The process to merge the two factions of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) may now face a hurdle following Ajit Pawar’s death, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar said on Saturday. Ajit Pawar, who was one of the sitting deputy chief ministers of Maharashtra, was killed along with four others when the Learjet 45 they were travelling in crashed in Baramati, his hometown, on Wednesday. The merger discussions, led by Ajit Pawar and NCP (SP) state chief Jayant Patil, had been underway for the past four months, Sharad Pawar told reporters in Baramati. "All discussions were held at their level, but it now appears the process may hit a roadblock following the (plane) accident. The talks were progressing in a positive direction, but the accident adversely affected the process," the former Union Minister said. He added that efforts were being made to maintain cordial dialogue between the two factions: NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) and NCP, which was headed by Ajit Pawar. When asked whether the merger would continue, Sharad Pawar said he did not know, as he was not part of the discussions. It was Ajit's wish to unite the two factions: Sharad Pawar "It was Ajit's wish to unite the two factions, and now it is our wish that his wish should be fulfilled," Sharad Pawar said. "We cannot bring Ajit back. We have lost him. Now we have to see how to face the situation," he added. Sharad Pawar said a consensus had been reached for the factions to work together, and the process had already begun. "The decision on the merger was supposed to be announced on February 12. Ajit had given this date, but unfortunately, the accident took place," he noted. During the recent civic polls, in which the two factions contested together, Ajit Pawar had also told select journalists that he intended to merge his party with the NCP (SP) while Sharad Pawar, 85, was in good health. After contesting the January 15 civic elections in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad jointly, the two factions had decided to continue the alliance for next month’s Zilla Parishad elections. No discussion with me about Sunetra Pawar's swearing-in: Sharad Pawar The NCP, founded by Sharad Pawar in 1999, had split after Ajit Pawar joined the Eknath Shinde-led Mahayuti government in July 2023. He was appointed the deputy CM then and continued in the post after Devendra Fadnavis became the CM following the Mahayuti's victory in the November 2024 assembly polls. Sharad Pawar also said that the NCP (SP) was unaware of the swearing-in of Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra Pawar, as deputy CM in the Fadnavis government. "I am not aware of the swearing-in. I didn't even know that it was scheduled for today. There was no discussion with me about the swearing-in. Her party (NCP) may have made the decision. The names of Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare came up, and it is learnt that they took the initiative. They might have taken a decision internally within the party," he said. Sunetra Pawar, 62, was on Saturday sworn in as the first woman deputy CM of Maharashtra. She took the oath of office and secrecy administered by Governor Acharya Devvrat at a brief ceremony at Lok Bhavan. Earlier, she was elected as the state NCP legislature party leader. (With PTI inputs)
31 January,2026 09:49 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentCPI Rajya Sabha MP P Santhosh Kumar on Saturday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing strong opposition to the latest Economic Survey that called for a re-examination of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005. The Economic Survey on Thursday made a strong case for re-examining the nearly two-decade-old RTI law to exempt confidential reports and draft comments from disclosures, saying such provisions constrain governance. It said that the RTI Act 2005 was never intended as a tool for idle curiosity, nor as a mechanism to micro-manage the government from the outside.In a letter addressed to Modi, Kumar said, "The suggestion that the RTI Act requires 're-examination' to protect internal deliberations risks legitimising corruption and shielding wrongdoing under the guise of administrative efficiency." He said the RTI Act, enacted by the UPA-I government with decisive support from the Left, marked a historic advance in institutionalising transparency and democratic accountability. "It was a conscious political choice to empower citizens, curb corruption, and subject the State to public scrutiny. Any attempt to dilute its spirit strikes at the core of constitutional governance," Kumar said. He said the position articulated in the Economic Survey implicitly portrays transparency as an impediment to governance. "Democratic governance does not suffer from openness; it suffers from secrecy, arbitrariness, and unaccountable power," he said. Kumar alleged that the RTI framework had already been systematically weakened over the past decade, and procedural changes to RTI rules made information harder to access. "At the same time, journalists, RTI activists, and whistleblowers continue to face intimidation and threats, with inadequate legal protection for those exposing corruption and irregularities," he said. The MP termed the Economic Survey's approach not merely academic but politically consequential. "Any further dilution of the RTI Act would be disastrous for democratic accountability and public trust," he said, and urged the prime minister to reconsider this position. 