The Lok Sabha was adjourned on Thursday afternoon and will again meet on February 1 at 11:00 am. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tabled the Economic Survey of India in Parliament for the financial year 2025-26, setting the stage for the Union Budget, which will be presented on Sunday, February 1. This year, the Budget presentation falls on a weekend. FM Sitharaman is set to present a record ninth consecutive Union Budget on February 1, marking a significant milestone in India's parliamentary and economic history. The tabling of the Economic Survey ahead of the Budget follows the long-standing tradition of outlining the state of the economy before detailing future fiscal plans. The Economic Survey of India is regarded as the nation's official annual "report card" on the economy. It provides a comprehensive, data-backed review of the economy's performance over the previous year and offers a broad roadmap for future policy direction. As the government's flagship annual report, it reviews key economic developments over the past 12 months. The Survey plays a crucial role in the lead-up to the Union Budget. While the Budget focuses on future government spending, taxation, and policy measures, the Economic Survey explains why those decisions are necessary by analysing past economic performance and trends. The Economic Survey is prepared by the Economic Division of the Department of Economic Affairs under the leadership of the Chief Economic Adviser (CEA). It is presented in two parts, each focusing on different aspects of the economy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the media from the parliament ahead of the Budget Session 2026 and praised the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA), describing it as "Free Trade for Ambitious India, for Aspirational Youth, and for Aatmanirbhar India." He expressed confidence that Indian manufacturers would utilise the agreement to strengthen their capabilities, calling the FTA a major step toward building a confident, competitive, and productive India. "This Free Trade for Ambitious India, Free Trade for Aspirational Youth, Free Trade for Aatmanirbhar India. I am confident that, especially the manufacturers of India, will use this opportunity to enhance their capabilities. I am very confident that in a way this is a major step in the direction of confident, competitive and productive India," said the Prime Minister. PM Modi said India's democracy and demography have become a source of hope for the world and stressed the importance of sending a strong message to the global community through Parliament, which he described as the "temple of democracy." The Budget session will span 30 sittings over 65 days, concluding on April 2. The two Houses will adjourn for a recess on February 13 and reconvene on March 9 to enable the Standing Committees to examine the Demands for Grants of various ministries and departments. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
29 January,2026 01:22 PM IST | New Delhi [India] | ANIThe Economic Survey for 2025-26, tabled in Parliament on Thursday, has raised India’s potential growth rate to 7.0 per cent, up from 6.5 per cent three years ago, as “sustained domestic reforms and public investment are lifting the economy’s underlying growth capacity” despite the global headwinds. “The expansion of infrastructure -- illustrated by the doubling of the airport network over the past decade and the rapid growth of freight movement through inland waterways -- is easing logistics constraints and raising economy-wide efficiency,” the economic survey notes. At the same time, while headline inflation continues to reflect volatility in food prices, the subdued trajectory of core inflation (excluding gold and silver) indicates a strengthening of supply-side conditions across the economy, consistent with rising productive capacity and improved logistics. In parallel, sustained state-level deregulation efforts are enabling small and medium enterprises to expand and integrate more effectively into formal value chains, elevating the economy’s medium-term growth potential, the survey observes. The survey also observes that a predictable and credible fiscal trajectory by the Centre over the past years has anchored overall macroeconomic stability by balancing growth imperatives with fiscal sustainability. The Central government’s fiscal consolidation experience underscores the value of clearly defined fiscal targets alongside retained flexibility, thereby allowing fiscal policy to support rather than constrain growth during periods of uncertainty. In this context, the Union Budget for FY22 articulated a medium-term glide path, targeting a fiscal deficit below 4.5 per cent of GDP by FY26, instead of binding annual targets, to ensure that growth-enhancing expenditure, particularly capex, was not compromised, the survey points out. The global environment is being reshaped by geopolitical realignments that will influence investment, supply chains and growth prospects for years to come. Against today’s global churn, India must choose to build resilience, innovate relentlessly, and stay the course towards Viksit Bharat, rather than seek quick fixes to visible, short-term pressures, Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran has noted in his comment. “The good news is that, on balance, the evidence presented in this Survey shows that India will choose well,” he added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
