An Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft flying from London to Bengaluru was grounded after pilots reported a possible defect in the fuel control switch, prompting the airline to order immediate checks and inform the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

In a statement, Air India acknowledged the issue and said that it has communicated the same to the DGCA. “We are aware that one of our pilots has reported a possible defect on the fuel control switch of a Boeing 787-8 aircraft. After receiving this initial information, we have grounded the aircraft and are involving the OEM to get the pilot’s concerns checked on a priority basis. The matter has been communicated to the aviation regulator, DGCA.”

The airline further stated that it had checked the fuel control switches on all Boeing 787 aircraft in its fleet after a directive from the DGCA, and had found no issues.

Boeing, which manufactures the aircraft, has also reacted to the incident. Boeing reportedly said that it is in contact with Air India and supporting their review of the matter.

Both fuel control switches cut off before AI plane crash in Ahmedabad, reveals AAIB report

The incident comes months after a deadly crash of the Air India Dreamliner in Ahmedabad in July 2025. A preliminary report of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) into the crash had revealed that both fuel control switches supplying fuel to the engines of Air India flight 171 were turned off in quick succession, shutting down both the engines, before the plane crashed, killing 260 people.

According to the report findings, one of the pilots can be heard on the cockpit voice recorder, asking the other why he cut off the fuel, to which the other pilot responded by saying that “he did not”.

Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft’s engine fuel control switches transitioned from ‘RUN’ to ‘CUTOFF’ position within three seconds after lift-off, leading to the plane crashing in just 34 seconds after taking off from Ahmedabad on June 12, the AAIB said in its report.

World Wetlands Day was marked with vibrant celebrations at the Mahavir Swami Wildlife Sanctuary in Deogarh, Lalitpur, where the Uttar Pradesh Nature and Bird Festival 2026 was organised under the theme ‘Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage’.

The festival was inaugurated by Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh on Monday, drawing nature lovers, birding enthusiasts, students, youth groups and local communities into a shared celebration of biodiversity, conservation and eco tourism.

Addressing the gathering, Jaiveer Singh said that the Nature and Bird Festival reflects the collective commitment of the Tourism Department and Forest Department to elevate eco-tourism in Uttar Pradesh. He underlined that Bundelkhand is steadily being positioned on the global eco-tourism map and that Deogarh, with its unique natural and cultural assets, has a key role to play in this journey. He described the festival as a foundation for building long-term awareness around wetlands, wildlife, and responsible tourism.

Highlighting Deogarh’s significance, the minister said that the region is historically, spiritually, and culturally rich. From ancient Jain temples and Buddhist caves to the iconic Dashavatar Temple and the rich biodiversity along the Betwa river, Deogarh offers a rare blend of heritage and nature. He noted that Lalitpur as a whole holds immense tourism potential and that festivals like this allow visitors to experience birdwatching, nature walks and wetland related activities in an immersive and engaging way.

Speaking on World Wetlands Day, Jaiveer Singh shared that after initiatives like ‘One District One Product’ and ‘One District One Cuisine’, Uttar Pradesh is now moving towards the vision of ‘One District One Wetland’. He said the Eco Tourism Development Board is also nurturing future brand ambassadors for nature-based tourism by actively engaging youth tourism clubs. Students are being taken on exposure visits to bird sanctuaries, Vistadome coaches and nearby natural sites, while school-level competitions are helping instil awareness about conservation and eco-tourism from an early age. The focus, he added, is also on developing lesser-known destinations in every district.

On wetland and wildlife-linked tourism development, the minister informed that 52 wetlands have already been listed by the Forest Department, and consensus has been reached on developing basic tourism facilities around them. He said tourism facilities will also be strengthened around the state’s 11 Ramsar sites and 4 tiger reserves.

To give Uttar Pradesh’s natural heritage global visibility, familiarisation tours are being organised for tour operators and travel professionals from India and abroad. Recent visits by delegates from the UK, Germany, Australia, and the United States have already translated into Uttar Pradesh destinations being included in international travel itineraries.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to Bundelkhand, Jaiveer Singh said that tourism development work is progressing rapidly in Lalitpur and Jhansi. On the occasion, tourism projects worth approximately Rs 24 crore were inaugurated and foundation stones laid, aimed at improving visitor facilities and enhancing the overall tourism experience. The objective, he said, is to make Bundelkhand a preferred destination for both domestic and international tourists.

