US President Donald Trump has said that India and the US have agreed on a trade deal under which Washington will bring down reciprocal tariff on Indian goods to 18 per cent from the current 25 per cent. The announcement is important as the US has imposed a steep 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods entering American markets from August 27, 2025. Here is a list of key pointers to explain the announcement: TARIFF DEFINITION:---------------------These are customs or import duties which a country imposes on goods bought from other nations. An importer has to pay this duty to the government. Normally, companies pass on these taxes to end users or consumers.Import duty makes goods expensive in the importing country. Besides, a few other factors also play a role in this. For example, duty on India's competitor nations such as Bangladesh (20 pc), Vietnam (20 pc) and Thailand (19 pc); and quality and standards of items. USA'S TARIFFS ON INDIA:---------------------------In August 2025, the US announced to impose a 25 per cent tariff plus another 25 per cent punitive duty for buying Russia's crude oil and military equipment. These duties are imposed over and above the existing tariffs that the Indian goods are facing in the US.The US has reduced the duty to 18 per cent. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that he was delighted that "made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18 per cent". WHY US IS IMPOSING TARIFFS:---------------------------------The US has alleged that it faces a significant trade deficit with India, blaming New Delhi for imposing high tariffs on American goods, which it says restricts US exports to the Indian market. TRUMP'S ANNOUNCEMENT:-----------------------------"It was an Honor to speak with Prime Minister Modi, of India...We spoke about many things, including Trade...He agreed to stop buying Russian Oil, and to buy much more from the United States and, potentially, Venezuela.This will help END THE WAR in Ukraine, which is taking place right now, with thousands of people dying each and every week! Out of friendship and respect for Prime Minister Modi and, as per his request, effective immediately, we agreed to a Trade Deal between the United States and India, whereby the United States will charge a reduced Reciprocal Tariff, lowering it from 25 percent to 18 percent."They will likewise move forward to reduce their Tariffs and Non Tariff Barriers against the United States, to ZERO. The Prime Minister also committed to "BUY AMERICAN," at a much higher level, in addition to over $500 BILLION DOLLARS of US Energy, Technology, Agricultural, Coal, and many other products," Trump has said in a social media post. DETAILS OF THE DEAL:------------------------No details are available so far. An executive order from the US may provide clarity on the tariff issues, the trade deal document is expected to outline the sectors covered under the agreement. Both are awaited. GAINS FOR INDIA:--------------------Labour-intensive sectors such as garments, leather and non-leather footwear, gems and jewellery, carpets and handicrafts may get a boost as high tariffs were hurting exports of these goods to the US. BILATERAL TRADE:---------------------During 2021-25, the US was India's largest trading partner in goods. The US accounts for about 18 per cent of India's total exports, 6.22 per cent in imports, and 10.73 per cent in bilateral trade. In 2024-25, the bilateral trade touched USD 186 billion (USD 86.5 billion exports and USD 45.3 billion imports).With America, India had a trade surplus (the difference between imports and exports) of USD 41 billion in 2024-25. It was USD 35.32 billion in 2023-24 and USD 27.7 billion in 2022-23. In services, India exported an estimated USD 28.7 billion and imported USD 25.5 billion, adding a USD 3.2 billion surplus.Altogether, India ran a total trade surplus of about USD 44.4 billion with the US. MAJOR PRODUCTS TRADED BETWEEN THE TWO:----------------------------------------------------In 2024, India's main exports to the US included drug formulations and biologicals (USD 8.1 billion), telecom instruments (USD 6.5 billion), precious and semi-precious stones (USD 5.3 billion), petroleum products (USD 4.1 billion), vehicle and auto components (USD 2.8 billion), gold and other precious metal jewellery (USD 3.2 billion), ready-made garments of cotton, including accessories (USD 2.8 billion), and products of iron and steel (USD 2.7 billion).Imports included crude oil (USD 4.5 billion), petroleum products (USD 3.6 billion), coal, coke (USD 3.4 billion), cut and polished diamonds (USD 2.6 billion), electric machinery (USD 1.4 billion), aircraft, spacecraft and parts (USD 1.3 billion), and gold (USD 1.3 billion). SERVICES TRADE:------------------As per estimates, USA's services imports from India amounted to USD 40.6 billion in calendar year 2024, with computer/information services imports at USD 16.7 billion and business management/consulting at USD 7.5 billion. HIGH TARIFFS IN US:----------------------As per reports, the US imposes high duties on items like dairy products (188 per cent), fruits and vegetables (132 per cent), coffee, tea, cocoa and spices (53 per cent), Cereals and food preparations (193 per cent), Oilseeds, fats and oils (164 per cent), beverages and tobacco (150 per cent), Minerals and metals (187 per cent), and Chemicals (56 per cent). COMMENTS OF EXPERTS ON INDIA-US TRADE DEAL:--------------------------------------------------------EPC (Apparel Export Promotion Council) Chairman A Sakthivel: This development is expected to give a boost to apparel exports, attract fresh investments across the value chain, and reinforce India's position as a reliable global sourcing hub.Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) President SC Ralhan: It is expected to lead to an immediate and substantial release of orders that were earlier put on hold, particularly in labour-intensive sectors such as apparel, textiles, leather and footwear. 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.
