The Lok Sabha will take up the general discussion on the Union Budget for 2026-27 on Friday. The House will meet at 11 am to transact government business, beginning with Question Hour. Several Union Ministers, including those from the Health and Family Welfare, Law and Justice, External Affairs, Defence, and Ports, Shipping and Waterways ministries, are scheduled to lay papers on the table. From 3.30 pm onwards, the Lok Sabha will take up Private Members' Business. Many Private Members' Bills are listed for introduction, including Constitution Amendment Bills, amendments to the Representation of the People Act, welfare-related Bills concerning farmers, fishermen, students, senior citizens, women, and workers, as well as Bills related to education, healthcare, environment, artificial intelligence, digital platforms, labour reforms and social security. A day earlier, the opposition, including Congress MPs, protested during the ongoing Parliament session after a major row erupted after LoP Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi was not allowed to quote from the unpublished memoir of former Army Chief General MM Naravane on the 2020 China standoff. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address in the Rajya Sabha. Prime Minister launched a sharp attack on the Congress in the Rajya Sabha, taking aim at the party's "Yuvraj' over a controversial "traitor" remark made against BJP MP Ravneet Singh Bittu, calling it an insult to the Sikh community and a reflection of Congress' "arrogance at its peak." "What happened yesterday -- the 'Yuvraj' of Congress, who has a 'shaatir dimaag' called a member of this House a traitor. His arrogance is at its peak. He did not call others who left Congress traitors, but he said it to this MP because he is a Sikh. This is an insult to Sikhs, an insult to the Gurus. This shows the hatred Congress carries," PM Modi said. The Budget session comprises 30 sittings over 65 days and concludes 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
06 February,2026 09:47 AM IST | New Delhi | ANIState-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) on Thursday said five Tejas light combat aircraft are fully ready for delivery to the Indian Air Force. In February 2021, the defence ministry sealed a Rs 48,000 crore deal with HAL for the procurement of 83 Tejas Mk-1A jets for the IAF. The delivery of the jets are facing delays primarily due to GE Aerospace missing several deadlines for supply of its aero engines to power the jets. "The HAL confirms that five aircraft are fully ready for delivery, incorporating major contracted capabilities in accordance with the agreed specifications," a spokesperson of the aerospace major said. The spokesperson said the HAL is in active discussions with the Indian Air Force to deliver the aircraft at the earliest. "HAL assures that it will meet the guidance projected for the current financial year," the spokesperson said. The IAF is looking at inducting the warplanes as the number of its fighter squadrons have gone down to 30 from officially sanctioned strength of 42. 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
06 February,2026 09:40 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesUnion Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Thursday launched 'Bharat Taxi', India's first cooperative-led ride-hailing platform, after a successful two-month pilot operation. The service has been initially launched in Delhi-NCR and Gujarat, and will be expanded across all states and Union Territories within two years. "In three years, Bharat Taxi will be rolled out across the country, from Kashmir to Kanniyakumari and Dwarka to Kamakhya," Shah said after launching the platform. He said the profits will be shared with drivers associated with Bharat Taxi. Customers can hail cars, three-wheelers, and two-wheelers through the platform. The ride-hailing service market in the country is currently dominated by a handful of players, like Uber, Ola and Rapido. Registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, and established on June 6, 2025, Bharat Taxi operates on a zero-commission and surge-free pricing model with direct profit distribution among drivers. 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
06 February,2026 09:06 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesA Maoist was killed in an encounter with C-60 Commandos near Gadchiroli-Chhattisgarh border in Maharashtra, officials said on Thursday, adding that an AK-47 recovered during the operation. According to an official statement issued by the Gadhchiroli Police, based on credible intelligence about the presence of remaining Maoist members of Company Number 10 and an unidentified Maoist group from Chhattisgarh, a large-scale search operation was launched on the evening of February 3. The operation was led by the Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Bhamragad. Fourteen C-60 commandos were deployed late that night in a forested area a few kilometres from Fodewada village, near the Gadchiroli-Narayanpur district border. During a brief exchange of fire with Maoists on Wednesday, security forces destroyed two Maoist camps and seized a large quantity of Maoist-related material. However, due to difficult terrain and dense forest cover, the Maoists managed to escape at that time, police said. Exchange of fire On Thursday morning, four additional C-60 teams and one Quick Action Team (QAT) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were sent to strengthen the operation. Intermittent firing has been reported since morning. During the operation, the body of a male Maoist was recovered along with one AK-47 rifle and one Self-Loading Rifle (SLR). Police said efforts are underway to verify whether more Maoists have been injured or killed during the encounter. The identity of the deceased Maoist has not yet been established. C-60 commando injured in firing In heavy firing by Maoists late Thursday evening, one C-60 commando was injured after being hit by a bullet. The injured jawan is being evacuated from the forest area for further medical treatment, officials said. The search operation is still underway in the forest region, officials said. The police said further details will be shared by the Gadchiroli police after the operation is concluded.
