Speaking during the presentation, Sitharaman said the government is choosing the path of reforms over rhetoric and reaffirmed its commitment to steps aimed at making India a Viksit Bharat
01 February,2026 12:03 PM ISTThe move aims to strengthen urban financing and promote greater investment in local infrastructure. In her ninth consecutive Union Budget, Sitharaman also announced the restructuring of public sector financial institutions
01 February,2026 12:02 PM IST | mid-day online correspondentIsrael will partially reopen Gaza’s Rafah crossing with Egypt on Sunday on a trial basis, allowing limited movement of people after months of closure. The crossing will operate under Israeli security clearance and EU supervision, with Egypt coordinating movement.
01 February,2026 11:58 AM IST | AFPGold and silver prices plunged on Sunday amid profit booking, higher margin requirements, a stronger dollar, and expectations of a customs duty cut in Budget 2026, with short-term trends turning bearish though gold’s long-term outlook remains bullish
01 February,2026 11:54 AM IST | IANSPresenting the Budget in Parliament, Sitharaman said the initiative is aimed at creating a robust ecosystem for biopharma and biosimilars, strengthening domestic capabilities and boosting India’s global competitiveness in high-value pharmaceutical manufacturing
01 February,2026 11:50 AM IST | mid-day online correspondentKarnataka Lokayukta officials arrested two police officers in separate bribery cases, catching a Tumakuru PSI and a Bengaluru inspector red-handed while accepting bribes. Both have been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act
01 February,2026 11:45 AM IST | IANSRising to deliver her Budget speech, Sitharaman—who is presenting her ninth consecutive Union Budget—said the government has consistently prioritised action over indecision and reforms over rhetoric
01 February,2026 11:35 AM IST | mid-day online correspondentShe noted that India is navigating a challenging global environment where trade and multilateralism are under strain, access to resources and supply chains is disrupted, and rapid technological change is reshaping production systems while increasing pressure on water, energy and critical minerals
01 February,2026 11:35 AM IST | mid-day online correspondentIn her first Budget in 2019, Sitharaman replaced the decades-old leather briefcase with a traditional red ‘bahi-khata’, symbolising a shift in presentation style. Continuing the practice of recent years, the Union Budget 2026–27 will be paperless, marking the fifth consecutive digital Budget
01 February,2026 11:28 AM ISTPrime Minister Narendra Modi and senior ministers arrived in Parliament ahead of the Union Budget 2026–27 presentation. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the budget in Parliament after meeting President Droupadi Murmu. The Budget follows the Economic Survey 2025–26 and focuses on growth, reforms, and Viksit Bharat.
01 February,2026 11:28 AM IST | ANIConstruction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya will be completed by April 30, with the project cost estimated at Rs 1,900 crore, Ram Temple Construction Committee chairman Nripendra Mishra said. Contractors L&T and Tata Consultancy will exit after completion, with maintenance teams staying on-site under a three year warranty
01 February,2026 11:14 AM IST | PTIThe move continues the paperless Budget practice introduced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government. In 2019, Sitharaman had replaced the traditional leather briefcase—an inheritance from the British era—with the indigenous bahi-khata
01 February,2026 11:10 AM IST | mid-day online correspondentFollowing the Cabinet’s nod, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to table the Budget in the Lok Sabha, marking her ninth consecutive Budget presentation—a record in itself
01 February,2026 11:00 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentAccording to the IMD, the rainfall marks the onset of an active weather phase, with thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds and hail expected to impact several parts of north and central India over the course of the day
01 February,2026 10:43 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentUnion Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday tabled the Economic Survey of India for FY 2025-26 in Parliament, setting the stage for the Union Budget to be presented on February 1. The Survey, prepared by the Department of Economic Affairs under the Chief Economic Adviser, offers a comprehensive review of the economy’s performance
01 February,2026 10:32 AM IST | New Delhi [India] | ANIAhead of the crucial address, Sitharaman was seen carrying her now-familiar ‘digital bahi-khata’—a tablet wrapped in a red cloth embossed with the national emblem—continuing a tradition she has followed since moving away from the colonial-era briefcase
01 February,2026 10:31 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentPolice seized 520 kg of ganja and arrested nine people from Odisha and Maharashtra, uncovering a well-planned supply chain that used multiple routes and local contacts to move drugs across state lines
01 February,2026 10:27 AM IST | | Ranjeet JadhavWith the presentation of the Union Budget for 2026, Sitharaman becomes the first finance minister in independent India to deliver nine budgets in an unbroken sequence
01 February,2026 10:26 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentOil marketing companies have increased the price of 19 kg commercial LPG cylinders by Rs 49, effective February 1, impacting hotels, restaurants and other commercial users. In Delhi, the revised price stands at Rs 1,740.50. However, prices of 14.2 kg domestic LPG cylinders remain unchanged, continuing relief for household consumers
01 February,2026 10:10 AM IST | New Delhi [India] | ANIAn official release said more than 21 per cent of the country’s total wetland area is in Gujarat, the highest among all states. Gujarat’s wetlands are spread over approximately 3.5 million hectares, accounting for 17.8 per cent of the state’s total geographical area, it added
01 February,2026 08:29 AM IST | Kutch | AgenciesThe accused, identified as Jala Sai Ram Reddy, a resident of Telangana’s Karimnagar district, was apprehended by the SR Nagar police following a complaint registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal
01 February,2026 08:27 AM IST | Hyderabad | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
The U.S. Justice Department has released millions of pages of documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein, marking the largest public disclosure tied to the case to date. The newly unsealed files reference numerous high-profile figures and include claims recorded in complaints, emails, and internal summaries. Officials emphasise that many of the statements contained in the documents are unverified, uncorroborated, and do not constitute evidence or findings of wrongdoing.
O’Hara died at her home in Los Angeles “following a brief illness,” according to a statement from her agency, Creative Artists Agency. Further details were not immediately available
01 February,2026 08:22 AM IST | Los Angeles | AgenciesEpstein claimed in July 2013 that Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates asked one of his advisers to provide him with medicine to treat sexually transmitted diseases, the consequences of “sex with Russian girls”
Martyn Walker stole more than Rs 35,00,000 from his mother with dementia to pay for his Lego obsession; the Norwich Crown Court was informed that Walker had tried to help with managing his mother’s finances after she was placed in a care facility in 2022.
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Amit Shah made the remarks via video link while inaugurating the Shri Motibhai R Chaudhary Sagar Sainik School and Sagar Organic Plant at Boriyavi village in Mehsana district, Gujarat
13 November,2025 09:36 PM IST | Ahmedabad | mid-day online correspondentMove to ease traffic congestion near Pune University, along Ganeshkhind Road
Janmashtami, which commemorates the birth of Lord Krishna, on the occasion, here are some of the best messages and wishes you can share this Janmashtami with your family and friends-
“Uhm, Lobo Lobo, any reason why you’re dressed with this coloured headgear?”
01 February,2026 06:44 AM IST | Mumbai | Rahul da CunhaADVERTISEMENT
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-1769859114270_d.png "57 terrorists killed in Balochistan after coordinated attacks across 12 location")
-1769846912613_d.png "Huge cache of Epstein documents reveals emails with wealthy and powerful figures")