Addressing the gathering, Arun Saxena, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, said that Nature and Bird Festival 2026 showcases Uttar Pradesh’s strong commitment to biodiversity conservation and environmental balance. He noted that the festival not only highlights the importance of wetlands, forests and migratory birds but also inspires citizens, especially the youth, to actively participate in protecting nature so that future generations inherit a rich and healthy natural legacy.

Krishna Pal Malik, Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, said that rivers, wetlands, forests and migratory birds form an invaluable part of Uttar Pradesh’s natural heritage. He emphasised that development is meaningful only when it progresses in harmony with nature and added that the state government is working continuously towards biodiversity conservation, protection of bird habitats and building a greener future.

Among the key attractions of the festival were the release of a coffee table book, the Sarus Winter Census 2025 report and other awareness material. Winners of various competitions organised as part of the festival were felicitated. The technical sessions focused on bird and habitat conservation, wetland ecosystem protection and responsible rural and eco tourism. Birding and trekking activities, along with cultural performances, added to the festive atmosphere. The Tourism Minister and other dignitaries also visited the exhibition stalls set up at the venue.

NCP founder Sharad Pawar dismissed claims on Monday that there were no moves by his late nephew and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to merge his NCP with the Sharad Pawar-led NCP.

Speaking to media persons here, NCP founder Sharad Pawar said, “What would those who were not in the merger talks know about our meeting? On the contrary, there were discussions among us regarding the merger of the NCP. We also had meetings. We were going to make an announcement in this regard on February 12”.

Sharad Pawar was reacting to a statement made by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis earlier that, “If Ajit Pawar was holding discussions on the merger, would he have done so without taking BJP into confidence? Secondly, supposing he was holding such discussions, was he doing it to get out of the NDA when he was stable in the government? Some like to create confusion daily and then use one’s ecosystem to amplify such confusion. You all know that the relationship between Ajit Dada and me was such that he shared everything with me”.

Meanwhile, it is also learnt that industrialist Gautam Adani visited Sharad Pawar’s ‘Silver Oak’ residence in South Mumbai on Sunday and was with him for about 45 minutes.

In a related development, there is a formal demand by 30 leaders of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP to make his wife Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar the national president of the party. They have written this letter to Ajit Pawar-led NCP leaders Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel, who are known to be close to the BJP.

“The tragic demise of the pillar and visionary leadership of the respected Ajit Dada Pawar has cast a great shadow on the party. In these difficult times, the party needs strong, restrained, and united leadership. Respected Sunetra Ajit Pawar has proven her commitment to the party, and she has accepted the responsibility of the Deputy Chief Minister in very adverse circumstances. Considering her experience, loyalty to the party and affection for the workers, we, the regional presidents of all the cells of the (Ajit Pawar-led) NCP, firmly believe that she is suitable in every way for the post of National President of the (Ajit Pawar-led) NCP.

”Therefore, we, the presidents and office bearers of various cells of the (Ajit Pawar-led) NCP, unanimously demand that respected Sunetra Ajit Pawar be appointed as the party’s national president. We hope that you will consider this request positively,” the signed letter sent to Ajit Pawar-led NCP leaders Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel stated.

Sources also said that a meeting was held at the residence of Sharad Pawar-led NCP leader Jayant Patil’s residence on December 23, attended by 14 leaders of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP as well as late Deputy CM Ajit Pawar himself.

According to sources, the late Ajit Pawar was the only one representing his party at the meeting, which was attended by 14 leaders from Sharad Pawar’s NCP including Supriya Sule, Jayant Patil, Jitendra Awhad, Balasaheb Patil, Shashikant Shinde, Harshvardhan Patil, Anil Deshmukh, Ashok Pawar and Rajesh Tope.