03 February,2026 02:02 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIA man allegedly killed his friend on the eve of his wedding in Maharashtra's Beed district. According to the police, the accused committed the crime because he feared that the victim would disrupt the ceremony over an unpaid debt of Rs 1.5 lakh, news agency PTI reported. The victim, Chand, also known as Guddu Tamboli (30), was found bludgeoned to death during the early hours of Monday on the outskirts of Khokarmoh village in Shirur Kasar tehsil. Further investigations by the authorities indicated that Chand had lent Rs 1.5 lakh to his friend Atiq Tamboli and was persistently demanding repayment. “The victim had apparently threatened to show up at the venue of Atiq's (accused) wedding on Monday and cause disturbances if the money lent by him was not returned," said a local crime branch officer. The officer further highlighted that the accused was concerned about the threat he received from the victim and also feared social humiliation on his wedding day. On Sunday night, he called the victim to a secluded spot and allegedly killed him by crushing his head with a stone before absconding, PTI reported. Chand's body was found on Monday, following which the police launched an investigation. Based on technical surveillance and localised intelligence, the authorities apprehended Atiq from Beed city on the same day and booked him on charges of murder. Woman, minor girl held for killing 40-year-old man over dispute in Thane Police have arrested a woman and detained a juvenile girl in connection with the death of an unidentified man following an altercation in Maharashtra's Thane district, an officer said on Tuesday. The assistant police inspector, while briefing about the incident, said, “The incident occurred on Sunday in Bhiwandi town after a quarrel broke out between the man, aged around 40, and the two accused over some issue.” The officer further stated, “The accused 18-year-old woman and a juvenile aged 17 allegedly pushed the man down from the slab of a police chowkie located at Dhamankar Naka.” The man fell and sustained grievous injuries. He was rushed to a hospital for treatment, where he died after a few hours, she said. “The police initially registered an FIR on charges of quarrel and causing serious injuries, but after the man's death, it was converted to a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita,” the officer added. (With inputs from PTI)
03 February,2026 01:48 PM IST | Beed | mid-day online correspondentPresident Droupadi Murmu visited Biraja temple in Odisha's Jajpur district on Tuesday morning to perform the 'pinda daan' ritual. Elaborate security arrangements have been made at the temple, with about 600 security personnel deployed for the presidential visit, officials said. Murmu performed the 'pinda daan' ritual at 'Navi Gaya', a sacred pool in the temple premises, for the salvation of the souls of her ancestors. According to mythology, after demon Gayasura was killed by Lord Vishnu, his body was divided into three parts. His head fell at Gaya in Bihar, his feet at Pithapuram in Andhra Pradesh and the naval portion at Jajpur in Odisha. Before beginning the 'pinda daan' ritual, Murmu performed puja at the 13th-century shrine where Goddess Biraja is worshipped in the form of Durga with two hands or 'dwibhuja', spearing the chest of Mahisasura with one and pulling his tail with the other. All schools in Jajpur town and its nearby areas have been shut in view of the president's visit, according to a notification. Later in the day, Murmu will attend the convocation of Fakir Mohan University in Balasore. 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.
