THE HEADLINES :-
- Government approves renaming of Kerala as Keralam; Also gives nod to three multitracking railway projects worth over nine thousand crore rupees across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand.
- Supreme Court allows deployment of judicial officers from Jharkhand and Odisha for claim verification under SIR in West Bengal.
- National Round Table Conference of Election Commission of India and State Election Commissioners concludes in New Delhi with adoption of National Declaration 2026.
- Four top Naxal leaders surrender before police in Hyderabad.
- Delhi court sends Youth Congress president to four-day police custody in connection with protest at India AI Impact Summit.
- In ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup, Pakistan set a target of 165 runs for England in a Group 2 Super 8 match at Pallekele in Sri Lanka.
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The Union Cabinet today reiterated its commitment to make Seva Teerth a global example of sensitive, accountable, and citizen-centric governance. Briefing media in New Delhi after the Cabinet meeting, Information and Broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed that the Cabinet also approved the proposal for alteration of the name of State of Kerala as Keralam.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved three multitracking railway projects covering eight districts across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand. The total estimated cost of the projects is nine thousand 72 crore rupees and will be completed by 2030-31. Mr Vaishnaw said, the projects are doubling of the Gondia-Jabalpur railway line, addition of the third and fourth lines between Punarakh and Kiul in Bihar and also the third and fourth lines between Gamharia and Chandil in Jharkhand.
The Minister said, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave its approval for the development of the Civil Enclave at Srinagar International Airport. The Cabinet approved extension of existing North-South corridor from GIFT City to Shahpur of Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation Limited. The Minister said, the Cabinet approved enhanced delegation to POWERGRID from the extant guidelines on delegation of powers to Maharatna CPSEs for increasing equity investment threshold from five thousand crore rupees per subsidiary to seven thousand 500 crore rupees per subsidiary. Mr Vaishnaw said, the Cabinet approved Minimum Support Prices MSP of Raw Jute for Marketing season 2026-27. He said, the MSP of Raw Jute (TD-3 grade) has been fixed at five thousand 925 rupees per quintal for 2026-27 season.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two day State visit to Israel from tomorrow. This will be the second visit of Prime Minister to Israel. During the visit, the Prime Minister will meet his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu. Ministry of External Affairs said, the two leaders will review the significant progress made in India – Israel Strategic Partnership. They will discuss further opportunities in various areas of cooperation, including science and technology, innovation, defence and security, agriculture, water management, trade and economy, and people to people exchanges. The leaders are also expected to exchange perspectives on regional and global issues of mutual interest. Mr Modi will also call on President of Israel Isaac Herzog. Our Special correspondent Dheeraj Kakadia has filed this report from Jerusalem:
“Immediately after landing in Tel Aviv, the Prime Minister will be holding a private meeting with his Israeli counterpart, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu. Rest of all the programmes of the Prime Minister are organised in Jerusalem only. On day one the main programme is to address the Israeli Parliament, Knesset. Narendra Modi will be the first Indian leader to address the Israeli Parliament. He will also be participating in a community event, where he is likely to interact with the people of Indian origin settled in Israel. The Prime Minister is scheduled to take part in a tech. exhibition. Day two will begin with the Prime Minister’s visit to Yad Vashem, a Holocaust memorial. Thereafter, he will depart for a meeting with the President of Israel, Mr Isaac Herzog. After bilateral talks with the President, the Prime Minister will be having an extended meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Both leaders will be finalising documents of agreement, and an exchange of agreement in the presence of both leaders. After this Prime Minister is scheduled to depart for Tel Aviv and there from India.DHIRAJ KAKADIA,AKASHVANI NEWS, JERUSALEM.”
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The Supreme Court has permitted the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court to deploy civil judges and requisition judicial officers from neighbouring Jharkhand and Odisha to deal with 80 lakh claims and objections under the Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls in West Bengal. A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant took note of a letter from the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice stating that 250 district judges engaged in the exercise would require around 80 days to complete the verification process. Considering the time constraints, the apex court allowed the deployment of additional civil judges and asked the Calcutta High Court to seek judicial officers of similar rank from Jharkhand and Odisha. The court directed the Election Commission to bear the expenses for deploying officers from the two states. It also permitted the poll panel to publish the final electoral roll on the 28th of February and clarified that supplementary lists may be issued as verification progresses.
