Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced a significant milestone in the Bullet Train Project with the breakthrough of the second mountain tunnel in Palghar, Maharashtra.

This tunnel is 454 metres long with a width of 14.4 metres, and will accommodate both up and down tracks for the Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train project.

This is the second mountain tunnel breakthrough in the Palghar district within a span of one month for the Bullet Train project, the first being MT-5 near Saphale on 2nd January 2026.

The mountain tunnel (MT-6) was excavated from both ends using New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), a cutting-edge drill-and-controlled blast method. The excavation is completed within 12 months. A mountain tunnel breakthrough marks a key engineering milestone when excavation teams digging from opposite ends of the tunnel finally meet at the center, forming a continuous passage through the mountain.

The minister congratulated the entire high-speed rail team for their remarkable progress. He said the pace at which the team is working has instilled new confidence in the country. The project is drawing global attention and appreciation due to several new innovations in construction and technology. He highlighted that many advanced construction technologies and large machines being used for the project are manufactured in India.

The minister stated that the Gujarat section of the bullet train project is expected to begin commercial operations next year. He added that high-speed rail operations are expected to extend up to Thane by 2028, with the corridor reaching Mumbai by 2029.

NATM is favoured for its flexibility in complex geological conditions like in Palghar district and irregular tunnel shapes where tunnel boring machines are not that suitable. This process does not require very heavy machinery and allows real time adaptation using shotcreting, rock bolts and lattice girders.

Workers’ safety inside the tunnel was ensured using various geotechnical instruments, real time monitoring, efficient fire safety measures, proper ventilation, and controlled access arrangements.

‎Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being “frightened and compromised”, alleging that he was being deliberately prevented from speaking in Parliament to avoid scrutiny of sensitive issues such as the Epstein files, the Adani case in the United States, and India’s recently concluded trade deal with Washington.

‎Speaking to reporters in the Parliament House complex after he said he was stopped from participating in the discussion on the President’s Address, Gandhi claimed that the Lok Sabha had been adjourned for the fourth time since Monday to prevent him from raising these matters.
‎“The Prime Minister is scared. He is frightened and compromised,” Gandhi alleged. “He is afraid of me speaking certain things in Parliament — which he knows and I know.”

‎The Congress leader suggested that possible future disclosures linked to the Epstein files, along with ongoing legal proceedings involving industrialist Gautam Adani in the US, were key “pressure points” for the Prime Minister.

‎Referring to the controversy over former Army chief General M M Naravane’s memoirs on the 2020 Ladakh face-off with China, Gandhi said the issue was being used as a diversion. “The Naravane issue is only a sideshow,” he said. “The main issue is something else, and that is what the Prime Minister is afraid of.”

‎Gandhi alleged that the Adani case had wider political implications for the ruling party. “This is not just about Adani. He is directly linked to the BJP’s financial structure. The real target is the Prime Minister and the BJP,” he said, claiming that Modi was under “tremendous pressure” and that his carefully cultivated public image “could burst anytime”.

‎He also mounted a sharp attack on the India-US trade deal signed recently, accusing the government of compromising national interests under external pressure. “By signing this deal, the Prime Minister has sold out the interests of farmers and betrayed their blood and sweat,” Gandhi said. He questioned why negotiations that had dragged on for months were concluded suddenly, adding that the agreement was finalised “for reasons known only to him and the Prime Minister”.

‎According to Gandhi, the deal was “not in the interest of the country” and had been signed under pressure.

‎Raising concerns over parliamentary procedure, Gandhi said for the first time in India’s history, a leader of the Opposition was not allowed to speak during the debate on the President’s Address. “This has never happened before. The leader of the Opposition is entitled to speak. There is no question of seeking ‘permission’,” he said, objecting to the presiding officer’s reference to allowing him to speak.

‎Earlier in the day, Gandhi had tabled an article linked to Naravane’s memoirs in the House but was interrupted soon after he began speaking. The Lok Sabha was adjourned repeatedly amid protests and disruptions. “The country should understand that the Prime Minister is compromised,” Gandhi reiterated. “The people of India must think who compromised him and how.”

Australia fast-bowling spearhead Pat Cummins, who was ruled out of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup due to a narrow injury timeline, has now set his focus firmly on getting fit in time for the Indian Premier League, starting March 26, and a demanding Test season later in the year.

