India's recently concluded Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union is expected to deliver significant gains for several Indian sectors, including textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, agriculture, leather, and marine products, as the EU remains one of India's largest and most important trading partners. The India-EU FTA, finalised in January 2026 after long negotiations, eliminates tariffs on over 90 per cent of goods traded between the two sides. According to a sectoral analysis by credit rating agency ICRA, the agreement grants India preferential zero-duty access on 97 per cent of EU tariff lines, covering nearly 99.5 per cent of the value of Indian exports, while India will cut or eliminate tariffs on 92 per cent of its tariff lines for EU imports. The textile and apparel sector is expected to be among the biggest beneficiaries. ICRA noted that duty-free access to the EU market will place Indian exporters on par with competitors such as Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Turkey, which previously enjoyed tariff advantages. Apparel and home textiles, in particular, are expected to see improved export competitiveness and higher long-term investment. Pharmaceuticals and healthcare products are also set to benefit under the EU FTA. The EU currently accounts for around 12 per cent of India's pharmaceutical exports and 46 per cent of its pharma imports. Removal of EU import tariffs on Indian medicines is expected to boost export competitiveness, while lower EU tariffs on imports of medicines, bulk drugs, and medical devices will reduce domestic input and healthcare costs, ICRA said. The EU is a key destination for India's organic chemical exports, accounting for about a quarter of shipments. Following the FTA's implementation, Indian chemical companies are expected to improve their competitiveness against global suppliers, including those from China. Engineering goods such as iron and steel, machinery, and automotive components will also benefit from improved market access, although finished steel exports may continue to face challenges due to the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which appears to fall outside the scope of the current deal. Agricultural and processed food exports, such as tea, coffee, spices, fruits, vegetables, and marine products, will gain preferential access to the EU market. Marine exports are expected to benefit from tariff reductions of up to 26 per cent, supporting coastal employment and export growth. Labour-intensive sectors such as leather, footwear, furniture, and rubber products are also expected to see gains. At the same time, sensitive sectors, including dairy, cereals, and poultry, have been safeguarded to protect farmers and MSMEs. Merchandise trade between India and the EU grew at a compound annual growth rate of 7 per cent between 2015-16 and 2024-25, with India maintaining a trade surplus since 2020-21. "The FTA enhances India's competitiveness across labour-intensive, agricultural, engineering, services, and advanced manufacturing sectors. It also safeguards micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), farmers, and skilled professionals while strengthening India's position in European value chains. With effective implementation, bilateral trade is expected to rise well beyond the current USD 137 billion and spur investment, innovation, job creation, and long-term export growth," ICRA said.
07 February,2026 09:48 AM IST | New Delhi | ANIA delegation of transport and delivery gig workers met the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, to discuss the need for legislation from the Centre and implementations of regulations in Congress-ruled states, the Telangana Gig And Platform Workers Union's Founder President said. Speaking to ANI on Friday, Union President Shaik Salauddin said the delegation outlined the problems faced by gig workers during the half-hour meeting. Salauddin said, "This delegation included drivers and delivery workers from the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers. In Congress-ruled states, and even where we serve as the opposition, the election promises made to these workers have been acted upon. At the central level, the government is providing social-security schemes, but that is not a substitute for statutory law." Further, he lauded the Congress government in Karnataka for bringing in a legislation to aid the gig workers. "There was a detailed discussion. For about half an hour, the delegation described their problems one by one. We called on Congress governments in states where implementation has stalled to act promptly. We again congratulated Karnataka for being the first state to introduce a comprehensive law," he added. The meeting came in the backdrop of an All-India Breakdown on February 7 (Saturday), announced by app-based transport workers affiliated with the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT), protesting falling incomes and increasing exploitation in the platform transport sector. The nationwide protest will involve drivers and delivery workers associated with major platforms, including Ola, Uber, Rapido, Porter, and other app-based transport services. According to the unions, the agitation is being organised against the continued failure of the Central and State Governments to notify minimum base fares under the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025. Despite these guidelines, aggregator companies continue to unilaterally set fares, pushing workers into unsustainable working conditions and forcing longer working hours with declining earnings. 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