Sources said that ”at this meeting to discuss the merger of the two NCPS, the late Ajit Pawar was asked, ‘What if Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare (who are close to the BJP) understand what we are discussing?’ The late Ajit Pawar raised his voice and replied loudly, ‘I am running the party and I will see to it’. After this, the merger of the two NCPS was practically finalised.”

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Central government to notify the constitution of a tribunal to adjudicate the long-pending inter-State water dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over the sharing of waters of the Pennaiyar River, also known as the Dakshina Pinakini in Karnataka.

A Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and N V Anjaria made it clear that the tribunal must be formally constituted and notified within a period of one month.

“We find no reason to refrain from directing the Central government to issue an appropriate notification in the official gazette and to constitute a water disputes tribunal for the adjudication of the inter-state water dispute between the parties herein within a period of one month from today,” the Court said.

The dispute relates to sharing of waters of the Pennaiyar River, which originates in the Chikkaballapura district of Karnataka and flows through the State before entering Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu, being the downstream State, has alleged that various projects initiated and decisions taken by Karnataka in the upper reaches of the river have adversely affected the natural flow of water into its territory.

Tamil Nadu approached the Supreme Court in 2018 by way of an original suit against Karnataka and the Union government, seeking the constitution of a dedicated tribunal under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act to resolve the issue.

During the proceedings, the Central government had suggested that the matter could be addressed through inter-ministerial or inter-State negotiations. However, Tamil Nadu consistently opposed this approach, insisting that the only effective and lawful resolution lay in the constitution of a Pennaiyar River Water Disputes Tribunal.

The Supreme Court had earlier expressed dissatisfaction with the Centre’s delay in facilitating negotiations. In November 2022, the Court had pulled up the Central government for the lack of progress, and in January 2019, it had already permitted Tamil Nadu to formally seek the constitution of a tribunal. Further extensions of time were granted in subsequent hearings, including one in May.

In 2023, the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti informed the Court that while a proposal to constitute the tribunal had been forwarded through the Cabinet Secretariat, the Union Cabinet had not yet taken a final decision.

With negotiations yielding no outcome and the dispute remaining unresolved for years, the Court reserved its judgment in December 2025 and has now issued a direction to the Centre to act.

The Pennaiyar dispute adds to the history of river water conflicts between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, which have previously clashed over the sharing of Cauvery waters. In its 2018 landmark judgment on the Cauvery dispute, the Supreme Court had emphasised that rivers are national assets and that no single state can claim exclusive ownership over their waters.

Non-deposit-taking housing finance company (HFC) Bajaj Housing Finance officially announced here on Monday that its Q3FY26 standalone net profit rose by 21.32% to touch Rs 664.89 crore on the back of a 16.16% increase in revenue from operations to Rs 2,697.30 crore in Q3FY25.

According to the company statement, its Net Interest Income (NII) for Q3FY26 stood at Rs 963 crore, rising by 19% as against Rs 806 crore in Q3FY25, while net total income surged 24% to Rs 1,153 crore from Rs 933 crore.

The company stated that its profit before tax in the December 2025 quarter stood at Rs 864.54 crore, rising by 21.25% from Rs 713.02 crore posted in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal year.

The company reported strong quarterly performance for Q3FY26, with assets under management (AUM) rising 23% to Rs 1,33,412 crore as of 31 December 2025, up from Rs 1,08,314 crore a year ago.

Operating expenses to net total income improved to 19% from 19.8% in the year-ago period. Exceptional items of Rs 13.14 crore included a one-time impact from higher gratuity liability following changes in the New Labour Codes issued by the government in November 2025, according to the company statement.

According to the statement, loan losses and provisions increased to Rs 56 crore in Q3 FY26 from Rs 35 crore in Q3 FY25, including a Rs 10 crore management overlay release.

The company’s asset quality remained healthy, with gross and net NPA at 0.27% and 0.11% as of 31 December 2025, versus 0.29% and 0.13% a year ago. The provisioning coverage ratio on stage-3 assets stood at 59%, while the capital adequacy ratio, including Tier-II capital, was 23.15%, according to the company statement.

