February 09, 2026
58 articles published on this date
Top IT Firms Earmark Labour Code Costs at Under 3% of Payroll
Major Indian IT services companies have set aside provisions for increased payroll costs arising from the implementation of India's four Labour Codes, with...
PMO Directs Lok Sabha Secretariat to Bar Parliamentary Questions on PM CARES, Relief and Defence Funds
In a communication dated January 30, 2026, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) directed the Lok Sabha Secretariat that questions, Zero Hour notices, and...
Kuki-Zo-Hmar Peace Deal Enters Final Stage on FNTA Model
The peace deal between the Centre and Kuki-Zo-Hmar armed groups in Manipur has entered its final stage, with an understanding reached on feasible terms. The...
Why the Opposition Moved a No-Confidence Motion Against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla
Congress and allied Opposition parties formally moved a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla during the Budget Session of Parliament in...
Union Secretaries Now Assessed Through Annual Administrative Scorecards
The Cabinet Secretariat has introduced annual administrative scorecards for Secretaries in the Central government — the first time top bureaucratic...
Amit Shah Reiterates March 2026 Deadline to Eradicate Naxalism, Separates Maoist Issue from Development
Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated the government's commitment to eliminating Naxalism from Chhattisgarh by March 31, 2026, while explicitly rejecting...
INCOIS Launches Jellyfish Tracking Portal, Storm Surge Advisory System, and SAMUDRA 2.0 App
The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) launched three new ocean information services on its 27th Foundation Day (9 February...
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Steps Aside After Opposition's No-Confidence Motion
The Opposition, led by Congress and supported by over 100 Members of Parliament, submitted a formal no-confidence motion notice against Lok Sabha Speaker Om...
Fresh Violence in Manipur's Ukhrul District Displaces Villagers
Fresh ethnic violence erupted in Manipur's Ukhrul district on 8-9 February 2026, with clashes between Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities in and around Litan...
Railway Board Directs NHSRCL to Revise DPRs for New High-Speed Rail Corridors
The Railway Board has directed the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) to revise Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for new high-speed rail...
Andaman and Nicobar to Get Next-Generation Tsunami Monitoring Regional Service Centre
India plans to establish a Rs 300-crore Regional Service Centre (RSC) at Vijaynagar on Swaraj Dweep in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to strengthen tsunami...
After New START Expiry: The Need for New Nuclear Arms Control Mechanisms
The New START treaty — the last remaining US-Russia nuclear arms control agreement — expired on February 5, 2026 The expiration removes binding limits on US...
Why Government Borrowing Costs Remain High Despite RBI Rate Cuts
Despite the RBI's monetary easing cycle, government borrowing costs have not declined proportionately, with bond yields remaining elevated due to twin...
PMO Declares Questions on PM CARES, PMNRF, and NDF Not Admissible in Lok Sabha
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) informed the Lok Sabha Secretariat that questions on PM CARES Fund, the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF), and...
US-Iran Nuclear Talks: Negotiations Amid Military Buildup
The United States and Iran engaged in nuclear talks in Oman in early February 2026, with a second round planned in Geneva Negotiations proceed alongside a...
RBI Directs Banks to Provide Collateral-Free Loans Up to Rs 20 Lakh for MSEs
The Reserve Bank of India has issued a directive mandating banks not to insist on collateral security for loans up to Rs 20 lakh extended to units in the...
Gross NPAs of Scheduled Commercial Banks Reach Historic Low of 2.15%
The Finance Ministry announced that Gross Non-Performing Assets (GNPAs) of Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) for domestic operations reached a historic low...
Parliament as a Forum for Debate: The Erosion of Parliamentary Norms
An editorial highlighted the declining standards of parliamentary debate and the need for Parliament to function as the primary forum for discussing...
Income Tax Department Invites Public Feedback on Draft Rules Under New Income-tax Act, 2025
The Income Tax Department has invited stakeholder views on draft rules and forms to be notified under the new Income-tax Act, 2025, which takes effect 1...