Cummins was left out of Australia’s final 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup, starting February 7, due to a lingering back complaint. A minor setback during his recovery ultimately meant he ran out of time to push for selection.

“We’ll just be guided by my back. We’ll have another scan in a few weeks, and if it’s good, then we’ll have a slow build-up. T20s are a little bit easier to get up for, that’s why I was so close to getting up for this World Cup,” the Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper told Australian AP.

“It was really unfortunate. I feel pretty good, just a minor setback and just ran out of time really. I’ll rest up for a few weeks and go from there. We knew after the (Adelaide) Test match we were going to need somewhere between four and eight weeks to let the bone settle right down before then building back up.

“Initially, we thought it might only be four weeks, because I was feeling really good, but just had a follow-up scan. They thought it probably needs another couple of weeks, so the timeline just became a bit too tight,” he added.

Ensuring full fitness for the IPL is also seen as a crucial step in preparing for a packed ICC World Test Championship schedule in the second half of the year. Australia face a packed calendar, with a two-Test home series against Bangladesh and a three-Test tour of South Africa before the end of October. That is followed by four Tests against New Zealand and a five-match series against India before the current WTC cycle concludes.

“We thought the first half of the year was a pretty good time to be conservative with the amount of cricket that’s coming up. We’ll get it right, then hopefully that will mean you won’t have to worry about it, and you can just go out and play all those Test matches,” Cummins said.

“Whereas, if you’re not careful with it now and it flares up, you’re chasing your tail a bit.”

While Cummins works towards an IPL return, Australia head into the T20 World Cup without their captain, despite recent injury concerns and a T20I series loss to Pakistan. They remain among the favourites and are placed in Group B alongside Ireland, Zimbabwe, Oman and co-hosts Sri Lanka.

Cummins believes the Pakistan series does not accurately reflect the quality within the Australian squad and expects a strong showing in Indian and Sri Lankan conditions.

“It wasn’t our greatest few games (in Pakistan), but the guys are coming off a strong Big Bash, and a couple of guys are coming back from injury for the World Cup,” Cummins said.

“Morale is good. Chatting to a few of the boys from afar … they know how big it is, they’re desperate to get started and get into it,” he added.

Noisy scenes were witnessed in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Tuesday when BJP members displayed banners demanding the establishment of the National Law University in Jammu. The National Conference and PDP MLAs countered them by raising the incidents of alleged harassment of Kashmiris in other states.

As the House assembled, BJP MLA Surjit Singh Salathia raised the issue of Jammu University students who are on the roads in support of the demand for the establishment of the NLU here.

“We are not against granting a separate NLU for Kashmir, but also want one such university for Jammu to fulfil the demand of the students of the region,” he said.

While Salathia was speaking, other BJP MLAs also stood up and displayed placards in support of the demand and raised slogans like “NLU for Jammu”.

Congress MLA Nizam-ud-Din Bhat objected to the display of placards and said the recent meeting of the business advisory committee decided to maintain the decorum of the House while raising any issue.

“The action of displaying placards by BJP legislators is similar to encroachment and intrusion, which is not acceptable. The government had granted permission for NLU in Kashmir following due process,” he said.

Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather continued with the Question Hour amid the noisy scenes and dismissed the adjournment motion moved by PDP MLA Wahid Para to discuss the incidents of “hate crime” against Kashmiris elsewhere in the country.

Amid the ruckus, National Conference legislator Mubarak Gul alleged that Kashmiri students and traders are facing harassment and assault in different parts of the country, which is not acceptable.

National Conference MLA Saifullah Mir alleged that dozens of Kashmiris living outside J&K are not allowed to move out of their accommodations and are facing assault if they come out, which needs government intervention.

The Speaker ruled that there is no question of an adjournment motion because the issues raised can be taken up through other means in an appropriate manner without disrupting the Question Hour, which can be used to make the government accountable.

He said the J&K government has already taken up the issue of harassment of Kashmiris with various state governments and is thankful to the Uttarakhand chief minister for taking immediate action in one such recent incident.

