The Supreme Court reserved its verdict on a petition by the West Bengal government against the Calcutta high court's order annulling the recruitment of over 25,000 teachers and non-teaching staff due to alleged irregularities. Discussions focused on whether the tainted candidates can be segregated from the untainted ones.
In one of the bloodiest encounters to date, security forces killed 31 Maoists in the Indravati national park, Chhattisgarh. The park, a previous safe haven for the Maoists, had provided a base for their operations and rehabilitation. This marked a significant loss for Maoists after the fall of Abujmarh.
Opposition and treasury benches clashed over the Union Budget in parliament. Congress' P Chidambaram criticized the Budget for lacking philosophy and failing to cut fuel prices or raise wages, while BJP called it a «booster shot.» Rising government debt and minimal benefits from tax rebates were also points of concern.
Congress MP Sonia Gandhi highlighted the delay in conducting the census by over four years, depriving 14 crore people of benefits under the National Food Security Act. She urged the government to prioritize the completion of the census to ensure deserving individuals receive their entitled food security benefits.
State public universities in India, enrolling 81% of higher education students, face significant faculty shortages and outdated infrastructure, impacting academic excellence and research. A Niti Aayog report recommends increasing public investment to 6% of GDP, implementing performance-based funding, and granting greater autonomy to improve governance and research capacity.
India has strongly supported the Chabahar port project in Iran amid the Trump administration's threats to revoke sanctions waivers. The port is seen as crucial for regional connectivity, providing a trade route to Afghanistan and Central Asia, and has facilitated humanitarian efforts during the Covid pandemic.
About 220km from Kolkata, Ed Sheeran enjoyed a smooth scooter and boat ride in Murshidabad's Jiaganj with his friend Arijit Singh. They toured the area and spent five hours together. Despite limited security, their visit went off without a hitch. Sheeran is set to perform in Shillong on Feb 12, while Singh regularly stays in Jiaganj with his family.
Rajya Sabha saw a confrontation between Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar and opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge when a starred question about non-payment of dues by builders in Noida was withdrawn. BJP MP Laxmikant Bajpayee had asked for details about developers who owed dues and the measures taken against them.
CISF and NVVN have signed a Power Purchase Agreement to install 3281 KW of rooftop solar power plants across 16 campuses in 11 states by Oct 31. This addition will increase the total solar power capacity of CISF campuses to 5271 KW, enhancing sustainability goals and contributing to India's energy security and greener future. NVVN will handle installation and maintenance.
The Delhi government has declared February 12, 2025, as a public holiday in observance of Guru Ravidas Jayanti, per an official notification. This announcement from the General Administration Department nullifies the previously declared restricted holiday for the same occasion. Government offices, autonomous bodies, and public undertakings in Delhi will remain closed on this day.
The Invest Karnataka 2025 summit in Bengaluru has caused dissatisfaction within the Congress party due to the guest list hierarchy giving prominence to Union ministers and BJP leaders. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi are likely to skip the event scheduled from 12 to 14 February.
Haryana BJP issued a show cause notice to minister Anil Vij for his critical public statements against the party leadership and CM Nayab Singh Saini. Vij accused Saini's aide of supporting a rival candidate in the previous assembly election and demanded the resignation of the party chief, Mohan Lal Badoli, due to a gang rape case against him.
BJP leader Anurag Thakur criticized Congress' electoral failures in Delhi, highlighting their zero-seat records under Rahul Gandhi. Thakur pointed to BJP's recent victory in Delhi Assembly elections, where Congress failed to win any seats for the third consecutive time. He also noted Congress leaders' absence from the ongoing Maha Kumbh festival.
The Nationalist Congress Party criticized Ranveer Allahbadia for his inappropriate remark on India's Got Latent but warned against disproportionate outrage leading to stricter government control over digital creators. Allahbadia apologized, and a formal complaint was lodged, calling for increased accountability while avoiding misuse for censorship.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a plea from a physically disabled MBBS student in Bihar who was declared ineligible to continue his course despite having valid disability certificates. The student, with 58 per cent locomotor disability, seeks a fresh assessment. The court issued notices to the college and NMC, barring any action against his admission. He also demands compensation for repeated medical evaluations.
