The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is investigating the Air India flight AI-171 crash at Ahmedabad in June last year from all angles and aims to complete the investigation in a time-bound manner, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol informed the Parliament on Monday. "All probable causes leading to the accident are being investigated, and all efforts are being made to complete the investigation in a time-bound manner", in accordance with the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) rules, the Minister said in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha. "A preliminary report on the accident has been published by AAIB on 12.07.2025 and is available on their website www.aaib.gov.in. The report contains factual information based on the evidence available at that point in time and does not include any interim safety recommendations," he added. The Air India flight AI 171 crashed just seconds after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport into a medical college hostel building, killing 241 passengers and crew on board the plane and another 19 people on the ground on June 12, 2025. A preliminary report released by the AAIB on July 12 stated that both engines of the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner lost thrust after the two fuel cut-off switches moved from the ‘RUN’ to the ‘CUTOFF’ position. However, the cockpit voice recorder has revealed that one of the pilots told the other that he did not turn off the fuel control switches. The fuel switches were then returned to the RUN position just before the plane crashed. The final report has to be submitted within 12 months of the crash, in accordance with the norms fixed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu also earlier said that the AAIB’s report on the Air India crash was based on preliminary findings, and urged against reaching any conclusions until the final report is released. 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.
02 February,2026 08:19 PM IST | New Delhi | IANSThe Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on Monday said that the probe into the nearly three-year-old crash of a VSR Ventures-owned Learjet 45 at Mumbai airport in September 2023 is nearing completion, according to the news agency PTI. The January 28 Baramati air crash, which claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others, also involved a Learjet 45 operated by VSR Ventures. Baramati crash sparks questions over AAIB delay in 2023 Learjet report In the wake of the Baramati crash, questions have been raised over the delay by the AAIB in publishing the final report on the September 2023 accident involving a similar aircraft. Against this backdrop, AAIB said the investigation team has analysed all evidence and other documents related to that accident. "The investigation is in the final stages. The investigation team is trying their best to finalise the report as a top priority," the AAIB said in a statement, reported PTI. On September 14, 2023, the Learjet 45 aircraft (VT-DBL) met with an accident at Mumbai airport. Mumbai Learjet 45 drifted off runway before crash: AAIB "The aircraft had earlier taken off from Visakhapatnam airport, and while landing at Mumbai airport, it continuously drifted to the right of Runway 27 and crash-landed at the shoulder of the intersection of Taxiway W and N," the bureau said, reported PTI. According to AAIB, the investigation team prepared a detailed preliminary report on the accident, which included the initial outcomes of the flight recorders and published the report on its website. There were eight people on board, including two crew members. "The co-pilot suffered serious injuries, whereas the PIC (Pilot in Command) and six passengers suffered minor injuries. The co-pilot could not be interviewed for a long time as he was in bad condition. The aircraft was destroyed during the accident," the statement said. Meanwhile, the agency is probing the VSR Ventures Learjet 45 aircraft crash near the Baramati airstrip on January 28. "The investigation is progressing expeditiously, and the Black Box of the ill-fated aircraft has been recovered," the Civil Aviation Ministry said on January 29. (With PTI inputs)
02 February,2026 08:04 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted moderate rainfall in some districts along the western ghats on Monday, due to the influence of multiple low-pressure systems over nearby sea regions. According to the news agency IANS, officials said a low-level cyclonic circulation is currently active over the southeast Arabian Sea and adjoining areas of the Lakshadweep and Kerala coasts. Another low-level cyclonic circulation has also formed over the Comorin Sea and surrounding regions. These systems are expected to impact weather patterns across parts of southern India, bringing moderate rainfall to the Western Ghats districts. As per IANS, weather experts have advised residents in these regions to remain cautious, particularly in hilly and landslide-prone areas, as intermittent rain could affect daily activities and travel. The IMD has also issued a fog advisory for several interior districts. From Monday until the 5th of this month, moderate fog conditions are expected during the early morning hours in Krishnagiri, Tirupattur, Vellore, Ranipet, Nilgiris, and Dindigul