The Narcotics Control Bureau has busted an inter-state drug trafficking syndicate in Mysuru while detecting a clandestine drug manufacturing lab. In an 'X' post shared by NCB on Friday, drugs worth Rs 10 crore were seized by the agency along with Rs 25.6 lakh in cash, an SUV and over 500 kg of various chemicals. 🚨 NCB busts a major inter-state drug trafficking syndicate & detects a clandestine drug manufacturing lab in Mysore. 🔷️ Drugs worth approx. Rs 10 crore (street value), along with Rs 25.6 lakh in cash, a Toyota Fortuner & over 500 kg of various chemicals have been seized so… pic.twitter.com/3KA3TpvRTr — NCB INDIA (@narcoticsbureau) January 30, 2026 "NCB busts a major inter-state drug trafficking syndicate & detects a clandestine drug manufacturing lab in Mysore. Drugs worth approx. Rs 10 crore (street value), along with Rs 25.6 lakh in cash, a Toyota Fortuner & over 500 kg of various chemicals have been seized so far in the case," the 'X' post said. Four accused have been arrested in the matter belonging to Rajasthan's Jalore, whereas further investigation to identify other members of the drug cartel is underway. "Four drug traffickers, including the mastermind, have been arrested. All the accused are residents of Jalore, Rajasthan. Investigation is underway to identify other members of the drug cartel & to trace the supply chain of lab equipment & chemicals used in the lab," the 'X' post added. Earlier on Wednesday, Bengaluru police arrested 10 persons, including seven from other states, for allegedly selling prohibited narcotic substances following a multi-day operation. The arrests led to the seizure of drugs and other materials worth approximately Rs 4 crore, officials said. According to police, the operation began on January 19, after officers of the Amruthahalli Police Station received credible information from an informant in the afternoon. The tip-off indicated that four individuals were attempting to sell banned narcotic substances near the Jakkur railway track, within the station's jurisdiction. Acting swiftly, a police team rushed to the spot and conducted a raid, apprehending four persons, including two from other States. During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed that they were procuring hydro ganja, MDMA, charas, LSD strips, and ganja at low prices from unknown sources abroad and from other States, and selling them locally at higher prices to make huge profits. From their possession, police seized 1 kg of hydro ganja, 50 grams of MDMA, 500 grams of charas, 8 kg of ganja, and six mobile phones. A case was registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. 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
31 January,2026 12:57 PM IST | Mysuru (Karnataka) | ANIThe air quality in Delhi has shown slight deterioration this January compared to last year, with the average Air Quality Index (AQI) till January 30 standing at 307, compared to 306 during the same period in 2025, according to an analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). CREA's analysis showed that January 2025, with an average AQI of 306, was the best January when it came to air pollution since 2022, when the monthly average AQI stood at 279. January 2026 now ranks as the second-best January since then. In January 2026 so far, Delhi has recorded two "moderate" air quality days, 12 "poor" days, 14 "very poor" days and two "severe" days, the analysis showed.In comparison, January 2025 had recorded two "moderate" days, 13 "poor" days and 16 "very poor" days, with no "severe" air quality days reported during the month. The analysis indicated that the absence of "severe" days in January 2025 and the presence of two "severe" days in January this year may have contributed to the slightly higher average AQI in 2026. The air quality early warning system has predicted "very poor" air quality for January 31. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, an AQI between zero and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe". 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