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 07:55 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIUrging the need to strengthen international cooperation to combat the "global scourge" of terrorism, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Saturday said that zero-tolerance for terrorism must be an uncompromising universal norm. In his opening remarks at the 2nd India Arab Foreign Ministers meeting in the capital, EAM Jaishankar asserted that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations remains a common threat in both the regions. "Cross-border terrorism is particularly unacceptable because it violates the basic principles of international relations and diplomacy. Societies targeted by terrorism have the right to defend themselves and will understandably exercise it. It is essential that we strengthen international cooperation to combat what is a global scourge. Zero-tolerance for terrorism must be an uncompromising universal norm," he said. India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are co-chairing the 2nd India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (IAFMM) which is happening after a gap of 10 years and is being attended by the Foreign Ministers of other Arab League Member States and the Arab League Secretary General. EAM Jaishankar stated that the meeting is taking place at an "important juncture" when the global order is undergoing transformation for a variety of reasons. "Politics, economics, technology and demography are all fully into play. Nowhere is this more apparent than in West Asia or the Middle East, where the landscape itself has undergone a dramatic change in the last year. This obviously impacts all of us, and India as a proximate region. To a considerable degree, its implications are relevant for India's relationship with Arab nations as well," he mentioned. He highlighted that multiple developments - "each of considerable consequence" - have taken place in the Middle East/West Asia over the last few years with many of them having reverberated well beyond the region. "The situation in Gaza, in particular, has been the focus for the international community. Many of us were present at the Sharm-el-Sheikh Peace Summit in October 2025. This evolved into the UN Security Council Resolution 2803 of November 2025. Taking forward the comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict is today a widely shared priority. Various countries have made policy declarations on the peace plan, individually or collectively. This is the larger context in which we deliberate on the region’s challenges and prospects," remarked EAM Jaishankar. In his opening remarks, EAM Jaishankar also cited a number of other situations in the region, including the conflict in Sudan, Yemen, Lebanon, Libya and Syria. This is the first India-Arab FMM to be hosted by India in New Delhi and is seeing participation by all 22 Arab countries by Foreign Ministers, other Ministers, Ministers of State and other Senior Officials and Arab League. India Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting is the highest institutional mechanism driving this partnership, which was formalised in March 2002 when India and League of Arab States (LAS) signed an MoU institutionalizing the process of dialogue. A Memorandum of Cooperation was signed for the establishment of Arab-India Cooperation Forum during the visit of the then Arab League Secretary General Amre Moussa to India in December 2008, which was subsequently revised in 2013 in terms of structural organization. India is an Observer to the League of Arab States, a pan Arab body with 22 member States. "India has strong partnerships with all LAS nations, in many cases, maturing to a strategic level. Much of that is rooted in history, where we have long exchanged goods, people and ideas. In the contemporary era, this collaboration has taken different forms with various partners. The region has some of our largest expatriate communities, key energy sources, major trade relationships and increasingly, emerging technology and connectivity initiatives. We are crucial to each other when it comes to food security and health security. Today’s deliberations, while of a collective nature, will nevertheless give a fillip to many bilateral ties," said EAM Jaishankar. He maintained that the India-Arab Cooperation Forum serves as a platform to give positive sentiments a practical shape. "Our meeting will examine an agenda for such cooperation in 2026-28. It currently covers energy, environment, agriculture, tourism, human resource development, culture and education, amongst others. India looks forward to a more contemporary dimension of cooperation being included, such as digital, space, start-ups, innovation, etc. We will also be contemplating working together on counter-terrorism and parliamentary exchanges. I note that we have launched the India-Arab Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture yesterday. These activities and initiatives will parallel what is happening in the bilateral domain and reinforce the bonds between us," stated EAM Jaishankar. 