07 February,2026 09:47 AM IST | New Delhi | ANIA motorcyclist died after falling into a 15-feet-deep pit dug by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) for construction work in west Delhi’s Janakpuri area, police said on Friday. The deceased has been identified as Kamal Bhayani, 25, a resident of Kailashpuri. Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Darade Sharad Bhaskar said, “At around 8 am, a woman called the police control room to report that a man was lying inside a pit approximately 15 feet deep and was not moving. A police team immediately rushed to the spot.” Preliminary investigation suggests that the pit was dug at a DJB construction site, which was barricaded, a senior police officer said. “We are investigating all aspects of the incident. This road has been closed for the past few days, and the pit was dug on Thursday. It is possible that the person used to take this route every day for commuting and was unaware of the pit,” the DCP said. ‘The police did not help us’ According to the victim’s family, Kamal was returning home late Thursday night from his office in Rohini and was in touch with them. However, when he failed to reach home until late at night, they began searching for him and visited several police stations. The family said they searched for Kamal throughout the night but were informed around 8 am about his body being found in the pit. Karan, the deceased’s twin brother, said, “I got to know through a call I made to my brother’s phone, which was answered by the police. They told us they had found his body. When we reached there, we saw his body and his motorcycle lying inside the pit. There were safety measures in place, so I cannot understand how he fell. We had been searching for him since last night, roaming around different areas. The police did not help us. We went to at least seven to eight police stations, but no one helped us,” he said. Government orders probe The Delhi government has ordered a probe, Urban Development minister Ashish Sood said on Friday. Sood expressed he was deeply hurt by the death of the youth on Joginder Singh Marg. “I visited the accident site and also met the family members of the deceased. CM Rekha Gupta and the entire Delhi government stand with the family. Order has been issued for a probe of the incident, and the guilty will be punished strictly,”the minister said. Meanwhile, the DJB has constituted a high-level Inquiry Committee to ensure a transparent investigation into the incident. Delhi Jal Board officials suspended Three Delhi Jal Board engineers have been suspended after a motorcyclist allegedly fell into a construction pit dug by the water agency, cabinet minister Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma said on Friday. Verma further said that strict action will be taken against the company involved in executing the project. He added that DJB will give compensation to the family of the victim. The water minister who inspected the construction site after the incident was reported on Friday ordered the suspension of the DJB officers. “We are suspending three officers-executive engineer, assistant engineer and junior engineer, it was the duty of the three officers to monitor the progress of the work ongoing here,” Singh told reporters. 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
07 February,2026 09:45 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesThirteen Phipson’s shieldtail snakes were found by wildlife enthusiast Omkar Dhore while cleaning a small polyhouse, a type of greenhouse where a specialised polythene sheet is used as a covering material, in Vadgaon, Maval taluka, Pune district, on February 4. Dhore informed Jigar Solanki, a member of the Wildlife Rescuer of Maval organisation, on noticing movement on the floor of the polyhouse. Upon searching a small area of about three to four feet in a corner, the snakes were found one after another. Such a discovery is considered a rare occurrence. According to wildlife experts, the Phipson’s shieldtail, a fossorial, burrowing snake of the Western ghats, spends most of its life underground, coming to the surface mainly during heavy rain, flooding of burrows, or when disturbed by digging or construction activity in the area. Solanki told mid-day that this group included juveniles, sub-adults, and fully grown adults. Following the discovery, Vadgaon Range Forest Officer (RFO) Prakash Shinde was informed. Acting under the guidance of the forest department, all the rescued snakes were given a medical examination before being safely released into suitable natural habitats. The rescue operation was carried out with the assistance of Dhore, Om Dalvi, Rohit Pawar, Adesh Mutha, and Nikhil Sane. Solanki said, “Phipson’s Shieldtail snakes, locally known as ‘khaparkhavlya’, are non-venomous and prefer living underground or in moist soil. They are characterised by their shield-like tails. Finding 13 of them in such a small area is a rare phenomenon. These snakes primarily feed on earthworms and are most commonly seen above ground during the monsoon. They are often found in farms or polyhouse areas; however, being soil-dwellers, they face significant threats from chemical pesticides and ploughing. Therefore, all these snakes were relocated to a safe, favourable habitat where they face no dangers.” This species is currently listed in the 'vulnerable' category of the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, and according to experts, there is an urgent need for the conservation and further study of such elusive creatures.