29 January,2026 01:21 PM IST | New Delhi [India] | IANSSenior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on the hursday morning ahead of the Parliament convening for the second day of the Budget Session termed as "hypocrisy-laden" the customary address of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and called it a "performance." "He will not convene and chair all-party meetings to take the Opposition into confidence on national issues. He will suddenly have Bills introduced at the last minute and bulldozed through Parliament without the necessary legislative scrutiny. He will not sit in Parliament and respond to the concerns of Opposition Leaders, and will instead make election rally speeches in both Houses," Ramesh said in a post on social media platform X. The Congress leader further said that "Before the beginning of each session he will give his usual hypocrisy-laden 'desh ke naam sandesh' with Parliament as his backdrop. Today's performance is part of this series." The second day of the 2026 Budget Session today will see Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman table the Economic Survey in the Lok Sabha. The Survey offers an assessment of the economy and key indicators for 2025-26, along with an outlook for the next financial year. Prime Minister Modi in his address today said that the country had boarded the "Reform Express" and has emerged from long-pending problems while working towards long-term solutions. He said it is time to find solutions, not create hurdles, ahead of the Budget Session. He hailed the just concluded Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) and said it opened new markets for manufacturers to offer quality products across all 27 EU member States. This is free trade for an ambitious India, for aspirational youth, and for a self-reliant India. I am confident that Indian manufacturers, in particular, will use this opportunity to enhance their capabilities," Modi said, speaking outside Parliament House. PM Modi in his opening remarks hailed Wednesday's address of President Droupadi Murmu to Parliament as an "an expression of the trust of 140 crore Indians. "The President's Address yesterday was the expression of the trust of 140 crore Indians, an account of their capability and of the sketch of their aspirations, especially of the youth. For all MPs, the President also said several things to guide them. At the beginning of the session and 2026, the expectations expressed by the President. I am confident that all MPs took this seriously," PM Modi said. The Budget Session will span 30 sittings over 65 days, concluding on April 2, with a recess from February 13 to March 9 for scrutiny of Demands for Grants by Standing Committees. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
29 January,2026 01:11 PM IST | New Delhi | ANIReacting sharply to the upcoming Union Budget 2026, Karnataka Minister MC Sudhakar accused the Centre of misleading the public and burdening state governments, alleging that funds committed under key schemes like the Jal Jeevan Mission remain unpaid. Speaking to the media, Sudhakar alleged that the Centre repeatedly announces new programmes in the name of cooperative federalism but later unilaterally decides funding shares and fails to reimburse states, leaving their finances in a grim condition. "Today, people are expecting another union budget, which... again, they are fooling the people of this country... A huge amount under the Jal Jeevan Mission is due... I think this is the standard way of handling things under 'cooperative federalism,' where they keep announcing programs but then decide unilaterally how much the state governments have to pay, while the Union Government decides on the percentage it will cover... Finally, they end up not reimbursing the state governments after committing to the work. This is happening with various schemes... they're going to keep fooling, and they keep introducing a lot of new initiatives; they keep changing the names... I don't know where 'Bharat' is becoming 'Viksit'... The financial situation seems to be very grim," the Karnataka Minister said. Meanwhile, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to table the Economic Survey 2025-26 in the Lok Sabha today. The Economic Survey document, prepared by the Economic Division of the Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance and formulated under the supervision of the chief economic adviser, provides insights into the state of the economy and various indicators for 2025-26 (April-March), as well as an outlook for the next fiscal. The Budget Session commenced on Wednesday with President Droupadi Murmu's address to both the Houses of the Parliament. The Budget session will span 30 sittings over 65 days, concluding on April 2. The two Houses will adjourn for a recess on February 13 and reconvene on March 9 to enable the Standing Committees to examine the Demands for Grants of various ministries and departments. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
29 January,2026 12:23 PM IST | Bengaluru (Karnataka) | ANIPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that the Budget Session of Parliament marks an important step towards achieving the resolve of Viksit Bharat 2047 and the Centre is focused on 'Reform Express' and moving towards long-term solutions for pending issues. He also noted that beginning the session alongside progress on the India–European Union Free Trade Agreement reflects the spirit of an “ambitious, confident and Atmanirbhar Bharat”. Addressing mediapersons at the start of the Budget Session, the Prime Minister referred to the President’s address to Parliament and said, “The President's address yesterday reflected the confidence of 140 crore Indians and their aspirations. She also expressed her expectations from parliamentarians in very simple words, sharing her feelings as the head of the nation. I am confident that all MPs will take these seriously.” Highlighting that one-fourth of the 21st century has already passed, PM Modi said the country has now embarked on a crucial 25-year journey to realise the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. He said this period will define India’s future direction and its