05 February,2026 11:18 PM IST | Gadchiroli | A CorrespondentThe Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Thursday launched its 'Transformation Cell' for speedy resolution of citizen's civic problems, officials said, reported the PTI. Pune Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram and District Collector Jitendra Dudi launched the year-long initiative which is aimed at improving basic civic services to the citizens in Pune through better coordination between government departments and private agencies, the officials said. The initiative, called the Transformation Cell, will focus on delivering quick and visible improvements rather than large infrastructure projects that take years to complete, they said, as per the PTI. The two top civic officials said the emphasis will be on small, practical interventions that can make a noticeable difference to daily life in the city. Ram and Jitendra Dudi said that the recent Pune Grand Cycle Tour showed that meaningful changes are possible in a short time when multiple agencies work together in a coordinated manner. Multiple dept to work together According to the PTI, the Transformation Cell includes representatives from various government departments and agencies. At its first meeting, participants were asked to highlight issues related to lack of coordination. According to Commissioner Ram, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) pointed out that several civic projects are delayed due to pending approvals from other authorities. PMC to bear initial costs for utility shifts Explaining the issue of road widening, Ram said electric poles often remain in the middle of newly widened roads because power utilities face financial constraints. To resolve this, the PMC will initially bear the cost of relocating such infrastructure. The concerned utility department will later reimburse the amount in instalments, officials said, the news agency reported. The officials said this system will also help prevent repeated digging of the roads. Better planning With the Pune Grand Cycle Tour scheduled again next year, departments have been asked to coordinate utility work in advance with PMC projects. This will ensure that roads are not dug up again after completion due to fresh permissions, as per the PTI. The officials said that better planning will help improve efficiency and reduce inconvenience to citizens. (with PTI inputs)
05 February,2026 10:50 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentStruck for hours in Mumbai-Pune Expressway traffic jam, a Pune-based industrialist Sudhir Mehta took a helicopter to return to the city, reported the PTI. He was reportedly stranded for nearly eight hours on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway due to a massive traffic jam caused by an overturned gas tanker. Traffic on the expressway remained disrupted for more than 30 hours after the accident, which occurred on Tuesday evening. Movement was suspended as a safety measure after the tanker began leaking highly flammable propylene gas. Sudhir Mehta, Chairman of Pinnacle Industries and EKA Mobility, shared his experience in a post on social media platform X on Wednesday. He also posted aerial photographs showing long stretches of vehicles stuck on the expressway, according to the PTI. Commenting on the situation, Mehta said the incident underlined the urgent need for better emergency preparedness on high-speed corridors such as the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, the news agency reported. Calls for planned exit points and helipads In his post, Mehta said that lakhs of commuters were stranded for nearly 18 hours due to a single tanker accident. He suggested that planned emergency exit points should be created at various locations along the expressway, allowing vehicles to turn back during such crises. He also proposed the construction of helipads near the expressway for emergency evacuations, stating that helipads cost less than Rs 10 lakh to build and require less than an acre of land. He suggested that such facilities should be made mandatory. Traffic restored after 33 hours Officials said traffic on the Mumbai-bound carriageway was restored early on Thursday, around 33 hours after the accident occurred in the Khandala Ghat section. An official from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) said the overturned tanker was removed from near the Adoshi tunnel at 1.46 am, allowing traffic to resume. Thousands stranded without basic facilities The tanker had overturned at around 5 pm on Tuesday, causing severe congestion on the busy expressway. At the peak of the disruption, queues of stationary vehicles stretched up to 20 km. Thousands of passengers, including women and children, were forced to remain inside their vehicles for several hours, often without access to food, drinking water or toilet facilities. The Mumbai-Pune Expressway, India’s first six-lane, access-controlled concrete toll road, spans 94.5 km and connects Mumbai, Raigad and Navi Mumbai with Pune. (with PTI inputs)