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 07:14 PM IST | New Delhi | IANSA Police Sub-Inspector, Chetan Kumar, attached to the Tumakuru Rural Police Station, was caught red-handed by Lokayukta officials while allegedly accepting a bribe to release a vehicle seized in a case, the Lokayukta said on Saturday. The vehicle belonged to a Bengaluru-based advocate, and the PSI had allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 5 lakh for its release. On Friday night, at around 11.30 pm, Chetan Kumar was trapped by Lokayukta officials while he was accepting Rs 40,000 as part of the bribe at the Namaste Tumakuru Hotel near Kyathsandra. Following the trap, Lokayukta police interrogated the PSI and later produced him before a court. The accused officer has been booked under Section 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Nagesh S.K., a resident of Nagadevanahalli in Bengaluru, has filed a complaint in this regard. According to the Lokayukta, the accused officer had received the bribe amount through an intermediary. The PSI has been taken into custody, and further investigation is underway. A police inspector, posted at Bengaluru's K.P. Agrahara police station, was also caught red-handed by Karnataka Lokayukta officials on Friday while accepting a bribe of Rs 4 lakh to drop a person’s name from a chit fund fraud case. The accused officer has been identified as Inspector Govindaraju. He was trapped while receiving the bribe amount at the CAR Grounds on Mysuru Road. Lokayukta Superintendent of Police Shivaprakash Devaraj said on Friday that the inspector had earlier accepted Rs 1 lakh on January 24 out of the overall demand of a Rs 5 lakh bribe in connection with a case registered under the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes (BUDS) Act, 2019, at the police station. "The accused inspector was caught red-handed while accepting money from the complainant, Akbar, near the Chamarajapete CAR Ground. The bribe was allegedly taken to drop the accused from the case," the SP said. Govindaraju has been arrested under the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act and sent to judicial custody. Police sources said Inspector Govindaraju allegedly created a scene at the time of his arrest and turned aggressive during the trap operation. A video showing the Inspector creating a ruckus after being caught while accepting the bribe has surfaced. The video shows Lokayukta officials taking him into custody despite his aggressive behaviour. At one point, as many as six Lokayukta officials were seen restraining the Inspector as he became violent. He was heard shouting and creating a dramatic scene. 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 04:25 PM IST | Tumakuru (Karnataka) | IANSAll construction work related to the Ram temple in Ayodhya is expected to be completed by April 30, with the overall cost of the project estimated at around Rs 1,900 crore, Ram Temple Construction Committee chairman Nripendra Mishra said on Saturday. Addressing reporters after the conclusion of a two-day meeting of the Ram Temple Construction Committee here, Mishra said that Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Tata Consultancy, which are executing key works at the site, will exit the temple complex by April 30 once construction is over. Mishra further informed that directions have been issued to complete all paperwork and bill payment procedures by the same date. "L&T and Tata Consultancy have offered a three-year warranty for all the work carried out by them. For maintenance and upkeep, a small team from both organisations will remain deployed inside the temple complex," he said. He added that after April 30, all agreements with L&T, Tata Consultancy and the State Construction Corporation will be taken over by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Providing details of expenditure, Mishra said the total spending on the Ram temple project is estimated at approximately Rs 1,900 crore, of which around Rs 1,600 crore, including GST, has already been paid. The meeting reviewed the progress of construction and associated works, and discussed the final timelines for completion and transition of responsibilities, officials 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.