role in the global order. Speaking about Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the Prime Minister said, “She is the first Finance Minister of the country to present the Budget in Parliament for the ninth consecutive time. This itself is being recorded in India’s parliamentary history as a proud moment.” The Prime Minister said that during this quarter of the 21st century, India has emerged as a “beacon of hope” and also as a “centre of attraction” for the world. He added that global attention towards India reflects growing confidence in the country’s economic and democratic strength. “At the start of this quarter, the India–European Union Free Trade Agreement offers a glimpse of how bright the future is for India and its youth. This is free trade for ambitious Bharat, confident youth and Atmanirbhar Bharat,” he said. PM Modi further said that he is confident Indian manufacturers will seize the opportunity created by the agreement to expand and strengthen their presence globally. He stressed the need to focus on quality as markets open up further. “When the mother of all deals is signed between India and Europe, our industrialists and manufacturers should not just think that ‘our items will now be traded with less tax’. This is an opportunity to emphasise quality. Now that the market is open, we should enter it with the best quality. If we go with superior quality, we will win the hearts of the 27 member states of the EU. This will have a long-term impact,” he said. He added that the agreement with 27 countries would open up significant opportunities for India’s farmers, youth and professionals in the services sector who are keen to explore global markets. “I firmly believe this is a major step towards a confident, competitive and productive India,” he said. Referring to the broader functioning of the government, the Prime Minister said that while the nation’s attention is naturally focused on the Budget, the core ethos of the government remains “reform, performance and transformation”. “We have swiftly boarded the ‘Reform Express’. I thank all MPs for their constructive contributions in accelerating this ‘Reform Express’. As a result, the Reform Express is now gathering speed,” he said. PM Modi said the government is moving away from long-pending issues towards implementing long-term solutions, adding that such solutions bring predictability and strengthen international trust. He said every decision taken by the government is aimed at progress and development, while remaining human-centric. “We will adopt technology, absorb it and use its potential, but we will not compromise on a human-centric approach. While recognising the importance of constitutional values, we will move ahead with thoughtful integration of technology,” he said. He added that criticism and differing views are natural in a democracy, but said there is widespread recognition that the government has prioritised last-mile delivery. “It is not just about files moving, but about reaching lives. This tradition will continue as we take next-generation reforms forward through the Reform Express,” he said. Stressing the global relevance of India, PM Modi said India’s democracy and demography today offer great hope to the world. “In this temple of democracy, we have an opportunity to convey to the global community our capabilities, our commitment to democratic values and the credibility of decisions taken through democratic processes. The world recognises and welcomes this,” he said. “Today, the nation is moving forward not with delays, but with timely action,” the Prime Minister added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
29 January,2026 11:57 AM IST | New Delhi [India] | IANSThe Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to entertain the defamation suit filed by Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Sameer Wankhede against Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan’s production house Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt Ltd and OTT platform Netflix over his alleged defamatory portrayal in the web series ‘The Ba**ds of Bollywood’*. Holding that the Delhi HC lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit, a single-judge Bench of Justice Purushaindra Kaurav returned the same to be placed before the court of competent jurisdiction. “This Court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the plaint. The same is returned to the plaintiff to approach the court of competent jurisdiction,” ordered Justice Kaurav. In his plea, Wankhede alleged that malicious and defamatory content published and circulated through the Netflix series produced by Red Chillies Entertainment has gravely tarnished his reputation, dignity, and public image, apart from causing harm to his family. He also claimed that the image of anti-drug enforcement agencies has been tarnished and shown negatively, thereby undermining public trust in law enforcement agencies. The IRS official further sought permanent and mandatory injunctions, along with damages, against the defendants, including Red Chillies Entertainment, Netflix, X Corp (formerly Twitter), Google LLC, Meta Platforms, RPG Lifestyle Media Private Limited and other concerned parties. Wankhede has claimed that the web series has deliberately biased and defamatory content against him. He also alleged that the Sameer Wankhede and Aryan Khan case is currently pending before the Bombay High Court and a special NDPS court in Mumbai. The suit stated that a character in the web series is shown saying, "Satyamev Jayate", and immediately after that, the character is seen making an obscene gesture. It is an insult to the slogan, which is part of the national emblem and is an offence punishable under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. Sameer has sought Rs 2 crore as damages, which will be donated to Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital for the treatment of Cancer patients. The Delhi High Court had heard detailed submissions from both sides and reserved its verdict earlier on December 2, 2025. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