05 February,2026 09:40 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentUttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday directed that deaths caused by “Chinese manja” (razor-sharp kite strings) be treated as murder. He also ordered the strictest possible action against those found guilty. The directive comes after a motorcyclist died in Lucknow allegedly after his throat was slit by a kite string, and follows a rise in similar incidents across the state capital. The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said in a post on X that Adityanath has “taken serious note of fatalities linked to Chinese manja” and instructed authorities to act against its manufacture, sale, and use. “Taking cognisance of accidents caused by Chinese manja, the chief minister has directed strict enforcement against it and ordered a statewide campaign along with a high-level review. The deaths due to this should be treated under the category of murder,” the post added according to PTI. Adityanath stressed that the Uttar Pradesh government is fully committed to protecting public life. Fatal kite string incident in Lucknow On Wednesday, 34-year-old Syed Shoaib, a medical representative from Sitee Bihar in Dubagga, died after a Chinese manja allegedly cut his throat on the Haiderganj overbridge in Lucknow’s Bazarkhala area. Police said the kite string, sharp and strong, severed a major vein while Shoaib was riding his motorcycle. Losing control, he fell onto the road. Bystanders rushed him to a trauma centre in an e-rickshaw, but doctors declared him dead due to excessive blood loss. In another recent incident, metro services in Lucknow were disrupted when a kite string fell on a high-tension line, forcing trains to halt mid-route. Fatalities every year around the Nation Humans are also affected—45-year-old Bharat Kadam was seriously cut by manja on the Andheri flyover, though his windpipe was spared. The life of a five year old in Hyderabad was claimed due to nylon kite strings. They cause multiple deaths annually. In Gujarat, four people, including children, died during Uttarayan, and emergency cases rose 33 percent due to kite strings, falls, and electrocutions. Activists call for stricter enforcement and awareness campaigns. Animals not spared During Makar Sankranti, Mumbai NGOs rescued over 50 injured birds. A sub-adult macaque was critically injured after getting entangled in a kite string near Sanjay Gandhi National Park on Jan 27. Multiple cases like these surface and despite bans, glass, Chinese, and nylon manja continue to be used, harming animals and humans, says Advocate Pawan Sharma of RAWW. (With PTI Inputs)
05 February,2026 08:42 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentCongress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday said the opposition parties walked out of the Rajya Sabha during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reply to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address as the government has made up its mind that both leaders of opposition (LoPs) will not be allowed to speak. Flanked by opposition leaders of the Upper House, Kharge, the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, said the Modi government has made up its mind that both LoPs, he and Rahul Gandhi, will not be allowed to speak either in the Lok Sabha or in the Rajya Sabha. "Our great leaders who sacrificed for this country, who fought for this country, who went to jail and fought against the British to win freedom for the country against those leaders, one man speaks in the House. "He is given a mic, he hurls abuses at will on the mic and the government stays silent. Has the BJP ever condemned this?" Kharge said. "That's why all the leaders of the opposition parties have decided that if they won't let us speak, then we should walk out, we should protest. And especially regarding the insult to our leaders, we too condemn that," 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.
05 February,2026 08:06 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIThe Rajya Sabha witnessed a stormy start to the session on Thursday, with government and Opposition getting into verbal confrontation over denial of permission to Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi to speak in the Lok Sabha and also over attempts to stall Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address. Lok Sabha was adjourned moments after reconvening on Thursday, following which the Upper House witnessed noisy scenes and uproar with Opposition accusing the government of gagging the Leader of Opposition. This invited strong counters from Leader of House in the Rajya Sabha J.P. Nadda and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju. Rijiju slams Opposition for distrupting PM's address, urges MPs to follow House rules Rijiju condemned the Opposition’s conduct and schooled the members on following Parliamentary protocols. "Today we all are expecting that all MPs will follow rules and traditions of the House. All the Parliamentarians are waiting to hear the Prime Minister's speech today. Congress doesn't want to listen to the PM's address, but all other members do. Your LoP Lok Sabha doesn't follow the House rules," Rijiju told the House. Mallikarjun objects to Nehru, Indira remarks; seeks Rahul Gandhi's turn to speak Mallikarjun Kharge took strong objections to ‘humiliation’ of late Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi by BJP lawmakers, apparently referring to citations from controversial books, and insisted that Rahul Gandhi be given a chance to speak in the House. "Parliament means Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The LoP, Lok Sabha, wanted to speak on the country's interests, but was not allowed to speak. How can you run the House like this?" Kharge said. J.P. Nadda counters Opposition amid slogan-shouting in Rajya Sabha J.P. Nadda, turning the tables on the Opposition, said, "The LoP should know that the proceedings of the Lok Sabha cannot be discussed in the Rajya Sabha." While the leaders engaged in fierce arguments, uproar prevailed in the House with Opposition members resorting to slogan-shouting. Earlier, the INDIA bloc floor leaders held a meeting inside the Parliament House to deliberate on their strategy on cornering the government. (Inputs from IANS)