districts. Visibility may be reduced in these areas, and motorists have been advised to drive with caution, especially during the early hours of the day. Meanwhile, Chennai is expected to experience relatively stable weather conditions. The sky over the city is likely to remain partly cloudy throughout the day, reported IANS. The minimum temperature in the Tamil Nadu capital is forecast to hover around 23 degrees Celsius, providing relatively pleasant conditions compared to the cooler and wetter interior regions. Weather officials stated that while no extreme weather warnings have been issued at present, the evolving nature of the low-pressure systems will be closely monitored, reported IANS. Any significant changes in rainfall intensity or wind patterns will be communicated promptly through official advisories. Residents across affected districts are advised to stay updated with the latest weather bulletins and follow instructions issued by local authorities. Fishermen along the Kerala and Lakshadweep coasts have also been urged to remain alert, as sea conditions may vary due to the prevailing cyclonic circulations. The current weather pattern highlights the seasonal transition phase, during which fluctuations in rainfall, fog, and temperature are commonly observed across southern India. (With IANS inputs)
02 February,2026 07:12 PM IST | | mid-day online correspondentCrude oil prices slumped more than 5 per cent to Rs 5,671 per barrel in futures trade on Monday, tracking a sharp fall in global benchmarks as a strong US dollar and weak market sentiment weighed on the commodity. On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), crude oil for February delivery declined Rs 309, or 5.17 per cent, to Rs 5,671 per barrel in a business turnover of 12,512 lots. Similarly, the March contract also depreciated Rs 294, or 4.94 per cent, to Rs 5,659 per barrel in 4,027 lots. In the international markets, crude oil futures suffered heavy losses, with the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for March delivery slipping by USD 3.38, or 5.18 per cent, to USD 61.83 per barrel. In addition, Brent Crude for April contract fell USD 3.38, or 4.88 per cent, to USD 65.94 per barrel in New York. "Crude oil prices remained highly volatile and slipped from their highs after Kevin Warsh was nominated by President Donald Trump as the next chief of the Federal Reserve. "The nomination boosted the US dollar and bond yields, which weighed on oil prices," Rahul Kalantri, Vice-President of Commodities, Mehta Equities Ltd, said. He added that weak sentiment and selling pressure in global markets also dragged crude lower. However, supply worries linked to Washington-Tehran tensions and severe winter weather in the US may provide some support on dips. "We expect crude oil prices to remain volatile in Monday's session," he 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.
02 February,2026 06:59 PM IST | New Delhi | PTINationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sunil Tatkare on Monday said the party, under the late Ajit Pawar’s leadership, had taken a collective decision to join the BJP-led NDA and would continue with the alliance. According to the news agency PTI, he said that those talking about a merger between the two NCP factions must clarify their stand on the issue. “There should be clarity on which party is merging with which,” Tatkare told reporters in Karad, located in Maharashtra’s Satara district. He was speaking while accompanying Maharashtra’s newly appointed Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Sunetra Pawar, who paid tributes at the memorial of the state’s first Chief Minister, YB Chavan, in Karad. Sunetra Pawar took oath as Deputy Chief Minister on Saturday, three days after her husband and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash in Baramati in Pune district. Before taking the oath, she was elected as the NCP’s legislative party leader during a meeting held in Mumbai. Replying to a question on his opposition to the proposed merger, Tatkare said there was no question of him or party MP Praful Patel holding a different opinion on the issue, reported PTI. “Under the leadership of Ajit Dada, we had taken a collective decision to join the BJP-led NDA, and the people of the state have stamped their approval of Ajit Dada’s decision in the Assembly elections. Those speaking of a merger should answer whether they are fine with it,” he said, reported PTI. The Lok Sabha member also asserted that the NCP legislature party was strong enough to take its own decisions, including appointing a new leader. Leaders of the Opposition NCP (SP), including its chief Sharad Pawar, have claimed that the merger talks were at an advanced stage and that his nephew Ajit Pawar had finalised February 12 to announce a merger between the NCP factions. NCP merger could not happen without BJP having information: CM Fadnavis Maharashtra CM Fadnavis on Sunday said that if talks about the merger of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions were at an advanced stage, the late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar would have informed him, reported the PTI. Speaking to reporters, CM Fadnavis said that Ajit Pawar, who died in a plane crash in Baramati in Pune district in Maharashtra on January 28, shared all important political matters with him. He said he had no information about any proposed merger date. (With PTI inputs)