Taking a major step towards the construction of the Lucknow Metro East-West Corridor (Line-2), the Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) approved its first tender on Monday.

The Detailed Design Consultant (DDC) contract for Line-2 has been awarded to Ayesa Ingenieria y Arquitectura – Ayesa India Private Limited JV. The company had submitted the lowest bid of Rs 15.90 crore during the tender process.

According to UPMRC officials, this contract falls under the Lucknow Metro Phase-1B project. Technical bids were opened in October 2025, which included Ayesa and Systra-JV. After the financial bids were opened on January 21, Ayesa was declared the L-1 bidder.

The Line-2 project will involve the construction of an approximately 11.165 km long corridor, running from Charbagh Railway Station to Vasant Kunj, passing through the old Lucknow area. A total of 12 stations are proposed on this route. The project received approval from the central government in August 2025, with an estimated cost of around Rs 5801 crore.

According to the DPR, this line will include approximately 4.286 km of elevated section (5 stations between Vasant Kunj and Thakurganj) and 6.879 km of underground section (7 stations between Charbagh and Niwazganj). A depot is also planned at Vasant Kunj.

The DDC contract has a duration of 60 months (5 years). It will cover design work related to civil, architectural, electrical-mechanical, and traction systems. This includes the detailed design of the elevated and underground sections, all 12 stations, and the depot.

According to officials, with the awarding of this first tender, the construction process for the East-West Corridor has formally gained momentum. The completion of Line 2 is expected to provide fast, safe, and convenient connectivity between Old Lucknow and the eastern and western parts of the city.

India has rejected the International Court of Arbitration’s “supplemental award” on Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir, pointing out it is no longer bound to perform any of its obligations under the Indus Water Treaty (IIWT) since it is in abeyance.

Official sources said no Court of Arbitration, much less this illegally constituted arbitral body, which has no existence in the eye of the law, has the jurisdiction to examine the legality of India’s actions in exercise of its rights as a sovereign nation.

New Delhi’s assertion came after The Hague-based Court of Arbitration directed India to submit the operational logbooks of the two hydroelectric plants by February 9 or provide a formal explanation for its refusal to do so.

India has never formally recognised the existence of the “so-called Court of Arbitration” claiming that its formation under the treaty was a “serious breach.” Therefore, any award or decision taken by the court is illegal, sources added. U MAY LIKE

India has already stopped sharing hydrological data with Pakistan after it placed the treaty in abeyance in the wake of the 22 April, 2025 Pahalgam terror attack. This regular data sharing was an obligation under the treaty.

Sources observed that this so-called supplemental award at Pakistan’s behest is yet another desperate attempt by the neighbouring country to escape accountability for its role as the global epicentre of terror.

Bihar’s growth rate is 3% higher than the national average, and the state’s fiscal deficit is also under control, claimed the Economic Survey report for 2025-26 presented by the state government in the Bihar Legislative Assembly on Monday.

“Our GSDP growth rate at current prices has been 13.1% in this Economic Survey, whereas the national figure stands at 9.8%. Thus, compared to the national average, our growth rate is 3.3% higher,” said Anand Kishor, Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Department, Bihar.

The report claimed that over the past three years, Bihar’s economic growth has consistently outpaced India’s GDP growth, both at current and constant prices.

“Bihar’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) growth rates reached 17.9 percent in 2022-23 and 14.9 percent in 2023-24, compared to India’s 14.0 percent and 12.0 percent, respectively, at current prices. As per the quick estimates for 2024-25, Bihar’s GSDP (current prices) growth is estimated at 13.1 percent and India’s GDP growth at 9.8 percent,” states the report.

After presenting the report, Finance Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav said that the government’s goal is to make Bihar a developed state within five years. In 2024-25, per capita income has reached Rs76,490, which reflects that the efforts are being made in the right direction.

“Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has promised to make Bihar a developed state in the next five years. The vision is a prosperous and affluent Bihar. We are working sincerely in that direction. You will see glimpses of this in the budget,” he added.

However, Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav questioned the facts mentioned in the report and asked why Bihar is still the most backward state in the country.

