THE HEADLINES :-
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, India-EU free trade deal will boost funding for Indian Startups and lift creative economy.
- Prime Minister highlights India’s evolution to world’s third-largest domestic aviation market over past decade.
- President Droupadi Murmu outlines government’s push to strengthen country’s public healthcare system; Addresses joint sitting of Parliament on first day of Budget Session.
- Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar dies in a plane crash near Baramati. Last rites tomorrow.
- Industrial production growth hit two-year high of 7.8 per cent in December.
- In Men’s Cricket, New Zealand set a target of 216 runs for India in fourth T20 at Visakhapatnam.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, the recent Free Trade Agreement between India and European Union will benefit Indian startups by improving access to funding and will also boost India’s creative economy. Mr Modi was addressing the annual National Cadet Corps (NCC) PM’s Rally at the Cariappa Parade Ground in New Delhi this evening.
Mr Modi said that India has already signed several free trade agreements with countries including Oman, New Zealand, the UK, the UAE, Australia, and Mauritius, and emphasised that these pacts will generate vast opportunities for millions of young people. The Prime Minister said, the NCC is a movement that makes India’s youth confident, disciplined and sensitive citizens dedicated to the nation. The NCC PM Rally marked the grand culmination of the month-long NCC Republic Day Camp 2026.
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Prime Minister Modi today said, India’s aviation sector has undergone a historic transformation over the past decade, evolving into the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market. Mr Modi stated this in a video message at the Wings India 2026 event which got underway at Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad today. He recalled that air travel in the country was once limited to an exclusive club but India is no longer limited to a privileged few and is becoming accessible to all. The Prime Minister said, India is positioning itself as a land of aviation opportunities, spanning aircraft manufacturing, advanced air mobility, and aircraft leasing.
Asia’s largest civil aviation event, Wings India 2026 will continue till Saturday, showcasing the rise of Indian aviation and the future of global flight.
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Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi virtually addressed the centenary celebrations of Arya Vaidya Sala Charitable Hospital in Kerala. Mr Modi said, around 12 thousand AYUSH health and wellness centers have been established across the country to provide holistic healthcare services.
Describing the India-European Trade pact as historic, Mr Modi said it will boost Indian traditional medical services and practitioners.
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The India EU Free Trade Agreement will be beneficial for the plantation crop sector, especially coffee. Speaking to Akashvani News, President of Coffee Exporters Association of India, Ramesh Rajah said that the EU is the most important market for coffee. As the FTA reduces tariffs on coffee to zero, India will be competing with other big coffee markets globally.
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The Budget Session of Parliament began today with the ceremonial address of President Droupadi Murmu to the joint sitting of both Houses. Speaking on the occasion, President Murmu outlined the Central government’s sustained focus on strengthening country’s public healthcare system. The President noted that over 11 crore people have received free medical treatment under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana since the launch of the scheme.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will table the Economic Survey 2025-26 in Parliament tomorrow.
Union Budget 2026-27 will be presented on Sunday. The first phase of the budget session will be held until the 13th of next month. The second phase will take place from the 9th March to 2nd April.
Vice President C P Radhakrishnan in a social media post said, President Droupadi Murmu’s address was wide-ranging, forward-looking, and visionary.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a social media post, said that President Murmu’s address reflected India’s remarkable development journey in recent times.
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Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has criticized the opposition over its conduct during the President’s address. Talking to the media, Mr Rijiju said, the manner in which the opposition acted today is a matter of shame for the country.
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Maharashtra is in deep mourning following the tragic demise of State’s Deputy Chief Minister and NCP President Ajit Pawar, in a plane crash near Baramati in Pune district this morning. Last rites of NCP Chief will be performed with full state honours around 11 AM tomorrow in Baramati. A Learjet 45 (VT-SSK) aircraft, operated by VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd, was carrying five people on board, including the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, two more personnel and two crew members. No one on board survived the crash. Meanwhile, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau will investigate the plane crash at Baramati Airport.
The President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker, several Union Ministers have expressed profound grief at the demise of the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister. More from our correspondent:
“Condolences continue to pour in for Maharashtra’s Dada, known for his outright speaking style, timeliness, strong hold over governance and close connection with the people. Governor of Maharashtra, Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited Baramati and paid their last respects to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. They also met Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar and cousin Supriya Sule. Following this tragic incident, the state government has declared a state mourning of 3 days. Spanning a career of almost four decades, Ajit Pawar was Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra six times. He handled various ministries including the Finance portfolio and presented the state budget 11 times. He was actively associated with several institutions and organisations in the cooperative and sports sectors in the state. Ankita Apte, Akashvani News, Mumbai.”
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Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh today said that the issue of climate change cannot be solved until the world collectively works in tackling the menace. The Minister said this while inaugurating the Technology and Innovation Conclave 2.0 in New Delhi.
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India’s industrial production growth, as measured by the Index of Industrial Production, surged to its highest level in over two years at 7.8 per cent in December 2025 on an annual basis. The data was released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation today. Manufacturing output, which carries the largest weight in the index, grew 8.1 per cent, led by a significant rise in industries.
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Prime Minister’s flagship platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation, PRAGATI, has marked a significant milestone with the successful conduct of its 50th meeting. Since its launch by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015, PRAGATI has transformed governance by enabling real-time monitoring and resolution of key infrastructure projects and public grievances through direct Prime Ministerial review. Today, in this special series, our correspondent takes a look at Kudgi Super Thermal Power Project in Karnataka.
“The Kudgi Super Thermal Power Project (Stage-I), implemented by NTPC Limited, is a coal-based thermal power project located in Vijayapura district of Karnataka. It is one of the largest power stations in South India, comprising three generating units of 800 Mega Watt each. It is one of NTPC’s largest greenfield thermal power projects in South India and plays a critical role in supporting industrial growth, urbanisation and infrastructure expansion across the region. The power generated from the thermal power plant is allocated to multiple southern States and Union Territories, under long-term power purchase arrangements. Recognising the critical importance of the project, it was reviewed under the PRAGATI mechanism on 24th of June 2015 by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The project was completed on 3rd December 2018. The successful execution of Kudgi reinforces the role of the PRAGATI mechanism as a powerful instrument for converting large, capital-intensive investments into on-ground results. Suparna Saikia, Akashvani News, Delhi. “
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In Men’s Cricket, New Zealand have set a target of 216 runs for India in the fourth T20 of the five-match series in Visakhapatnam. In reply, the hosts were 25 for 2 in 3.4 overs, when reports last came in. Put into bat, New Zealand scored 215 runs for the loss of seven wickets in stipulated 20 overs. Tim Seifert was the top scorer for the visitors with 62 off 36 balls, while Devon Conway contributed 44 off 23 balls. Earlier, India won the toss and opted to bowl first.
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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast dense fog and cold wave conditions over Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar till Saturday.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN :-
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, India-EU free trade deal will boost funding for Indian Startups and lift creative economy.
- Prime Minister highlights India’s evolution to world’s third-largest domestic aviation market over past decade.
- President Droupadi Murmu outlines government’s push to strengthen country’s public healthcare system; Addresses joint sitting of Parliament on first day of Budget Session.
- Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar dies in a plane crash near Baramati. Last rites tomorrow.
- Industrial production growth hit two-year high of 7.8 per cent in December.
- In Men’s Cricket, New Zealand set a target of 216 runs for India in fourth T20 at Visakhapatnam.
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