Earlier in the morning, the ruling National Conference (NC) MLAs staged a sit-in outside the assembly, pressing for immediate restoration of J&K’s statehood—an issue they noted was conspicuously absent from Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s address on Monday. PDP’s Muntazir Mehdi joined the sit-in, aligning with demands for statehood and the protection of Kashmiri students nationwide.

In a first, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) has proposed to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the pollution control mechanism.

This is in line with the resolve of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to optimise effective and positive use of AI in every field.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Tuesday between the UP Pollution Control Board and the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Lucknow, in this regard.

As per the MoU, the IIIT will develop an AI-based monitoring and analytics tool that integrates web/PTZ camera feeds, Online Continuous Emission/Effluent Monitoring Systems (OCEEMS) data from STPs and industries, and Bio-Medical Waste.

The project shall be executed in three phases: consulting, implementation, and post-implementation.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Dr. R. P. Singh, Chairman UPPCB, and Dr. Arun Mohan Sherry, Director, IIIT Lucknow, by Sanjeev Kumar Singh, Member Secretary, UPPCB, and Dr. Deepak Kumar Singh, IIIT Lucknow.

Dr. Bindu Singh and Kumar Sindhurakshit from IIIT Lucknow, along with Mr. Anil Kumar Mathur from UPPCB, were present on the occasion.

Samajwadi Party (SP) National President Akhilesh Yadav has levelled serious allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre for playing with the interests of farmers.

He alleged that opening up the Indian market to American agricultural products and foodgrains is a direct betrayal of approximately 70 per cent of the population that depends on agriculture.

Posting on his social media account on Tuesday, Akhilesh Yadav said that the BJP, which talks about self-reliance and Swadeshi, should tell the public how much “commission” it has taken by compromising the country’s economy.

He alleged that this decision will not only affect farmers but also the lower middle class and middle class, as it will lead to increased profiteering in foodgrains and agricultural products and create a new class of middlemen, making everyday necessities more expensive.

He expressed apprehension that the entry of foreign companies would gradually reduce farmers’ income, forcing them to sell their land to big capitalists and corporate houses. Akhilesh Yadav alleged that seizing land is the ultimate goal of the BJP and its allies.

Akhilesh Yadav termed the proposed Seed Bill as dangerous for Indian agriculture, saying that it is a product of the same anti-farmer mindset that brought laws like land acquisition and humiliated farmers by making them stand in lines for fertilisers.

He alleged that commission will be taken at every level, from seed companies to pesticide companies, silo construction, crop insurance, minimum price fixing, and crop buying and selling, which could completely devastate agriculture in the Indian context.

Akhilesh Yadav claimed that farmers, already troubled by Minimum Retail Price (MRP) issues and stray cattle, will not tolerate any more injustices.

He called upon farmers to organise protests, alleging that the BJP has been attacking farmers in one form or another, year after year.

Following nationwide protests against the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) new regulations, the Supreme Court has stayed their implementation. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, students of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) held a protest march in support of the UGC (Promotion of Equality in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026.

After the march, the students sat on a dharna near the Women’s College, holding posters and banners. Seeing the large crowd, senior police officials, along with forces from several police stations, arrived at the scene. Members of the BHU Proctorial Board and security personnel were also deployed.

The students stated that the march was organized under the leadership of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, OBC, women, and disabled students to demand anti-discrimination rules and safe campuses in higher education.

The students gathered in large numbers at the Vishwanath Temple complex and marched to the Women’s College. They also distributed a letter on campus, making serious allegations of structural caste discrimination prevalent in higher education institutions.

The letter stated that for decades, students, researchers, teachers, and employees from the SC, ST, and OBC categories have faced humiliation, exclusion, micro-aggressions, and mental harassment in processes such as admissions, evaluations, research, fellowships, hostel allocation, appointments, and promotions.

Student Jitendra Yadav said, “The new regulations will eliminate inequality in higher educational institutions. The right to equality is for everyone. Discrimination on campus will be completely eradicated with the new regulations.”

Manish Chaudhary, a student associated with the SC/ST/OBC Unity Forum, said, “The new UGC regulations are for Dalits, backward classes, and tribals. Including OBCs in this is absolutely correct. No one should have any objection.”

Former student Sandeep Patel demanded the immediate formation of an Equality Committee Center in the university in accordance with the UGC guidelines and the issuance of a notification. In accordance with the rules, the committee must include representatives from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, women, and persons with disabilities to ensure adequate representation.

