Congress MPs on Friday held a protest in Parliament House complex demanding the resignation of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri after his name figured in the ‘Epstein Files’ released in the United States. Several Congress MPs lined up outside the Parliament building and raised slogans against Puri, while demanding answers from him. They also held a big banner with pictures of Puri and Jeffery Epstein. Puri had on Wednesday slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for “passing innuendo” against him, asserting that he had met Epstein on a “few occasions” but his interactions with him had nothing to do with the crimes the convicted American sex offender was involved in. 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
14 February,2026 09:29 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesThe tumultuous first leg of the Budget session, which saw heated exchanges over the India-US interim trade deal and unpublished memoir of former army chief M M Naravane, concluded Friday and the House will now reassemble on March 9. The three-week recess period will allow standing committees to examine allocations to various central ministries given in the Union Budget. Earlier in the day, the House was adjourned for one hour after Opposition members raised slogans demanding the resignation of Union Minister Hardeep Puri. The opposition members were also protesting against the India-US interim trade agreement. The first part of the Budget Session began on January 28 with the address of President Droupadi Murmu to a joint sitting of the two Houses. The Budget session will conclude on April 2. 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
14 February,2026 09:27 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesTamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday said his government has deposited Rs 5,000 each to 1.31 crore women beneficiaries of a government’s women entitlement scheme, a move coming months ahead of the Assembly polls that led to the opposition parties flaying his move as “fear of defeat at the hustings.” Also, the Chief Minister announced to double the monthly grant to Rs 2,000 if his DMK party was voted to power in the upcoming Assembly election. Noting that Rs 5,000 has been directly deposited into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries of the Kalaignar Women’s Entitlement scheme, he said, “You would have received R5,000 this morning. I have decided to provide the sum in view of an attempt (by vested interests) to freeze the scheme, citing upcoming elections.” So, in order to counter the move to prevent the women from receiving the monthly financial assistance due for them, he had decided to provide the sum for three months from February and in addition provide Rs 2,000 to meet their expenses during summer, he said in a video message posted on his social media platform ‘X.’ My formula has rattled DMK: Vijay TVK Chief Vijay TVK chief Vijay on Friday asserted that his offer to share power with allies has turned out to be a "political bomb" in Tamil Nadu, as that has become a demand in all alliances and "rattled" DMK President and Chief Minister MK Stalin, who has refused to share power with Congress. Assuring a social justice-driven regime if voted to power, Vijay, addressing a rally at Seelanaickenpatti, here, dramatically hit back at those who mocked at him by alleging that he merely stayed back at hom,e though claiming to have entered politics. 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
14 February,2026 09:18 AM IST | Chennai | AgenciesThe Delhi High Court on Friday said the vacancies for the posts of chairperson and members in the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions cannot be left unfilled since 2023, even though the law does not prescribe any timeline for such appointments. A bench said the Centre’s stand that the court has no power to direct such appointments is “contrary to the legislative mandate” in the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions Act. The bench asked the Ministry of Education to file an affidavit detailing the steps taken by it to fill the vacancies. 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
14 February,2026 09:15 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesThe Mizoram government will introduce experience-based curriculum in schools to replace rote learning, in a major transition in the state’s pedagogical approach, an official said on Friday. The government is also planning to introduce standardised annual exams for Std V and VIII in which students from various schools will be required to answer uniform questions, the official 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
14 February,2026 09:13 AM IST | Aizawl | AgenciesThe decision of the Maharashtra government to grant agriculture status to the livestock sector will help create large-scale rural entrepreneurship as it will enable easier access to loans and subsidies, state Animal Husbandry Minister Pankaja Munde said on Friday. She was speaking at the inauguration of the three-day Maha Livestock Expo 2026 in Parli Vaijnath here. "The move would allow livestock farmers to avail credit at agricultural rates and receive a 50 per cent subsidy for animal husbandry activities. People must take initiative in developing the sector as a sustainable source of rural employment," Munde said. Efforts are underway to transform animal husbandry into a full-fledged industry, the minister added. "Proposals for animal husbandry colleges at Baramati and Parli Vaijnath had been approved earlier with the initiative of Ajit Pawar, who would have appreciated the scale of the exhibition," Munde said while paying tribute to the leader, who died in a plane crash on January 28, and in whose memory a separate pavilion has been set up at the venue. Livestock from various parts of the country, including different breeds of cows, bulls, horses and goats, as well as several species of birds, have been showcased in specially designed pavilions at the venue, with the highlight being what the organisers claimed was the country's smallest cow. The expo showcases new technologies in animal husbandry, productivity-enhancing solutions and veterinary medicines, while experts from the field are conducting guidance sessions and lectures for farmers and entrepreneurs, officials said. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is scheduled to visit the exhibition on Saturday, 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.