03 February,2026 01:37 PM IST | Bhubaneswar/Jajpur | PTIThe owner of a Rottweiler was booked after his pet allegedly mauled a woman during her morning walk here, leaving her with severe facial and neck injuries that required an eight-hour surgery, police said on Tuesday. The incident happened when Shalini Dubey, (31), a techie at Teachers Colony in HSR layout stepped out for a morning walk near her home on January 26, they said. CCTV footage of the attack shows the dog running towards her on the road, knocking her down and biting her repeatedly on the face and neck. The dog was allegedly released onto the road by its owner without a leash or muzzle and attacked her, her family alleged. Following the attack, she sustained severe injuries to her face and neck and received more than 80 stitches across her face, throat and scalp, her husband Satya Prakash Dubey said. She underwent a nearly eight-hour-long surgery. One deep wound, measuring about seven centimetres, was dangerously close to her airway and she is currently hospitalised, he said. The couple has a 17-month-old toddler, and the incident has left her deeply traumatised, Dubey added. Recalling the incident, her husband said on January 26, around 6.50 am, his wife was returning from her morning walk when the neighbour's dog suddenly ran towards her, she fell down, and the dog brutally attacked her. She suffered severe injuries to her neck, the right side of her face, and her scalp, Dubey said. "If the pet owner could not control such a large dog, it should never have been allowed to roam freely. Pet owners are responsible for following safety norms, including using a leash and muzzle, especially in public areas," he told PTI Videos recently. "My wife is in deep trauma and has suffered severe mental shock. As per doctors, the scars on her face and body will remain for life," he added. Following a complaint, a case was registered against the pet owner Amaresh Reddy under Sections 117 (3) (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 125 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 291 (negligent conduct with respect to animal) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and subsequently, he was held in connection with the incident, police 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.
03 February,2026 01:01 PM IST | Bengaluru | PTIThe Rajasthan Police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has issued "leave India" notices to two British nationals for allegedly pasting political stickers in public places in Pushkar, officials said on Monday. The stickers contained messages such as 'Free Palestine, Boycott Israel'. The action came after reports received on January 21 about stickers related to the Israel-Palestine conflict appearing at multiple locations across the town. A CID team conducted an inquiry and traced the activity to the two foreign tourists. Police said the two were in India on tourist visas. The CID found that their actions amounted to a violation of visa conditions, which prohibit engagement in political activities. Additional Superintendent of Police (CID) Rajesh Meena said that engaging in activities that show disrespect towards other countries while staying in India breaches visa norms. He said the notices were issued under provisions of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, directing the two to leave the country. Pushkar attracts a large number of foreign tourists every year, including many from Israel. The officials said no formal complaints were received from tourists in connection with the stickers. After the CID's intervention, the stickers were removed from public places. Police also conducted checks in areas frequented by foreign tourists to ensure no similar material was displayed, they 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.
03 February,2026 01:00 PM IST | Jaipur | PTIA Himachal Roadways bus met with an accident on Tuesday in the remote area of Kwanu-Meenus Road in Kalsi in Uttarakhand's Dehradun district and fell into a deep gorge, the State Disaster Response Force said. Preliminary reports suggested that more than 30 passengers were on board the bus. Following the information and on the orders of SDRF Commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi, SDRF teams from posts at Dakpathar, Chakrata, Mori, and Tyuni were immediately dispatched to the accident site. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke to the District Magistrate and issued necessary instructions to rescue the passengers. In an X post, CM Dhami said that all nearby medical centres have been placed on high alert mode and in case of serious injuries, passengers will be airlifted and admitted to advanced medical centres. "We have received the extremely distressing news of the accident involving a bus of the Himachal Transport Corporation on the Kuanu-Meens Motor Road in the Kalsi area (Dehradun). Upon receiving information about the accident, I spoke with the District Magistrate over the phone and issued necessary instructions. The district administration and police have promptly initiated relief and rescue operations. All nearby medical centres have been placed on high alert mode. If needed, any seriously injured passengers will be airlifted and admitted to advanced medical centres. I pray to God for the safe well-being of all passengers," Dhami said on X. Further details on the incident are awaited. In a separate incident on Sunday, devotees returning after visiting the Samayapuram Mariamman Temple met with an accident when their van overturned on the Tiruchy-Chidambaram National Highway in Tamil Nadu's Ariyalur district, officials said. The incident took place near Poiyyur village. Upon receiving information, Keezhapazhuvur police rushed to the spot, registered a case, and launched an investigation into the incident. 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.