05 February,2026 07:40 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentTo tackle leopard attacks in the Junnar region, Maharashtra deputy CM Eknath Shinde said that the state cabinet has approved two leopard rescue centres, an official statement issued by his office said on Thursday. “Protecting human lives is Maharashtra government’s responsibility. We will create a leopard attacks-free environment,” he said. Multiple leopard attacks in Junnar had last year turned political. Last year in December, Shiv Sena's Junnar MLA Sharad Sonawane had arrived at the state legislature in Nagpur during the Maharashtra Assembly Session dressed in a leopard costume. While speaking to the media outside the assembly premises, Sonawane had claimed that 55 people have died in leopard attacks in Junnar Taluka of Pune district in the past three months. Raising the issue, Sonawane had demanded that the government should declare a ‘state emergency’ and capture at least 2,000 leopards and put them in rescue centres. MIDC and IT park near Shivneri Fort Eknath Shinde also announced plans to set up an MIDC and IT park near Shivneri Fort, construct a grand entrance gate, establish a food processing park at Dumbarwadi, and promote tourism-led employment. He pledged to make Junnar the number-one tourism taluka in the country. Shinde also said religious sites will be developed, Buddhist caves conserved, and forts protected. The Deputy CM listed several infrastructure and development projects, including the Murbad-Junnar highway, faster progress on the Pune-Nashik railway line, the 56-km Junnar-Talegaon road, Rs 313 crore for repairs to Chilewadi Dam, Rs 35 crore for bridge construction, and a Rs 240 crore proposal for Parunde Kumbh Mela facilities. He also mentioned water supply schemes for tribal hamlets, MI tanks, canals, check dams, drinking water for plateau regions, and a Rs 32,000 crore compensation package for losses caused by excessive rainfall. Farmer has first right over state treasury: Shinde Calling farmers the nation’s food providers, Shinde said they have the first right over the state’s resources. He announced that steps would be taken to grant municipal council status to Otur and Narayangaon. He also said boating permissions for tourism would be encouraged and priority would be given to providing jobs to local youth. Appeal to vote for Shiv Sena candidates Shinde announced the names of all Shiv Sena candidates for the district council and panchayat committee elections and urged voters to press the bow-and-arrow button on February 7. “A vote for the bow and arrow is a vote for development,” he said, assuring five years of dedicated service. Promising to transform Junnar and repay the debt to Shivaji Maharaj’s land, he concluded his speech with chants of “Jai Maharashtra”. Several Shiv Sena leaders, candidates, party officials and workers were present at the event.
05 February,2026 06:18 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentUnion Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted a major relief initiative for road accident victims and their families in the Union Budget 2026. While addressing the Lok Sabha on Sunday, Sitharaman announced that the interest accrued on motor accident compensation claims will be fully exempt from income tax, news agency IANS reported. The proposal is aimed at ensuring that accident victims receive the complete amount of their claim without any deductions. The move will also eliminate Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) on such interest payments. The announcement came as part of broader tax relief initiatives in the Budget, presented by Sitharaman for the ninth consecutive time. Under current provisions, interest components awarded by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunals (MACT), often substantial due to delays in claim settlements, are treated as taxable income under the Income Tax Act. This has resulted in victims or their dependents losing a portion of the compensation to tax liabilities, sometimes forcing them to navigate complex refund processes or face reduced financial support for medical care, rehabilitation, and livelihood restoration. Union Budget 2026: Exemption applies to interest awarded to individual claimants The Finance Minister emphasised that the exemption applies specifically to interest awarded to a “natural person (individual claimants)," recognising the compensatory and humanitarian nature of these awards. "Any interest awarded by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal to a natural person will be exempt from income tax, and any TDS on this account will be done away with," she further highlighted. The change is expected to come into effect from the financial year 2026-27, providing immediate relief in ongoing and future cases. Road accidents remain a major public health and economic challenge in India, with thousands of fatalities and injuries annually leading to prolonged legal battles for compensation. The delays in tribunal awards often inflate the interest component, intended to compensate for the time value of money and suffering endured. By removing the tax burden, the government aims to make the compensation more meaningful and victim-centric, aligning with efforts to improve ease of living and support vulnerable sections. Union Budget 2026: Exemption on accident claims welcomed by experts The proposal has been welcomed by legal experts, victim rights groups, and insurance stakeholders, who argue that it addresses a long-standing inequity. Further, the move also prevents erosion of awards meant for rehabilitation and could encourage faster claim resolutions. The full exemption is poised to benefit lakhs of affected families, ensuring that justice in motor accident cases is not diminished by fiscal deductions. (With inputs from IANS)
05 February,2026 05:50 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
-1770288584424_d.png "Chinese kite strings cause fatal accidents. Representational Image")
-1770301382462_d.png "Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. File Pic")
