THE HEADLINES:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi says this year’s Union Budget reflects India’s yearning to become a developed nation; lists structural reforms, deepening innovation and simpler governance as top priorities for the next decade.
- India-AI Impact Summit to begin in New Delhi tomorrow; world leaders from twenty countries to attend the 5 day event.
- Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to represent India at swearing-in ceremony of newly elected government of Bangladesh in Dhaka on Tuesday.
- Devotees throng temples in various parts of the country to celebrate Maha Shivratri.
- Match between India and Pakistan in T20 Men’s World Cup Cricket, underway in Colombo; West Indies becomes the first team to enter Super Eights beating Nepal in Mumbai.
- And, in Women’s Cricket, India crush hosts Australia by nine wickets in the first T- 20 international of three-match series in Sydney.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi says this year’s Union Budget reflects India’s yearning to become a developed nation. In an interview to a news agency, He added that Budget is not a ‘now or never’ moment born out of compulsion but a ‘we are ready’ moment born out of preparation and inspiration.
Prime Minister listed three priorities for the next decade – more structural reforms, deepening innovation, and simpler governance. Mr Modi asserted that his government’s “Reform Express” is benefitting common citizens in a big way.
He highlighted that the benefits of a decade of defence reforms were evident during Operation Sindoor, asserting that India has to be prepared at all times to deal with security challenges. He stressed that India has a duty to modernise its defence sector in line with current realities as a country that is playing an increasingly important role in the world. Citing the allocation of 7.85 lakh crore rupees to the defence sector in the Union Budget 2026-27, Mr Modi said the outlay is 15 per cent higher than the previous budget. He further stated that it is also the biggest chunk given to any ministry or department.
Prime Minister also said that women will play the most important role in creating Viksit Bharat and initiatives taken by the government will empower them.
On the trade deals being done by India, Prime Minister remarked that political stability and political predictability have restored investor confidence in India. He added that stronger manufacturing, services, and MSMEs have enabled India to negotiate trade pacts from a position of strength. He highlighted that India’s Free Trade Agreements are designed to expand market access for MSMEs in textile, leather, chemicals, handicrafts, gems and other sectors.
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The India-AI Impact Summit 2026 is all set to get underway in New Delhi tomorrow. The five day Summit will be the first-ever global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South. World leaders from twenty nations are scheduled to attend the event. They include President of France, Emmanuel Macron, Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Spain, Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón and President of Switzerland, Guy Parmelin. External Affairs Ministry said in a statement that leaders from Bolivia, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Guyana, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Serbia, and Slovakia, are also set to participate in the Summit. The UN Secretary General and Senior Officials from several International Organizations will also join the deliberations. Our correspondent has filed this report
“The India-AI Impact Summit 2026 is guided by three foundational pillars, or Sutras, which articulate the core principles guiding global cooperation on AI. These are – People, Planet and Progress. The Summit’s deliberations are organised through Chakras or Working Groups structured around seven interconnected thematic areas. The seven Chakras include Human Capital, Inclusion for Social Empowerment, Safe and Trusted AI, Science, Resilience, Innovation, and Efficiency, Democratizing AI Resources and AI for Economic Development and Social Good. Over a hundred countries have been invited to the Summit and more than 2 lakh people have registered online. The India-AI Impact Summit 2026 strengthens India’s role as a key platform for shaping the global AI agenda. The Summit positions India as a convenor and partner in global AI cooperation, supporting shared standards, collaborative frameworks, and scalable solutions for public good. It marks a transition from dialogue to delivery, reinforcing India’s commitment to responsible, inclusive, and development-focused AI pathways. Suparna Saikia, Akahsvani News, Delhi.”
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the India AI Impact Expo 2026 in New Delhi tomorrow. The five-day expo is being held alongside the India AI Impact Summit 2026, and will serve as a national demonstration of Artificial Intelligence in action.
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External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar held a conversation with Chairman of Munich Security Conference, Wolfgang Ischinger in Germany today. In a social media post, Dr Jaishankar said, the Munich Security Conference 2026 provided a good opportunity to present views and exchange perspectives.
Dr Jaishankar also met his Romanian counterpart Oana-Silvia Țoiu on the sidelines of the Conference. Both Ministers reviewed India-Romania bilateral ties and agreed to realise its potential more fully.
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Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will represent India at the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected government of Bangladesh led by Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairman Tarique Rahman in Dhaka on this coming tuesday. External Affairs Ministry said in a statement that the Speaker’s participation at this important event underscores the deep and enduring friendship between the people of India and Bangladesh. The Ministry said, this reaffirms India’s steadfast commitment to the democratic values that bind the two nations.
As neighbours united by a shared history, culture, and mutual respect, India has welcomed Bangladesh’s transition to an elected government under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, whose vision and values have received an overwhelming mandate of the people.
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In West Bengal, a large number of voters who submitted domicile certificates are reportedly failing to meet the conditions set by the Election Commission, according to preliminary scrutiny.
Sources in the Election Commission said, nearly 99 per cent of those who have so far submitted domicile certificates as a proof of residence, are not the actual beneficiaries eligible for such documents.
The Election Commission said, a final decision would be taken only after detailed verification of each document. In accordance with the rules, voters who fail to produce valid documents will be removed from the list.