Concerns Over Amnesty Schemes Legitimising Illegal Wildlife Possession
An editorial has raised concerns that the Forest Department's amnesty scheme for declaring wildlife possession risks creating a legal pathway for poachers...
India and Malaysia Reset Bilateral Ties During PM Modi's Visit
PM Modi undertook an official visit to Malaysia on 7-8 February 2026, at the invitation of PM Anwar Ibrahim This was Modi's third visit to Malaysia and the...
India-US Trade Deal: Key Unknowns on Oil, Tariffs, and Agriculture
Opposition leaders, farmers, and trade experts have raised concerns about the interim India-US trade agreement Key unanswered questions centre on three...
Rising Anti-India Sentiment Among Bangladesh's Youth: Bilateral Ties at a Historic Low
Anti-India sentiment is rising among Bangladesh's youth, pushing bilateral ties to a new low The deterioration followed the ouster of Sheikh Hasina in...
DPIIT Revises Startup Framework to Formally Recognise Deep Tech Startups
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) issued a notification on 6 February 2026 replacing the 2019 startup recognition...
Ethanol Blending Beyond E20 and Flex-Fuel Vehicle Push to Address Distillery Overcapacity
The All-India Distillers Association (AIDA) chief stated that the industry holds a cumulative ethanol production capacity of 200 crore litres and advocated...
RBI Proposes Major Overhaul of Kisan Credit Card Framework
The Reserve Bank of India has released draft norms proposing a comprehensive revamp of the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) framework, extending the card validity...
Delhi HC Pulls Up MCD for Failing to Publish Civic Records Under RTI Act
The Delhi High Court, in a PIL filed by the Centre for Youth, Culture, Law and Environment, pulled up the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for failing...
India Assumes Kimberley Process Chairmanship: Opportunity to Reform Global Diamond Governance
India assumed the chairmanship of the Kimberley Process (KP) for 2026, positioning it at the forefront of global diamond governance This is the third time...
ISRO Identifies Mons Mouton as Landing Site for Chandrayaan-4 Lunar Sample Return Mission
ISRO has identified a specific landing site designated MM-4 in the Mons Mouton region near the lunar south pole for the Chandrayaan-4 mission. Scientists...
NHAI's Raajmarg InvIT Wins Five Highway Concessions Worth Rs 9,500 Crore
NHAI's public Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) — Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust (RIIT) — has won five national highway concessions spanning...
Capital Goods Dominate India-US Import Plan, Limiting Impact on Labour-Intensive Sectors
The India-US interim trade deal's $500 billion purchase commitment is expected to be dominated by capital goods rather than consumer goods or agricultural...
Aadhaar Biometric Lock: UIDAI's Defence Against Biometric Fraud
UIDAI highlighted its biometric lock feature as a key safeguard against Aadhaar-linked fraud, allowing users to disable fingerprint and iris-based...
EPFO to Appoint New Partner Agencies and Replace Custodian After 15 Years
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is preparing to empanel new partner agencies and appoint a fresh custodian to replace Standard Chartered...
India-US Trade Deal: Conditionality and Sovereignty Concerns
Analysts have compared the India-US trade deal to an IMF bailout due to its conditionality structure President Trump announced a monitoring committee led by...
India-US $500 Billion Trade Deal: Three Areas Where Sustainability Remains Uncertain
Analysts have identified three areas where the India-US trade deal may face sustainability challenges India's $500 billion purchase target over five years...
India Announces $175 Million Special Economic Package for Seychelles, Deepens Indian Ocean Maritime Partnership
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a $175 million special economic package for Seychelles during a state visit by Seychelles President Dr. Patrick...
India Strengthens Maritime Security Ties with Seychelles Amid Indian Ocean Competition
Seychelles President Patrick Herminie undertook his first state visit to India after assuming the presidency — signalling New Delhi's priority for the...
India to Maintain Multiple Energy Supply Sources, Says Foreign Secretary
Foreign Secretary Misri stated that India's approach is to 'maintain multiple sources of supply' for energy procurement He highlighted India's commitment to...