29 January,2026 11:57 AM IST | New Delhi [India] | IANSAndhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh and Revenue Minister A Satya Prasad left for Baramati on Thursday to attend the last rites of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who died in a plane crash on Wednesday. As reported by news agency PTI, the last rites of Pawar will be held with full state honours at the sports ground of Vidya Pratishthan in Baramati in Pune district today. An official statement emphasised, "A delegation comprising Ministers Lokesh and Prasad left for Baramati this morning to attend the last rites and pay final respects to Pawar," as per PTI. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar (66) and four other persons on board the aircraft were killed after it crashed barely 200 metres from the edge of a tabletop runway at Baramati on Wednesday. The final journey of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar will take place on Thursday, January 29, with his mortal remains being carried in a flower-decked rath as part of the Antim Yatra in Baramati, reported news agency ANI. Flower-decked rath to carry mortal remains through Baramati The ceremonial chariot has been richly decorated with flowers and bears Pawar’s photograph along with a message paying tribute to him. The funeral procession is scheduled to begin at 9 am from the Vidya Pratishthan campus (Gadima), move through key parts of the town to allow people to pay their respects, and conclude at the Vidya Pratishthan ground, where the last rites will be performed at 11 am, reported ANI. Supporters gather early; emotional scenes outside hospital Even before the procession began, large numbers of party workers and supporters gathered outside Ahilyabai Holkar Hospital in Baramati, where Pawar’s body was kept before being taken to his residence. Among those mourning was party worker Chandrashekar Patil, who broke down while remembering Pawar’s disciplined lifestyle and deep connection with the people. “He was like the elder of our family. Who will guide us now? He would start his day early, listen to people’s problems and work tirelessly,” Patil said, struggling to hold back tears, reported ANI. Uddhav and Aaditya Thackeray pay last respects On Wednesday, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and leader Aaditya Thackeray visited Pawar’s residence in Baramati to convey their condolences to the bereaved family. (With inputs from PTI and ANI)
29 January,2026 11:15 AM IST | Baramati | mid-day online correspondentFive schools in the national capital received bomb threats on Thursday morning, prompting emergency evacuation of the campuses and searches by security agencies. Delhi Fire Services confirmed that Loreto Convent in Delhi Cantonment, Don Bosco in Chittaranjan Park, and Carmel Convent campuses in Anand Niketan and Dwarka have received threats. On the other hand, Sardar Patel Vidyalaya in Lodhi Estate sent out a message to the parents of its students, informing them about the security threat. Police and fire authorities were immediately informed, triggering evacuation protocols and anti-sabotage checks. "Our teams are on site, and standard operating procedures are being followed. Nothing suspicious has been found so far," a DFS officer said, adding that search operations were underway. The Sardar Patel Vidyalaya administration informed parents that a security threat had been received in the morning, and authorities were immediately alerted. The school said a bomb squad team conducted a thorough inspection of the entire campus. "We are relieved to inform you that the premises have been declared completely safe for use. Student safety remains our highest priority, and all necessary protocols were followed promptly and responsibly. Classes will continue as usual today," the message read. Police sources said local police personnel, bomb disposal squads and dog squads were deployed to sweep the campuses. Students and staff were moved to safe areas in some schools, they added. Further investigation is underway to trace the origin of the threats, police said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
29 January,2026 11:15 AM IST | New Delhi [India] | PTIIndia will host the 2nd India-Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting (IAFMM) on Saturday (January 31). The meeting will be co-chaired by India and the UAE, according to a press release from the Ministry of External Affairs. Foreign Ministers of other Arab League Member States and the Arab League Secretary General will participate in the '2nd India-Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting'. According to the release, the Foreign Ministers' meeting is taking place after a 10-year hiatus. The first meeting was held in 2016 in Bahrain. At the first FMM, the Ministers identified five priority verticals of cooperation: economy, energy, education, media, and culture, and proposed a set of activities across these verticals. The 2nd India-Arab FMM is expected to build on the existing cooperation, expanding and deepening the partnership. The India Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting is the highest institutional mechanism driving this partnership, which was formalised in March 2002 when India and the League of Arab States (LAS) signed an MoU institutionalising the process of dialogue. A Memorandum of Cooperation was signed to establish the Arab-India Cooperation Forum during the visit of the then Arab League Secretary General Amre Moussa to India in December 2008, and was subsequently revised in 2013 to reflect a revised structural