India News: Cabinet Approves 6 Rail Projects Worth Rs 12,343 Crore

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved six projects of the railway ministry with an estimated cost of around Rs 12,343 crore, the government said in a statement on Thursday. According to the government, the six projects, which cover 18 districts in the six states, will increase the existing network of the Indian Railways by 1,020 km and will provide about three crore man-days of employment to the people of the states.

The government on Thursday announced a Rs 6,000 crore scheme in order to formalise the unorganised fisheries sector, facilitate institutional finance to micro and small enterprises and promote acqaculture insurance. The government also decided to extend the Fisheries Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) for another three years up to 2025-26 within the already approved fund of Rs 7,522.48 crore and budgetary support of Rs 939.48 crore.

Parliament on Thursday passed a bill that seeks to decriminalise minor offences related to water pollution, and exempt certain categories of industrial plants from statutory restrictions. Responding to the debate on the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said the provisions will lead to greater transparency in dealing with various issues related to water pollution.

The BJP is likely to launch a nationwide campaign around the 'white paper' tabled in Parliament on Thursday by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Sources said BJP state units across the country will highlight the details of the 'white paper' which underscores the alleged mismanagement of the economy and other governance issues, including national security, during the Congress-led UPA government and the turnaround effected by the Modi government.

A Parliamentary panel on Thursday proposed route-specific capping of airfares and setting up of a separate entity to exercise control over air ticket prices, amid concerns in various quarters about surging fares. After considering the responses from the civil aviation ministry on airfares, the committee said that self regulation of ticket prices by airlines has not been effective.

The Delhi government on Thursday directed the DMRC to constitute a committee of experts to look into the wall collapse incident at the Gokulpuri metro station that claimed the life of a man and left four others injured, Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said. Gahlot said he has directed the DMRC to constitute a committee of experts which shall inquire into this incident and submit a report within two weeks.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation on Thursday announced Rs 25 lakh in compensation for the family of 53-year-old man who died after a portion of the Gokulpuri Metro Station on the Pink Line in northeast Delhi collapsed, official statement said. The DMRC announced Rs 5 lakh for the grievously injured and Rs 1 lakh for those who received minor injuries, it stated.

The transporters also suspended two of its officials over the collapse.

The Supreme Court, on Thursday, reserved its order on the legal question whether a state government is empowered to make a sub-classification in scheduled castes and scheduled tribes for grant of reservation in admissions and public jobs.

The top court is hearing references to revisit a five-judge constitution bench judgement of 2004 in the case of EV Chinnaiah vs. State of Andhra Pradesh in which it was held that SCs and STs are homogenous groups and hence, states cannot further sub-classify them to grant quota inside quota for more deprived and weaker castes in these groups.

Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi has demanded an inquiry into the allegations of recently disqualified RJD MLC Rambali Singh that Tejashwi Yadav has been "consuming liquor" in violation of the state's stringent prohibition law. However, Singh, who lost his Bihar legislative council membership two days ago on the charge of working against the party line, maintained that the senior BJP leader (Sushil Modi) had taken out of context word uttered by him during a "loose talk" which got recorded on camera without his knowledge.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday met BJP leader LK Advani. 

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi House on Thursday passed a budget of Rs 16,683 crore for 2024-25 financial year without a vote amid accusations of corruption against the mayor. The MCD passed the budget estimates for 2023-24 and 2024-25. AAP councillors stood guards at Delhi mayor Shelly Oberoi's podium as she announced the budget, with their BJP and Congress counterparts surrounding it. The house could function for no more than five minutes as Oberoi read the budget above shouts of accusations and hurried out.

A massive fire broke out at cardboard factory in Ghaziabad on Thursday. Firefighting operations are underway.

India News LIVE: UP farmers march towards Parliament from Delhi-Noida Chilla border over their various demands including hiked compensation. 

While speaking at Bharat Mandapam, PM Modi on Thursday said that Ram Temple is now a reality.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Thursday took a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' and said he should first do justice with his own party leaders. Talking to reporters at the Swami Vivekanand Airport in Raipur after returning from Delhi, the CM also said those accused in the alleged Chhattisgarh State Public Service Commission (CGPSC) scam will not be spared. Gandhi's yatra is scheduled to enter Chhattisgarh from Odisha on Thursday. It will be Gandhi's first visit to Chhattisgarh after the November 2023 assembly elections wherein his party was ousted from power in the state.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said the state government will file police cases against those responsible for irregularities in giving school uniforms to students. Sarma told the Assam Assembly during the Question Hour that the government will start taking action after the Lok Sabha elections as there are allegations of anomalies in school uniforms across the state. "We give funds for giving school uniforms to students free of cost. However, when I visit different places, I find that uniforms in some schools are of good quality and some are not," he added.

The Rajasthan Assembly on Thursday witnessed heavy uproar during the presentation of vote on account (interim budget) by Finance Minister Diya Kumari, who targeted the former Congress government during her speech. The minister accused the former government of financial mismanagement, corruption and lack of vision. She also held it responsible for the financial burden on Rajasthan, debt on the state and the financial burden on the electricity companies among others.