31 January,2026 12:56 PM IST | New Delhi | PTISecurity forces re-established contact with terrorists holed up in Dolgam area of Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar early Saturday, officials said. The Army said intelligence inputs from all sources were coordinated to plan and execute the operation on the ground. #WhiteKnightCorps | #OpTrashi-I | UpdateOperation Trashi-IDuring the ongoing joint Operation TRASHI-I, contact with terrorists was re-established in the early hours of 31 Jan 2026, in the general area of Dolgam by troops of #WhiteKnightCorps, @jmukmrpolice and #CRPF.… — White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) January 31, 2026 "During the ongoing joint Operation Trashi-I, contact with terrorists was re-established in the early hours of January 31 in the general area of Dolgam by troops of the White Knight Corps, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and CRPF," the White Knight Corps said on X. A cordon has been established and operations are in progress, it said. This is the fourth time in the past fortnight that contact has been established with the terrorists in the area. Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma visited Kishtwar to review the counter-terrorism grid as the ongoing anti-terror operation to neutralise a group of three Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists holed up in the district continues. The officials said mobile internet services have been temporarily suspended within a six-kilometre radius covering Singhpora, Chingam, and Chatroo to prevent misuse by anti-national elements during the ongoing operation. 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
31 January,2026 12:52 PM IST | Jammu | PTIUnion Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday launched projects worth Rs 1715 crore, including the second legislative assembly complex, in Assam’s Dibrugarh. The HM laid the foundation stone for the Rs 284 crore second legislative assembly complex and MLA hostel as a part of the government’s efforts to establish Dibrugarh as the second administrative hub. Shah also inaugurated the first phase of the modern multi-disciplinary sports complex worth Rs 238 crore and laid the foundation stone for its second phase, which will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 209 crore. The home minister also laid the foundation stone for the R292 crore Wildlife Health and Research Centre and Rs 692 crore project for the restoration and rejuvenation of wetlands. 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
31 January,2026 09:37 AM IST | Guwahati | AgenciesWest Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Friday said the devastating fire at a momo manufacturing unit and two godowns at Anandapur on the outskirts of Kolkata pointed to a failure on the part of the authorities. “I am here on a fact-finding exercise, not on a fault-finding exercise,” the governor said after visiting the spot. “I do not want to blame anybody, but the fact remains that there has been failure on the part of authorities concerned, else this kind of repeated incident would not have taken place,” the governor said. The devastating fire reduced to ashes two godowns and a manufacturing unit of a momo company at Anandapur in South 24 Parganas district, close to the city. So far, the toll in the fire has reached to 21, while 28 people are still missing, according to the police. Police on Friday arrested two more persons in connection with the fire incident, a senior police officer said. “Two senior officials of the momo manufacturing unit have been arrested. They are the company’s manager, Manoranjan Sheet, and deputy manager, Raja Chakraborty. Both were picked up by Narendrapur police,” the officer 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
31 January,2026 09:35 AM IST | Kolkata | AgenciesThe Congress on Friday launched a scathing attack on the government over the repeal of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), alleging that “Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not want the law connected with Mahatma Gandhi” to run for long and people to have a legal right to work. Senior Congress leaders and workers took out a march from the Congress office at 24, Akbar Road, to the Gandhi Smriti against the “constitutional right to work being snatched away by the Modi government”. However, they were stopped by the police and did not reach Gandhi Smriti. The Congress has launched a 45-day nationwide “MGNREGA Bachao Sangram Yatra” campaign, demanding the repeal of the VB-G RAM G Act and restoration of the MGNREGA. Protesters raised slogans of “MGNREGA chor gaddi chhod” at the protest. ‘A constitutional right’ Addressing the event, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, “The Modi government has scrapped the MGNREGA Act by running a bulldozer over it. The MGNREGA law was a constitutional right, providing a legal guarantee of employment to the people. This law strengthened panchayats,” he said. “MGNREGA was a historic and revolutionary Act that was passed unanimously in September 2005. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh Ji, Sonia Gandhi Ji, and Rahul Gandhi Ji made significant contributions to the creation of this Act,” Ramesh said. ‘Govt attacking poor’ The Union government is continuously attacking the poor and undermining their statutory right to employment, the Congress' Delhi unit said Friday at the protest. Ramesh further said the MGNREGA gave legal right to employment benefiting lakhs of families but the the Centre was “eroding” these provisions.He added the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) gave legal right to employment benefiting lakhs of families but the Centre was “eroding” these provisions. The VB-G RAM G scheme dilutes the UPA-era MGNREGA's original spirit, said the Congress leader. Congress media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said the Congress is firmly standing up against this step taken by the Modi government. What is VB-G RAM G Act? The Union government's Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 (VB-G RAM G), was passed by both houses amid opposition uproar and received presidential assent in December 2025, effectively replacing MGNREGA after two decades. Under the new law, the statutory guarantee of employment was increased on paper from 100 to 125 days per rural household each year, and changes were made in funding patterns, planning mechanisms and implementation structures. Opposition parties have argued the new law dilutes the rights-based nature of MGNREGA, increases centralisation of power, and saddles states with greater financial responsibilities, potentially weakening the original legal entitlement to work. 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
31 January,2026 09:32 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesThe upcoming Budget is going to put emphasis on easing the debt-to-GDP ratio, which is around 56 per cent, instead of targetting a specific fiscal deficit number as the country has almost reached the end of the glide path envisaged in the FRBM legislation. A fiscal deficit of 3-4 per cent is considered comfortable and a desirable target for a growing, developing economy like India, aiming to balance economic expansion with financial stability. Under the revised Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, the fiscal deficit target was below 4.5 per cent of GDP for 2025-26. Therefore, the union government announced a new glide path with the debt-to-GDP ratio as the fiscal anchor. So, the roadmap for the next six years was announced in the FRBM statement released on February 1, 2025. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her Budget speech in July 2024, had said, "The fiscal consolidation path announced by me in 2021 has served our economy very well, and we aim to reach a deficit below 4.5 per cent next year. The government is committed to staying the course."From 2026-27 onwards, she had said, "Our endeavour will be to keep the fiscal deficit each year such that the central government debt will be on a declining path as a percentage of GDP." It encourages a shift from rigid annual fiscal targets towards more transparent and operationally flexible fiscal standards. It is also recognized as a more reliable measure of fiscal performance as it captures the cumulative effects of past and current fiscal decisions. It is expected that the debt-to-GDP-based fiscal consolidation strategy would help rebuild buffers and provide the requisite space for growth-enhancing expenditures. The FRBM statement dated February 1, 2025, said the choice of fiscal anchor aligns well with the government's sustained efforts to promote fiscal transparency through proper disclosure of off-budget borrowings. For the period FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31, it is possible to compute several fiscal scenarios based on GDP growth trends and varying degrees of fiscal calibrations, it said. "Sans any major macro-economic disruptive exogenous shock(s), and while keeping in mind potential growth trends and emergent development needs, the government would endeavour to keep fiscal deficit in each year (from FY 2026-27 till FY 2030-31) such that the central government debt is on declining path to attain a debt-to-GDP level of about 50 per cent by March 31, 2031 (the last year of the 16th Finance Commission cycle)," it 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.