07 February,2026 08:25 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavSeven including Rs 25 lakh reward carrying Maoist was killed in major operation at Gadchiroli-Chhattisgarh border, officials said on Friday. One police jawan lost his life after being seriously injured in the operation, they said. Among those neutralised was Prabhakar, the in-charge of the Gadchiroli Division Committee, West Sub Zonal Bureau, and Company No. 10 of the CPI (Maoist). He hailed from Kamareddy, Telangana, and carried a reward of Rs 25 lakh on his head, an official statement said. Prabhakar and six other hardcore Maoists were killed during an exchange of fire with Gadchiroli police, the authorities confirmed. Over the past three days of the operation, a total of seven bodies of Maoists have been recovered, including four males and three females. During the operation, police have also seized three AK-47 rifles, one SLR rifle and one .303 weapon, the statement said. It said that the identities of the remaining Maoists are still being verified. Jawan killed According to the police, a C-60 Commandos jawan Deepak Chinna Madavi (38), from Aheri, fought bravely during the encounter. He reportedly neutralised two Maoists in a heavy exchange of fire but sustained a bullet injury. He was airlifted to Bhamragad Sub-District Hospital, where he later died. He will be cremated on Saturday at his native village with full police honours. On Friday, top Gadchiroli police officials paid their final respects to the jawan who was killed after being seriously injured in the operation. Another jawan, Joga Madavi, was also injured in the same operation. He was airlifted to Gadchiroli and is currently stable and out of danger. He is receiving treatment and is expected to be discharged soon. Gadchiroli police have said they will provide more details about the identities of the Maoists and other operational aspects in a press briefing on Saturday. The operation The operation involving 14 C-60 units under the SDPO (Sub-Divisional Police Officer) Bhamragd began on Tuesday near Phodewada village on the Gadchiroli-Narayanpur (Chhattisgarh) border, following inputs about the presence of cadres of company number 10 of the Maoists, police said. The C-60 is a specialised combat unit of the Maharashtra police engaged in tackling Naxalism in the Gadchiroli.
