As many as six teachers who were serving as invigilators at Class 12 exam centres in Jalna district were suspended after some students were found copying during the ongoing Maharashtra HSC board exams, officials said. Action has been taken against six teachers after students were found copying during the English exam, they said. The incident occurred on Tuesday during the English examination conducted by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education in Ambad tehsil, reported the PTI. Education Officer (Secondary) Balu Kharat said the flying squad carried out a surprise inspection at exam centres in Rohilagad, Ankushnagar and Shahgad. During the inspection, several students were found copying. The squad took immediate action against the students involved. Officials said that all six teachers belonged to different educational institutions. Kharat instructed their institutions to suspend them for dereliction of duty during the examination. He added that action was also initiated against the teachers due to negligence in supervising the students. Strict measures to ensure fair exams The Maharashtra education authorities have repeatedly stressed the importance of maintaining discipline during board examinations. This latest incident is being seen as a warning to both students and invigilators to strictly follow exam rules. 42 caught cheating on Day 1 of Maharashtra HSC exam Forty-two malpractice cases were reported across Maharashtra during the Std XII English board examination held on Tuesday, February 10. The incidents occurred during the morning session across several divisions, according to the State Education Board. Amravati recorded the highest number, 22, followed by Pune, 10. Nashik reported four cases, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar three, Latur two, and Nagpur one. No cases were reported from the Mumbai, Kolhapur and Konkan divisions, indicating strict supervision and effective vigilance, officials said. State board officials said district-level vigilance committees were monitoring exam centres and warned of strict action, including cancellation of centre recognition, against those found encouraging or indulging in malpractice. The Board has urged students, parents, and schools to cooperate and maintain the integrity of the examination process. Copy-free day in Mumbai The Mumbai division, covering Mumbai City, suburbs, Thane, Palghar, and Raigad, reported a copy-free Day 1 of the 2026 board exams, said Mumbai Divisional Chairperson Rajendra Ahire. “Exams began on time, and there were no administrative issues, including with question papers or answer booklets,” he said. (with PTI inputs)
11 February,2026 08:27 PM IST | Jalna | mid-day online correspondentSeveral villages in Maharashtra’s Nanded district felt a mild tremor on Wednesday afternoon, officials said, adding that no damage was reported in the incident. The quake, measuring 3.0 on the Richter Scale, was felt at around 3:25 pm in parts of Nanded's Mukhed tehsil, including Hibbett, Kolgaon, Dhamangaon, Motarga, Dhanaj and Jamkhed, reported the PTI. The National Centre for Seismology reported that the epicentre was near Khaparal village. The Mukhed Tehsildar confirmed that no loss of life or property has been reported so far. The district administration has issued an advisory urging people to stay calm and remain alert. District Collector Rahul Kardile appealed to citizens not to panic. He advised residents living in houses with tin-sheet roofs to remove stones placed on rooftops for support. Instead, he suggested that the sheets be properly secured with bolts to prevent displacement in case of further tremors, according to the PTI. What residents should do during a tremor? The collector also urged people to step outside into open areas immediately if they experience similar tremors or hear unusual sounds. Residents have been advised to report such incidents to the district administration by contacting the District Emergency Helpline. Earthquake of 4.3 Magnitude Strikes Bay of Bengal Meanwhile, in an another incident, a moderate earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale was recorded in the Bay of Bengal early on Wednesday morning, the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) said, reported the ANI. The tremor struck at 05:12 IST on 11 February, at a depth of 10 kilometres. The epicentre was located at 14.94°N latitude and 90.18°E longitude, the news agency reported. The NCS shared the details in an update on X, stating, “EQ of M: 4.3, On: 11/02/2026 05:12:41 IST, Lat: 14.94 N, Long: 90.18 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Bay of Bengal.” Earlier, in December last year, a similar tremor measuring 4.4 magnitude was also recorded in the Bay of Bengal. That quake occurred at 11:48 IST and was at a shallow depth of about 15 kilometres, with the epicentre located at 12.59°N and 92.34°E, according to the ANI. (with PTI and ANI inputs)