30 January,2026 10:55 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIAn IndiGo Airlines flight from Kuwait to Delhi made an emergency landing in Ahmedabad on Friday after a bomb threat. The emergency landing in Ahmedabad triggered heightened security measures at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, officials said. As reported by news agency IANS, the aircraft, carrying 186 people, including 180 passengers, was in the air when a handwritten threat was discovered on a tissue paper. The note found inside the aircraft referred to a hijacking and a bomb, prompting immediate action by the flight crew. Soon after the incident, the authorities followed standard aviation safety protocol. Pilot diverted the aircraft to the nearest airport The pilot alerted Air Traffic Control and decided to divert the aircraft to the nearest suitable airport, Ahmedabad. However, the flight landed safely at the Ahmedabad airport, where security agencies were placed on alert ahead of its arrival. Following the safe landing at Ahmedabad airport, all passengers were evacuated from the aircraft in a controlled manner and moved to a secure area of the airport. Also, there were no reports of injuries or medical emergencies during the process. Airport Police Station Inspector N. D. Nakum, while briefing about the incident, stated, “Security agencies responded swiftly after the threat was reported. After the threat was received, all security agencies concerned were alerted. The Bomb Disposal Squad carried out a thorough check of the aircraft.” The official further added, “No suspicious or objectionable item has been found so far. The checking process of the aircraft has been completed, and further investigation is continuing as per protocol," as per IANS. Bomb squad and CISF teams conducted a detailed anti-sabotage check The Bomb Disposal Squad, CISF teams, dog squads, and airport security teams conducted a detailed anti-sabotage check of the aircraft.Following the protocol, all passenger baggage was screened, and passengers were subjected to individual security checks in accordance with standard operating procedures, as per IANS. A strong police presence was maintained across the airport during the operation. Airport sources said flight operations continued with minor, temporary adjustments while security checks were underway. There was no immediate confirmation on when the diverted aircraft would resume its onward journey to Delhi. Also, the authorities are examining the origin and nature of the handwritten threat note and are working to establish how it was placed inside the aircraft. Officials also added that appropriate action would be taken based on the findings of the investigation. The incident comes amid a series of recent bomb threats reported in Ahmedabad. Over the past few days, the city’s airport, courts, and several schools have received threat messages, all of which were later found to be non-specific or hoaxes after extensive checks. (With inputs from IANS)
30 January,2026 06:20 PM IST | Ahmedabad | mid-day online correspondentA 60-year-old farmer killed a leopard with a sickle and a spear to save himself and his son after the wild animal attacked them in Gujarat’s Gir Somnath district, officials said on Thursday. While the farmer, Babu Vaja, and his son were hospitalised following the attack, forest officials have registered a case against the man for killing the big cat. The deadly encounter took place on Wednesday night when Vaja was resting on the verandah of his house situated on the outskirts of Gangda village, nearly 100 km from Veraval, the district headquarters. A leopard emerged from the nearby fields and jumped on Vaja without any provocation, said Range Forest Officer L B BharwadAccording to Vaja, the big cat grabbed his arm and started pulling him. "Upon hearing my cries, my son Shardul rushed to save me. However, the leopard pounced on him and injured him. When I tried to save Shardul, the leopard jumped on me again. During those few minutes, it attacked us several times," Vaja told reporters at a hospital in Una town.The two have suffered injuries to the forearms and forehead, said officials. The senior citizen said he grabbed a sickle and a spear kept in the verandah and managed to kill the wild animal.After learning about the incident, Bharwad and his team reached the spot and sent the carcass for post-mortem. We have also recovered weapons used by Vaja to kill the animal. We have registered a case against Vaja for killing the leopard and launched a probe," said Bharwad. 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.
30 January,2026 04:49 PM IST | Veraval (Gujarat) | PTIA day after Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was cremated in his hometown Baramati in Pune district following his death in a plane crash, his two sons on Friday collected his ashes from the funeral site, news agency PTI reported. Pawar (66), fondly known as ‘Dada (elder brother),’ and four others were killed when the plane carrying them crashed barely 200 metres from the edge of the tabletop airstrip at Baramati on Wednesday morning. He was cremated with full state honours on Thursday at the Vidya Pratishthan College ground in Baramati, located around 100 km from Pune city, in the presence of prominent political leaders and thousands of people. On Friday, Pawar’s sons Parth and Jay collected the ashes from the cremation ground. The late