Furthermore, the grievance procedure, timelines, and contact details of the Equality Committee should be publicly displayed on the university’s websit

Reacting to the Supreme Court granting bail to three accused in the 2024 high-profile Porsche hit-and-run case in Pune, the family members of Anish Awadhiya, one of the two engineers killed in the incident, called for the cancellation of their bail.

Anish’s family lives in Birsinghpur Pali town of Madhya Pradesh’s Umaria district.

Speaking to some media persons on Tuesday, Anish’s father Omprakash Awadhiya said, “We want their bail to be cancelled so that we get justice.”

He alleged that the three accused, who were granted bail, had tampered with blood samples to shield the main accused.

The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to Aditya Sood, Ashish Mittal, and Santosh Gaikwad, accused of aiding the tampering of blood samples after the accident, noting that they had already spent 18 months in jail.

According to information, Mittal is a friend of the main accused’s father, Sood is the father of the boy who was seated on the rear seat of the car, and Gaikwad is a middleman who allegedly took Rs 3 lakh to manipulate the blood report.

The Bombay High Court had denied them bail in December last year.

Twenty-four-year-old software engineers Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta were killed in an accident in Pune’s Kalyani Nagar on May 19, 2024. Awadhiya was a resident of Birsinghpur Pali in Umaria district, while Koshta hailed from Jabalpur, both in MP.

All eyes will be on Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and rising star Esha Singh as pistol shooters kick off competition at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Ranges here on Wednesday, with medals on offer in the 10m air pistol events on the opening day of the Asian Championship Rifle/Pistol.

Manu and Esha headline a formidable Indian women’s line-up that will look to give the hosts an early advantage in the continental showpiece.

Manu, one of India’s most decorated pistol shooters and a proven performer on the biggest stages, returns to competition on home soil, while Esha continues to build on her reputation as one of the country’s most consistent finalists at major international events.

India will face stiff competition from Ho Ching Shing of Hong Kong, the world No. 4 and reigning world silver medallist, who has reached the Asian Championship final four times, including a silver medal finish in 2019. Cheng Yen-Ching of Chinese Taipei, ranked 16th in the world, could emerge as a dark horse after a promising debut season that included a fifth-place finish at the ISSF World Cup in Munich. Vietnam’s Thu Vinh Trinh, a two-time Asian bronze medallist and two-time Olympic finalist, further strengthens the women’s field.

Four finals are scheduled on the opening day, featuring senior men’s and women’s events along with the junior and youth men’s finals.

In the men’s competition, World Champion Samrat Rana will lead the Indian challenge alongside world No. 2 Varun Tomar and Sharvan Kumar, who finished 12th at the World Championship. They will be challenged by Kazakhstan’s Valeriy Rakhimzhan, Chinese Taipei’s Hsieh Hsiang-Chen, and Uzbekistan’s Mukhammad Kamalov.

Junior and youth shooters will also take centre stage, with India fielding a strong contingent across categories as the hosts look to make an impact throughout the championship.

India entered the largest squad of the competition with 118 athletes, followed by Kazakhstan with 35. Strong teams from Korea, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Vietnam and Hong Kong are also expected to challenge for top honours.

A gunfight broke out between the security forces and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists this afternoon in the forests of Basantgarh in the Udhampur district, officials said.

Reports said that two to three JeM terrorists are trapped in the joint cordon of the security forces.

The White Knight Corps of the Indian Army informed on X: “In an intelligence based joint Operation, contact has been established with the terrorists by the troops of CIF Delta, White Knight Corps, J&K Police and CRPF at around 4 pm today in the general area of Basantgarh. Cordon has been established. Firefight is on. Operation is in progress”.

It is worth mentioning that the Army has launched a massive operation to flush out Pakistani terrorists hiding in the mountains of the Kishtwar, Doda, Udhampur and Kathua districts of the Jammu division. As a result of which the terrorists were fleeing from their hideouts.

The GOC White Knight Corps, accompanied by GOC Counter Infiltration Force (CIF-Delta), visited the general area of Kishtwar on Monday to review the counter-terrorism grid and assess the operational preparedness of units deployed in the region. He was briefed on the prevailing security situation, with focused discussions on strengthening the security framework and enhancing coordination among all stakeholders.