13 February,2026 09:08 PM IST | Beed | PTIAn eighteen-year-old girl studying for the NEET-UG allegedly died by suicide under Dadabari police station limits here late on Thursday, an officer said. The deceased teen was a resident of Chatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh. She had arrived in Kota around two-and-a-half months ago on her own volition and had been self-studying for NEET-UG and taking offline mock tests while living in a rented room in Basant Vihar area of the city, Dadabari Station House Officer Baldevram said. Tenants and the landlord rushed her to New Medical College Hospital, where she died during treatment on early Friday, the officer said. The police have handed over the body to family members after postmortem examination and registered a case under relevant section, the SHO said, adding that police are trying to ascertain the motivation behind the extreme step. The deceased father said he last spoke to his daughter at 8 pm on Thursday and had an usual conversation on whether she was eating properly and so on. During the phone call, she did not hint at anything abnormal and spoke as usual. My daughter decided to come to Kota for NEET preparation by her own choice, and was self-studying while taking an offline test series, the father, who reached Kota after receiving information about her daughter's condition on Thursday night, told reporters outside the mortuary. 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.
13 February,2026 08:53 PM IST | Kota | PTIThe Election Commission of India (ECI) said on Friday that the documents related to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal will be preserved for the next five years. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Gyanesh Kumar, gave this direction at a virtual meeting, which was attended among others, by the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, his subordinate officers in the CEO office, all the district magistrates, the district electoral officers (DEOs), electoral registration officers (EROs) and the assistant electoral registration officers (AEROs). A CEO's office insider present at the virtual meeting said that the CEC cautioned that if the presence of any foreign national is detected on the final voters' list even after five years from the completion of the voter revision exercise, the concerned electoral officer or officers, including the DEOs, will be liable to be punished by the Commission even then. "The CEC also cautioned that in case any Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer is found liable, in that case, there will be a long-term impact on his or her annual confidential report, which might impact his or her career growth," the CEO's office insider added. At the meeting, the CEC, especially directed the DEOs to ensure that only 13 documents listed by the Commission are accepted as the valid identity proof documents furnished at the hearing sessions on claims and objections regarding the draft voters' list in West Bengal. "The CEC specially asked the DEOs to be vigilant about this matter during the phase of scrutiny of the documents furnished at the hearing sessions. At the virtual meeting, the CEC's office also flagged several instances of unlisted and ineligible documents being uploaded in the system by the EROs and AEROs concerned," the CEO's office insider said. CEC Kumar also cautioned that strong disciplinary action will be initiated against the electoral officers concerned if future violations in the matter come to the notice of the Commission. The CEO was advised by the CEC to personally look into such matters. The extended deadline for the hearing sessions on claims and objections regarding the draft voters' list is set to expire on Saturday. The phase of the scrutiny of the documents furnished at the hearing session will continue till February 21. The final voters' list will be published on February 28. 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.