“If Bihar has developed so much, then why is it not moving ahead like other states? Bihar is at the bottom of ever index, and the only two areas where it is ahead are corruption and crime. Big claims are being made, but we feel this is merely a formality,” he said.

State Secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI), Ramnaresh Pandey, termed the Economic Survey report as “a bundle of lies.”

Pandey said that the state’s economy has been ruined. The state’s growth rate has been continuously declining, while debt has been steadily increasing. He said that Bihar’s debt has now reached Rs3,74,134 crore.

Pointing out financial inequality in the state, the Left leader said that the income of 94 lakh families in the state is less than Rs 6,000.

Rajya Sabha MP from Delhi, Swati Maliwal, on Monday demanded that the Clinical Establishments Act should be made mandatory in all states, and along with this, “treatment first, bill later” in emergency care should be made into a law.

Raising demands before the government in the Upper House, Swati Maliwal demanded that a transparent and fair billing system be implemented in hospitals and that strict monitoring be done on insurance premium hikes.

“It is the government’s responsibility that patients in private hospitals are treated as human beings, not as sources of revenue. This is a question of the country’s healthcare system and the dignity of the common citizen,” she said.

She reminded that “In the year 2010, the Clinical Establishments Act was passed, under which states were given the authority to fix maximum rates for medical services, but even today, only 12 states have adopted this law, while even the national capital Delhi has not implemented it so far”.

Leaders of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP Amol Mitkari (MLA) and Advocate Rupali Thombre Patil raised questions over the tragic air crash that claimed the life of the party’s chief and deputy chief minister, here on Monday.

Casting doubts over the death of the deceased deputy chief minister, Mitkari wrote on social media, “A firestorm of questions is brewing. I will not commit the sin of politicising the death. But there are several doubts and questions in my mind, he said.

While six people died in the accident, how then only five bodies were recovered from the crash site,” he asked.

“The passenger list is recorded digitally before takeoff. Why this discrepancy? How come not a single piece of paper in the flight got burnt? Why were the pilots changed so many times,” he further questioned.

Mitkari demanded a high-level impartial probe into the air crash under the supervision of a retired judge. “I will personally meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi to demand that a high-level impartial inquiry should be conducted under the chairmanship of a retired judge. I will take this decision after talking to our party leaders, group leaders and Sunetra Pawar,” he said.

Later on Monday, Rajya Sabha MP and chief spokesperson of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena Sanjay Raut also raised questions over the air crash. “Ajit Pawar’s plans to merge his NCP with the Sharad Pawar-led NCP was going to be a big blow to the BJP. Such a move would have changed the politics of the country completely. Ajit Pawar had repeatedly stated that he had a file on the BJP’s scams and would reveal it at the right time. Ajit Pawar had made this statement on January 15,” he pointed out.

He further said, “It is a mystery that he died in an accident exactly 10 days later. This reminds me of Justice Brijgopal Loya who died under mysterious circumstances,” Raut told media persons at a press conference.

After the press conference, Raut also attacked the BJP in his speech in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, saying, “On January 15, Ajit Pawar accused the BJP of corruption and within 10 days, his plane crashed. On January 15, Ajit Pawar made a statement, alleging that the BJP had consumed a large amount of money in the irrigation scam. Ajit Pawar had also said that he has the file of this BJP scam. Ajit Pawar dying in a plane crash within 10 days of making that statement is mysterious.”

“Ajit Dada was accused of a Rs 70,000-crore irrigation scam. He joined hands with you (the BJP). But later Ajit Pawar accused the BJP of making money in the irrigation scam. He always kept the file of documents that proves his allegations against the BJP with him. Even when he went to Baramati, that file was with him. But, Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash in Baramati. There should be a judicial inquiry into this matter. Ajit Pawar’s accident reminded me of Justice Loya,” Sanjay Raut said in the upper house.

Reacting to Sanjay Raut’s statement about the Justice Loya case, BJP MP Advocate Ujjwal Nikam said that “Justice Loya’s death was explained as a heart attack”. BJP spokesperson Navnath Ban also said that “Nothing happened in the Justice Loya case. In the Ajit Dada air crash case, the truth will come out”.