RBI Removes VRR Investment Cap, Merges with General Route for FPI Debt
The RBI has eliminated the Rs 2.5 trillion investment cap under the Voluntary Retention Route (VRR) for Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) and merged it...
Moody's Projects India's GDP to Grow 6.4% in FY27, Fastest Among G20 Economies
Moody's Ratings, in a report released on February 9, 2026, projected India's real GDP to grow at 6.4% in FY2026-27, making it the fastest-growing G20...
US Tariff Cuts to Revive Labour-Intensive Exports and Double India's Shipments
Following the India-US interim trade deal, labour-intensive export sectors expect US tariff cuts to revive summer booking cycles and potentially double...
India's Russian Oil Imports Set to Halve Following White House Trade Order
The White House stated in an executive order that 'India has committed to stop directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil' Import tariffs on...
New Dragonfly Species Lyriothemis keralensis Described from Kerala
A new dragonfly species, Lyriothemis keralensis, commonly named the Slender Bombardier, has been formally described from Kerala after a decade-long...
Foreign Secretary Misri's Calibrated Response on Russian Oil: Diplomatic Signalling and India's Multi-Alignment
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that oil imports are decided by 'adequate availability, fair pricing, and reliability of supply' He did not directly...
Removal of Lok Sabha Speaker: Constitutional Provisions Under Article 94
The Opposition introduced a resolution to remove Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, alleging partisan conduct and silencing of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi...
Industrial Relations Code 2020 and Job Security in the AI Era
An analysis has highlighted the need for the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 to be recalibrated to balance job security concerns arising from AI-driven...
India to Support Steel Exporters Facing EU Carbon Border Tax
India's federal commerce secretary confirmed the government will provide support to steel exporters adversely affected by the European Union's Carbon Border...
New Income Tax Rules Under the Income-tax Act 2025: PAN Threshold and Meal Allowances Raised
The draft Income-tax Rules, 2026, under the new Income-tax Act, 2025 (which takes effect 1 April 2026), propose to streamline tax compliance by increasing...
Gujarat Signs Letter of Intent with Starlink for Satellite Internet in Remote Areas
The Gujarat state government exchanged a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited, a subsidiary of SpaceX, for...
India-US Trade Deal to Double Tiruppur Garment Exports to Rs 30,000 Crore
Tiruppur garment exporters expect US-bound shipments to double to Rs 30,000 crore within three years following the India-US interim trade deal. The deal...
No-Confidence Motion Against Lok Sabha Speaker: Parliamentary Procedure and Historical Precedents
Opposition parties announced plans to introduce a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla amid ongoing disruptions in Parliament during the...
Goldman Sachs Raises India's 2026 GDP Growth Forecast to 6.9% on US Trade Deal
Goldman Sachs Research upgraded India's calendar year 2026 GDP growth forecast to 6.9% (from its earlier estimate), citing the positive impact of reduced US...
India's Energy Purchases Guided by National Interest, Says Foreign Secretary Misri
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that India's energy purchases will be dictated by 'national interest,' including 'adequate availability' and...
India Announces $175 Million Economic Package for Seychelles
India announced a special economic package of $175 million for Seychelles during the state visit of Seychelles President Patrick Herminie to New Delhi The...
Moody's Projects India as Fastest-Growing G20 Economy at 6.4% in FY27
Moody's Ratings projected India's GDP to grow at 6.4% in FY2026-27, positioning it as the fastest-growing economy among G-20 nations. Growth is expected to...
India's Edible Oil Production Covers Only 40% of Domestic Demand
The Indian Vegetable Oil Producers' Association (IVPA) estimated India's domestic edible oil production at 9.6 million tonnes in the 2025-26 marketing year...
India Resumes Venezuelan Crude Oil Imports as IOC and HPCL Buy 2 Million Barrels
State-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) jointly purchased 2 million barrels of Venezuelan Merey crude oil...
RBI Mandates Collateral-Free Loans Up to Rs 20 Lakh for Micro and Small Enterprises
The RBI issued an amendment to its Master Direction on Lending to MSME Sector (RBI/2025-26/206), effective 1 April 2026, mandating that banks must not...