11 February,2026 07:59 PM IST | Nanded | mid-day online correspondentIn a major relief for 30 contract workers, the Thane Industrial Court in Maharashtra has directed the Thane Municipal Transport Undertaking (TMTU) to continue their services, reported the PTI. The court observed that an employer cannot unilaterally change service conditions while a legal dispute is pending. The ruling was delivered on February 2 by Industrial Court member SZ Sonbhadre, though the detailed order became available on Wednesday. The decision came in response to a complaint filed by the Maharashtra Municipal Kamgar Union (MMKU), which challenged the termination notice issued to the workers. Union challenges termination notice The dispute began after TMTU issued a notice on January 27, 2026, informing workers engaged in cleaning and sweeping at bus depots that their services would no longer be required after February 1. The union argued that the move was unfair and illegal, especially since a related case seeking permanency benefits for these workers is already pending before the Industrial Tribunal. TMTU defended its action by stating that the workers were hired through a contractor, Arya Enterprises, and that the contractor’s agreement expired on January 31. Therefore, according to TMTU, the complaint was not maintainable. However, the court found inconsistencies in TMTU’s stand. It noted that while the original tender was for the appointment of 11 workers, as many as 31 workers were actually engaged. “The respondent (TMTU) is not coming with clean hands before the court and is hiding the information from the Court,” the order stated as per PTI reports. The court further observed that the employer was not justified in terminating the services of the workers under these circumstances. Termination termed ‘unfair labour practice’ Invoking Section 33 of the Industrial Disputes Act — which requires maintaining the status quo during pending proceedings — the court held that the termination amounted to unfair labour practice. “The action on the part of the respondent, in effecting termination of service of the workmen, amounts to unfair labour practice,” the court said as per PTI reports. The court has directed TMTU to continue the services of the 30 workers either as temporary employees or through an agency while the complaint remains pending. However, it clarified that this interim relief does not grant the workers any automatic right to claim direct or permanent employment with TMTU. The final outcome will depend on the decision in the ongoing legal proceedings. The order brings temporary relief to the workers while the broader dispute over their employment status continues. (With PTI Inputs)
11 February,2026 07:24 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe notice submitted by opposition MPs to remove Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla from office was found to contain several errors, according to Lok Sabha sources on Wednesday as per PTI reports. A total of 118 opposition MPs had signed the notice, which was submitted to Lok Sabha Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh on Tuesday afternoon. However, officials later identified four instances where incorrect dates had been mentioned. These errors could have led to the notice being rejected under parliamentary rules. To prevent this, Birla directed the Lok Sabha Secretariat to correct the mistakes instead of dismissing the notice. “Birla ordered prompt action as per the rules,” a functionary said. After the errors were pointed out, opposition leaders withdrew the original notice and submitted a revised version with the corrected dates later the same day. Sources said the revised notice will now undergo a quick review as per the established procedures. The motion is expected to be listed after the second phase of the Budget session begins on March 9. Speaker to step aside from chair Lok Sabha Secretariat officials said that Om Birla has decided not to preside over the House while the no-confidence motion against him is under consideration. Officials described this as a step taken to uphold “the highest standards of morality.” The motion seeking his removal is likely to be taken up on March 9, when the House reconvenes after the recess to discuss budgetary proposals. Why was the motion moved? Opposition parties initiated the process on Tuesday, accusing Birla of acting in a “blatantly partisan” manner while conducting House proceedings. They have urged him to step aside from the Speaker’s chair until the matter is resolved. The notice was submitted under Article 94C of the Constitution by Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi, chief whip K. Suresh, and whip Mohamed Jawed. It was filed on behalf of several opposition parties, including the Congress, Samajwadi Party, and the DMK. What the Constitution says Article 94C of the Constitution deals with the procedure for removing the Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Under Article 96, the Speaker has the right to defend himself or herself in the House when such a motion is taken up. The Speaker is allowed to cast a vote when the motion for removal is discussed. However, he or she cannot vote in the event of a tie. (With PTI Inputs)
11 February,2026 07:14 PM IST | Mumbai | PTIIndia's medical devices industry is projected to reach USD 50.1 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 26.9 per cent from the current valuation of USD 15.2 billion in 2025, said a report by Rubix Industry Insights on Wednesday. Currently, India ranks the fourth-largest medical devices market in Asia and among the top 20 globally. According to the report, growth is being propelled by government initiatives such as National Medical Devices Policy (NMDP), Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, Scheme for Promotion of Medical Devices Parks, and MedTech Mitra. The study assumes greater significance in the light of the Union Budget-FY27's renewed focus on bio-pharma research in the country. The report highlights that rising income levels, expanding health insurance penetration, increasing healthcare infrastructure