Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has urged PM Narendra Modi to cancel offshore mining tenders off the coasts of Kerala, Gujarat, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, citing threats to marine life and fisherfolk livelihoods. He pointed out the lack of rigorous environmental assessments and noted strong protests from coastal communities against the mining licenses.
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The UGC's draft guidelines on faculty recruitment and promotions have sparked political conflict between states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala, who claim increased control for governors in Vice Chancellor appointments undermines state power in higher education. The Centre counters this by stating the process remains unchanged from prior regulations.
Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi defended Bihar CM Nitish Kumar against opposition criticism for allegedly disrespecting the national anthem, emphasizing Kumar’s good governance over 20 years. Manjhi dismissed recent doubts on Kumar's health and attacked RJD for their derogatory comments. Former differences between Kumar and Manjhi have since been resolved ahead of assembly polls under the NDA alliance.
The Centre has ordered IIM Rohtak's board to suspend or place director Dheeraj Sharma on long leave amid a financial misappropriation inquiry. Sharma has been forbidden from accessing the campus. An interim head will be appointed. The probe will examine inflated financial records and improper practices, involving over Rs 1 crore in variable pay and verify staff credentials.
A joint security review meeting was convened in Kashmir on Friday to improve coordination between Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF. Focus was on enhancing counter-insurgency operations, intelligence sharing, and responding to emerging security challenges.
Former Union finance minister P Chidambaram criticized the Union Budget presented by Nirmala Sitharaman, claiming it targets the middle class and Bihar voters ahead of upcoming state elections. He argued the government lacks new ideas and is unwilling to deregulate or empower entrepreneurs, predicting only 6-6.5% growth.
Italian PM Giorgia Meloni criticized the global political Left for double standards and praised conservative leaders like PM Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump. She highlighted the importance of global conservative collaboration and stressed the significance of security and leadership in maintaining freedom. Meloni called for lasting peace through strong security measures, citing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
India is set to finalize four major defense deals worth over Rs 1.5 lakh crore, including contracts with France for 26 Rafale-Marine fighters and three Scorpene submarines. The deals also cover 156 Prachand light combat helicopters and 307 advanced towed artillery gun systems, significantly enhancing India's military capabilities.
Union home and cooperation minister Amit Shah announced the launch of 10,000 new Multipurpose Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (M-PACS) aimed at bolstering agricultural infrastructure and efficiency. The government's vision includes forming 2 lakh such societies within five years, providing essential resources and financial inclusion for farmers, while modernizing PACs to generate employment for women and youth.
A CISF woman Head Constable posted at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport died by suicide with her service pistol in a washroom at Terminal 3. Delhi Police found no suicide note and are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death. Forensic evidence was collected and the body sent for a postmortem examination.
A total of 1,040 nominations have been accepted for the 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly elections, with 477 rejected. Arvind Kejriwal, Parvesh Verma, and Sandeep Dikshit are prominent candidates. Allegations have been exchanged among AAP, BJP, and Congress, reflecting the intensified battle as the polls approach on February 5.