THE HEADLINES::
⦁ India and Canada agree to strengthen cooperation in national security, law enforcement and cybersecurity.
⦁ Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s ruling coalition records landslide victory in snap parliamentary elections.
⦁ Seychelles President Patrick Herminie arrives in New Delhi for final leg of five-day visit; Meets key stakeholders across multiple sectors in Chennai and Mumbai.
⦁ India’s Tejaswin Shankar clinches gold medal in Men’s Heptathlon event at Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Tianjin, China.
⦁In Tennis, India defeat Netherlands, 3-2 to storm into second round of Davis Cup Qualifiers.
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India and Canada have agreed to formulate a shared work plan to guide cooperation on national security and law enforcement issues and to enable practical collaboration on respective priorities. The decision was taken during a meeting between National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and his Canadian counterpart Nathalie Drouin in Ottawa on Saturday. The Ministry of External Affairs yesterday said that the two sides acknowledged the progress on initiatives aimed at supporting the safety and security of their countries and citizens. The Ministry said, it was agreed that each country would establish security and law-enforcement liaison officers and that their respective agencies would build on working relationships. The two sides also committed to formalizing cooperation on cybersecurity policy and information sharing on cybersecurity issues.
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Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s ruling coalition registered landmark victory in the snap parliamentary elections held yesterday, paving the way for promised tax cuts and a stronger defence system. According to country’s public broadcaster, the coalition led by Ms Takaichi’s Liberal Democrat Party (LDP) has won 352 of 465 seats in Japan’s House of Representatives. LDP alone secured a majority of 316, comfortably surpassing the 261-seat threshold for an absolute majority in the 465-member Lower house, the more powerful chamber of Japan’s parliament.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi for her victory in the elections to the House of Representatives. In a social media post, Prime Minister Modi said, the Special Strategic and Global Partnership between the two countries plays a vital role in enhancing global peace, stability and prosperity. Mr Modi expressed confidence that Ms Takaichi’s able leadership will take India-Japan friendship to greater heights.
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Seychelles President Patrick Herminie arrived in New Delhi yesterday on the last leg of his five-day visit, after productive engagements in Chennai and Mumbai. Union Minister Anupriya Patel received the visiting dignitary at the airport. the External Affairs Ministry said, Seychelles President, met key stakeholders including in the fields of governance, industry, coastal management and health sector in Chennai and Mumbai.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold talks with the President of Seychelles in New Delhi today. Both leaders will hold discussion on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest. President Herminie will also meet President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan this evening.
“Seychelles is a key maritime neighbour for India in the Indian Ocean region and holds a special place in India’s Vision MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) and the commitment to the Global South. The visit of President of Seychelles coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Seychelles. The visit of President of Seychelles will lend further momentum to wide-ranging cooperation and robust people to people ties between the two countries. ANUPAM MISHRA, AKASHVANI NEWS, DELHI.”
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with students across the country in the second episode of Pariksha Pe Charcha 2026 this morning. The programme is scheduled to be broadcast at 10 AM across multiple platforms, including Akashvani. With board exams around the corner, the interaction will focus on addressing exam stress, preparation strategies, time management and helping students approach tests with confidence. The Prime Minister in a social media post said that this episode will feature exam warriors from Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, Raipur in Chhattisgarh, Dev Mogra in Gujarat and Guwahati in Assam.
In this session, the Prime Minister will share practical advice on handling board examinations, building confidence, staying positive, and overcoming common challenges such as anxiety and pressure. The first episode of the 9th edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha was aired on 6th of this month, during which Prime Minister Modi answered questions and interacted warmly with participants. Conceptualized by the Prime Minister, the popular annual programme has evolved into a nationwide Jan Andolan, witnessing participation of more than 4.5 crore students, teachers, and parents. In alignment with National Education Policy 2020, the initiative aims at reshaping the examination experience of students by fostering confidence, positivity, and holistic well-being, celebrating the exam season as an Utsav. The second episode will be telecast on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s YouTube channel, Doordarshan, and the Ministry of Education’s social media platforms. The programme will also be live on WAVES OTT. Priya Mondal, Akashvani News, Delhi.
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Secretary (South) Dr.Neena Malhotra co-chaired the 14th India Egypt Foreign Office consultation along with Assistant Foreign Minister at Cairo, Egypt. Ministry of External Affairs said that during the meeting both sides reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral strategic partnership and discussed possible cooperation to take the partnership forward. They also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.
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Chemicals and Allied Products Export Promotion Council, CAPEXIL has hailed the Interim Trade Agreement between India and the United States. Talking to Akashvani News, CAPEXIL’s Glass Panel Chairman, Pradeep Kheruka, said, India has a large export market for perfume bottles in the United States, and the reduction in tariffs will provide a boost to the sector. Mr Kheruka added that India now faces lower tariffs compared to other countries, which will help increase exports across other trade sectors as well.
