India's International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) has become an official inter-governmental organisation aimed at conserving seven big cat species globally. Launched by Prime Minister Modi, the IBCA is now operational with 27 countries consenting to join, including India, Nicaragua, Eswatini, Somalia, and Liberia.

An education festival was held at the Ainavilli temple in Konaseema district, where a special prayer was offered by placing one lakh pens at the feet of Lord Vigneswara. The event, marking Magha Masam Sukla Panchami, also included prayers to Saraswathi Devi and distribution of the pens to children, amidst large arrangements for devotees.

The high-stakes campaign for the February 5 Delhi assembly elections ended with AAP and BJP in a fierce contest. Key issues included welfare schemes, corruption, and development, as parties made last-ditch efforts to sway voters. The electorate's decision will be revealed on February 8.

The Rajasthan assembly witnessed chaos on Monday when parliamentary affairs minister Jogaram Patel used «unparliamentary» language during a discussion on crop damage. This led to a heated exchange with the opposition. After being called out by Congress leaders, Patel apologized, clarifying there was no intention to disrespect anyone. Speaker Vasudev Devnani urged members to maintain decorum, and the session continued with a debate on the governor’s address.

An ex-serviceman, Manzoor Ahmed Waghey, was shot dead in a terrorist attack in Kulgam, Jammu and Kashmir. His wife and niece were injured and rushed to a hospital. A joint search operation has been launched in response. The incident has been condemned by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and MLA Salman Sagar, calling for maintaining peace and justice.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju countered Rahul Gandhi's remarks on caste representation and claimed the Prime Minister is the most prominent OBC leader. He questioned Congress's history with Tribal, Dalit, and OBC appointments. Rijiju also disputed Gandhi's claims about the External Affairs Minister and China's territorial incursions, asserting these statements malign India's image.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami campaigned in Delhi, highlighting BJP's achievements under PM Modi while criticizing the AAP government. Dhami accused Arvind Kejriwal of corruption, disrespect towards the Indian Army, and neglecting Delhi's development. He urged voters to support BJP for better governance in the upcoming election.

BJP MP Dinesh Sharma has urged the government to make domestic violence and harassment laws gender-neutral, citing NCRB data showing 72% of suicide victims in 2022 were men, many due to domestic reasons. He highlights the need for legal and emotional support for men facing false allegations.

Rahul Gandhi criticized the 'Make in India' initiative, contending its failure has let China gain a foothold in Indian territory. He asserted the nation's reliance on Chinese products affects national security and emphasised that India's production capabilities must be strengthened, in collaboration with the United States.

BJP mocked Rahul Gandhi for mentioning 'China' 34 times in his Lok Sabha speech. Gandhi asserted China leads India by a decade in production and data sectors. He criticized the 'Make in India' initiative, blaming its failure for China's presence in Indian territory. He voiced concerns about reliance on Chinese technology in potential conflicts.

BJP MPs have submitted a notice against Sonia Gandhi for allegedly using derogatory remarks about the President of India, asking for disciplinary action. The BJP claimed her comments violated parliamentary ethics and decorum, aiming to protect the dignity of the highest constitutional authority. They also filed a notice against MP Pappu Yadav.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the Modi government, highlighting a decline in GDP growth from 7.8 per cent under the UPA to 5.8 per cent currently, questioning job creation prospects. He also condemned the government over farmer suicides, claiming 100,000 in the last decade, and demanded transparency on the Maha Kumbh stampede death toll. Kharge further criticized the falling value of the rupee, and was urged by Rajya Sabha chairman to provide evidence for his allegations.

Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan criticised the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government over the Maha Kumbh stampede in Prayagraj, alleging contamination of water due to bodies thrown in the river. She accused the state government of neglecting common visitors while giving special treatment to VIPs, and questioned the purported mass gathering numbers. Noisy protests erupted in Lok Sabha with opposition demanding discussion and list of deceased.

The Lok Sabha witnessed chaos after Rahul Gandhi criticized the government over economic policies and China's lead in production. He claimed that ineffective policies led to India lagging behind China in technology and manufacturing, and unable to generate sufficient employment.

Dr Suvrankar Datta, a radiologist at AIIMS, has criticised IndiGo Airlines for neglect and unprofessionalism after they failed to deliver his pre-booked meal on time despite multiple reminders. He expressed concerns for passenger safety and announced plans to escalate the issue to the national consumer forum.

BJP MP Sambit Patra cited a JNU research report claiming illegal migration from Bangladesh and Myanmar has increased Delhi's Muslim population. He accused AAP of facilitating this influx and helping migrants obtain fake voter registrations, posing a threat to democracy. This statement was made ahead of Delhi's voting on February 5.

The Election Commission has prohibited the conduct, publication, or publicising of exit polls for the Delhi assembly elections and bypolls in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu on February 5 from 7am to 6:30pm. Additionally, displaying any election-related content on electronic media will be banned during the 48-hour period leading up to the end of voting.

Rahul Gandhi, attacking Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, accused him of not fulfilling his promises, including providing clean drinking water. He also alleged corruption related to an alcohol distribution scam and highlighted a lack of representation from Dalit and minority communities in Kejriwal's team.

The Supreme Court of India referred a plea regarding safety measures for pilgrims to the Allahabad High Court following a deadly stampede at Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, where at least 30 died and 60 were injured. Chief justice Sanjiv Khanna noted a judicial inquiry is already underway.

Varun Vummadi, CEO of Giga ML, sparked debate by stating many Indian engineers are unwilling to work hard despite high salaries. His observations highlight the tension between rigorous work culture and the modern emphasis on work-life balance. The discussion reflects broader industry challenges in aligning productivity expectations with employee well-being.

In a tragic accident in Gujarat's Dang, a bus carrying pilgrims from Madhya Pradesh fell into a gorge, resulting in the death of five people and injuring 35 others. The incident occurred early in the morning when the driver lost control. MP CM Mohan Yadav has announced financial assistance for the victims' families.

Two Indian students in their 20s died, and two others were hospitalized with serious injuries after their car struck a tree in County Carlow, Ireland. The accident occurred early Friday. The Indian Embassy in Dublin is providing support to the victims’ families.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed confidence in BJP's success in upcoming Delhi polls, praising the newly presented Union Budget as the most pro-middle class in history. He criticized AAP for damaging Delhi over the past 11 years and assured no disruption of welfare schemes if BJP wins. Modi also highlighted support for government employees and Poorvanchali workers.

Parliament is set for a contentious session on Monday with the tabling of the Joint Parliamentary Committee report on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Lok Sabha. Clashes between BJP and opposition members have already marked the committee's deliberations, with further heated debates expected.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman discussed the Budget’s impact on the economy, emphasizing tax relief for honest taxpayers. She highlighted schemes for agriculture, start-ups, and infrastructure to boost growth. Concerns over inflation, privatization, and fiscal consolidation were addressed, with assurances of sustained public sector expenditure and efforts to widen the tax base.