06 February,2026 11:13 PM IST | Gadchiroli | mid-day online correspondentBJP's newly elected corporator Vandana Magre was elected unopposed as the first mayor of Maharashtra’s Jalna Municipal Corporation (JMC) on Friday, as no rival party nominated a candidate against her. Another BJP corporator, Rajesh Raut, was also elected unopposed as deputy mayor, reported news agency PTI. Both leaders will serve a 15-month tenure, after which the party plans to give other aspirants an opportunity, a local leader said. Friday was the last day for filing nomination forms for both posts. The formal announcement of their election will be made on Monday, a civic official said. In May 2023, the state government elevated the status of the Jalna Municipal Council to that of a municipal corporation. Last month’s municipal polls were the first elections of the Jalna civic body since the elevation. In the 65-member JMC, the BJP secured a majority by winning 41 seats, while Shiv Sena won 12 seats, Congress nine, the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) two seats, and one seat went to an independent. As no nominations were filed by other parties for the posts of mayor or deputy mayor, the election process was completed unopposed. The mayor’s post was reserved for a Scheduled Caste woman candidate. Magre’s name had been doing the rounds since the beginning, and she is known to be a supporter of former MLA Kailash Gorantyal, reported PTI. As decided by the BJP, the tenure of both posts will be 15 months to enable other aspirants to get an opportunity later, BJP leader Bhaskar Danve said. Magre, along with around two dozen former councillors in Jalna, joined the BJP from the Congress last year. A meeting was held in Jalna on Thursday to finalise the BJP candidates for the two posts. The meeting was chaired by senior BJP leader and former Union minister Raosaheb Danve. Elections to 12 Zilla Parishads, 125 Panchayat Samitis in Maharashtra to be held on Saturday Elections to 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis in Maharashtra will be held on Saturday. Adequate arrangements, including police deployment, have been made to ensure peaceful polling, the State Election Commission (SEC) said. Elections to most local bodies in Maharashtra have been pending since 2022. A total of 7,438 candidates are in the fray for 731 Zilla Parishad (ZP) and 1,462 Panchayat Samiti seats. (With PTI inputs)
06 February,2026 07:45 PM IST | Jalna | mid-day online correspondentPimpri-Chinchwad witnessed a historic moment on Friday as senior corporator Ravi Landge was elected unopposed as the 27th mayor of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), ending nearly four years of administrative rule in the civic body. At 41, Landge has created a unique record in PCMC’s history. A two-time unopposed corporator during the 2017–2022 term, he has now carried forward the same distinction to the mayoral post. He has become the first leader in the corporation’s history to be elected unopposed three times consecutively — twice as a corporator and now as mayor. The election is significant as it comes after the civic body remained under administrative control since March 12, 2022, following the expiry of the elected council’s term and delays in municipal elections. During this period, the corporation was administered successively by Commissioners Rajesh Patil, Shekhar Singh and Shravan Hardikar. Deputy mayor and key appointments Alongside Landge’s election, Sharmila Babar was unanimously elected as deputy mayor. Other key appointments include Prashant Shitole as Leader of the House and Bhausaheb Bhor as Leader of the Opposition. Sharmila Babar holds a Master’s degree in History and served as a corporator from Ward No. 15 (Nigdi–Akurdi Pradhikaran) during the 2017-2022 term. Known for her active participation, she recorded 100 per cent attendance in general body meetings and played a key role in several decision-making processes. She also served as Deputy Chairperson of the Education Committee and worked as ward chairperson for two consecutive years between 2019 and 2021. Political consensus signals stability The unopposed elections are being viewed as a sign of political consensus and stability, marking a new chapter in PCMC’s civic governance after a prolonged period of bureaucratic administration.
06 February,2026 06:32 PM IST | Pune | Archana DahiwalTwo police personnel have been suspended for allegedly honey-trapping a farmer and extorting money from him after he sold his land, a senior officer said on Friday, reported the PTI. According to police, the accused officers were working along with a village headman to target the farmer, who had recently received a large sum after selling his property. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shlok Kumar said the complainant, Jagdish, a farmer from Agra, alleged that he was called to a room where he was secretly filmed with a woman. He claimed that Sub-Inspector Kapil and constable Rakesh later took him to a police outpost, while his car was allegedly kept at the house of the village pradhan. The village pradhan, identified as Khubi Ram, is a known history-sheeter, police said. Farmer alleged he was forced to pay Rs 1 lakh Circle Officer Anil Kumar Kaparwan said the farmer alleged he was forced to pay Rs 1 lakh and was released only after the accused kept his car in their custody, promising to return it once the remaining amount was paid, as per the PTI. Following a preliminary enquiry, an FIR has been registered against the village pradhan, the woman involved, the sub-inspector who was also the in-charge of the police post, and the constable. Cops suspended “The two policemen have been suspended and departmental action has been initiated against them. Special teams have been formed to arrest the remaining accused,” SSP Kumar said, according to the PTI. Mumbai Police suspend cop for inaction against illegal hawkers Meanwhile, in an another incident, Mumbai Police initiated action against its own personnel, suspending a policeman for failing to act against hawkers while on duty. Assistant Police Inspector Narayan Siddhappa Anand, attached to Azad Maidan police station, was suspended after allegedly failing to take action against illegal hawkers outside the Churchgate subway area on January 27. A police source said Anand was deployed outside Churchgate station between 7 pm and 9 pm, when several hawkers were operating in the subway area. Despite being instructed by senior officers to act against unauthorised vendors, he allegedly failed to take action. Following an internal inquiry, Anand was served a suspension notice, the source added. Hawker-free subway Following the suspension, authorities claim the Churchgate subway area has largely become hawker-free, officials said. “We are taking strict action against illegal hawkers and registering FIRs where necessary. The entire area has been cleared, and regular drives are being conducted to prevent their return,” a police officer said. (with PTI inputs)
06 February,2026 06:07 PM IST | Mathura (UP) | mid-day online correspondentThe Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has announced temporary traffic halts on the Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg (Samruddhi Expressway) to facilitate the installation of overhead gantries under the highway traffic management system (HTMS). The work will be carried out in nine phases between km 300.400 and km 365.800, covering stretches in Buldhana (Lonara, Sindkhed Raja, Deulgaon Raja) and Jalna districts (Jalna taluka). Each phase will involve a complete halt of traffic on the affected carriageway for 45 to 60 minutes. Normal traffic will resume immediately once work at a specific location is completed. Scheduled traffic blocks on Maharashtra's Samruddhi Expressway February 20 Km 305.750 – Mumbai-bound lane: 12 pm to 1 pm Km 308.700 – Mumbai-bound lane: 12 pm to 1 pm Km 308.700 – Nagpur-bound lane: 3 pm to 4 pm February 21 Km 314.250 – Mumbai-bound lane: 12 pm to 1 pm Km 318.500 – Mumbai-bound lane: 12 pm to 1 pm February 22 Km 318.500 – Nagpur-bound lane: 3 pm to 4 pm Km 329.200 – Nagpur-bound lane: 3 pm to 4 pm MSRDC has appealed to commuters to plan their journeys in advance, anticipating delays of up to an hour, and follow on-site signage or instructions for diversions if necessary. The gantry installations form part of ongoing efforts to improve traffic monitoring, safety, and management along the high-speed corridor. Similar short-term traffic halts were carried out earlier this year in sections across Nagpur, Wardha, Washim, and other districts. For further details or schedule updates, commuters can refer to the MSRDC’s website www.msrdc.org.
06 February,2026 05:27 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarFinance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while presenting Union Budget 2026, announced an allocation of Rs 7.8 lakh crore for the country’s defence sector. This is a 15 per cent increase in the allocation from the Rs 6.81 lakh crore allocated for the sector in financial year (FY) 2025-26. The defence forces have been allocated Rs 2.19 lakh crore for the purchase of military hardware as part of the capital outlay in the Budget, news agency IANS reported. This constitutes a 21.8 per cent increase compared to the Rs 1.80 lakh crore allocated in FY 2025-26. Check LIVE Budget updates here The increased outlay comes against the backdrop of Operation Sindoor and the changing geopolitical landscape. The approach is also in line with the government's push for an 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat', or self-reliant India, by encouraging indigenous research and manufacturing. Custom duty to be waived off on raw materials used for aircrafts: Nirmala Sitharaman Sitharaman also proposed to waive of basic customs duty on raw materials imported for the manufacture of parts of aircraft to be used in maintenance, repair, or overhaul requirements, which will benefit units in the defence sector. Commenting on the Union Budget 2026 allocation for the sector, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, "This budget, following the historic success of Operation Sindoor, has reinforced our resolve to further strengthen the country's defence system. This budget strengthens