MoS Athawale backs Budget in Rajya Sabha, takes poetic swipe at Kharge

IANS | February 12, 2026 5:50 PM

New Delhi, Feb 12 (IANS) Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale on Thursday backed the Union Budget 2026 in the Rajya Sabha, delivering a characteristically poetic endorsement of the government's performance while taking a swipe at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and other Opposition leaders.

Brazilian President to attend AI Impact Summit during next week's State Visit to India

IANS | February 12, 2026 5:01 PM

New Delhi, Feb 12 (IANS) Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will be on a State Visit to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from February 18-22, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Thursday. During his visit, President Lula will also attend the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi scheduled to be held on February 19-20.

Gujarat develops 70 urban gardens under AMRUT 2.0, 61 more in progress

IANS | February 12, 2026 4:42 PM

Gandhinagar, Feb 12 (IANS) As many as 70 gardens across Gujarat's municipal areas have been developed under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0, with work on 61 more currently underway, as part of a wider plan to expand green cover and improve urban infrastructure, officials said on Thursday.

India’s retail inflation recorded at 2.75 pc for January with 2024 as base year

IANS | February 12, 2026 4:36 PM

New Delhi, Feb 12 (IANS) India’s inflation rate based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), with the new base year 2024, for the month of January this year is estimated at 2.75 per cent compared to the same month of the previous year, according to official data released by the Ministry of Statistics on Thursday.

Broke Pakistan is splurging on pay & perks of military, civil officials

IANS | February 12, 2026 4:36 PM

New Delhi, Feb 12 (IANS) A structural issue responsible for perpetuating Pakistan’s dependence on the IMF is its failure to control expenditure, which has spiralled, at both federal and provincial levels, via salary increases far exceeding inflation for the civil, judicial, and military bureaucracies alongside expanding vehicle fleets, luxury housing, plush offices, overseas junkets, and discretionary budgets, often without mandates, sunset clauses or performance tests, according to an article in the Pakistani media.

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta meets President Droupadi Murmu

IANS | February 12, 2026 4:13 PM

New Delhi, Feb 12 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, on Thursday, met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan here and exchanged views on inclusive development, an official said.