THE HEADLINES::
- Centre creates 17 lakh crore PPP project for implementation of 2025-26 budgetary announcements.
- Supreme Court gives two weeks time to Commission for Air Quality Management to identify all major sources of pollution in Delhi NCR and suggest long-term sectoral action plan.
- With National Medical Commission withdrawing MBBS permission, Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Institute of Medical Science to transfer 2025-26 students to another J&K college.
- 32 Cubans and 24 Venezuelans killed in US Special Operation to capture Venezuelan President Maduro.
- In football, Indian Super League to start on February 14 with all 14 clubs.
<><><>
Department of Economic Affairs has created a three-year Public Private Partnership (PPP) project pipeline in view of the implementation of the announcement made in the Union Budget 2025-26. Ministry of Finance said, the project pipeline comprises 852 projects across Central Infrastructure Ministries and States and Union Territories with a combined total project cost of over 17 lakh crore rupees. It added that the pipeline provides early visibility of potential PPP projects to enable investors, developers and other stakeholders to undertake more informed planning and investment decisions.
<><><>
Prime Minister’s flagship platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation, PRAGATI, has marked a significant milestone with the successful conduct of its 50th meeting. Since its launch by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015, PRAGATI has transformed governance by enabling real-time monitoring and resolution of key infrastructure projects and public grievances through direct Prime Ministerial review. The platform exemplifies cooperative federalism, bringing together the Centre, States, and Union Ministries on a single digital interface. Over a decade, PRAGATI has helped accelerate decision-making, resolution of issues causing delay in key infrastructure projects, and instilled a strong culture of accountability. Today, in this special series, we take a look at the Parbati-II Hydroelectric Project in Himachal Pradesh.
The Parbati-II Hydroelectric Project is a run-of-the-river hydropower station developed by NHPC Limited on the Parbati River in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. The project is among India’s most technically complex and strategically significant hydropower developments. Parbati-II is designed to generate approximately 3,074 million units of electricity annually, supplying reliable renewable power to the Northern Grid and benefitting multiple states. These states include Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and the UT of Chandigarh.However, the scale and complexity of the project posed significant implementation challenges. During construction, progress was impeded by issues relating to land mutation, despite physical possession of acquired land having largely been taken. The project faced significant construction delays, especially in the execution of the main headrace tunnel, owing to the extremely fragile Himalayan geology. The matter was reviewed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi under the PRAGATI mechanism on 17th February 2016. The Prime Minister directed the Himachal Pradesh government to complete mutation of the balance acquired land on priority. He also directed the Ministry of Power and NHPC to significantly accelerate construction. Three of the four generating units commenced commercial operation on 1st April last year followed by commissioning of the fourth unit on 16th April last year, marking the full commercial commissioning of all 800 Mega Watt capacity. It is a demonstration of India’s growing capability to plan, execute, and deliver technically demanding infrastructure in extreme environments, enabled by leadership-driven intervention through the PRAGATI mechanism. With Anand Kumar, Suparna Saikia, Akashvani News, Delhi.
<><><>
The National Medical Commission’s Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) has withdrawn the letter of permission granted to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi for non-compliance with minimum standards.
An order issued by the MARB yesterday said all students admitted to the college during the counselling for the academic year 2025-26 shall be accommodated in other medical institutions in Jammu and Kashmir as supernumerary seats by the competent authority of the Union Territory administration. This means no admitted student will lose an MBBS seat due to the withdrawal decision. Instead, they will be adjusted in other recognised medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir over and above their regular sanctioned intake.
According to the order, the non-compliance came to light during a surprise inspection. The NMC’s decision is effective immediately.
<><><>
The Supreme Court has asked the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to identify all major sources of pollution in two weeks and suggest long-term sectoral action plans to tackle each of them in a phased manner.
A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said that CAQM should bring all domain experts under one roof, hold deliberations and come out with long-term solutions, which would be implemented in a phased manner so as not to hurt livelihoods, industry and the public. It said, pollution control failed because the court considered many expert views that pointed in different directions, instead of following a clear, unified plan.
<><><>
National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (NIRDPR) Director General Dr G Narendra Kumar has said the minimum wages will be fully safeguarded under the Vikasit Bharat G RAM G Act. Addressing Media persons at the One-day VARTALAP in Hyderabad, Dr Narendra Kumar said, in line with India’s aspiration to become a developed nation, Vikasit Bharat -G RAM G Act provides a clear roadmap towards achieving the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. Dismissing concerns about a reduction in minimum wages, he emphasised that the minimum wages will be fully safeguarded under the new act.
<><><>
Maharashtra government has formed a study group to recommend rehabilitation measures for Agniveers who will complete their four-year stint in the Indian Armed Forces this year. The group will submit its report within three months. The panel, led by Colonel Deepak Thonge, will explore opportunities in government, semi-government, and private sectors, as well as training and financial assistance for self-employment. The group will examine three key areas, employment opportunities in state and semi-government services, prospects in the private sector, along with training requirements, and financial assistance for self-employment.