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The National Round Table Conference of the Election Commission of India, ECI and State Election Commissioners, SECs concluded in New Delhi with the unanimous adoption of the National Declaration 2026. The declaration said, preparation of pure electoral rolls are the bedrock of democracy and transparent conduct of elections in an efficient manner strengthen democracy. It said, ECI and SECs will work together to synergise the laws relating to the elections to panchayats and municipal Bodies with those relating to the elections to the Parliament and State Legislatures. Earlier today, in his address Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar emphasized on pure electoral rolls.
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In Telangana, four top Naxalite leaders today surrendered before the police in Hyderabad. In a blow to the Maoist leadership, Tippiri Thirupati Devuji, Politburo Member; Malla Raji Reddy Sangram, Central Committee Member; Bade Chokka Rao Damodar, Telangana State Committee Secretary; and Nune Narsimha Reddy Ganganna, State Committee Member surrendered before DGP B. Shivadhar Reddy. The DGP handed over 25 lac rupees cheque to each surrendered Naxalite leader. More from our correspondent:
In a significant blow to the Maoist movement, the undeclared Secretary of the Maoist Central Committee, Tippiri Tirupati alias Devji, surrendered before Telangana DGP Shivadhar Reddy today. He was accompanied by other top leaders, including Bade Chokkarao, Malla Rajireddy, and Nune Narasimha Reddy. During a press conference, the DGP revealed that 591 individuals associated with the movement have joined the mainstream over the past two years. He noted that only 11 active members originally from Telangana remain underground, some of whom are already in discussions with authorities to surrender. The DGP credited this trend to the call for peace made by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy during the Police Martyrs’ Memorial Day. He reaffirmed that the state government would immediately provide the surrendered individuals with their designated rewards and rehabilitation. MAHESH SRINIVASA,AKASHVANI NEWS,HYDERABAD.”
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A Delhi court today sent Indian Youth Congress (IYC) president Uday Bhanu Chib to four-day police custody in connection with a protest at the India AI Impact Summit. Judicial Magistrate Ravi allowed four days of custody to the police to question Chib over his role in the AI Summit protest. Earlier on Friday, police arrested Krishna Hari, national secretary of Youth Congress from Bihar, Kundan Yadav, state secretary of Bihar, Ajay Kumar, state president of Uttar Pradesh and Narasimha Yadav from Telangana for holding a shirtless protest inside an exhibition hall at the Summit. The protesters also allegedly engaged in a protracted scuffle with security personnel and police staff deployed at the venue.
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President Droupadi Murmu called upon the private sector, philanthropists, NGOs and other stakeholders to join hands to build India as a healthcare destination and achieve the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. The President inaugurated the nationwide initiative titled ‘Saving Lives and Building a Healthier Bharat’ on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of P. D. Hinduja Hospital at Lok Bhavan in Mumbai. Addressing the gathering, the President underscored the importance of health and highlighted various initiatives by the Government in this regard, including the Ayushman Bharat scheme, under which 1.80 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been established across the country.
The President also highlighted Mission Indradhanush, TB Mukt Bharat, and the PM RAHAT scheme among others. She stated that seats in MBBS and medical colleges have been increased, and AIIMS and medical colleges are being established in various places.
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The India AI Impact Summit and Expo in New Delhi provided a common platform for policymakers, industry leaders, innovators and startups to exchange ideas and showcase AI-driven solutions. The summit witnessed participation from over 5 hundred AI leaders, more than hundred founders and Chief Executive Officers, 150 academicians and researchers, and nearly 400 Chief Technical Officers. The Summit and Expo recorded an overwhelming response, with a footfall of over five lakh visitors. Talking to Akashvani News, Professor Rajeev Ahuja, Director of IIT Ropar, said that the India AI Impact Summit was the first of its kind and was highly beneficial for the youth of the country.
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In the ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup, chasing a target of 165 runs set by Pakistan, England were 30 for 2 in 4.1 overs in a Group 2 Super 8 match at Pallekele International Stadium in Sri Lanka, when reports last came in. Earlier, electing to bat first, Pakistan scored 164 losing 9 wickets in stipulated 20 overs.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN :-
- Government approves renaming of Kerala as Keralam; Also gives nod to three multitracking railway projects worth over nine thousand crore rupees across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand.
- Supreme Court allows deployment of judicial officers from Jharkhand and Odisha for claim verification under SIR in West Bengal.
- National Round Table Conference of Election Commission of India and State Election Commissioners concludes in New Delhi with adoption of National Declaration 2026.
- Four top Naxal leaders surrender before police in Hyderabad.
- Delhi court sends Youth Congress president to four-day police custody in connection with protest at India AI Impact Summit.
- In ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup, Pakistan set a target of 165 runs for England in a Group 2 Super 8 match at Pallekele in Sri Lanka.
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