Rahul Gandhi says Congress will stand by farmers over India-US trade deal

IANS | February 12, 2026 10:58 PM

New Delhi, Feb 12 (IANS) Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged that the proposed India-United States bilateral trade agreement would adversely affect Indian farmers, claiming that the government had opened the agriculture sector to foreign competition at the cost of domestic growers.

NCW chief Vijaya Rahatkar discusses women safety in Himachal colleges

IANS | February 12, 2026 9:25 PM

Shimla, Feb 12 (IANS) Looking to promote campus safety, institutional accountability, and empowering young women in higher education, the National Commission for Women (NCW) hosted a state-level consultation on safety of girls in higher educational institutions on Thursday in Shimla, an official said.

PM Modi assures Kerala BJP councillors of campaigning in state polls

IANS | February 12, 2026 9:05 PM

New Delhi, Feb 12 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday, assured the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation from Kerala that he would visit the state to campaign for the upcoming Assembly elections, describing the party's recent victory at the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation as significant and a major milestone for the BJP in the state.

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta clears Skill Development Scheme for artisans

IANS | February 12, 2026 7:52 PM

New Delhi, Feb 12 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has approved the ‘Chief Minister Skill Development Scheme’ aimed at supporting artisans associated with khadi, handloom, cottage industries and the unorganised sector, an official said on Thursday.

Chhattisgarh: Security forces defuse IEDs, raze Maoist memorials in Bijapur

IANS | February 12, 2026 7:39 PM

Raipur/Bijapur, Feb 12 (IANS) Security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Thursday carried out anti-Maoist operations during which they detected and destroyed improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and demolished memorial structures allegedly built by Maoists to honour their deceased leaders.

30 lakh registrations under PM Vishwakarma Yojana in 2 years, against target of 4 yrs: Labour Minister tells RS

IANS | February 12, 2026 7:36 PM

New Delhi, Feb 12 (IANS) Replying to questions on the 'progress report' of PM Vishwakarma Yojana, Minister of State (MoS) for Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday that the public welfare scheme was being rolled out at much faster pace than anticipated, and has even surpassed its own target of registrations under the stipulated period.