organisation. India is an Observer to the League of Arab States, a pan Arab body with 22 member States. As per the release, this is the first India-Arab FMM to be hosted by India in New Delhi and will see participation by all 22 Arab countries by Foreign Ministers, other Ministers, Ministers of State, and other Senior Officials, and the Arab League. The IAFMM will be preceded by the 4th India-Arab Senior Officials' Meeting on Friday. Meanwhile, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal welcomed the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sudan, and also the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of Palestine, on Thursday for the second India Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting. In a post on X, he said, "Delighted to welcome H.E. Mohieldin Salim Ahmed Ibrahim, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Republic of Sudan, for the second India Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting. The visit will further strengthen people-to-people ties between India and Sudan." In another post, Jaiswal said, "Warm welcome to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of Palestine, H.E. @VarsenAghShahin, as she arrives in India to participate in the 2nd India Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting. The visit reaffirms India's partnership with the people of Palestine and the Arab world." This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
29 January,2026 11:05 AM IST | New Delhi | ANIThe share market in the country opened flat on Tuesday as investors remained in a wait-and-watch mode ahead of the upcoming Union Budget this weekend, with market volatility showing signs of cooling. The benchmark Nifty 50 index opened at 25,345, registering a marginal gain of 2.25 points or 0.01 per cent. Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex opened at 82,368.96, up by 24.28 points or 0.03 per cent. Market participants appeared cautious as they positioned themselves ahead of the Budget announcement, while indicators suggested a stable but guarded sentiment. Ajay Bagga, Banking and Market Expert, told ANI, "Volatility is cooling as the India VIX settled near 13.5-14, and the Nifty PCR (Put-Call Ratio) stands at a balanced 0.70, indicating cautious but stable positioning ahead of the Union Budget 2026. Investors are eyeing the February 1st announcement with expectations for a 4.2 per cent fiscal deficit target, continued infrastructure CAPEX, and potential AI-focused incentives." He further added, "Currencies, Oil and Metals are the stories of the day. US Dollar moves are roiling policy makers' outlooks, Oil is surging due to the high probability of a joining Israeli-US attack on Iran and Metals are seeing a bumper year." In the broader market on the National Stock Exchange (NSE), indices showed mixed trends. The Nifty 100 slipped by 0.19 per cent, while the Nifty Midcap 100 edged up by 0.10 per cent. The Nifty Smallcap index outperformed, gaining 0.51 per cent. Sectoral indices on the NSE opened mostly in the red, except for the Nifty Metal and PSU Bank indices. The Nifty Auto index declined by 0.70 per cent, Nifty FMCG fell by 0.54 per cent, and Nifty IT was down by 0.95 per cent in early trade. Global markets reflected a mix of caution and resilience following the first US Federal Reserve meeting of the year. The Fed kept interest rates unchanged at 3.5 per cent to 3.75 per cent and signalled a data-dependent approach as inflation remains sticky. In the US, the S&P 500 briefly crossed the historic 7,000 mark but closed flat, while the Nasdaq gained 0.17 per cent, supported by strong buying in AI chip stocks. Commodities remained in focus, with gold hitting a record high and nearing USD 5,600 per ounce in some markets amid safe-haven demand and a weakening US Dollar. Oil prices also climbed to a four-month peak, with Brent settling near USD 68.40 due to rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and a surprise draw in US inventories. In other Asian markets, a mixed trend was visible. Japan's Nikkei 225 opened with a marginal gain of 0.03 per cent, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose by 0.6 per cent, South Korea's KOSPI gained 0.98 per cent, while Taiwan's weighted index declined by 0.48 per cent. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
29 January,2026 11:00 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIKerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal on Thursday presented the budget for the financial year 2026-27, announcing allocation of Rs 14,500 crore for social security pensions and hiking honorariums for ASHA and Anganwadi workers. Presenting the second Pinarayi Vijayan-led government's sixth budget in the Legislative Assembly, Balagopal announced that the honorarium of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) and Anganwadi workers has been hiked by Rs 1,000 per month and that of Anganwadi helpers by Rs 500. The pay of pre-primary teachers and literacy mission motivators has been increased by Rs 1,000 per month and the daily wages of school cooking staff have been raised by Rs 25 per day, he said. The budget also announced Rs 3,700 crore for the Chief Minister's Stree Suraksha Scheme. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
29 January,2026 10:53 AM IST | Thiruvananthapuram | PTIADVERTISEMENT
-1769669864025_d.png "Congress leader Jairam Ramesh (left) slams PM Modi’s address ; calls it 'hypocricy laden'. File Pic")
-1769668795624_d.png "Karnataka Minister Sudhakar criticizes non-payment for Jal Jeevan mission. Pic/X @drmcsudhakar")
-1769664091857_d.png "Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal welcomed foreign ministers for the 2 IAFMM in New Delhi. File Picnd")
-1769662472354_d.png "Stocks open flat as investors get cautious ahead of the Union Budget, 2026. Representational image")