02 February,2026 05:06 PM IST | Karad | mid-day online correspondentDays after the conclusion of Maharashtra local body elections, Congress on Friday claimed that all 150 party rebels in the Nagpur civic poll fray have withdrawn. However, the BJP said that 96 applications have been withdrawn. Congress said that the party is working unitedly for its mission to win 100 seats in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation, as per PTI. It said, "Around 150 Congress leaders, including over 10 former corporators, withdrew their nomination papers today and resolved to oust BJP from Nagpur Municipal Corporation and bring Congress back to power after 19 years." Amid the scramble on the last day for the withdrawal of nominations for the January 15 civic polls, supporters of a BJP candidate locked him inside his house here to stop him from taking back his candidature on Friday. Following the cluttered situation in Nagpur, the candidate, however, later withdrew from the contest. Nagpur city BJP chief Dayashankar Tiwari said 96 applications have been withdrawn after discussions with the party leadership. Tiwari further added, “BJP is once again moving as one united family in the elections,” as per PTI. BJP won Nagpur civic polls significantly The BJP, earlier in January, recorded a strong 'saffron surge' across several major cities in the state, winning a record number of seats in the Maharashtra local body elections. On the home turf of CM Fadnavis and Union minister Nitin Gadkari, the results for the Nagpur Municipal Corporation appeared to be a near-repeat of the 2017 results, leaving the Congress struggling to make significant inroads despite an aggressive campaign. CM Fadnavis talks about the development in Nagpur Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, days after the election results were announced, said that the BJP government transformed Nagpur into a modern city and plans to make it one of the best cities in the country in the times to come. Addressing a public rally ahead of the Maharashtra local body elections, CM Fadnavis said that the opposition parties neither have any policy nor strength to work like the BJP. The Maharashtra Chief Minister further added that, “There is no need to speak about the kind of development that has taken place in Nagpur because it is before everyone to see,” as per PTI. “The development that has taken place in Nagpur under the leadership of Union minister Nitin Gadkari in the last 10 years is not limited to basic facilities, but it is moving ahead in industries, logistics, IT and start-ups," Fadnavis added. (With inputs from PTI)
02 February,2026 04:14 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentUnion Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda on Monday held a comprehensive review meeting with the health ministers and senior officials of Rajasthan and Maharashtra. The meeting aimed at evaluating healthcare delivery mechanisms and fast-tracking the implementation of priority national health initiatives. As reported by news agency ANI, the discussions between JP Nadda, state ministers, and the officials centred on reinforcing public health infrastructure, improving patient-centric services, strengthening regulatory frameworks, and advancing India's commitment to eliminating tuberculosis as a public health challenge. During the review, Nadda emphasised the critical role of a strong, vigilant drug regulatory system. He further stressed that end-to-end oversight from manufacturing to last-mile distribution is indispensable to ensure quality, safety, and public confidence. Nadda urges the state to address supply-chain inefficiencies He called for the adoption of best regulatory practices and emphasised that patient satisfaction, compliance, and regulatory supervision must be pursued as a sustained and continuous endeavour. Reviewing the progress of the Free Drugs and Free Diagnostics Initiatives, Nadda further urged both the states to address supply-chain inefficiencies and close monitoring gaps, as per ANI. More Jan Aushadhi Kendras to be established The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare further emphasised the need to establish more Jan Aushadhi Kendras and AMRIT Pharmacy stores in these states. He also stated that strengthening this network would play a crucial role in further expanding access to quality, affordable medicines for the people of these states. On the contrary, representatives from Rajasthan emphasised that Ayushman Arogya Mandirs should be established on a population-based basis, particularly to address scattered habitation patterns and ensure effective primary healthcare coverage, as per ANI. According to the official statement issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Nadda highlighted that timely and quality diagnostics are foundational to effective healthcare delivery and must be robustly integrated across all levels of care: primary, secondary, and tertiary. He also noted that while clinical services depend heavily on doctors, hospital administration and regulatory compliance require professional management structures. “Particular emphasis was placed on strengthening regulatory oversight of blood banks, hospital operations, and patient safety standards,” Nadda added. Health Minister proposes sensitisation