India

India U17 women’s team lost 0-2 to Bangladesh in the SAFF U19 Women’s Championship at Pokhara, Nepal. Goals from Arpita Biswas and Alpi Akter sealed the win. India remain second in the table and next face Bhutan on February 4

Sunil Gavaskar and Harbhajan Singh have urged the ICC to take legal action against Pakistan for boycotting its T20 World Cup match against India. Gavaskar predicted a possible U-turn, while Harbhajan said the decision could impact the entire tournament

England defeated India by five wickets in the third Mixed Disability T20I at Greater Noida, taking a 2–1 lead in the five-match series. Majid’s unbeaten 76 anchored India’s innings, but Angus Brown’s 61 guided England to victory

Teenager Anahat Singh claimed her maiden PSA Bronze-level title at the Squash on Fire Open in Washington, defeating World No 10 Georgina Kennedy in straight games. The 17-year-old Indian star has now won 15 PSA Tour titles, underscoring her rising stature

M Hemanth Reddy (137) and SDNV Prasad (101) struck centuries for Andhra in the Col C K Nayudu Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh at Indore. Andhra fell just eight runs short in their chase of 327, ending in a draw

PV Sindhu has withdrawn from the 2026 Badminton Asia Team Championships citing a minor medical concern. With the deadline for squad changes already over, the Indian team will compete without a replacement, marking a setback ahead of the prestigious tournament

Akash Bhandari smashed 149 off 68 balls to guide Hyderabad to a 64-run victory over Guwahati in the All India SBI inter-circle cricket tournament at Gurugram. Hyderabad posted 222/3 before restricting Guwahati to 158/6 in 20 overs

Mumbai defeated Hyderabad by eight wickets in the Col C K Nayudu Trophy cricket championship at Mumbai. Hyderabad posted 334 and 166, while Mumbai replied with 330 and 173/2, powered by Ayush Jethwa’s unbeaten 73 and Manan Bhatt’s 42 not out

The Supreme Court’s directive for time-bound, out-of-turn trials for acid attack cases is welcome, but implementation remains the real challenge

Modest allocations and limited structural reforms raise concerns over income volatility, climate stress, and long-term agricultural resilience

Chhattisgarh pulled off a dramatic draw against Hyderabad in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group D at Gymkhana Ground, Secunderabad. Amandeep Khare and Dev Aditya’s ninth-wicket stand showcased grit and skill, with Mohd Siraj leading Hyderabad’s spirited bowling attack

US President Donald Trump announced a cut in tariffs on Indian goods to 18% after Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to curb Russian oil purchases. The move links trade relief to geopolitical pressure over the Ukraine war

NFIR General Secretary M Raghavaiah called the union budget disappointing for the working class and railway workforce, criticising the government for failing to create posts for maintenance and safety in Indian Railways. He accused the Centre of showing a casual attitude

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said the Budget proposal to allow SEZ units to sell goods in the domestic market at concessional duty will promote import substitution and job creation. Details will be rolled out in two to three months

Foreign Portfolio Investors withdrew nearly Rs 36,000 crore from Indian equities in January amid global uncertainties and weak sentiment. Analysts said the proposed STT hike, strong dollar, and geopolitical tensions may further affect overseas inflows in the near term

The Finance Ministry is considering raising foreign direct investment in public sector banks to 49 per cent to strengthen their capital base. Financial Services Secretary M Nagaraju said consultations are under way, while also highlighting plans for IDBI Bank sale and the need for big lenders

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the FY27 Union Budget prioritises investment and growth, defended the STT hike on F&O trades, outlined fiscal consolidation plans, and expressed confidence in sustaining private consumption and disinvestment efforts in the coming months

Nine fishermen from Andhra Pradesh returned to Visakhapatnam after being released from a Bangladesh jail where they were detained for crossing maritime boundaries. Their return followed a reciprocal exchange of fishermen and boats between India and Bangladesh

The Congress alleged that the Modi government heckled Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha to stop him from speaking on the India-China conflict of 2020. A row erupted after he tried to quote from former Army chief Manoj Naravane’s unpublished memoir

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government plans to introduce the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Amendment Bill, 2025 in the second half of the Budget session from March 9, after the parliamentary committee submitted its report

Industry players said microwave oven prices may see only a minor impact after customs duty exemption in the FY27 budget. The move is expected to boost domestic manufacturing, improve component sourcing and strengthen India’s consumer electronics sector

Andhra Pradesh Police booked a case against former minister Jogi Ramesh over alleged remarks against Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. Separate cases were filed after attacks on YSRCP leaders’ houses, triggering political tension and demands for President’s Rule

The BJP defended the Union Budget 2026-27 and rejected Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s criticism, saying the budget reflects fiscal discipline, growth and national security priorities. Party spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo said India remains strong despite global slowdown

The National Investigation Agency conducted raids across several locations in the Kashmir Valley as part of its probe into terror-related activities and funding networks. Searches were carried out with police and CRPF support. Further details are awaited