<><><>
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that India-Luxembourg relations have come a long way and India sees Luxembourg as a very important partner. In his opening remarks during his meeting with Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister, Xavier Bettel, Dr Jaishankar thanked Luxembourg for being an advocate of deepening ties between India and European Union.
Dr Jaishankar also called on Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg and conveyed the greetings of President Droupadi Murmu. The External Affairs Minister said he valued his positive sentiments for India, and for deepening the bilateral partnership.
Earlier, the External Affairs Minister met Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden. In a social media post, Dr Jaishankar said they discussed growing cooperation between India and Luxembourg in financial services, investments, technology and innovation. He thanked the Luxembourg Prime Minister for his support for stronger India – EU ties.
<><><>
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will be on a two-day visit to Brussels beginning tomorrow. Ministry of Commerce and Industry said that the visit underscores the intensifying diplomatic and technical engagements between New Delhi and Brussels, signalling a decisive push toward concluding the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA). During the visit, Mr Goyal will hold high-level dialogues with the European Union Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič. The Ministry said that India is pushing for zero-duty access for its labour-intensive sectors, such as textiles, leather, apparel, gems and jewellery, and handicrafts.
<><><>
The Venezuelan Military has said, 24 security officers were killed in the US military operation on Saturday. This brings the official death count during the operation to 56. Media reports say, more civilians were killed in the strikes, but it was immediately unclear how many.
Venezuela Attorney General Tarek William Saab said, dozens of officials and civilians were killed and that prosecutors would investigate the deaths in what he described as war crime.
The number is on top of an announcement by Cuba’s government on Sunday that 32 Cuban military and police officers working in Venezuela had died in the operation, prompting two days of mourning on the Caribbean island.
<><><>
US President Donald Trump has said Venezuela’s interim authorities will transfer between 30 million and 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the United States, describing the plan as mutually beneficial for both countries.
In a social media post, Mr Trump said the oil would be sold at market prices and that he would personally oversee the use of the proceeds. According to him, the revenue would be directed toward initiatives benefiting both the Venezuelan and American people.
<><><>
The White House has said that US President Donald Trump has discussed a range of options to acquire Greenland, including use of the military. It comes after Trump again said that the US needed Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark for national security.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that any attack by the US would spell the end of North Atlantic Treaty Organization, (NATO). European allies have backed Denmark, a NATO member. The issue of Greenland’s future resurfaced in the wake of the US military intervention in Venezuela, during which elite troops went in to seize the country’s President Nicolás Maduro and took him to face drugs and weapons charges in New York.
<><><>
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has announced that the Indian Super League will kick off on 14 February, bringing an end to a six-month crisis that brought Indian football to a standstill.
The ISL, which used to start in September, will feature all 14 clubs, including Mohun Bagan and East bengal, which were opposed to the financial model suggested by the All India Football Federation. Mr Mandaviya made the announcement after a joint meeting involving the government, the All India Football Federation and club representatives.
The league will be played on a home-and-away basis and will feature 91 matches. Final scheduling and logistics will be worked out by the clubs in the coming weeks.
AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey has said, the second division I-League will also restart around the same time, with all 11 clubs taking part in a shortened format of 55 matches.
Mr Chaubey added that a Governing Council Board will be set up to manage both leagues and will be empowered to take commercial decisions.
<><><>
TODAY’S NEWSPAPERS Headline,
- Almost all newspapers today lead with the results of the electoral roll revision exercise. ‘Uttar Pradesh draft roll out’ “SIR 2.0 draft rolls: 13 percent electors deleted in nine states, three UTs” informs The Indian Express.
- The other story that takes the lime light today is of the supreme court giving CAQM two weeks time to complete source identification and apportionment exercise.
- “Wrong-side driving in Delhi to now attract criminal cases,” notes The Hindustan Times.
- As part of comprehensive assessment by NHAI, “Highway, telecom authority join hands to improve network on roads,”says The Pioneer.
- Quoting the latest HSBC survey, “Services sector growth drops to 11-month low, writes The Financial Express.
- And finally, taking note of Northern Railways,’ ambitious project, “India’s first hydrogen train set to run between Jind and Sonipat in Haryana,” writes The Statesman.
<><><>
THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN,
- Centre creates 17 lakh crore PPP project for implementation of 2025-26 budgetary announcements.
- Supreme Court gives two weeks time to Commission for Air Quality Management to identify all major sources of pollution in Delhi NCR and suggest long-term sectoral action plan.
- With National Medical Commission withdrawing MBBS permission, Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Institute of Medical Science to transfer 2025-26 students to another J&K college.
- 32 Cubans and 24 Venezuelans killed in US Special Operation to capture Venezuelan President Maduro.
- In football, Indian Super League to start on February 14 with all 14 clubs.
<><><>