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Devotees are thronging temples in various parts of the country to celebrate Maha Shivratri. Considered one of the most sacred occasions for the devotees of Lord Shiva, the day is marked by fasting, special prayers and night-long worship at temples.
President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C P Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have extended wishes to the citizens on the occasion of Mahashivratri.
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Mahashivratri is being celebrated with deep devotion across Vidarbha, with Shiva temples witnessing huge crowds since early morning. More from our correspondent…..
“In Nagpur and surrounding areas, devotees queued up from dawn for darshan at major temples like Kalyaneshwar , Pataleshwar and 270-year-old Nagra Panchmukhi Shiv Temple. In the Nandanvan area devotees gathered to view the 51-foot-tall idol of Lord Shiva and the historic Bahuli Well. At Pratapgad, the Mahashivratri fair highlighted Hindu-Muslim unity, with devotees visiting both the grand Shiva idol and the dargah of Khwaja Usman Gani Haruni. The Mahashivratri yatra also began at Markandadeo, often called the Kashi of Vidarbha,” where lakhs of devotees have also arrived from Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. The State Transport Corporation has launched 129 Yatra Special buses to key pilgrimage sites like Gaymukh, Pratapgad, and Ambhora until Tuesday.NAMRATA PHLAKE, AKASHVANI NEWS, NAGPUR.”
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In Gujarat, a huge crowd of devotees thronged the first Jyotirlinga Somnath Mahadev Temple since early morning. The temple gates were opened for darshan at 4 am and the temple will remain open continuously for 42 hours. A grand palanquin procession was taken out in the temple premises today, in which a large number of devotees gathered. Devotees have also gathered at the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple in Dwarka.
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The Maha Shivaratri festival is also being celebrated across Nepal. The fourteenth day of the first half of the lunar month of Falgun, is considered the most auspicious for Lord Shiva and celebrated as Mahashivratri. Here is more from our Kathmandu Correspondent…..
“Lakhs of devotees queued outside Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu from as early as 3 am in the morning to worship lord shiv on the occasion of Mahashivratri. To manage the crowd, three external lines have been arranged from North gate, south gate and west gate for offering worship at Pashupatinath. The queue in each gate extends to 3-4 km long where devotees were seen waiting patiently for their turn. Large number of Security personnel and volunteers are deployed to manage the crowd. Free drinking water, food and medical camps are arranged for devotees. Sadhus and saints who have come from different parts of India to participate in the Mahashivratri celebration are provided with free food, firewood as well as dakshina all arranged by Pashupati Development Trust Authority. SWETA SINGH, Akashvani News, Kathmandu.”
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In Prayagraj, more than 4 million devotees took a holy dip in the Ganga and at the Sangam today as Magh Mela concluded on Maha Shivratri.
District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma said over 220 million devotees attended the festival this year, surpassing the 2013 Kumbh turnout in Prayagraj.
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Foreign investors pumped in 19,675 crore rupees into Indian equities during the first half of February. As per the depositories data, foreign portfolio investors, or FPIs, also invested 1,218 crore rupees into the Indian debt markets, taking the net investment into the Indian capital market to 20,893 crore rupees during the period under review.
The heavy inflows follow sustained withdrawals of 35,962 crore rupees in January, 22,611 crore rupees in December, and 3,765 crore rupees in November.
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India have set a target of 176 runs before Pakistan in their T20 World Cup match at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. India scored 175 runs for 7 wickets in their allocated 20 overs. Put into bat first, the Indian team was off to a flyer riding on a dominating show by Ishan Kishan who scored 77 runs off 40 balls while Suryakumar Yadav scored 32 off 29 balls. Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and opted to field. The Pakistan team relied on as many as six spinners who got help from the pitch ultimately controlling the run flow. Saim Ayub took three wickets giving away 25 runs. Pakistan were 25 for 3 in 3.5 overs, when reports last came in.
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In Women’s Cricket, India crushed hosts Australia by nine wickets under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method in the first Women’s T20 International of three-match series in Sydney today.
Put into bat first, Australia were bowled out for 133 in 18 overs. In reply, India were 50 for 1 in 5.1 overs when rain stopped play, well ahead of the DLS par score of 29, and were declared winners. Earlier, Shafali Verma made 21 off 11 balls before falling to Sophie Molineux.
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In the T20 Men’s World Cup Cricket, West Indies have become the first team to enter the Super Eights beating Nepal by nine wickets in Mumbai. In the group C match, Jason Holder’s 4 wickets restricted Nepal to 133 for 8 despite Dipendra Singh Airee’s unbeaten 58 runs. West Indies overhauled the target in 15.2 overs with 28 balls to spare.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:-
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi says this year’s Union Budget reflects India’s yearning to become a developed nation; lists structural reforms, deepening innovation and simpler governance as top priorities for the next decade.
- India-AI Impact Summit to begin in New Delhi tomorrow; world leaders from twenty countries to attend the 5 day event.
- Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to represent India at swearing-in ceremony of newly elected government of Bangladesh in Dhaka on Tuesday.
- Devotees throng temples in various parts of the country to celebrate Maha Shivratri.
- Match between India and Pakistan in T20 Men’s World Cup Cricket, underway in Colombo; West Indies becomes the first team to enter Super Eights beating Nepal in Mumbai.
- And, in Women’s Cricket, India crush hosts Australia by nine wickets in the first T- 20 international of three-match series in Sydney.
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