Commending the troops of Delta Force for their steadfast resolve, high morale and unwavering commitment to peace and stability, the GOC urged all ranks to remain vigilant, agile and mission-ready at all times.

A man was lynched by angry villagers while trying to flee after brutally killing a woman for resisting his attempt to sexually assault her in a village in the Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh on Monday.

The angry villagers, after catching hold of the culprit, thrashed him till he was rendered motionless. The accused was shifted to a nearby hospital where he breathed his last later in the night.

The incident was reported from the Bhartiapur village under the jurisdiction of the Sultanpur police station. According to the police, the woman was carrying food for her brother who works in a nearby field when the accused, Prakash Singh Bhilara, accosted her and allegedly tried to rape her. When she resisted his advances, an enraged Prakash allegedly attacked her with a knife inflicting deep wounds on her. She died on the spot.

After committing the crime, he tried to hide her body in bushes on the roadside before fleeing the spot. However, some villagers caught hold of him and beat him up mercilessly leaving him with critical injuries. By the time a police team reached the spot, he was motionless.

The police admitted the accused to the hospital, where he died during treatment.

According to Additional Superintendent of Police Kamlesh Kumar Kharpusse, in view of the tension prevailing in the village in the aftermath of the incidents, a police force was deployed in the village to maintain law and order.

Meanwhile, the police registered a case of murder based on the complaint of the woman’s family and initiated an inquiry into the death of the accused, based on a complaint lodged by his family. Six people have been taken into custody in connection with the death of the accused.

An official said further action would be taken after the receipt of post-mortem reports and forensic examination.

Jagatsinghpur, one of the most literate districts of Odisha and the birthplace of Adikabi Sarala Das, the 15th-century poet-scholar and a foundational figure in Odia literature, is home to many talented individuals from several fields. So while celebrating the first anniversary of the Jagatsinghpur Heritage Walks (JHW) on Monday, the organisers aptly decided to felicitate people who are ‘living heritages’ from among the masses and are contributing towards the popularisation and awareness of the heritage of Jagatsinghpur and, above all, for the betterment of society and humankind.

Sagarbala Patnaik (76), popularly known as “Basanti Apa” and a daughter of Jagatsinghpur, who acted in hundreds of plays in the renowned Annapurna Theatre Group (Annapurna Rangamancha) in Cuttack during the Sixties, would perhaps be the most celebrated dignitary on the occasion, whose present life story is no less a film script in its own right.

As every bit of Jagatsinghpur is connected to the divine blessings of Maa Sarala, the team of Mihir Nana and his team were felicitated for preserving the “Ghanta Patua” dance tradition of Goddess Sarala in Odisha and elsewhere, including foreign lands. Their on-stage presentation of the traditional “Ghanta Patua” style imbued the session with a pure and unique divine bliss.

In a unique gesture of recognition, Shyam Chacha, a well-known Muslim devotee of Lord Jagannath and known as “present-day Salabega” (a famous devotional poet and one of the greatest devotees of the Trinity in the past), and Sheikh Sahil Mohammad, a son of the soil and ardent lover of Odissi dance, were also felicitated. Mohammad also performed “Mangalacharan” on stage and displayed his art amid applause from the audience.

Among others felicitated by the JHW members were Shishir Kumar Panda, president of “Kala Sanskruti Sangh” in the Tirtol block of Jagatsinghpur district, who has been performing for over five decades and has been preserving ancient art forms, and Hemant Kumar Raut for preserving the ancient folk art and dance form “Ghoda Nacha” in today’s modern era.

The JHW members felicitated the Handloom Society of Badabag village near Jagatsinghpur town, as generations of weavers have been supplying handloom products to the locality and beyond. Kundan Kumar Paswan, a youth who works to rescue and conserve snakes across Jagatsinghpur and elsewhere as a member of the Snake Helpline, was also felicitated.

To address the growing menace of pollution in the national capital, Delhi, the state government has issued a “booster fund of Rs 500 crore” to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), said Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, on Tuesday.

“The Delhi government has given a booster fund of Rs 500 crore to the MCD and has also arranged for a regular fund of Rs 300 crore every year. This will give new strength to pollution control and waste management in Delhi. New modern cleaning machines will arrive, and effective work will be done to control dust-related pollution,” the CM said on her social media post X*.