03 February,2026 12:59 PM IST | Dehradun (Uttarakhand) | ANIOpposition leaders on Tuesday raised concerns over the India–United States (US) trade deal after Washington claimed the agreement would allow it to export more agricultural products to India and that New Delhi would stop purchasing oil from Russia. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) lawmaker Priyanka Chaturvedi claimed the agreement would enable it to export more agricultural products and that New Delhi would stop purchasing oil from Russia. While welcoming the reduction in tariffs on Indian goods, she expressed reservations, stating that the agreement does not appear to be a “win-win situation” for all stakeholders. “The US–India trade agreement was important. It had been stalled for so long, and India had become the country with the highest tariffs. They’ve now brought them down to 18 per cent, which I welcome. But the way we have brought tariffs and trade barriers down to zero. We agree to buy Venezuelan oil, stop buying Iranian oil, and stop buying Russian oil. Then, the trade barriers on agricultural goods have been removed from our markets. I will still wait for the details, but it is not what the Indians expected,” the Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) told ANI. “What has come from Trump’s side doesn’t seem like a win-win situation at all,” added the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader. #WATCH | Delhi: On India-US trade agreement, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi says, "The US-India trade agreement was important. It had been stalled for so long, and India had become the country with the highest tariffs. They've now brought them down to 18%, which I… pic.twitter.com/zudoVMIbg3 — ANI (@ANI) February 3, 2026 Congress MP Ujjwal Raman Singh questioned Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi over the reduction of tariffs to 18 per cent by the US President Donald Trump, asking why it was not announced by an Indian government official. Referring to Trump’s claim that India had agreed to stop purchasing oil from Russia, the Congress MP raised concerns over India’s sovereignty. “We were forced. If the PM had announced it in Parliament… Trump’s announcement of the deal means that he had already decided that the agreement would happen only if India purchased oil from Venezuela. There has been a compromise with India’s interests. The Prime Minister and the BJP government have made the nation bow down, and we are paying the price. We are breaking away from the decades-old ties with Russia,” Singh told ANI. India-US Trade Deal: India’s capital appears to have shifted to Washington, says Congress MP “If oil is cheaper in Venezuela, Iran or Russia, we should have the autonomy to choose. We are not under somebody, but today, when the US President wants, he stops the war and makes us buy Venezuelan oil. This is like mortgaging India’s foreign policy,” he added. Another Congress MP, Pramod Tiwari, urged PM Modi to address the issue in Parliament. “Looking at recent events, it seems as if India’s capital has shifted from New Delhi to Washington, DC, and PM Modi has gone on a long vacation. We are learning about all of India’s decisions from Washington, DC, and its President Donald Trump, who is making the announcements. Prime Minister, your silence is troubling us. This is against the self-respect of the country, against its sovereignty, and against its glorious history. Take action and speak the truth; we want to hear it from you, in the Indian Parliament, and in the country’s capital, Delhi,” Tiwari said. On Monday, President Trump announced that the US and India “have agreed to a trade deal”, with Washington reducing the reciprocal tariff from 25 per cent to 18 per cent “out of friendship and respect” for PM Modi. He also claimed that PM Modi had agreed to “stop buying Russian oil” and to significantly increase purchases from the US. Following Trump’s social media post, PM Modi confirmed the deal on X, saying he was delighted that “Made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18 per cent”. “Wonderful to speak with my dear friend President Trump today. Delighted that Made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18 per cent. Big thanks to President Trump on behalf of the 1.4 billion people of India for this wonderful announcement,” PM Modi stated. “President Trump’s leadership is vital for global peace, stability, and prosperity. India fully supports his efforts for peace,” he further said. (With ANI inputs)
03 February,2026 12:33 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe National Democratic Alliance (NDA) convened a Parliamentary Party meeting on Tuesday to deliberate on the Union Budget 2026 and the government's vision for Viksit Bharat 2047. The meeting is being held at the Parliament Library Building in New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, BJP National President Nitin Nabin, and all other NDA ministers and MPs are present at the meeting. Upon arriving at the meeting, the Prime Minister was congratulated by an enthusiastic group of reporters regarding the India-US trade deal. PM Modi smiled and waved his hands to the reporters, saying, "Thank you!" India and the US reached a trade deal on Monday following a phone call between PM Modi and US President Donald Trump. This is also the second trade deal India has reached in the past ten days. During the meeting, the NDA leaders congratulated the Prime Minister on all the recent trade agreements. Newly elected BJP chief Nitin Nabin was also warmly welcomed by the leaders. PM Modi will also address the NDA parliamentary party meeting. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the budget's features and forward-looking vision through a presentation, highlighting how it is a major step towards creating a Viksit Bharat by 2047. During the meeting, guidelines will be provided on how to communicate the budget's features and benefits to the public, and a roadmap for this will be presented. Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026 in the Lok Sabha on Sunday. This was her ninth budget and was motivated by three 'kartavyas' or duties aimed at boosting and maintaining economic growth by improving competitiveness, meeting aspirations, and ensuring that every family, community, and region has access to resources and opportunities for engagement. The Prime Minister on Sunday hailed the budget, calling it a "highway of immense opportunities" and said that the "Reform Express" on which India is riding, "will gain new energy and momentum through this budget". 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.
