 and conclude in Pilibhit on February 23 after covering Maharajganj, Kushinagar, Balrampur, Shravasti, Bahraich and Lakhimpur Kheri.

11:44 AM

Call centre scamming US citizens busted in Thane district

Police have exposed a bogus call centre in Maharashtra's Thane district, from where cyber criminals targeted American citizens to defraud them, an official said on Friday. Seven persons were apprehended after police acted on a tip-off and raided the fake call centre operating from the Hatkesh area in Mira Road a few days ago, he said. Posing as employees of a reputed e-commerce company, the fraudsters used to call up US citizens claiming that their accounts had been hacked or some unauthorised transactions had taken place on their behalf.

11:22 AM

Telangana phone tapping case: HC grants bail to two accused

The Telangana High Court has granted bail to two of the accused in the infamous phone tapping case on the basis that the petitioners have been in jail for a long time and also there is a likelihood of delay in commencing the trial. Former Deputy Commissioner of Police P Radha Kishan Rao and Bhujanga Rao, a suspended police official who were arrested in March last year in connection with the case, were granted bail on Thursday. The Public Prosecutor submitted a sealed cover to the HC and argued that, during the investigation, they discovered the personal computer of one of the accused with certain information about Judges.

11:01 AM

Eight dead, many injured after road accident in Punjab

A pick-up van rammed into a canter truck here on Friday, leaving eight people dead and many others injured. The accident took place near Golu ka Mour village in Guruharsahai sub-division. Satnam Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Guruharsahai, said that as soon as the matter was reported, teams from the Sadak Suraksha Force (SSF) reached the spot and started the rescue operation.

10:47 AM

EAM Jaishankar congratulates Nauru on their Independence Day

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar extended congratulations to the Republic of Nauru on their Independence Day today. In a post on X, EAM Jaishankar said, "Warm greetings to FM Lionel Rouwen Aingimea, the Government and the people of the Republic of Nauru on their Independence Day. Look forward to further strengthening our friendship in the Indo-Pacific."

10:40 AM

Tamil Nadu to file review petition in SC on domicile reservation, says Health Minister

The Tamil Nadu government has said it will file a review petition in the Supreme Court on the domicile-based reservation for post-graduate medical courses. The apex court had on Wednesday held that domicile-based reservation in post-graduate medical courses by a state was unconstitutional. A three-judge bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy, Sudhanshu Dhulia and S V N Bhatti said if such a reservation was permitted, it would be an invasion of the fundamental rights of several students.

10:36 AM

Mahakumbh: More than 296.4 million devotees take dip in Sangam

In a spectacular display of faith and devotion, over 296.4 million devotees converged at the sacred Sangam and took a holy dip in the Triveni waters on Friday morning in Prayagraj during the ongoing Mahakumbh 2025, according to the Uttar Pradesh Information Department. Among the 296.4 million devotees, over 1 million Kalpwasis while more than 3.3 million pilgrims have taken a dip. As of January 30, a total of 296.4 million devotees have taken dip in the ongoing Mahakumbh.

10:27 AM

PM Modi offers condolences over Washington mid-air plane collision

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences on Friday over the mid-air crash which took place in near Reagan National Airport in Washington DC in which 67 people are feared dead. Prime Minister Modi offered heartfelt condolences and said "we stand in solidarity with the people of the United States". In a post on X, he wrote, "Deeply saddened by loss of lives in the tragic collision in Washington DC. Our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. We stand in solidarity with the people of the United States."

 

10:17 AM

Two infiltrating terrorists shot dead along LoC in J&K's Poonch

Two heavily-armed terrorists were killed as alert troops scuttled their attempt to infiltrate from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, officials said. The incident took place in the Khari Karmara area of Poonch district on Thursday and a massive search operation was underway when last reports were received this morning. Terrorist movement was detected last night at the Line of Control in Poonch sector. Alert troops swiftly engaged the infiltrating terrorists, triggering an intense and heavy firefight, Army's Jammu-based White Knight Corps said in a post on X.

10:06 AM

Lokayukta sleuths raid seven officers in disproportionate assets case

Lokayukta sleuths on Friday raided seven officers and carried out searches at multiple locations in connection with the disproportionate assets case. According to a senior Lokayukta police officer, the raids were against two officers each in Bengaluru and Belagavi, and one each in Chitradurga, Raichur, and Bagalkote. The raids started early in the morning simultaneously and would continue till the evening, Lokayukta sources said.

9:48 AM

Uttar Pradesh: Cop suspended after dumping soil in food vessel at 'Bhandara'

Brijesh Tiwari, station in-charge of Soraon police station, has been suspended after a video went viral in which he was allegedly seen dumping soil in a food vessel at a 'Bhandara' in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj. Meanwhile, the Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh prohibited VIP protocols during 'Amrit Snan' and other major bathing festivals to ensure an equal and seamless experience for all pilgrims at the ongoing Maha Kumbh celebrations in Prayagraj.

9:27 AM

Arms, ammunition seized in Manipur's Kakching

Security forces seized a cache of arms and ammunition from Manipur's Kakching district during a search operation, police said. One assault rifle, one 9 mm pistol, one IED, two grenades, one smoke shell, one tear smoke grenade, one detonator were seized from the foothills of Chairel Khunou hill of the district on Thursday. Meanwhile, Manipur Police arrested two persons involved in extortion in Imphal area on Thursday.

9:12 AM

Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla selected to pilot Nasa's private Axiom Mission 4 to ISS

Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla and Indian Air Force (IAF) officer who was recently chosen as the 'Prime' astronaut for Indian Space Research Organisation's (Isro) Gaganyaan mission, has been selected as the pilot for Axiom Mission 4, scheduled for Spring 2025. Shukla, a serving IAF officer, will serve as the pilot for Ax-4 mission. 

8:59 AM

Maha Kumbh 2025: Vehicle divergence in place only for Feb 2 and 3 for Vasant Panchmi

DM Prayagraj, Ravindra Kumar Mandar, clarified on Friday that there will be no restrictions on vehicle entry in Prayagraj on January 31, February 1, and February 4. He specified that the divergence scheme will only be implemented on February 2 and 3. He also refuted the viral claims stating that vehicle entry would be restricted until February 4.

8:49 AM

Replace US dollar face 100% tariffs, Donald Trump once again holds out threat to Brics nations

US President Donald Trump has once again held out the threat of tariffs to Brics nations if they try to replace the US Dollar with any other currency. Trump's remarks signal a firm stance against financial shifts that could challenge the US economy's influence in international trade. Trump had previously reiterated his position during a signing ceremony at the Oval Office, where he directly warned BRICS countries against moving away from the dollar.