the balance between security, development, and self-reliance." Union Budget 2026: Boost to capex in defence sector The approach of the budget is a continuation of the broader strategic shift to prioritise spending on force modernisation, air defence systems, and next-generation platforms. The increase in capex has been driven by higher allocations for fighter jets, warships, missiles, artillery guns and other state-of-the-art defence equipment. The higher allocation for the purchase of defence equipment is expected to benefit both public-sector defence undertakings and their private-sector suppliers, especially as order books across the sector have expanded sharply. HAL and Bharat Dynamics to get a major boost The public sector companies expected to benefit include Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, which has an order book mainly from the Indian Air Force; Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, which produces warships for the Indian Navy; and Bharat Electronics Ltd, which produces electronics equipment for the forces. Apart from large-scale companies, smaller private sector companies such as MIDHANI, BEML, Bharat Dynamics and various startups in the drones sector are also expected to benefit from Union Budget 2026. (With inputs from IANS)
06 February,2026 05:18 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe Supreme Court on Friday, while permitting the medical termination of a 30-week pregnancy of a 17-year-old girl, said that courts cannot force a woman, especially a minor, to continue a pregnancy. A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan noted that the girl became pregnant while in a relationship with a neighbourhood boy and had approached the court seeking termination of the pregnancy. The bench directed Mumbai’s JJ Hospital to perform the medical termination, while ensuring that all requisite medical safeguards are in place, reported news agency PTI. Pregnancy of minor ‘ex facie illegitimate’, SC focuses on reproductive choice The court observed that it had considered the right of the minor to continue the pregnancy, which, on the face of it, was “illegitimate” as she herself is a minor and was facing the pregnancy due to an unfortunate situation arising from a relationship. It said the issue was not whether the relationship was consensual or the result of sexual assault. “What has to be considered in the instant case is the right of the minor child to continue a pregnancy which is ex facie illegitimate, inasmuch as she is a minor and has to face this unfortunate situation owing to a relationship she had. The issue is not whether the relationship was consensual or whether it was a case of sexual assault. Ultimately, the fact is that the child to be born is not legitimate and, secondly, the mother-to-be does not want to bear the child,” the bench said, reported PTI. The top court took note of the medical board’s report stating that there was no threat to the life of either the mother or the child if the pregnancy were carried to full term. “If the interest of the mother is to be taken note of, then her reproductive autonomy must be given sufficient emphasis. The court cannot compel any woman, much less a minor child, to complete her pregnancy if she is otherwise not intending to do so,” the bench said. Courts must address abortion pleas to prevent unsafe practices, says Justice Nagarathna During the hearing, Justice Nagarathna referred to the difficult moral and legal questions involved and observed that if courts do not address medical termination requests, people may turn to quacks and illegal medical establishments, which would be unsafe. The court said that while the birth of a child ultimately results in a life, the decisive factor in the present case was the clear and consistent unwillingness of the minor to continue the pregnancy. “It is also difficult for us, but there is no other way. Should we compel her to give birth to a child? Because the child that will be born is also ultimately going to be a life. There is another question—if she can terminate the pregnancy at 24 weeks, then why not at 30 weeks? Ultimately, she does not want to continue the pregnancy. The bottom line is that she does not want to give birth,” the bench observed, reported PTI. It added that it often takes time to decide whether to terminate a pregnancy. “There are many cases where termination takes place beyond what is stipulated under the MTP (Medical Termination of Pregnancy) Act, 1971, and doctors refuse to carry it out. Where will such people go? To quacks and unauthorised doctors. That will be dangerous,” it said. Counsel appearing for the Maharashtra government submitted that, according to medical reports, even if the child were born at present, the baby would be alive, and one of the views taken by the high court was that the child could be given to an orphanage if the mother did not wish to keep it. The top court said it would release the operative part of the order for the benefit of the hospital, and that a detailed order would follow. (With PTI inputs)
06 February,2026 05:07 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