03 February,2026 12:17 PM IST | New Delhi | IANSUnion Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said that the India-US trade deal will benefit the people of "two large democracies" and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump for reaching an agreement. Taking to X, Sitharaman said, "Good news for Made In India products. They will now face reduced tariff of 18 per cent. Thanking the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump for this development. People of our two large democracies stand to benefit." Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, Electronics; Information Technology, also took to social media and welcomed the trade deal between India and the US. "US and India are world's largest democracies. Both countries are natural allies. Together, India and US have huge potential to work for peace and development. US and India have complementary strengths. Both countries can co-create technologies and co-develop solutions that will benefit the world," Vaishnaw posted on X. "Trade deal between US and India will lead to brighter future for both countries. India-US Trade deal is a win-win deal. Citizens and industries of both countries will benefit greatly from this deal," he added. Earlier on Monday, Trump said a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi led to the deal, cutting US tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent and easing Indian trade barriers on US products. Trump said India would also stop buying Russian oil and increase purchases of US energy, technology and agricultural products. He said the agreement would strengthen ties between the two countries and support efforts to end the war in Ukraine. PM Modi also took to X and said, "Wonderful to speak with my dear friend President Trump today. Delighted that Made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18 per cent. Big thanks to President Trump on behalf of the 1.4 billion people of India for this wonderful announcement." He said that when two "large economies" and the "world's largest democracies" work together, "it benefits our people and unlocks immense opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation". Hailing President Trump's "leadership" in advocating for global peace, stability, and prosperity, the Prime Minister said, "India fully supports his efforts for peace". "I look forward to working closely with him to take our partnership to unprecedented heights," PM Modi 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.
03 February,2026 11:52 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSUnion Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Jammu and Kashmir for three days on Thursday for a comprehensive review of the security situation. Amit Shah, during his visit, will launch various developmental projects and will also interact with political leaders. The officials, while stating about Amit Shah’s visit to Jammu Kashmir, said, “The Union Home Minister will reach Jammu in the evening on February 5. He will meet political leaders at the Lok Bhawan the same evening. In the morning on February 6, the Union Home Minister will visit the international border in the Hiranagar sector of Kathua district," as reported by news agency IANS. The Union Home Minister will also inspect the latest equipment installed by the Border Security Force (BSF) to prevent infiltration. The officials further added, "In the afternoon of February 6, he will chair a high-level security review meeting in Jammu. Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, senior officials of MHA, IB, chiefs of CAPFs, and senior officers of Jammu Kashmir's civil administration, police, and intelligence agencies will attend the security review meeting," as per IANS. Amit Shah to launch various development projects in Jammu and Kashmir As reported by IANS, “On the morning of February 7, he will leave for Srinagar, where he is scheduled to launch various developmental projects. In the afternoon, he will leave from Srinagar for Chhattisgarh,” official sources said. This will be the second time in less than one month that the Union Home Minister will be reviewing Jammu and Kashmir’s security at the highest level. Earlier on January 8, he chaired a high-level security review meeting on Jammu and Kashmir in New Delhi. Amit Shah’s review of the security situation was followed by the visit of the Union Home Secretary, Gobind Mohan, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief Tapan Deka, chiefs of CAPFs and other agencies to Jammu on January 14 and 15. Official sources reveal that the Home Minister is concerned about the presence of foreign terrorists in the upper reaches of the Jammu division, including the Kathua, Doda, Kishtwar and Udhampur districts. The sources further said, “A comprehensive strategy is in place to neutralise the terrorists through joint operations in the entire Jammu and Kashmir,” as per IANS. They also