Reacting to Sanjay Raut’s statement, Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said, “Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis himself has given instructions to investigate the accident. Sanjay Raut has lost his mental balance and that is why he is making such absurd statements”.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday strongly criticised the political attacks on the Union budget proposals in the name of PDA, saying that PDA is merely a pretext, while the real target is dynastic politics.

“Those who are talking about PDA today should be asked why they did not care about the self-respect and dignity of the poor, youth, farmers, and underprivileged sections of the country and the state when they were in power,” he questioned at a press meet here on Monday.

The Chief Minister said that poverty and problems existed before as well, but back then, the focus was only on their own families.

“Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi considers the entire country as one family and is working in the interests of the poor, youth, women, and farmers. This budget is a reflection of the new Uttar Pradesh in a new India. Today, the state has roads and the speed to match. There is investment and confidence. There is identity and self-respect,” he said.

The Chief Minister said that only those who have no plan or vision for the future are making such baseless statements.

The CM was commenting on the statement of Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav, who alleged that the Union Budget had ignored the PDA (Pichra, Dalit, Alpsankhyak).

Left-handed batter Tilak Varma will feature for India A in one of their two T20 World Cup warm-up matches before joining the senior squad for the marquee tournament, the BCCI confirmed on Monday.

India A are scheduled to play warm-up fixtures against the USA and Namibia in Navi Mumbai and Bengaluru on Monday and Friday respectively. Batting all-rounder Ayush Badoni has been named captain of the India A side, with Tilak set to appear in one match before linking up with the main India squad.

The 23-year-old Tilak has been undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru following lower abdominal surgery in Rajkot earlier this month. Although he was initially expected to be available for the final two T20 Internationals against New Zealand, selectors opted against rushing him back, keeping his readiness for the World Cup in focus. His inclusion for the warm-up comes after he participated in a simulation match at the CoE last Friday.

The India A squad features several capped internationals, including Riyan Parag, Ravi Bishnoi, Khaleel Ahmed and Mayank Yadav, along with emerging talents such as Naman Dhir, Ashutosh Sharma, Priyansh Arya, Gurjapneet Singh, Vipraj Nigam, Manav Suthar and Ashok Sharma. N Jagadeesan and Urvil Patel have been named as the wicketkeeping options.

The warm-up matches will also mark the return of fast bowler Mayank Yadav to competitive cricket. The pacer had been sidelined by a lower back stress fracture that ruled him out of the Lucknow Super Giants’ IPL 2025 campaign and subsequently underwent surgery in Christchurch, New Zealand, last year. Riyan Parag, meanwhile, has been included after recovering from a right shoulder injury at the CoE.

It is understood that M Venkatramanna will serve as head coach for the warm-up matches, with Vineet Saxena as batting coach and Avinash Khandelwal handling fielding duties.

India A squad for Men’s T20 World Cup warm-up matches: Ayush Badoni (c), Naman Dhir, Ashutosh Sharma, Priyansh Arya, N Jagadeesan (wk), Tilak Varma, Riyan Parag, Manav Suthar, Ashok Sharma, Urvil Patel (wk), Gurjapneet Singh, Vipraj Nigam, Ravi Bishnoi, Khaleel Ahmed and Mayank Yadav

The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader and former MLA KNA Khader on Monday said his party has a rightful claim to the deputy chief minister’s post in Kerala if the UDF comes to power in the state in the ensuing elections.

Speaking to the media in Kozhikode on Monday, KNA Khader said the IUML is eligible to get the deputy chief minister’s post and taking into account the Muslim League’s performance in the assembly polls, it is expected that the UDF constituent parties will consider the matter.

The former MLA said he expects the UDF to give the post to his party even without making a request for the same, once the coalition gets majority in the assembly. “If the constituent parties have the opinion that the Muslim League should be placed in its respectful position,it will happen,” he said.

It is expected that every party in the UDF will do so, he said, adding that he expects the constituent parties to have that conviction.

