THE HEADLINES:
- Government says, India secured favourable trade deal with United States, protecting interest of agriculture and dairy sectors; Highlights new opportunities for farmers, fishermen, MSMEs, women entrepreneurs and youth.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserts trade pact with US reflects changing world order and its trajectory tilting towards India.
- Sensex and Nifty surge 2.5 per cent each after historic India-US trade deal announcement.
- Eight opposition MPs suspended from Lok Sabha for remaining part of Budget Session over unruly behaviour; Rajya Sabha holds discussion on Motion of Thanks to President’s address.
- India conducts successful demonstration of Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet technology; Enters elite group of nations with technical prowess for long-range air-to-air missiles.
- In Women’s Premier League Cricket, Gujarat Giants take on Delhi Capitals in Eliminator match in Vadodara.
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The Government today said that India has secured a favourable trade deal with United States, protecting interest of agriculture and dairy sectors. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi this evening, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal termed the trade pact between New Delhi and Washington as historic and forward-looking that places India’s national interest at the centre. Mr Goyal highlighted that the agreement will create new opportunities for farmers, fishermen, MSMEs, women entrepreneurs and the youth across rural and urban India. He said the deal will benefit many sectors including MSME, Textile, Gems and Jewellery, Leather Goods, and Marine Goods.
Mr Goyal said, under the deal, no compromise has been made on the livelihoods of the farmers.
India and the United States have reached a landmark trade agreement under which Washington will reduce reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent. Prime Minister Modi in a social media post made the announcement last night after holding telephonic conversation with US President Donald Trump.
Mr Goyal in the media briefing informed that the final details of the trade deal are being worked out, and an India-US joint statement will be issued soon.
The Commerce and Industry Minister also criticised Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders for allegedly misleading and creating confusion among the people regarding the deal.
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Prime Minister Modi today said, India’s landmark trade agreement with the United States is the result of sustained patience. Mr Modi said, the pact reflects that world order is changing and its trajectory is increasingly tilting towards India. The Prime Minister said this while addressing NDA MPs at the Parliamentary party meeting at the Parliament House complex in New Delhi.
According to Sources, the Prime Minister in the NDA Parliamentary party meeting said, the trade deal has created an economic environment and reflected the Government’s consistent and measured approach to global trade negotiations. He said, the opposition criticised the tariffs but the Government remained patient and the results are now visible. NDA MPs felicitated Prime Minister Modi for the landmark India-US trade deal during the meeting.
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Several Union Ministers congratulated Prime Minister Modi and US President Trump, on the landmark trade agreement. In a social media post, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw termed the trade pact a win-win deal.
Speaking at the Post Budget Conference on the Union Budget 2026-27 organised by ASSOCHAM in New Delhi today, Secretary of the Department of Financial Services, M. Nagaraju, said, the deal between India and US will improve the trade relations and is expected to encourage expansion in industrial capacity between the two nations.
Talking to the Akashvani News outside the Parliament, Rajya Sabha MP and Former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said, at an 18 per cent market access rate, India is better than all of its competitors, whether it’s China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan.
Industry bodies have also hailed the finalisation of the India-US trade deal, saying this will boost bilateral trade and create employment opportunities.
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Benchmark domestic equity indices, the Sensex and the Nifty, soared over two and a half per cent, each today following the announcement of long-awaited India-US trade deal. We have a report:
“The Sensex zoomed 2,073 points to close at 83 thousand and 739, while the Nifty climbed 639 points to settle at 25 thousand 728. The Mid-Cap index rose almost 2.6 per cent, while the Small-Cap index jumped over 3.4 per cent.In the forex market today, the rupee strengthened by 125 paise to close at 90 rupees and 26 paise against the US dollar. NISHIT KUMAR for AKASHVANI News.”
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Eight opposition MPs of the Lok Sabha have been suspended from the remaining part of the Budget Session for their unruly behaviour in the House. The MPs are Manickam Tagore, Amrinder Singh Raja, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Hibi Eden, Dean Kuriakose, Prashant Padole and Kiran Kumar Reddy of Congress, and S Venkatesan from CPI (M). The House today witnessed repeated adjournments due to the ruckus created by the Opposition parties including Congress, DMK, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party and others over various issues including India-China relation and India-US trade deal.
When the Lok Sabha assembled after third adjournment at 3 PM, the opposition MPs started protesting over these matters. Presiding Officer raised objection towards the unruly behaviour of the MPs for throwing out paper towards the Chair. Later, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju moved a resolution seeking suspension of the eight MPs for their unruly behaviour and misconduct in the Lok Sabha.