leader’s uncle and Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, along with other members of the family, were present during the ritual, PTI reported. In Hinduism, ashes are traditionally collected the day after the cremation and later immersed in a river. Rohit Pawar, NCP (SP) legislator and Ajit Pawar’s nephew, shared an emotional post following the leader’s death. “I never even dreamt that the very land where Ajit Dada nurtured a garden of development would one day witness the collection of his ashes. Nobody’s wish prevails before the cruelty of destiny,” he said. “While collecting the ashes today, it felt as if you might suddenly rise from them like a phoenix, standing tall with the same commanding presence, and say to us in your familiar voice — ‘Hey fools, why are you shedding tears? I was just pulling your leg. I was conducting a mock drill to see how prepared you are to face a crisis. Now get up, get back to work. We have so much to do for Maharashtra, for the common man here. Come on, don’t be late...’,” the post added. मा. अजितदादांनी जिथं विकासरुपी फुलांची बाग फुलवली तिथंच त्यांची राख सावडण्याची वेळ येईल, असं कधी स्वप्नातही आलं नाही.. पण नियतीच्या क्रूर खेळापुढं कुणाचं काही चालत नाही.. अजितदादांची ती दुर्दैवी बातमी आल्यापासून अद्यापपर्यंत डोकं सुन्न आहे… मन बर्फाप्रमाणे थिजलंय.. काय झालं, कसं… pic.twitter.com/vxD2KKfybi — Rohit Pawar (@RRPSpeaks) January 30, 2026 Ajit Pawar death: Late NCP chief wanted both factions to reunite, says family aide Kiran Gujar, a member of Vidya Prathisthan and a close associate of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s family, on Friday said that the unification of the two factions of the NCP was the late party chief’s last wish. Addressing reporters after the ceremony, Gujar said, “Today, the ashes of Ajit Pawar were immersed at Sangam here. It was ‘Dada’s’ last wish that this (merger of two factions of NCP) should happen. All should be united. Talks about this were happening throughout the family. In my last phone call with them, he had asked me for some election-related papers.” Earlier, NCP and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) had contested the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation elections together, and discussions were underway for a possible alliance in the forthcoming zilla parishad and panchayat samiti elections. Against this backdrop, there was speculation that the two factions might reunite under a single symbol before Pawar’s passing. His death has once again fuelled political speculation in Maharashtra. Reacting to this, Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC appealed to people not to indulge in conjecture, stating that the decision regarding the new NCP chief and the post of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister rests with the party. (With PTI and ANI inputs)
30 January,2026 04:45 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentUnion Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that the EU-India free trade agreement will ensure that Assam tea shipments will reach the European countries with zero tariff. Addressing a public rally at the Khanikar Parade Ground here, Shah said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken Assam tea to Paris and Berlin along with other countries of the European bloc through the recently signed trade pact. ''The EU-India trade pact will further boost Assam tea exports to European countries'', he asserted. India and the European Union on Tuesday sealed a landmark free trade agreement - billed as the "mother of all deals" - to create a market of two billion people, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the top EU leadership unveiling a transformative agenda to leverage trade and defence in protecting the rules-based world order.In a bid to woo the tea tribe community ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, the union minister thanked the tea garden workers for giving a "distinct identity to Assam and India as one of the leading exporters of tea to the world". ''Dibrugarh is known as the tea capital, and garden workers have ensured that the aroma of Assam tea reaches the world. The state is recognised in the world for its tea. It is the hard work of labourers that has ensured this," he said. Asserting that tea garden workers have strengthened the state's economy, Shah said they also ensured that the beverage remains a leading export commodity. The BJP leader alleged that the Congress did "nothing for the welfare of garden workers who have positioned Assam, particularly Dibrugarh, as the tea capital of the country". ''The chief minister has amended the law to ensure that the tea garden workers get ownership rights of land," he said.Shah accused the Congress of giving a toolkit to defame Assam and its tea. Tea garden workers constitute a sizeable electorate in the upper Assam assembly constituencies, which was earlier considered a Congress stronghold, but they have slowly shifted their allegiance to the BJP since 2014. 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.
30 January,2026 04:44 PM IST | Dibrugarh | PTIADVERTISEMENT
-1769767640090_d.png "India targets 50 percent debt-to-GDP by 2031 under new fiscal roadmap. File Pic")
-1769762309766_d.png "Leopard attacks farmer and son in Gir Somnath, gets killed. Representational Image")
-1769770289210_d.png "Amit Shah credits tea workers as Assam tea gets global push. File Pic")