13 February,2026 07:49 PM IST | Kolkata | IANSUnion Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh on Friday strongly criticised Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of spreading misinformation and trying to “instigate a civil war in the country.” Speaking to reporters, Singh questioned Gandhi’s claims on farmers’ issues and the India–US interim trade agreement. He said the Congress leader was misleading the public despite repeated assurances from the government. “What farmer issue? Lies, like Rafale. Spreading confusion among the people,” Singh said. He added that Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal had already made it clear that farmers’ interests would not be harmed. “The country's Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal have said there will be no tampering with the interests of the farmers. These people just want to spread confusion in the country. They want to instigate a civil war in the country,” Singh said as per ANI reports. Nishikant Dubey seeks inquiry against Rahul Gandhi The remarks come after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey wrote a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. In the letter, Dubey asked for a dedicated Parliamentary Inquiry Committee to investigate what he called Gandhi’s “unethical conduct” following his recent speech in Parliament. Dubey claimed it was his constitutional responsibility to raise the issue. He alleged that Gandhi had become part of a “thuggery gang to de-stabilise the country from within.” He also claimed that Gandhi is linked to the Ford Foundation, calling it a “very notorious organisation,” and alleged that it funds Gandhi’s foreign travels. Speaking to ANI, Dubey said he had moved a motion in the Lok Sabha against Gandhi. “I have moved a motion in Lok Sabha today against Rahul Gandhi on how he is misleading the nation with the help of forces like (George) Soros, who want to harm the nation,” Dubey said. He added that he has requested Gandhi’s parliamentary membership be terminated and that he be barred for life from contesting elections. Meanwhile, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that BJP MPs in the Lok Sabha would bring a privilege notice against Rahul Gandhi for “misleading the House and also making baseless statements.” Rahul Gandhi hits back Responding to the criticism, Rahul Gandhi challenged the government led by Narendra Modi to take action against him. He said the government should “bring a privilege motion” if it believes he has done anything wrong. Gandhi maintained that he is committed to raising issues related to farmers and will continue to fight for their interests. The political confrontation between the BJP and the Congress has intensified, with both sides accusing each other of misleading the public and damaging the country’s interests. (With ANI Inputs)
13 February,2026 07:24 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Friday arrested Dr Athuturi Namratha alias Pachipalli Namratha for alleged money laundering in connection with an illegal surrogacy racket. The ED’s Hyderabad Zonal Office arrested the accused under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, during the course of investigation into an illegal surrogacy racket allegedly run by her in the name of Universal Srusthi Fertility & Research Centre. The central agency said she was produced before the Metropolitan Sessions Judge court, which remanded her to judicial custody till February 26. According to the ED, during her statements recorded after being released on bail in November last year, she remained evasive and non-cooperative despite being confronted with evidence confirming her role in relation to the proceeds of crime and the offence of money laundering. The agency initiated the investigation on the basis of multiple FIRs registered by Gopalapuram police station, Hyderabad, for charges including fraud, cheating, criminal conspiracy, illegal surrogacy and child trafficking. Dr Namratha was allegedly providing childless couples with newborn babies through a surrogacy racket she had orchestrated via her clinic, along with her employees and agents. She and others were earlier arrested by the police during the investigation. She was released on bail on November 27, 2025. During the PMLA investigation, statements of Dr Namratha and her associates were recorded in judicial custody, and searches were conducted at various premises, resulting in the seizure of documents evidencing her alleged involvement in the racket since 2014. The investigation revealed that she allegedly continued the illegal surrogacy operations even after multiple cases were registered against her and her medical licence was suspended by the authorities, the ED said in a release. The ED further alleged that Dr Namratha collected huge sums of money from childless couples on the promise of delivering a baby through a surrogate mother. To project the procedure as genuine, their gametes were collected for implantation into a surrogate mother. However, the newborn babies were allegedly sourced from poor and vulnerable parents who were unable to raise the child and had sought to terminate the pregnancy. A network of agents and sub-agents was found to be involved in the racket, arranging poor and needy pregnant women and luring them with money to give up their child soon after birth. The ED claimed that Dr Namratha used to pay around Rs 3.5 lakh for a female child and Rs 4.5 lakh for a male child. Such deliveries were allegedly conducted at her hospital in Visakhapatnam after the licence of her Secunderabad hospital was revoked by the authorities. Further, the birth reports forwarded to the municipal authorities were allegedly forged and reflected the names of the childless couples as parents instead of the biological parents. The investigation also revealed that several couples were allegedly cheated and large sums were collected from them by way of cheque and cash. A portion of these amounts was allegedly paid to agents and sub-agents as commission and to the biological parents of the trafficked babies. 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.