workshops for MLAs The Union Health Minister also proposed conducting sensitisation workshops for Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs), encouraging them to actively engage with Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) and Block Medical Officers (BMOs) through structured review mechanisms, as reported by PTI. He further reiterated that Jan Bhagidari, or people's participation, is crucial for strengthening accountability, improving health outcomes, and building trust in public health systems. As per the official statement, the Health Ministers of Rajasthan and Maharashtra assured JP Nadda of their full cooperation and commitment to working closely with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to strengthen implementation and improve outcomes across all priority health programmes. (With inputs from ANI)
02 February,2026 04:06 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentDuring the Motion of Thanks to the President's speech, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya's challenge to the Congress caused uproar, inviting interruption from the Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Tejasvi Surya, during his address, criticised the Congress, stating that its government has never mentioned India's civilisational ethos. He challenged Congress leaders to show any instance while reading from the previous President's addresses. "Other than once during Swami Vivekanand's 150th birth anniversary footnote, in 10 years of Congress rule, there is no mention of India's culture, tradition, civilisational values and ethos. This shows their commitment to the country," Surya alleged. "Meanwhile, in 2014, the Prime Minister promised to improve tradition and technology. The only one who has fulfilled that promise is PM Narendra Modi," Surya added. Surya's remarks met with immediate opposition from the Congress leaders, amid which Congress MP Hibi Eden rose to counter Surya. He said that PT Thomas, a former member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly, had talked "a lot" about Shri Narayan Gurudev, calling Surya's remarks an insult to him. "PT Thomas has said a lot about Shri Narayan Gurudev. How can Tejasvi Surya claim that no Congress leader has spoken about Indian traditions? He has insulted Shri Narayan Gurudev," Eden said. To Eden's statement, Home Minister Amit Shah interrupted and said that the Congress MP is "focused on Kerala and not the Parliament." "He is focused on Kerala, not here. Surya is talking about the President's mention while he is mentioning statements from the Kerala Assembly," Shah ridiculed. Earlier in his address, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya hailed the nation's growth under the BJP-led central government in contrast to the previous government. 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.
02 February,2026 04:03 PM IST | New Delhi | ANI'Metroman' E Sreedharan on Monday opened an office in Ponnani in Kerala's Malappuram district for a proposed high-speed rail project in the State. The development comes despite Kerala finding no mention in the Union Budget 2026-27 presented in Parliament a day ago regartding he 7 high-speed rail corridors. The corridors included in the central budget include Mumbai-Pune, Pune-Hyderabad, Hyderabad-Bengaluru, Hyderabad-Chennai, Chennai-Bengaluru, Delhi-Varanasi and Varanasi-Siliguri. Earlier last week, the Kerala State Budget presented ahead of the Union Budget announced its own Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) in the hope that it would be included in the Union Budget. Addressing reporters after the opening of the Ponnani office, the 93-year-old Sreedharan who served as the Managing Director of the Delhi Metro and was lauded for his role in Konkan Railway, expressed confidence about securing central Government approval for the project. He said that the project would be implemented by the Railway Ministry, with the Kerala government's views to be sought after a detailed project report (DPR) is prepared. "Time is money. We decided not to waste time," Sreedharan told reporters here today on deciding to go ahead without formal approval. The proposed high-speed rail line will run from Thiruvananthapuram to Kannur, with a maximum speed of 200 kmph. "The office has been opened, although the staff has been called...work will officially start from today. Everything will be done without causing any inconvenience to locals. The staff will be instructed about the things to be completed quickly and about the Detailed Project Report (DPR). The field work is expected to start by April and completed by June 1," he said. "The stations have been decided whether it should be elevated or underground. A station-to-station plan will be made. The locals should be brought to our side and their trust should be gained. The survey will be conducted manually. The yellow markers will not be placed for the timebeing. A decision will be taken in connection with land acquisition," Sreedharan said. Earlier today, Sreedharan's wife Radha lit the traditional lamp at the opening ceremony of the Ponnani office. Incidentally, Sreedharan contested the 2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly elections as a BJP candidate from the Palakkad seat. He subsequently quit the party and politics. Keraal is set to head into Assembly elections this year.