A Delhi court granted bail to RAU's IAS Study Circle's former CEO Abhishek Gupta and coordinator Deshpal Singh in a case related to the drowning of three aspirants at the coaching center’s basement in July 2024. They were released on a Rs 1 lakh bond with sureties. The CBI had charged them with criminal negligence and dereliction of duty after the fatal flooding incident.
On the auspicious occasion of Mahakumbh 2025, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami performed a holy bath at the Triveni Sangam with his family. He prayed for the state's prosperity and progress, emphasizing the festival's role in fostering national unity, integrity, and world brotherhood.
The BJP broke its 27-year jinx in Delhi by winning 48 out of 70 assembly seats, defeating AAP. Confident after this victory, the BJP is now targeting West Bengal in the 2026 assembly elections. BJP leaders believe their success in Delhi will boost morale for defeating Mamata Banerjee's TMC in Bengal.
The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to file its response on plea the challenging the constitutional validity of Sections 8 and 9 of the Representation of the People Act (RP Act), 1951, which govern MP/MLA's disqualification due to convictions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for a four-day visit to France and the US to advance key partnerships. In France, he will co-chair the AI action summit, review the India-France 2047 horizon roadmap with President Macron, and inaugurate India’s first consulate in Marseille. He will then meet US President Donald Trump to enhance bilateral cooperation in trade, technology, energy, and defense.
Senior Congress leaders express concerns after a poor performance in Delhi assembly elections. Calls for introspection and reforms grow as leaders emphasize the need for organizational changes and coalition politics to challenge BJP's dominance. The party failed to win any seats, marking its third consecutive zero tally.
Delhi high court has granted a 2-day parole to MP Engineer Rashid to attend the Budget session on February 11 and 13. Rashid, elected from Baramulla in 2024, is currently held in Tihar Jail since his 2019 arrest by NIA in a terror-funding case that involves connections to Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen leaders.
Akhilesh Yadav criticized the Uttar Pradesh government for severe traffic congestion in Prayagraj during the Maha Kumbh Mela, causing shortages of essential goods and hardship for devotees. He called the administration a failure and highlighted the lack of visible efforts by officials to manage the situation.
Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL) has delivered the 300th AH-64 Apache attack helicopter fuselage from its Hyderabad facility. These fuselages, supplied globally, are partly manufactured by over 100 Indian micro, small, and medium enterprises. TBAL employs over 900 professionals and uses advanced technology, reflecting its commitment to enhancing India's defense capabilities and manufacturing prowess.
Biovet, part of Bharat Biotech, has received approval from the CDSCO for its innovative lumpy skin disease vaccine, BIOLUMPIVAXIN, for dairy cattle and buffaloes. The vaccine, developed using a strain from ICAR-NRCE, can produce 500 million doses annually and will be crucial for India's dairy sustainability and disease eradication efforts.
Sonia Gandhi urges the government to expedite the population census, highlighting that 14 crore people are deprived of food security benefits as NFSA quotas are based on the outdated 2011 Census. NFSA is crucial for food and nutritional security, especially during crises like Covid-19.
India is actively contributing to global AI policy shaping with AI4India and CPRG hosting a panel at the AI Action Summit Paris 2025. The discussion will focus on data sovereignty, AI's economic impact, and workforce transformation in emerging economies, featuring top experts and policymakers from India and worldwide.
Ed Sheeran's surprise street performance in Bengaluru was quickly halted by police due to crowd issues. The singer said he had received prior permission for the performance. Sheeran assured fans he would continue performing in the city. He is currently on his India tour and will perform next in Shillong and Delhi NCR.
On the 32nd birthday of the late RG Kar doctor, her family and supporters held rallies and set up Abhaya clinics to honor her memory. Patients received saplings symbolizing her spirit. Despite the main accused being sentenced to life, there are calls for capital punishment. Junior doctors and local residents marched, reaffirming their commitment to seeking justice.