and the growth of medical tourism, are boosting demand for both affordable mass-use devices and advanced solutions for specialised care. Medical devices exports have reached USD 4.1 billion in FY25 with the government targeting to raise India's global market share from 1.6 percent to around 12 percent in the coming years. The US and Germany are the key export destinations, while the US and China are major import sources. The study shows that despite strong export performance, the sector remains largely import-dependent, with 70-80 percent of domestic demand being met through imports, particularly for technologically-advanced devices. As compared to exports, imports were more than double at an estimated USD 8.6 billion, growing at a 7.1 percent CAGR over the same period. The report highlighted that India's export strength is in consumables, which accounted for nearly 47 percent of exports between April-September FY25, and shows India's strengths in cost-efficient manufacturing, scale production, and price competitiveness in low- to mid-technology products. In contrast, the report says, electro-medical equipment accounted for nearly 60 percent of imports, driven by India's continued reliance on advanced, technology-intensive devices. The domestic manufacturing base consists of approximately 800 medical device manufacturers in a broad but fragmented industry landscape. The report reveals that the average deal size for PE/VC funding has increased nearly 2.5 times from USD 56 million in 2022 to USD 137 million in 2024. Four states, namely UP, Maharashtra, Haryana, and Karnataka are playing a critical role in strengthening the industry by enabling shared infrastructure, skilled manpower, and supplier networks, particularly for small and mid-sized manufacturers, according to the report. 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.
11 February,2026 07:13 PM IST | New Delhi | ANIForty-two malpractice cases were reported across Maharashtra during the Std XII English board examination held on Tuesday, February 10. The incidents occurred during the morning session across several divisions, according to the State Education Board. Amravati recorded the highest number, 22, followed by Pune, 10. Nashik reported four cases, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar three, Latur two, and Nagpur one. No cases were reported from the Mumbai, Kolhapur and Konkan divisions, indicating strict supervision and effective vigilance, officials said. State board officials said district-level vigilance committees were monitoring exam centres and warned of strict action, including cancellation of centre recognition, against those found encouraging or indulging in malpractice. The Board has urged students, parents, and schools to cooperate and maintain the integrity of the examination process. Copy-free day in Mumbai The Mumbai division, covering Mumbai City, suburbs, Thane, Palghar, and Raigad, reported a copy-free Day 1 of the 2026 board exams, said Mumbai Divisional Chairperson Rajendra Ahire. “Exams began on time, and there were no administrative issues, including with question papers or answer booklets,” he said. 22No of cases (highest) in Amravati - Inputs by Aditi Alurkar
11 February,2026 05:45 PM IST | Mumbai | Archana DahiwalIn order to ensure uninterrupted service, Indian Railways has advised commuters to switch to the recently launched RailOne platform. Railways said that the UTSonMobile (UTS) app will be phased out starting March 1. There is no need for new registrations as passengers can log in to RailOne using their current IRCTC or UTS login credentials. RailOne enables passengers to book reserved, unreserved and platform tickets using multiple payment options including UPI, cards, net banking and R-Wallet. 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
11 February,2026 05:24 PM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesParliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has strongly criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his speech in the Lok Sabha during the Union Budget debate, calling it “full of lies.” The minister said the ruling alliance plans to move to expunge the statements made by Gandhi from the House records. Rijiju said ruling alliance members will serve a notice to the Speaker seeking verification of Gandhi’s speech. “We will demand expunging of whatever lies Rahul Gandhi has spoken,” he told reporters as per PTI reports. Although Gandhi promised to authenticate his statements, Rijiju doubted it and claimed the the LoP lied in the House saying, “I know he cannot authenticate them because he lied. He lied in the House.” Habit of leaving after making claims The minister also accused Gandhi of deliberately lying and then leaving the House instead of listening to ministers’ replies. “After his speech, he immediately went out of the House. The rule is that once a member delivers his speech, he cannot leave the House immediately,” Rijiju noted. He added that it was unfortunate that the country does not have a leader of opposition with a serious approach befitting the position. Rijiju further added that LoP Rahul Gandhi made a major allegation against Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri without giving prior notice, calling it a serious breach of privilege. “The leader of the opposition did not make any useful substantive contribution to the budget discussion but only made some wild allegations,” the minister claimed. Rijiju emphasized that the party intends to counter Gandhi’s statements outside the House but will take official action inside. LoP Gandhi’s allegations During his speech, Rahul Gandhi claimed that the government had “sold Bharat Mata” through the India-US interim trade deal, calling it a “wholesale surrender” that compromised India’s energy security and farmers’ interests. Responding to this, Rijiju said, “No one can sell or buy India, no one can think of that.” He also highlighted India’s economic progress, noting that in 2011–12 the country was considered one of the fragile five economies, but today it is the fourth largest economy and is poised to become the third largest in the world. (With PTI Inputs)