Earlier, the lUML’s all-India secretary, PK Kunhalikitty, said his party won’t demand deputy chief minister’s post, if UDF gets majority in. the polls. He pointed out that earlier, when Oommen Chandy promised deputy chief ministership to the Muslim League, it has refused to accept it.

Nobel laureate and economist Prof. Abhijit Banerjee, who received the 2019 Nobel Prize in Economics for his experimental and innovative approach to reducing global poverty, on Monday said that solutions to complex problems like poverty and hunger do not come from grand pronouncements, but from ground-level experiments and micro-level policy reforms.

He emphasised that policymaking today should be based on concrete evidence, not “assumptions.”

On Monday, Prof. Abhijit Banerjee delivered a lecture at the Malviya Auditorium of Lucknow University at an event organised in collaboration with the Mahindra Sanatkada Lucknow Festival. His lecture focused on the second edition of his previously published book, “Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty.”

In his lecture, Prof. Abhijit Banerjee spoke in detail about the five main pillars affecting poverty, nutrition, microcredit, education, poverty traps, and the power of small interventions.

He explained that field experiments conducted in 147 countries have shown that the assumption that nutritional levels automatically improve with increasing income is incorrect. According to him, bringing about positive changes in people’s priorities and behaviour is more effective than simply increasing income.

Regarding education, he said that overly ambitious curricula and rigid teaching methods hinder real learning. Citing experiments like “teaching at the right level” at the primary level, he argued that if children are taught according to their existing abilities, basic skills like reading and mathematics develop rapidly. He stressed the need to relax this “tyranny” of the curriculum.

Speaking on microfinance, Prof. Abhijit Banerjee clarified that microfinance is not a miracle solution. While it helps some people expand their businesses, it does not provide a permanent path out of poverty. He also highlighted that lack of access to credit often traps families in a vicious cycle of poverty. In such cases, programmes that combine productive assets with technical training, such as the model adopted by BRAC (Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee), have proven effective in leading extremely poor families towards self-employment.

On microfinance, he stated that although microfinance institutions have expanded rapidly over the last 10 to 15 years, they still remain out of reach of the median person, and only the top 5% are able to gain from it. He added that while microfinance leads some of the beneficiaries to expand their businesses, it does not appear to fuel an escape from poverty based on those small businesses.

He attributed policy failures to three ‘I’s—intuition, ideology, and inertia—and stated that relying solely on good governance or trade policy is not sufficient.

Concluding his address, he said that what is needed today is attention to the “plumbing,” that is, the finer details of policy implementation. During the question-and-answer session, he also said that focusing on the local level rather than broad frameworks yields better results, and that education and health should be given top priority.

His lecture was followed by a round of questions and answers where he addressed key questions concerning the Indian economy. He said that focusing on grassroots rather than on the broad parameters could give better results, as well as expressed his concern that knowlege economy is under threat from artificial intelligence. He suggested that everybody should be given a fair chance in life, and the quality of education and healthcare should be the central focus.

The Budget Session of the Bihar Legislative Assembly started on Monday with the address of Governor Arif Mohammad Khan. In his joint address to the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council, the Governor highlighted the achievements of the Bihar government.

He spoke about the ‘Saat Nischay 3’ (Seven Resolves 3) scheme and said that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s government is committed to provide one crore jobs and employment opportunities in the state over the next five years.

He said that maintaining the rule of law and communal harmony is the government’s top priority, and that the government is working toward the goal of “development with justice.”

After the Governor’s address, the Economic Survey report was presented. Following this, the proceedings were adjourned till Tuesday.

Reacting to the Governor’s address, Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav said it was the same old story. “We have been in the House for ten years. No matter who the Governor is, everyone delivers the same rehearsed speech, reading exactly what the government gives them. There are several schemes mentioned that the government copied from us before coming to power. The Governor’s speech presents an optimistic picture, but the ground reality is quite different,” he added.

He said the law-and-order situation in Bihar is no secret. “Murders, rapes, robberies, kidnappings, and shootings are taking place in broad daylight. There is corruption in many schemes. Go to any block office or police station, corruption is rampant everywhere.”