31 January,2026 03:58 PM IST | Ayodhya (UP) | PTIThe national capital woke up to a chilly Saturday, with the minimum temperature dropping to 6.7 degrees Celsius—about 1.7 degrees below the seasonal norm—according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Data from various weather stations showed wide variation across the city. Palam recorded a minimum of 8.1 degrees Celsius, while Lodi Road saw 7.1 degrees Celsius. The Ridge station reported 7.7 degrees, and Ayanagar logged 6.6 degrees Celsius. At Safdarjung, considered Delhi’s base weather station, the night temperature also settled at 6.7 degrees Celsius. Air quality remains in ‘poor’ category across the capital Air quality remained a concern, with pollution levels staying in the ‘poor’ category. As per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 278 around 9 am, while an earlier reading at 7 am showed an AQI of 271. Several areas record ‘very poor’ AQI levels Several monitoring stations across Delhi reported poor to very poor air quality. AQI levels crossed 300 in areas such as Ashok Vihar (309), Dwarka Sector 8 (329), Mundka (331), Wazirpur (331), Rohini (312), Punjabi Bagh (318), RK Puram (322) and Okhla Phase-2 (323). Relatively lower—but still poor—readings were recorded in Narela (232) and Alipur (227). According to the CPCB, an AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor', and 401 to 500 'severe'. Dense fog disrupts visibility at airports across north and central India Meanwhile, fog disrupted visibility at several airports across north and central India during the early morning hours, the IMD said. Very dense fog, with visibility dropping below 50 metres, was reported at Ambala in Haryana and at Agra, Bareilly, Saifai and Hindon in Uttar Pradesh, as well as Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, where visibility fell to zero. Fog conditions range from very dense to shallow at multiple locations Dense fog conditions, with visibility between 50 and 200 metres, were observed in Varanasi and Lucknow (50 metres) and Prayagraj (100 metres). Moderate fog was reported at Jorhat in Assam and Bagdogra in West Bengal, while shallow fog affected airports in Punjab and Bihar, including Adampur, Bhatinda, Halwara and Gaya. In the dense fog category, where visibility ranged from 50 metres to 200 metres, Varanasi and Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh recorded 50 metres, while Prayagraj reported 100 metres. Moderate fog was observed at Jorhat in Assam, with visibility at 200 metres, and at Bagdogra in West Bengal, with visibility at 400 metres. Meanwhile, several airports reported shallow fog, with visibility between 500 metres and 1,000 metres. Adampur in Punjab recorded visibility of 500 metres; Bhatinda reported 600 metres; and Halwara in Punjab and Gaya in Bihar registered 800 metres each.
31 January,2026 01:43 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentPrime Minister Narendra Modi will on Sunday inaugurate the civil terminal of the Halwara airport in Punjab and name the Adampur airport after Sant Ravidas. "On the auspicious occasion of the 649th birth anniversary of Sant Guru Ravidas ji, the renaming of Adampur Airport honours the revered saint and social reformer whose teachings of equality, compassion, and human dignity continue to inspire India's social ethos," a statement from the PMO said. The prime minister will visit Adampur airport on Sunday where he will unveil its new name -- Sri Guru Ravidas Ji Airport. Further advancing aviation infrastructure in Punjab, the terminal building at Halwara airport will establish a new gateway for the state, catering to Ludhiana and its surrounding industrial and agricultural hinterland. Located in Ludhiana district, Halwara is also home to a strategically important Indian Air Force station. The previous airport at Ludhiana had a relatively small runway, suitable for small-size aircrafts. To improve connectivity and accommodate larger aircrafts, a new civil enclave has been developed at Halwara which has a longer runway capable of handling A320-type aircrafts. "Aligned with prime minister's vision of sustainable and environmentally responsible development, the terminal incorporates several green and energy-efficient features, including LED lighting, insulated roofing, rainwater harvesting systems, sewage and water treatment plants, and the use of recycled water for landscaping," the PMO statement said. The architectural design reflects Punjab's rich cultural heritage, offering passengers a distinctive and regionally inspired travel experience, the statement 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.