02 February,2026 03:15 PM IST | Malappuram (Kerala) | ANIWith the announcement of hike in the Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on futures and options (F&O) trades in the Union Budget 2026, credit rating agency ICRA projected a 16 percent spike in the STT collections for the Financial Year 2027, above the revised FY2026 estimate. In ICRA's view, these budgeted numbers assume that trading volumes will hold steady despite the higher transaction costs. "Nonetheless, some moderation in derivatives activity remains a risk, which could translate into lower trading turnover and consequently softer brokerage volumes and revenues from the derivatives segment for the securities broking industry," ICRA said. The proposed increase in STT on F&O trades, following the earlier hike implemented in October 2024, reflects the continued policy intent to temper excessive speculative activity, the report said. Prior to this proposed change, robust growth in derivatives market participation and the 60 percent STT hike in H2 FY2025 had led to expectations that STT collections would rise to Rs 780 billion in FY2026 from Rs 522 billion in FY2025, ICRA highlighted. However, measures aimed at curbing hyperactive trading dampened market volumes, resulting in an 18 percent downward revision in FY2026 STT collections from the budgeted estimate of Rs 780 billion. As announced by the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Budget 2026, the rate of STT on the sale of an option in securities has been increased from 0.1 per cent to 0.15 per cent, the sale of an option in securities where the option is exercised has been increased from 0.125 percent to 0.15 percent while the rate of STT on the sale of a future in securities has been increased from 0.02 percent to 0.05 percent. The revised rates shall take effect from the 1st day of April, 2026 and shall apply to derivatives transactions in securities entered into on or after that date. Issuing FAQs on the rate hike, the Income Tax Department on Sunday said the total volume of transaction in options and futures is more than 500 times of Indian Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and there was a justification to curb speculation. In Rupee terms, our GDP is 300 lakh crore rupees, while the volume for options and futures is more than 1.5 lakh lakh crore rupees. Therefore, there is justification for increase in rates to curb purely speculative activity in options and futures, it 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.
02 February,2026 03:05 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIThe Supreme Court has granted bail to three accused in the Pune Porsche car accident case, where two people were killed due to rash and negligent driving by a juvenile in May 2024. The accused are alleged to have helped the juvenile's family tamper with evidence by swapping blood samples. A bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan, expressed that it is saddening how irresponsible such parents are who provide their juvenile children with high-speed cars and let them indulge in celebrating with substances such as alcohol and drugs. Three accused who got bail One of the accused granted bail is the father of a juvenile passenger who was seated in the back seat of the Porsche. The other, who has been granted bail by the apex court, is a friend of the father of the other backseat passenger. Whereas the third accused is an assistant of the doctor who examined the medical evidence and is alleged to have accepted Rs 3 lakh from the parents to swap the blood sample in order to shield the juvenile driver from prosecution, reported PTI. The Supreme Court, while granting bail to the accused, noted, "Let them be produced before the trial court. They may be granted bail and shall not misuse liberty. Any violation of the condition would result in cancellation of bail, as per PTI. Justice Nagarathna, after listening to the prosecution and the defendants, said, "Celebration is not on the basis of substance (abuse) and driving at speed. Two innocent people were killed. There are innocent people sleeping on the road; this is not the first time this has happened,” as cited by PTI news. “The main ones responsible are the parents who are giving them sufficient funds for a gala time. Parents have no time to spend with their children. That's why the best thing is to give them an ATM card and a mobile phone. The law has to catch up. See, two innocent lives are lost and all these mechanisations. But it's liberty vs all this," Justice Nagarathna added. Pune car crash killed two people The 2024 Pune car crash was a fatal incident that happened on May 19, 2024, in Kalyani Nagar, where a minor driving a Porsche killed two people on a motorcycle, Aneesh Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta. The driver, who was allegedly drunk and driving an unregistered luxury car, was initially granted bail, but later, it sparked public outrage, leading to his arrest, along with his father and others, for alleged manipulation of evidence and police corruption. (With inputs from PTI)
02 February,2026 02:29 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
-1770041821211_d.png?tr=w-436,h-271 "Ahmedabad Air India crash investigation to be completed in time-bound manner. File Pic")
-1770033491646_d.png "Crude oil falls over 5 percent amid strong US dollar and weak global sentiment. Representational Image")
-1770026559302_d.png "Home minister Amit Shah rebukes Congress MP over Tejasvi Surya debate in Lok Sabha. Pic/PTI")
-1770024750457_d.png "'Metroman' E Sreedharan. File Pic")
-1770023052550_d.png "Traders react after seeing the fall in the sensex, nifty market following the Union Budget 2026. Pic/PTI")