13 February,2026 07:21 PM IST | Hyderabad | IANSPrime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on Friday shifted to his new office, Seva Teerth, from the colonial-era South Block building near Rashtrapati Bhavan on Raisina Hill. देशवासियों की सेवा के अटूट संकल्प और 'नागरिक देवो भव' की पावन भावना को साथ लेकर, आज ‘सेवा तीर्थ’ को राष्ट्र को समर्पित करने का सौभाग्य मिला।‘सेवा तीर्थ’ कर्तव्य, करुणा और ‘राष्ट्र प्रथम’ के लिए हमारी प्रतिबद्धता का सशक्त प्रतीक है। मेरी कामना है कि यह आने वाली पीढ़ियों को… pic.twitter.com/YWYUuSHtsD — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 13, 2026 The move coincided with February 13, marking 95 years since the formal inauguration of New Delhi as India’s modern capital in 1931. PM Modi arrived at the Seva Teerth complex in a motorcade along with Union ministers Manohar Lal and Jitendra Singh and senior PMO officials. He inaugurated the complex, which houses the PMO, the National Security Council Secretariat, and the Cabinet Secretariat. He also garlanded a statue of Lord Ganesha at the PMO and took decisions aimed at the welfare of women, farmers, youth and vulnerable sections. In the presence of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Singh and other senior officials, including Principal Secretaries PK Mishra and Shaktikanta Das, PM Modi signed files approving the launch of the PM Rahat Scheme and setting a new target for “lakhpati didis”. Also, under the PM Rahat initiative, accident victims will receive cashless treatment of up to Rs 1.5 lakh, officials said, adding that the aim is to ensure timely medical assistance. PM approves Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 with Rs 10,000 crore corpus for innovation The government has crossed the mark of three crore lakhpati didis ahead of the original March 2027 timeline. A new target of six crore lakhpati didis has been set for March 2029. In a boost to the agriculture sector, the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund has been doubled to Rs 2 lakh crore to strengthen the farm value chain. The PM also approved the Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 with a corpus of Rs 10,000 crore. “To power India's innovation ecosystem, especially in deep tech, early-stage ideas, advanced manufacturing and breakthrough technologies, the Prime Minister has approved the Startup India FoF 2.0 with a corpus of Rs 10,000 crore,” an official said. Earlier, Modi unveiled the plaque of Seva Teerth at the new complex, with the name inscribed in Devanagari script. The motto ‘Nagrik Devo Bhava’ (citizen is akin to God) is displayed below it. The relocation brings together the PMO, Cabinet Secretariat and National Security Council Secretariat under one complex, as part of the Central Vista redevelopment. Officials said that since 2014, the government has taken steps to move away from colonial-era names and symbols. Rajpath has been renamed Kartavya Path, Race Course Road as Lok Kalyan Marg, and several buildings have been given new names. A statement from the PMO said the new complex aims to consolidate administrative functions in modern facilities, addressing issues such as fragmented offices, coordination challenges and ageing infrastructure in the Central Vista area. (With PTI inputs)
13 February,2026 05:04 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
-1770996022766_d.png "Pankaja Munde. File Pic")
-1770995297118_d.png "Teen NEET aspirant dies by suicide in Kota. Representational Image")
-1770991870300_d.png "The Election Commission of India. File Pic")
-1770971368970_d.png "Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh. Pic/X @girirajsinghbjp")
-1770990169386_d.png "ED books Dr Namratha in surrogacy racket probe. Representational Image")