added that the high-level meeting is likely to review and fine-tune the strategy further. Search operations still on to eliminate terrorists Search operations have been going on in the Chatroo area of Kishtwar district, besides the upper reaches of Billawar in Kathua and some other districts, to eliminate the foreign terrorists. A paratrooper of the Army was martyred, and seven soldiers were injured in Chatroo (Kishtwar) in an encounter between joint forces and the terrorists on January 18. Also, a top commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) outfit was killed by the security forces in the upper reaches of Billawar in the Kathua district. The Union Home Minister directed to ensure zero infiltration on the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir while carrying out aggressive operations against terrorists, their over-ground workers (OGWs) and sympathisers to usher in complete peace in the valley. (With inputs from IANS)
03 February,2026 11:14 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentSenior Scientist at India Meteorological Department (IMD), Sandeep Kumar Sharma, on Monday, stated that there has been an active western disturbance with light to moderate rainfall and snowfall across Himachal Pradesh, with the highest rainfall received across Kangra and Mandi. "In the last 24 hours, due to the active western disturbance, light to moderate rain and snowfall were recorded across Himachal Pradesh. The highest snowfall of 15 cm was reported from Kothi in Kullu district, followed by 13 cm in Kalpa, 8 cm in Sangla, and 7 cm in Jot. Light snowfall was observed in Kufri in Shimla and Manali..." he told ANI. Sharma said that various parts of Mandi and Kangra received the highest rainfall of 20 cm, followed by a dip of seven degree Celcius in temperature. "Rain accompanied by thunderstorms was recorded in parts of Mandi and Kangra, with Gohar in Mandi district receiving the highest rainfall of about 20 mm. Daytime temperatures dropped sharply due to snowfall and cloud cover, falling by as much as seven degrees Celsius in some places. Cold wave-like conditions were recorded in Manali and Mandi, where maximum temperatures remained significantly below normal. Dense fog was reported in Bilaspur, while shallow to moderate fog was observed in Mandi and Sundernagar this morning..." he added. Regarding the upcoming weather, on Monday and Tuesday, he said that the higher altitude regions such as Kullu, Spiti, Kangra, and Chamba might witness rain and light snowfall. Although for most regions, the weather will mostly remain clear from February 4 to February 8. "The highest districts like Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, and Spiti may experience rain and light snowfall. Shimla and Mandi have a slight chance of light rain in only one or two areas, that too in the late afternoon or evening. In other areas like Una, Bilaspur, Nurpur, Solan, etc., the weather will remain mostly clear. The forecast is similar for today and tomorrow. From February 4 to 8, the weather will remain mostly clear throughout the state..." he said. Further, he informed of a weak western disturbance on February 6, which will cause light snowfall in areas like Chamba and Lahore. "Only on February 6, there will be a feeble Western Disturbance that affect the region. Due to this, there has been a light snowfall in some areas in Chamba and Lahore. In the last 24 hours, the temperature of the day has fallen significantly due to the rainfall and snowfall activity..." he stated. Sharma said that the temperature will rise till February 4. After that, there will be no significant change till February 5. The temperature from February 6 to 8 will gradually rise by 2 to 3 degree Celcius. There is no possibility of any significant change in the forecast. When the weather opens up, it can fall 2 to 3 degrees, he said. Meteorologist GNRS Srinivasa Rao told ANI that the cold conditions across Telangana are heading towards the end, with temperatures rising since mid-January. Minimum temperatures now range between 14 and 19 degrees Celsius, while maximum temperatures are around 28 to 32 degrees. He said early-morning fog may continue for the next three to four days due to moist easterly winds, warning highway travellers of low visibility between 3 am and 8 am. In Hyderabad, temperatures are also climbing, though fog may persist in the outskirts and near Shamshabad airport. 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.
03 February,2026 11:13 AM IST | Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) | ANIADVERTISEMENT
-1770106970587_d.png?tr=w-436,h-271 "Relief for Indian exporters as US slashes tariffs under new trade deal. File PIC")
-1770099757392_d.png "Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Minister of State Anupriya Patel and BJP National President Nitin Nabin during the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting. Pic/PTI")