11 February,2026 05:00 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Uttar Pradesh government will present the biggest budget in the history of the state today, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said. Speaking to ANI, he said the budget aims to improve the standard of living for women, youth, farmers, and the poor. "This is the biggest budget in terms of figures in the history of the state. It will strengthen the state's infrastructure, accelerate development, and improve basic services such as water, electricity, roads, schools, and hospitals. The most important thing is that this budget will prove to be a milestone in raising the standard of living of women, youth, farmers and the poor, that is, the common man, and will be a budget that will fulfil the resolve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a developed India," Pathak said. "We are going to strengthen the health sector a lot. From primary level to tertiary care, from tertiary care, we are now moving towards quaternary care," the Deputy CM added. Slamming the Samajwadi Party (SP), Pathak said it left UP in a backward state, but under the BJP government, the state has become a destination for investment. "The opposition has nothing to say. The Samajwadi Party left this state as a BIMARU state (an acronym for Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh). Today, Uttar Pradesh has become a better destination in terms of investment and a state which has increased the per capita income, and we are a Revenue Plus State," Pathak said. Meanwhile, describing the focus areas of the budget, UP Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said, "Our particular focus areas have been there from the beginning. Whether it's women, youth, farmers, students, the working class, or the underprivileged, they have been given special focus. The opposition has no issues, no constructive approach. They oppose just for the sake of opposing." State minister Jayveer Singh hailed Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, stating that since 2017, the state has taken a "giant leap" in terms of the size of the budget. "Ever since the BJP government came to power in 2017 under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh has taken a giant leap in terms of budget size, public welfare, and development, and the result of that is that under strong law and order, we have succeeded in implementing the enhanced budget size and arrangements on the ground. Investors from the country and the world now want to invest in Uttar Pradesh. The budget is dedicated to traders, youth, farmers, everyone, and it will be an excellent, all-encompassing budget, with prospects of it being even larger in size this time," Singh said. The Budget Session, which began on February 9, will run till February 20. The state budget for the 2026-27 financial year will be presented today. 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
11 February,2026 04:47 PM IST | Lucknow | ANILok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday questioned why industrialist Anil Ambani was not in jail, alleging that his name appears in documents linked to the Epstein case. Speaking during a debate in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi claimed that Ambani’s name figured in what he referred to as the “Epstein Files.” He also brought up Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri during his remarks. “There is a businessman Anil Ambani, I want to ask why is he not in jail? The reason is that his name is in the Epstein Files. I would also like to ask Hardeep Puri, who introduced him to Epstein. I know who introduced him, and Hardeep Puri knows who introduced him,” Gandhi said in the House as per ANI reports. Pressure on Prime Minister After his speech on the Union Budget, Gandhi repeated his claims while speaking to reporters in Delhi. He said he would authenticate the data and referred to what he described as Department of Justice files naming certain individuals. “I have said that I will authenticate the data. There are Department of Justice files on Epstein files naming Hardeep Puri and Anil Ambani,” he told reporters as per ANI reports. Gandhi further alleged that in an ongoing case related to the Adani Group, summons had been issued but the Government of India had not responded for 18 months. He claimed there was “direct pressure on the Prime Minister.” “The main thing is that no PM would do this in a normal situation… Someone would do this only when there is a certain grip on them,” he said, linking his remarks to issues such as data, farmers, energy security and defence. Government rejects earlier Epstein related claims Earlier this year, on January 31, the Ministry of External Affairs strongly rejected references to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2017 visit to Israel in an email said to be part of the Epstein-related documents. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal dismissed the claims, calling them baseless and trashy. “Beyond the fact of the Prime Minister's official visit to Israel in July 2017, the rest of the allusions in the email are little more than trashy ruminations by a convicted criminal, which deserve to be dismissed with the utmost contempt,” Jaiswal said. (With ANI Inputs)