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- Union Home Minister Amit Shah will attend the closing ceremony of the Bastar Pandum festival in Jagdalpur today as the chief guest, concluding his three-day visit to Chhattisgarh. The festival, inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu on Friday, celebrates the rich tribal heritage of the region.
The Bastar Pandum festival, currently underway at Jagdalpur, the headquarters of Bastar division in Chhattisgarh, has emerged as an important platform for showcasing tribal art and culture. Under Bastar Pandum, divisional-level competitions are being organised over three days, in which more than seven hundred artists from eighty-four teams, representing various districts of Bastar division, are presenting their performances.
During the festival, displays are being held in twelve different categories, including tribal dance, theatre, musical instruments and traditional cuisine, along with painting, handicrafts and jewellery art. Bastar Pandum has become a grand confluence of folk culture. Apart from Bastar division, folk artists from other states such as Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka have also captivated audiences with their performances. Vikalp Shukla, Akashwani News, Raipur.
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The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are scheduled to take up discussions on the Union Budget 2026-27 today. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had presented the Union Budget in Parliament on the 1st of this month. The first phase of the budget session commenced on 28th of January and will continue till the 13th of this month. The second phase will take place from 9th of March to 2nd of April.
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The Budget session of the Uttar Pradesh legislature will begin today with Governor Anandiben Patel’s address to joint session of both Houses. Finance Minister Suresh Khanna will present the State Budget for the financial year 2026-27 in the State Assembly on Wednesday. The session is proposed to continue till 20th of this month.
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The Election Commission has clarified that the Permanent Resident Certificate is one of the admissible eligibility documents under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. In a letter to the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), the Commission directed that Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs), shall accept only those Permanent Resident Certificates that are issued by designated authorities, in accordance with guidelines strictly notified by the state government.
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The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s two-day lecture series as part of its centenary year celebrations, marking 100 years since the organisation’s founding concluded in Mumbai yesterday. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat yesterday said a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) should be framed through broad consensus and must not create social divisions.
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India wrapped up its campaign at Asian Indoor Athletics Championships at Tianjin in China, finishing with five medals and securing sixth place in the overall medal standings. Tejaswin Shankar delivered the standout performance for India by winning the Men’s heptathlon event to clinch country’s only gold medal at the Championships yesterday.
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In Tennis, India stormed into the second round of Davis Cup Qualifiers with a historic 3-2 win over World Number 6 Netherlands in Bengaluru yesterday. Dhakshineswar Suresh delivered a heroic performance, winning both his singles matches and teaming up with Yuki Bhambri to claim the doubles. In the deciding rubber, Suresh beat Guy de Ouden 6-4, 7-6 to seal victory, earning a celebration reminiscent of Leander Paes’ heroics in 2004.
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Services clinched the 79th National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy after edging past Kerala 1-nil in the final at Dhakuakhana Stadium in Assam yesterday. The victory secured Services their eighth Santosh Trophy title.
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TODAY’S NEWSPAPERS HEADLINE,
⦁ Dailies have widely reported on Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit to Malaysia. The Times of India leads with the headline, “In ‘clear message’, Malaysia, India slam cross-border terror.” The Hindu headline reads, “India, Malaysia ink pacts to expand strategic ties.”
⦁ Financial Express quotes Commerce and Industry Minister, Piyush Goyal as asserting that buying oil from the US is in India’s strategic interests.
⦁ The Union Law Ministry has increased the fees of advocates who represent Central Government in courts across the country, after 11 years, writes The Pioneer.
⦁ In a first, the Cabinet Secretariat has sent “administrative scorecards” to Secretaries in the Central government, showing percentage of marks obtained by them, based on their individual performance and that of their department’s, reports The Indian Express.
⦁ The editorial in The Pioneer today highlights a women-led conservation model in Spiti’s harsh high-altitude landscape, that is transforming human-snow leopard coexistence. By employing local women as paid monitors, guides, and conservation workers, protection of wildlife has become a source of livelihood, reduced conflict and boosted snow leopard numbers in Himachal Pradesh by over 60% since 2021.
⦁ Twelve cities across the National Capital Region, along with four NCR states and Delhi, have submitted detailed pollution mitigation plans to slash pollution in the region this year, reports Hindustan Times.
⦁ And finally, the long arm of the law finally caught a man in Madhya Pradesh, 45 years after he was booked for stealing wheat worth 100 rupees, reports The Asian Age.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN
⦁ India and Canada agree to strengthen cooperation in national security, law enforcement and cybersecurity.
⦁ Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s ruling coalition records landslide victory in snap parliamentary elections.
⦁ Seychelles President Patrick Herminie arrives in New Delhi for final leg of five-day visit; Meets key stakeholders across multiple sectors in Chennai and Mumbai.
⦁ India’s Tejaswin Shankar clinches gold medal in Men’s Heptathlon event at Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Tianjin, China.
⦁ In Tennis, India defeat Netherlands, 3-2 to storm into second round of Davis Cup Qualifiers.
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