India ranks as the third most polluted country with an AQI of 111. Northern Indian cities, especially in the NCR, face extreme air pollution, with Delhi's AQI soaring to hazardous levels. Major contributing factors include vehicle emissions, stubble burning, and industrial pollutants.
Between 2018-19 and 2021-22, the number of buses operated by state road transport undertakings (SRTUs) declined from 1.52 lakh to 1.47 lakh, while revenue losses surged by 68 per cent to ₹30,192 crore. The main causes were reduced passenger revenue during Covid-19, high fuel prices, stagnant fares, and free rides for women in some states. Fleet utilization and productivity also dropped significantly. Efforts to introduce electric buses face infrastructure challenges but are progressing.
Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta and her ministers started their tenure by focusing on 'Maa Yamuna', attending a grand Yamuna arti. The chief minister attended a grand «Yamuna Aarti» on Vasudev ghat before chairing her first cabinet meeting .
Manipur governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla has given residents a seven-day ultimatum to surrender illegally held weapons. Citing prolonged violence and the imposition of President's Rule, Bhalla urged the return of arms to restore peace and normalcy in the state. The ultimatum comes amid ongoing security operations and arrests of militants.
The BJP has a tendency to appoint first-time MLAs to chief ministerial positions in key states they win. Notable examples include Manohar Lal Khattar in Haryana, Bhajan Lal Sharma in Rajasthan, and Rekha Gupta in Delhi. These leaders have often risen through the ranks of the RSS and BJP, showcasing grassroots engagement and strategic capabilities.
In Jharkhand’s Ramgarh district, a man locked his ill mother at home while he traveled with family for a religious pilgrimage, leaving her to survive on minimal food. Neighbors and police rescued the woman, who was later hospitalized. This incident raises concerns about his treatment of his mother as he is a CCL employee.
Rekha Gupta, a first-time MLA, was sworn in as Delhi's chief minister at Ramlila Maidan in the presence of PM Narendra Modi and other leaders. With BJP's victory, she ended AAP's 10-year rule. Gupta is the fourth woman CM of Delhi, following Sushma Swaraj, Sheila Dikshit, and Atishi. She expressed commitment to the development of Delhi, pledging honesty and dedication.
Rekha Gupta, BJP MLA from Shalimar Bagh, was sworn in as Delhi's chief minister. She took the oath with six BJP MLAs at Ramlila Maidan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other key leaders attended the ceremony. The six appointed cabinet ministers include Parvesh Verma, Ashish Sood, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Ravinder Indraj Singh, Kapil Mishra, and Pankaj Kumar Singh.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting advised stricter age-based content classification and adherence to IT Rules 2021 after an episode of 'India's Got Latent' on YouTube featured inappropriate comments. Complaints have been received regarding obscene content on OTT platforms and social media, leading to YouTube removing the episode.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that the state Budget 2025-26 aligns with India's Sanatan culture, focusing on youth, women, and farmers' upliftment. This budget commemorates the Indian Constitution's 75-year journey and establishes the Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial and Cultural Center in Lucknow for promoting social justice and empowerment.
The BJP has intensified its attack on Congress after Donald Trump claimed that India's 2024 elections were influenced by external forces. PM Modi's previous warnings about foreign interference and the need to avoid a weak government were highlighted. Trump also criticized the U.S. allocation of $21 million for voter turnout efforts in India, questioning its purpose and potential implications.
BJP announced Rekha Gupta as Delhi’s new chief minister, succeeding Arvind Kejriwal. Gupta, a first-time MLA, leads a six-member cabinet, marking BJP’s return to power in Delhi after 26 years. The cabinet includes former AAP leader Kapil Mishra. Gupta, also a municipal councillor, becomes the fourth woman to hold the position in the capital.
Space startup GalaxEye successfully tested its SyncFusion Imaging System in the extreme environment of the South Atlantic Anomaly. The system merges Synthetic Aperture Radar and optical imagery, enabling real-time, actionable insights for various applications such as defence, agriculture, and disaster management.
India aims to achieve its planned crewed mission to the Moon by 2040 using multiple launches and docking technology, rather than a single large rocket. Isro's recent success with the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) will provide valuable insights for future missions, including a space station project and future lunar landings.
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has shifted responsibility for enforcing stipend payments to MBBS interns and post-graduate medical students to state authorities, despite having extensive penal powers. This follows a Supreme Court mandate for medical colleges to pay stipends and recent advisories and show cause notices from the NMC. Many colleges are failing to comply.
The Supreme Court has determined that the Foreigners Tribunal in Assam cannot review its own decision after declaring an individual is not an illegal Bangladeshi immigrant. The court invalidated the tribunal's attempt to reevaluate the case and upheld its initial judgment from February 2018.
India and Malaysia enhance cooperation in maritime security, defence production, and multilateral engagements, focusing on cybersecurity and AI. They will form a Sukhoi-30 forum for exchanging maintenance practices and deepen defence collaboration, especially in maritime security and tackling non-traditional threats.
A Delhi court granted default bail to three men accused of being part of an AQIS terror module, as investigators failed to file a chargesheet within the 180-day period. The court noted that further investigation could continue, but Umar Farooq, Hasan Ansari, and Arshad Khan were entitled to statutory bail. They had been in custody since August 2022.
The Allahabad high court criticized Meerut's district magistrate and the UP government for mishandling a compensation case involving an acid attack survivor awaiting additional funds for 11 years. The court demanded timely action and instructed the UP government to ensure prompt compensation in such cases, ordering compliance within a week for the current case.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar will participate in the G20 meeting in Johannesburg on Feb 20-21, meeting with leaders from China and Russia. The event highlights South Africa's presidency, which focuses on diversity and inclusion, despite US boycott. Jaishankar aims to bolster India's engagement and support for the Global South.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticized UP CM Yogi Adityanath for mentioning cricketer Mohammed Shami's alleged holy dip at Maha Kumbh. Yadav's jab was a response to Adityanath's ongoing initiative of renaming old Mughal and British era names of locations since taking office in 2017.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy refutes Trump's claim about his approval rating and Russian-sourced disinformation, amidst ongoing conflict. Zelenskyy addresses concerns regarding suspended elections and upcoming talks with U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg while emphasizing the need for security assurances in any future peace agreements.