No seats for Cong if it doesn't sever ties with Left: CM

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) will not spare a single Lok Sabha seat in West Bengal for the Congress till the latter severs ties with the Communist Party of India (Marxist), West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said, amid a growing rift in the INDIA bloc ahead of the general elections.

Nitish: Wanted another name for INDIA bloc

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said on Wednesday that he had asked the 27-party Opposition bloc to not name itself INDIA and added that he took the initiative to push for a caste survey in Bihar, dismissing claims by Rahul Gandhi that the Congress was instrumental in implementing the landmark exercise.

Bigwigs take the front row at joint sitting

Commerce minister Piyush Goyal sat next to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi shared the only front row earmarked for the Opposition in the Lok Sabha chamber in the new Parliament building that hosted for the first time, the President's address to a joint sitting of both Houses.

CISF joins Delhi cops to monitor security at Parliament entrance

The Delhi Police and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on Wednesday jointly manned the security at the gates of the Parliament complex, which opened for the Budget session, officials familiar with the matter said, adding this was the first time CISF personnel were deployed on the premises.

Murmu's speech was an advertisement of Modi govt, says Oppn

Several opposition leaders on Wednesday criticised President Droupadi Murmu's last address to the joint sitting of Parliament ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge describing her speech as a \"propaganda\" and \"advertisement\" of the Narendra Modi government.

Oppn MPs causing disruptions in House must introspect: Modi

The Budget session of Parliament is an opportunity for those members who frequently disrupted proceedings to introspect on their conduct and express remorse by contributing to nation-building, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday as he hurled criticism at the Opposition over the acrimonious Winter session marked by the suspension of an unprecedented number of members.

Soren files FIR against ED over searches at his Delhi residence

Acting on a complaint from Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, the state police on Wednesday registered a first information report (FIR) against senior Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials over searches conducted by the federal agency at his Delhi residence, officials familiar with the matter said.

Man at forefront of stir for J'khand tipped to be CM

Champai Soren, 68, transport minister in the outgoing chief minister Hemant Soren's cabinet, popularly known as \"Jharkhand Tiger\" for his vocal advocacy for a separate state of Jharkhand in the 1990s, will be the new chief minister of the state.

HC pulls up Delhi over facilities in its hospitals

The Delhi high court on Wednesday pulled up the Delhi government for presenting an \"incorrect picture\" regarding the functioning of CT scan machines and the availability of beds in its hospitals, saying patients were being denied admission due to lack of essential equipment and beds.

Hry govt begins work on Global City project ph 1

The Haryana government has begun work on Phase 1 of the Global City project, a mixed land use project in Gurugram on 1,000 acres along the Dwarka Expressway that will comprise residential and commercial spaces with modern infrastructure and utilities, officials familiar with the development said on Wednesday.

ED summons Kejriwal on Feb 2, but CM to hold stir at BJP's HQ

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued summons to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, asking him to appear before it on February 2 in connection with its investigation into a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise police 2021-22, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

MCD to set up integrated funeral facility for 3 faiths

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has initiated the development of a funeral complex in Rohini that will cater to Hindus, Muslims, and Christians the Capital's first integrated facility for the last rites of three major religions - officials aware of the matter said on Wednesday.

Jan ends on a rainy note, max temp drops to 18.6°C

The Capital recorded its first notable spell of rain this year on Wednesday which pushed the maximum temperature down by 2.8 degrees and ended what was a dry and unusually cold January with a reading of 18.6 degrees Celsius (C), the India Meteorological Department said. It was 21.4°C on Tuesday.

Must protect both foetus, mom: SC in abortion case

The Supreme Court on Wednesday turned down a request by a 26-year-old woman seeking permission to abort her 32-week pregnancy, citing mental trauma and depression after the death of her husband.

IIM-L reaches out to alumni with 72 still to be placed

Dozens of students in the batch graduating this year from one of India's top B-schools, Indian Institute of Management Lucknow (IIM-L), are yet to be find a job, according to an appeal sent to the institute's alumni seeking help, suggesting an industry downturn could hit prospects of jobseekers.

Budget may focus on welfare, infra, adhere to fisc glide path

{ MACROECONOMY } INTERIM BUDGET 2024

Debate, don't disrupt, Modi advises MPs ahead of session

The budget session of Parliament is an opportunity for those members who frequently disrupted proceedings to introspect on their conduct and express remorse by contributing to nation-building, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday as he hurled criticism at the Opposition over the acrimonious last session marked by the suspension of an unprecedented number of members.

Mamata slams Cong as yatra enters Malda

{RIFT IN INDIA ALLIANCE} SEAT-SHARING TUSSLE

Hindu prayers allowed in Gyanvapi basement

The Varanasi district court on Wednesday allowed Hindus to offer prayers at the southern cellar of the Gyanvapi Masjid in the city, marking a decisive turn in the decades-old dispute that will have reverberations not only on a raft of linked suits over the shrine but also in similar petitions over a mosque in Mathura.

ED arrests Hemant; aide Champai may take over

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Hemant Soren on money laundering allegations minutes after he resigned as chief minister of Jharkhand on Wednesday, even as the state's ruling alliance picked trusted aide and sitting minister Champai Soren as its next leader and said he enjoyed a comfortable majority.

Akshdeep rewrites 20km NR, Suraj qualifies for Olympics

Punjab's Akshdeep Singh rewrote his own 20km race walking national record en route winning the India Open Race Walking Competition while second-placed Suraj Panwar from Uttarakhand made the cut for Paris Olympics, in Chandigarh on Tuesday.

India waits for proactive captain Sharma to turn up for Vizag Test

One Test down, onus on India captain to show more initiative with bowlers and set a batting precedent

Shipping may get infra tag in boost for vessel ownership

The Union government is working on a plan to grant infrastructure status to the shipping industry, including coastal shipping, two people aware of the development said.

'Lower VAT on aviation fuel may help Jewar'

The Delhi-National Capital Region's (NCR) second airport in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh, is expected to benefit from significantly lower value-added tax on aviation fuel, according to industry executives and experts.

Missing Indian student found dead in US

An Indian student studying at Purdue University in the US state of Indiana has been found dead on the university campus, the varsity statement said.

Drive to digitise agri banks commences

Union minister for home and cooperation, Amit Shah, on Tuesday launched a ₹225 crore drive to computerise over 1,000 agriculture and rural development banks and offices of the registrar of cooperative societies in states and Union territories across the country.

2 killed, 3 injured as fresh clashes erupt in Manipur

At least two people were killed, three injured and two others went missing after armed groups from both Kuki and Meitei communities engaged in a heavy gunfight in ethnic strife-torn Manipur on Tuesday, people familiar with the matter said.

Flight takes off without nod, 2 pilots grounded

Two IndiGo pilots were taken off the roster after the airline's flight from Delhi to Azerbaijan capital Baku allegedly took off on Sunday night without clearance from the air traffic controller, officials aware of the matter said on Tuesday.

SC seeks religion-wise data of students in key institutions

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Union government to give religion-wise data of students studying across institutions deemed to be of national importance after the latter argued that the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) cannot demand minority status owing to its special character as an educational institution.

Video of locals facing off with PLA in Ladakh comes to fore

THE 6.5-MINUTE VIDEO SHOWS HOW AROUND SIX TO EIGHT PLA SOLDIERS ARRIVED IN A COMBAT VEHICLE AND BLEW SIRENS IN TAKLUNG CHOROK VALLEY