“This step is a strong effort in the direction of building a clean, healthy, and better Delhi,” she added.

Recently, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav reviewed Delhi’s Air Pollution Action Plan with Delhi CM Gupta. He chaired a high-level meeting here. During the meeting, Yadav highlighted the need for smart traffic management, particularly at 62 identified congestion hotspots, to ensure smoother traffic flow.

The Central Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change informed that the Central Pollution Control Board has issued notices to 88 units that have not installed Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems, with closure action to commence from the 23rd of this month.

Emphasising vehicular pollution, the minister stressed that strict action should be taken against polluting vehicles, including a special registration drive, the installation of Automatic Number Plate recognition systems at border entry points, and the exploration of staggered office timings to reduce peak-hour congestion.

He also directed that action must be taken against illegally operating and non-conforming units, including sealing where required. Measures such as incentivising electric vehicles, accelerating the expansion of charging infrastructure, implementing congestion charges, smart parking management, and a uniform vehicle registration policy for the NCR were also discussed during the meeting.

Air pollution has been a major concern in the National Capital Region (NCR), with opposition parties attacking the government every now and then.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said that the India-US Trade Deal, signed under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will “enhance the future of a strong India”. In a special briefing here, Goyal claimed that every Indian is thanking PM Modi for making a “very good trade deal” with the United States.

“Today, every Indian across the country is thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making a very good trade deal with the United States of America, which the countrymen have been waiting for for many months. Keeping the national interest and public interest at the forefront, a trade deal that will enhance the future of a strong India has been finalised last night under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.

Goyal stated that the government wanted to speak about the deal in Parliament, but the ruckus allegedly created by the Opposition parties didn’t allow it.

“Normally, we would have wanted to speak about this in Parliament, but we all witnessed that disgraceful scene. The way the opposition, especially the Congress party under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and their allies the DMK, TMC, and Samajwadi Party, behaved so disgracefully in Parliament today. They even reached the Speaker’s chair and insulted him. I strongly condemn the opposition and Rahul Gandhi, because of whom we have come here today to give you this information instead of speaking in Parliament,” he said.

The minister said that Modi used his “friendship” with the US President to secure the best deal in the region. Under the deal, the US has reduced tariffs on India to 18 per cent, which is lower than several neighbouring countries, including Pakistan’s 19 per cent. “PM Modi used his friendship with Donald Trump to get the best deal among all the countries in the region, all countries that we compete with,” Goyal said.

Thanking Prime Minister Modi on behalf of everyone, Goyal claimed that the trade deal with the US will bring immense opportunities for the Indian economy and 140 crore citizens of the country, including the poor, farmers, fishermen, youth, and women living in the villages.”

While Goel didn’t go into the specific details, he asserted that the trade deal will give numerous opportunities to the MEMEs, the manufacturing and textile sectors.

“I believe that through this deal, our MSMEs, our engineering sector, all the players in our engineering sector—whether they manufacture auto components, electrical parts, or work on selling various types of engineering goods in America, or plan to do so in the future—our textile sector, our gems and jewelry sector, our leather goods sector, our marine goods sector, will all get numerous opportunities through this deal…,” he said.

Amid concerns regarding the agriculture and dairy sector agreements, Goyal didn’t share specific details but assured that their interests were safeguarded. “PM Modi has always championed both the agriculture and dairy sectors, safeguarding their interests and working tirelessly to ensure a bright future and ample opportunities for the people in these sectors…The sensitive factors of India’s economy, particularly agriculture and dairy, have been protected.”

‘Rahul Gandhi is a negative person, doesn’t like the deal that benefits all sectors’

With the Opposition parties slamming the Narendra Modi government for “selling the country under US pressure” and “backstabbing farmers by potentially opening markets to subsidised US agricultural imports,” Goyal launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, calling him a negative person.

“Rahul Gandhi is a negative person. He has a negative mentality. And any leader who joins hands with him — be it those from DMK or TMC — doesn’t like a deal which will benefit so many sectors,” Goyal said.

“Rahul Gandhi ko kya mirchi lagti hai? (Why does he feel the burn?) Does Rahul Gandhi have a problem with the country’s growth?” he further remarked.