The House approved the resolution with voice vote. After that, the Chair adjourned the House for the day to meet again at 11AM tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha today resumed discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President Droupadi Murmu’s address on commencement of the Budget session. The motion was moved yesterday by nominated MP C Sadanandan Master. Participating in the discussion, Ghanshyam Tiwari of BJP said, the Narendra Modi led government is working to make India a developed nation by 2047.
Congress MP Rajani Ashokrao Patil said that the President’s Address does not reflect the ground realities of the country.
The discussion remained inconclusive. Later, the House was adjourned for the day to meet again tomorrow.
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President Droupadi Murmu has said that India can achieve rapid prosperity only when all sections of society progress together, while safeguarding the environment and strengthening technological development.
The President was addressing the 12th Convocation Ceremony of Fakir Mohan University at Balasore in Odisha.
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The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways today signed two Memorandum of Understandings for the formation of the Bharat Container Shipping Line and for financing the development of the Outer Harbour Development Project, in New Delhi. Signed in the presence of Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, the MoUs are aimed at strengthening India’s maritime infrastructure and reducing reliance on foreign shipping operators.
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Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) today carried out a successful demonstration of Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology, from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur off the coast in Odisha. The Ministry of Defence said, the demonstration placed India into an elite league of nations possessing this technology. It added that this demonstration will enable the development of long-range air-to-air missiles to give a tactical edge over the adversaries. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO and industry on the successful demonstration of SFDR technology.
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The Supreme Court today said that tech giants cannot play with citizen’s Right to Privacy in the name of data sharing. The court came down heavily on Meta and WhatsApp while hearing their appeals against a Competition Commission of India order imposing a penalty of around 213 crore rupees over their privacy policy. The top court said it will pass an interim order on the 9th of this month.
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In West Bengal, Leader of Opposition in the State assembly and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari expressed serious concerns over national security, citing the state government’s delay in providing land for border fencing along the India-Bangladesh border. Mr Adhikari was speaking at a press conference held the state BJP office in Kolkata today. He warned that this delay poses a significant threat to national safety and urged immediate action to secure the international boundary.
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Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel today led a historic ceremonial send-off in Vadodara for the sacred relics of Lord Buddha, which are being sent to Sri Lanka for public exhibition in Colombo. Preserved at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, these holy remains were accorded a formal Guard of Honor before being taken in a solemn procession. More from our correspondent :
“The sacred relics of Lord Buddha, discovered during the 1960 excavation at Dev ni Mori near Shamlaji in North Gujarat, began their spiritual journey from Vadodara to Colombo today amidst Vedic chants and Buddhist hymns. These eighth-century artifacts, which include a silk-lined vessel and a casket bearing the words ‘Dashabala Sharira Nilaya,’ signify the resting place of the Buddha’s remains. The relics will be displayed for public veneration from February 4th to 11th, coinciding with the Sri Lankan New Year, marking a new chapter in the India-Sri Lanka relationship. Aparna Khunt, Akashvani News, Ahmedabad.”
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Political violence has risen sharply across Bangladesh ahead of the national election on 12th of this month, with casualties nearly tripling in January compared to the previous month. Human rights organisation Ain o Salish Kendra in its latest analysis reported 75 incidents of political violence last month, resulting in 616 injuries and 11 deaths, compared to 18 incidents in December last year. With violence escalating and accusations flying among political actors, concerns are growing over whether a peaceful and credible election environment can be ensured in the days leading up to the vote.
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In the Women’s Premier League, WPL Cricket, Gujarat Giants have set a target of 169 runs for Delhi Capitals in the crucial Eliminator clash in Vadodara. Put into bat first, Gujarat Giants scored 168 runs losing 7 wickets in stipulated 20 overs.
The winner of this match will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final match on Thursday.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN.
- Government says, India secured favourable trade deal with United States, protecting interest of agriculture and dairy sectors; Highlights new opportunities for farmers, fishermen, MSMEs, women entrepreneurs and youth.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserts trade pact with US reflects changing world order and its trajectory tilting towards India.
- Sensex and Nifty surge 2.5 per cent each after historic India-US trade deal announcement.
- Eight opposition MPs suspended from Lok Sabha for remaining part of Budget Session over unruly behaviour; Rajya Sabha holds discussion on Motion of Thanks to President’s address.
- India conducts successful demonstration of Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet technology; Enters elite group of nations with technical prowess for long-range air-to-air missiles.
- In Women’s Premier League Cricket, Gujarat Giants set a target of 169 runs for Delhi Capitals in Eliminator match in Vadodara.
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