India

The national election is Dhaka’s pivotal moment — a bid to turn a youth uprising into institutional power and to set the country’s course after Sheikh Hasina’s dramatic fall

The Defence Ministry has cleared the long-pending proposal to procure 114 Rafale fighter jets under a government-to-government deal with France, as the DAC approved defence capital acquisitions worth Rs 3.60 lakh crore to boost the combat readiness of the armed forces

The Supreme Court criticised real estate regulatory authorities, saying they mainly aid defaulting builders and fail homebuyers. Allowing Himachal Pradesh to shift its RERA office, the court urged states to rethink the institution’s functioning

The Central Information Commission’s latest report shows that the Delhi High Court, Supreme Court and Home Ministry rejected the most RTI applications in 2024-25, with nearly half of denials citing Section 8(1) exemptions

Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind has criticised the Centre’s directive mandating the singing of all six stanzas of Vande Mataram at official functions, calling it arbitrary and an attack on religious freedom. It urged respect for constitutional rights

CPI-M MP A A Rahim raised concern in the Rajya Sabha over stressful working conditions in public sector banks, claiming around 500 employees died by suicide in the last decade. He cited staff shortages, heavy pressure and unrealistic targets

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has submitted a notice for a substantive motion against Rahul Gandhi, alleging links with foreign organisations. He demanded cancellation of Gandhi’s Lok Sabha membership and a lifetime ban on contesting elections

Former Doordarshan news reader Sarla Maheshwari, a leading face of television news in the 1980s and 1990s, died in Delhi at the age of 71. Colleagues and Doordarshan paid tribute to her contribution to Indian broadcasting

The Department of Official Language will organise the Akhil Bharatiya Rajbhasha Sammelan in Agartala on February 20. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will attend the event, which will see participation from Central offices, PSUs, banks and other organisations

A professor at King George’s Medical University in Lucknow has been suspended after an MD student accused him of sexual harassment. The matter has been referred to the Internal Complaints Committee for inquiry. Further action will follow its findings

The Enforcement Directorate has told the Delhi High Court that it will challenge the acquittal of AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal in summons-related cases linked to the excise policy probe. The court dismissed his petition after he withdrew it

Rolls-Royce has announced plans to significantly expand its operations in India, including co-developing a next-generation combat jet engine. The company aims to double its workforce, strengthen local sourcing and support India’s Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat goals

The YSR Congress Party has accused Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu of doublespeak on the pricing and quality of ghee used for Tirupati laddu. Party leader Bhumana Karunakar Reddy questioned past and present rates supplied by Heritage Foods units

A woman allegedly bit and chewed a farmer’s finger after he refused to give her cow’s milk in a village in Madhya Pradesh’s Raisen district. The injured man was medically examined, and police have registered a case against the woman

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has denied Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju’s claim that she encouraged MPs to misbehave in the Speaker’s chamber. Calling the allegation a lie, she said no one was abused and she remained calm during the incident

The Tamil Nadu BJP has accused the ruling DMK of collecting nearly Rs 2,000 crore to influence voters ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. The party has urged the Election Commission to act and order investigations into alleged cash distribution and electoral malpractice

Congress MLA Iqbal Hussain has claimed that 80 to 90 legislators support Deputy CM D K Shivakumar for the Chief Minister’s post amid the leadership tussle in Karnataka. The party leadership is also reviewing a foreign tour by some MLAs

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has alleged that 20 to 25 Congress MPs abused Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and threatened Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said the ruling alliance showed restraint to prevent chaos in Parliament

The gramsabha of Saundala village in Maharashtra’s Ahilyanagar district has passed a resolution declaring the village caste-free. The move aims to eliminate discrimination and promote equality, inspired by social reformers and backed by strict monitoring measures

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Seva Teerth and Kartavya Bhawan 1 and 2 on February 13. The new complexes aim to improve administrative efficiency, coordination and sustainability by providing modern, integrated facilities for key government offices

The Kerala High Court has taken note of serious financial irregularities linked to the Global Ayyappa Meet and suspicious money transfers by temporary staff at Sabarimala. It has ordered a detailed probe and sought a report within three weeks

India face Namibia in their second Group A T20 World Cup game, with Abhishek Sharma recovering from illness and Sanju Samson set for a chance. The defending champions aim for a dominant win before the high-pressure Pakistan clash on Sunday

India batter Tilak Varma said the team is excited for the high-pressure T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan in Colombo on February 15. Pakistan reversed its boycott decision, and India are preparing with video analysis and tactical planning

Indian opener Abhishek Sharma has been discharged after a stomach infection but remains doubtful for the T20 World Cup clash against Namibia. Tilak Varma said his participation will be decided before the game, with India prioritising the Pakistan match on February 15