Announcing the trade deal on Monday, US President Donald Trump had claimed that India will “reduce their tariffs and Non Tariff Barriers against the United States, to ZERO.” Trump also stated that PM Modi has “committed to “BUY AMERICAN,” at a much higher level, in addition to over $500 BILLION DOLLARS of U.S. Energy, Technology, Agricultural, Coal, and many other products.”

The Matriculation and Intermediate examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) began across Jharkhand on Tuesday, with over 7.48 lakh candidates appearing at 1,989 examination centres amid stringent security arrangements.

From early morning, examination centres in all districts witnessed a steady influx of students. Candidates were allowed entry only after verification of their admit cards and identity documents. Strict instructions were issued to ensure that no examinee carrying prohibited materials was permitted inside the centres.

This year, 1,232 centres have been set up for the Matric examination and 757 for the Intermediate examination. All centres are under continuous surveillance through CCTV cameras, with static magistrates and police personnel deployed for law and order duties. The transportation of question papers from treasuries to examination centres was carried out under close administrative supervision. Officials remained present at every stage, from the opening of strong rooms to the distribution of question papers, to rule out any irregularities.

According to official figures, 4,23,861 candidates are appearing for the Matric examination, while 3,24,321 students are taking the Intermediate examination. Among Intermediate candidates, 90,579 belong to the Science stream, 21,195 to Commerce and 2,12,547 to Arts. Compared to the previous year, there has been a decline in the number of candidates in both examinations. Giridih district recorded the highest number of Matric candidates with 40,827 students, while Khunti had the lowest with 6,097. Giridih also topped the list in terms of Intermediate examinees.

JAC officials reiterated that a zero-tolerance policy against malpractice would be enforced throughout the examination period. A senior official said that maintaining the sanctity and fairness of the examination process remained the council’s top priority. He added that any attempt at unfair means or indiscipline would invite immediate and strict action. Candidates were advised to avoid rumours, strictly follow guidelines and appear for the examinations with a calm and focused mind.

The Matric (Class 10) examinations are being held from February 3 to 17 in the first shift from 9.45 am to 1.00 pm, while the Intermediate (Class 12) examinations are being conducted in the second shift from 2.00 pm to 5.15 pm.

With elaborate administrative preparations and heightened vigilance in place, the authorities expressed confidence that the examinations would be conducted smoothly and transparently across the state.

The youngest undisputed world champion in chess history, Gukesh Dommaraju, will compete at Norway Chess 2026, taking his place in the field at one of the strongest tournaments on the global calendar.

Gukesh’s rise has been historic. In 2024, he won the Candidates Tournament before defeating then-World Champion Ding Liren to claim the world title, achieving the feat at just 18 years old.

“I am really happy to take part in Norway Chess again, fighting against a very strong field as always, and looking forward to all the exciting games,” Gukesh said.

Over the years, the Indian star has achieved several remarkable milestones, including becoming the youngest player ever to cross the 2750 rating mark. He also earned the Grandmaster title at the age of 12, making him the third-youngest GM in chess history.

Gukesh has also played a key role in India’s rise as a global chess powerhouse. At the 2022 Chess Olympiad, he won individual gold on board one, scoring 9/11 with a stunning performance rating of 2867, as India secured a team bronze. He followed it up with an even more dominant campaign in 2024, winning team gold along with individual gold on board one, scoring 9/10 with a performance rating of 3056, widely regarded as one of the greatest Olympiad performances ever.

Norway Chess has already produced defining moments in Gukesh’s career. At the 2025 edition, he finished third and registered his first classical victory over Magnus Carlsen in a dramatic encounter that sparked the widely shared “table-slam” moment, one of the most talked-about games of the tournament.

“Having Gukesh D return to Norway Chess as reigning World Champion is something we truly value,” said Benedicte Westre Skog, COO of Norway Chess.

“India has become one of the strongest chess nations in the world today, and we know many fans will be following Gukesh D closely. We hope chess audiences across India will tune in as he competes in Oslo in 2026.”

Norway Chess has consistently attracted elite participation over the years. In total, 18 of the highest-rated players in chess history have competed in the event, with Garry Kasparov the only notable exception among the all-time greats, though he has visited the tournament twice.