31 January,2026 01:24 PM IST | New Delhi [India] | PTIAn additional excise duty on cigarettes and tobacco products, and a health cess on pan masala, over and above the highest 40 per cent GST rate, will come into effect from February 1. The cess and excise levies will replace the existing 28 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST), plus compensation cess, on such 'sin goods' which was there on these items since GST was rolled out on July 1, 2017. Also, from February 1, a new MRP-based valuation mechanism will be introduced for tobacco products (chewing tobacco, filter khaini, jarda scented tobacco, gutkha) whereby GST shall be determined based on retail sale price declared on the package. Pan masala manufacturers need to apply for a new registration under the health and national security cess law from February 1. Manufacturers of such products will have to install a functional CCTV system covering all packing machines and preserve the footage for at least 24 months. They will also have to disclose with excise authorities the number of machines and their capacities and can also claim abatement in excise duty in case a machine is non-functional for a minimum of 15 consecutive days. Effective February 1, the Central Excise Act has been amended to impose excise duty ranging from Rs 2.05-8.50 per stick based on cigarette length. Besides, the health and national security cess Act levies cess on manufacturing capacity of pan masala units. The total tax incidence on pan masala after taking into account 40 per cent GST will be retained at the current level of 88 per cent. Under the new tax structure, short non-filter cigarettes (up to 65 mm) will attract an additional duty of about Rs 2.05 per stick, while short filter cigarettes of the same length will be charged around Rs 2.10 per stick. Medium-length cigarettes (65-70 mm) will face an additional duty of roughly Rs 3.6-4 per stick, and long, premium cigarettes (70-75 mm) about Rs 5.4 per stick.The highest duty of Rs 8.50 per stick applies only to unusual or non-standard designs of cigarettes and most popular cigarette brands do not fall under this slab. Crisil Ratings in a report has said that the domestic cigarette industry will see a 6-8 per cent volume contraction in the next fiscal, following the imposition of additional excise duties. Chewing and jarda scented tobacco, and gutkha will attract an excise duty of 82 per cent, and 91 per cent, respectively. The proceeds from excise duty on tobacco products will be redistributed among states as per Finance Commission recommendations. The Centre's tax revenues form part of the divisible pool and 41 per cent of it is shared among the states. Besides, the proceeds from the cess levied on production capacity of pan masala manufacturing units will be shared with states through health awareness or other health-related schemes/activities. The purpose of this health cess is to create a "dedicated and predictable resource stream" for two domains of national importance - health and national security, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said in Parliament in December. In India, taxes on cigarettes had remained unchanged in the past 7 years since the introduction of GST in July 2017. This is in contrast to global best practices and public health guidance which emphasises annual increases in duties to ensure that cigarette prices rise faster than incomes. According to World Bank estimates, India's total tax incidence on cigarettes is approximately 53 per cent of the retail price, which is substantially lower than the World Health Organization's recommended benchmark of 75 per cent or more for achieving meaningful reductions in tobacco consumption. Countries like the United Kingdom and Australia tax cigarettes at 80. 85 per cent of the retail price, while France, New Zealand, and several EU member states maintain tax incidence levels exceeding 75.80 per cent. Middle-income countries-such as Turkiye, South Africa, the Philippines, and Chile-have over the past decade raised cigarette taxation to levels approaching or exceeding the WHO benchmark. The levy of such cess on pan masala and excise duty on tobacco was approved by Parliament in December. The GST Council, comprising finance ministers from Centre and states, had in September 2025, decided on the mechanism to levy cess and excise duty on such products over and above GST once the compensation cess mechanism ended after repayment of loans. The GST Council had decided that the compensation cess will cease to exist after the repayment of loans taken to compensate states for GST revenue loss during Covid. The Rs 2.69 lakh crore loan will be repaid by January 31, 2026. At the time of the introduction of the GST on July 1, 2017, a compensation cess mechanism was put in place for 5 years till June 30, 2022, to make up for the revenue loss suffered by states on account of GST implementation. The levy of compensation cess was later extended by 4 years till March 31, 2026, and the collection is being used to repay the Rs 2.69 lakh crore loan that the Centre took to compensate states for the GST revenue loss during the Covid period. 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 01:23 PM IST | New Delhi [India] | PTIThe 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 | PTIADVERTISEMENT
-1769869448723_d.png "CPI MP warns RTI dilution and will undermine democracy, writes to PM Modi. File Pic")
-1769866702590_d.png "Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, left, meets Oman’s Foreign Minister Al Busaidi in New Delhi. Pic/PTI")
-1769856810061_d.png "Karnataka police officers held for taking bribes in Tumakuru and Bengaluru. Representational Pic")
-1769855199514_d.png "Ram Mandir construction enters final phase in Ayodhya. File Pic")
-1769845835046_d.png "Prime Minister Narendra Modi. File Photo")
-1769844108758_d.png "Representational Image")