Regarding the decision to hand over the investigation into the death of a NEET student to the CBI, the RJD leader said that there are many such cases where investigations were handed over to the CBI, but years have passed and no results have emerged. “The government talks about development with justice, but its actions are completely the opposite,” he added.

Meanwhile, even before the proceedings began on the first day of the session, the opposition launched an offensive against the Nitish government. Ahead of the Assembly proceedings, Congress MLA Qamrul Hoda staged a protest outside the House over the NEET aspirant’s suspicious death. Holding placards, he demanded that the issue be included in the Governor’s address.

RJD MLA Bhai Virendra said, “The session is starting today. We will strongly oppose every wrong policy of the government. The government is confused over the incident involving a NEET student. Members of families of senior NDA leaders are involved in it.”

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday launched a scathing attack on Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, calling him “arrogant and a liar” who works on the BJP’s directions.

CM Banerjee, along with TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee and party MP Kalyan Banerjee, met CEC Kumar at the office of the Election Commission of India in Delhi. She also brought with her a group of people declared dead in the SIR exercise.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Banerjee accused the Election Commission of working under the ruling BJP’s direction. “They say whatever they have done is right. They did not allow any outside cameramen to enter. They are working under the BJP’s direction…,” she said.

The Bengal CM said that around 2 crore voters’ names have been removed from the draft electoral rolls, adding that she can bring lakhs of people here in Delhi, and parade them in front of anybody.

“More than 150 people died, including the BLOs, due to this SIR. I have brought 100 people with me. There are some of them who have been declared dead in the voters list, but they are alive and present here…,” she said.

Expressing her disappointment after meeting the CEC, Banerjee said that she has not seen “an Election Commissioner who is so arrogant, who is such a liar” in her entire political career.

#WATCH | Delhi: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee comes out of the Election Commission Office in Delhi.

She says, “I am very sad. I have been involved in politics in Delhi for a very long time. I was a minister 4 times and an MP 7 times. I have never seen such an Election… pic.twitter.com/2LayXFCfzy

— ANI (@ANI) February 2, 2026

“I am very sad. I have been involved in politics in Delhi for a very long time. I was a minister 4 times and an MP 7 times. I have never seen such an Election Commissioner who is so arrogant, who is such a liar. I told him that I respect your chair because no chair is permanent for anyone. One day you have to go…,” she said.

CM Banerjee also claimed that West Bengal is being unnecessarily targeted in the name of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. “Why Bengal is being targeted. Elections are a festival in a democracy, but you deleted the names of 58 lakh people and did not allow them to defend themselves.”

The Bengal CM stated that the SIR exercise should have been done with proper planning and should have left the election-bound states. “You have a BJP government in Assam. You didn’t do SIR in Assam, but you did it in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. What did you do to us? You removed 58 lakh people. There’s a lot of mismatch and mismapping here.”

“If we had to SIR in 2022, and ask us to bring the birth certificates of our fathers, it would not have been possible. Earlier, children were born in homes and not in hospitals. Ask your Prime Minister if he has the institution delivery certificates of his father and mother,” she added.

A large number of people staged a protest by clapping and banging plates at the municipal corporation in Agra district of Uttar Pradesh on Monday.

Angry over the lack of development in several areas of the city, the residents reached the municipal corporation and expressed their frustration by banging plates with spoons to draw the attention of the municipal officials.

According to reports, drains in several parts of the city have not been cleaned. Many streets are in a dilapidated condition, making it difficult to walk on them, and water is flowing in the lanes, causing considerable inconvenience to the residents.

People from several wards, including women, facing similar problems, reached the municipal corporation. They continued to bang plates for a long time.

Residents said that they had repeatedly complained to the municipal corporation about the broken roads, streets, and drains, but no one was listening. Therefore, they resorted to this protest of banging plates to awaken the officials. The protest continued for a considerable time at the municipal corporation, after which some officials arrived and spoke to the people.

During the conversation, the officials assured them that their problems would be resolved soon. After receiving the assurance from the officials, the people dispersed and returned home