11 February,2026 03:38 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentNationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar on Wednesday expressed renewed doubts about the circumstances of his uncle Ajit Pawar's plane crash, suggesting the possibility of a conspiracy. According to the news agency ANI, while speaking at a press conference, he questioned the role of the aviation company. Citing statements from Manoj Pawar, the handler of Arrow company, the NCP (SP) leader indicated that poor visibility in Baramati may not have caused the crash. "Ajit Pawar was a prominent political leader in Maharashtra. People have doubts about his plane crash. We have compiled some information over the last 13 days based on our sources. We are emotional about this matter. The most important point here is that Manoj Pawar is the handler of the Arrow company," Rohit Pawar said, reported ANI. Rohit Pawar questions official explanation "Manoj Pawar mentioned that 'visibility is okay' in a group that included Ajit Dada’s PAs, the Maharashtra Aviation Director, and the pilot. VSR owner Vijay Kumar Singh stated that the aircraft was well-maintained, the pilots were experienced, and the accident likely occurred due to visibility issues. There is something inconsistent with this statement," he added. Pawar demanded that investigating agencies review the tech log and other documents to identify the officials who signed them before the flight. "A local said, 'The plane carrying Dada had a different sound and was flying low.' When the aircraft stalled, it could have been a manual stall or a mechanical error. The pilot or anyone could have reacted, as it was by Pilot Pathak. Aircraft maintenance must be performed daily. Who signed the tech log? We demand that these documents be reviewed during the investigation," he added, reported ANI. Rohit Pawar cites 2023 crash investigation delays He also flagged the lack of an Instrument Landing System (ILS) in Baramati and stated that a similar plane crash in 2023 should have been investigated promptly. "A plane crash in 2023 in Mumbai shows a flat runway. There is no ILS in Baramati; there was a crash in Mumbai despite the presence of an ILS there. The probability of an accident increases without an ILS. That 2023 crash also involved a VSR aircraft. If prior information on the probe had been available, Ajit Pawar might not have been in an accident. Even today, whether it’s our CM, our minister, or other leaders, flights using VSR aircraft are at risk. The way VSR maintains its aircraft is incorrect. As a result, both the 2023 Mumbai crash and Ajit Dada’s accident occurred. We request that no one use any VSR plane, no matter how urgent," he said, reported ANI. Criticising the aviation company further, he said the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) had cancelled its authorisation over the 2023 incident, alleging that the company does not maintain its aircraft properly. Rohit Pawar raises concerns over blocked investigation The Maharashtra MLA said, "Recently, EASA sent a message to the VSR operator regarding the 2023 accident. No information was provided, not even through DGCA, resulting in the cancellation of VSR’s third-country operator license. Some senior aviation journalists informed me that the report was to be submitted to the European agency via DGCA, but one person deliberately blocked it. This person is a political figure with aviation experience." "There is a 12-hour duty gap that this company does not follow. Many of their aircraft have inactive cockpit voice recorders. We have requested data for this aircraft. They do not maintain checklists or tech logs. Aircraft health checks are neglected. The engine and equipment are not replaced on schedule. They claimed the aircraft flew for 50 hours, whereas it actually flew 100 hours. We have learned that some DGCA officials, being friends of Singh (VSR owner), had undue influence over the regulatory process," he added, reported ANI. Earlier, Rohit Pawar had alleged a conspiracy behind former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s death in a plane crash on January 28 in Baramati, Maharashtra. According to DGCA, five people, including the crew, died when the chartered plane flying from Mumbai to Baramati crash-landed at the runway threshold. On February 7, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed they are making rapid progress in probing the fatal crash of the chartered Learjet 45 that killed Ajit Pawar, his personal security officer, the pilot, co-pilot, and flight attendant near Baramati Airport. Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol confirmed that the black box from the aircraft has been successfully recovered and is under analysis. (With ANI inputs)
11 February,2026 03:28 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
-1770798587743_d.png "Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla. File Pic")
-1770811555850_d.png "India strengthens medical devices sector amid rising exports and investment. Representational Image")
-1770809107096_d.png "Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. File Pic")