Posters of new party name allotted to Sharad Pawar faction- 'Nationalist Congress Party - Sharadchandra Pawar'- was put up outside party's office in Mumbai on Thursday.

There was no let-up in cold wave conditions in Punjab and Haryana on Thursday, with minimum temperatures staying below normal for the time of the season. Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, recorded a minimum of 7 degrees Celsius, two degrees below normal, according to the MeT department. Among other places in Punjab, Amritsar shivered at 4.1 degrees Celsius, two degrees below normal, while minimum temperatures of Ludhiana and Patiala were 6.9 and 6.2 degrees Celsius respectively. Pathankot, Bathinda, Faridkot and Gurdaspur experienced cold weather conditions at 3.9, 6.4, 6, and 4 degrees Celsius respectively.

While bidding farewell to the retiring MPs on February 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Rajya Sabha, took a jibe at Mallikarjun Kharge over bringing black paper. Referring black paper to kaala tika, PM Modi said,” I thank Kharge ji for applying ‘kaala tika’. Kaala tika is important to prevent good work from being jinxed.”

DMK and Congress stage protests against the central government at the Parliament premises, alleging discrimination against Southern states.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi resumes Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Jharsuguda, Odisha

PM Modi addresses in Rajya Sabha

On Delhi court summoning CM Arvind Kejriwal on February 17 on ED complaint, Union minister Anurag Thakur says, "Those who used to raise their voice against corruption are now deep in corruption...The time has come for him to appear before court now. Kejriwal ji at least tell the truth before the court..."

Based on credible intelligence of armed Naxal cadres camping at Hiddur Village 7km east of Wangeturi on the Kanker-Narayanpur-Gadchiroli Trijunction, to do recce of newly opened outposts Wangeturi and Gardewada to carry out subversive activities, Gadchiroli Police went on an area search operation where they were subjected to intense firing from the naxals. On retaliation by the police, the Naxals managed to escape taking advantage of dense forest and darkness. During the search operation that followed, pitthus, explosive materials, wire bundles, IED batteries, detonators, hooks for claymore mines, solar panels and naxal literature were seized.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann will join Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan in the Left Democratic Front (LDF) protest against the centre at Jantar Mantar in Delhi today.

As per reports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit his constituency, Varanasi, in the last week of February when he will inaugurate and lay the foundation of 25 development projects worth around Rs 6,000 crore.

The Ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) under Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan is set to stage a protest in New Delhi today against the Centre's alleged discrimination against Kerala. LDF convenor EP Jayarajan said, "We are raising the people's demands...Yesterday it was Karnataka, today it is Kerala, tomorrow other states will also come..."

TDP leaders stage protest against the state government in Amaravathi, Andhra Pradesh.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore gives adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha to discuss the matter of impact of cyclone Michaung in Tamil Nadu.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has asserted that his government will take stern action against those responsible for the tragedy at a firecrackers factory in Harda where a blast and subsequent blaze two days ago killed 11 people. The district collector and the superintendent of police (SP) have been transferred.

A local court in Harda has sent two persons arrested in connection with the incident, one of them owner of the factory, to jail under judicial custody.

Another owner of the facility has been sent to police remand by the court.

"The state government will take solid measures to prevent similar incidents and ensure culprits responsible for the tragedy get such exemplary punishment," Yadav told reporters in Harda town on Wednesday after meeting the injured persons.

He met the injured persons undergoing treatment at a hospital in Harda, located around 150 km from state capital Bhopal, and enquired about their condition.

"I met (in Harda) those who were injured in Tuesday's incident. I have already met a majority of victims in Bhopal (where some of the wounded were taken for treatment). But, I personally felt I must visit Harda. I also paid a visit to one or two familes (of the deceased) and offered condolences," Yadav said.

"The government will not only take solid measures, but also take such stern action (against those responsible) that people will remember," the chief minister stated.

Sri Lankan Navy apprehended 19 Rameswaram fishermen who were fishing near Delft Island in Palk Bay sea along with the two boats: Fishermen association

Karnataka health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has announced a statewide ban on hookah to protect public health and youth. This decisive action is backed by alarming data from the who global adult tobacco survey-2016-17 (gats-2), which states that 22.8 per cent of adults in Karnataka use tobacco, with 8.8 per cent being smokers. the report further reveals that 23.9 per cent of adults are exposed to secondhand smoke in public places, demonstrating the pervasive risk of tobacco consumption in the state.

The Nagpur Police took a significant step in addressing the city’s crime issues. Under the leadership of the newly appointed Police Commissioner Dr Ravindra Singhal, a parade of known criminals was organised at the Police Commissioner’s office in Nagpur. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to combat criminal activities in Nagpur.

An employee Mahesh Anant Kadam (24), working at Domino's Pizza shop in the Vartak Nagar area of Thane, died on the spot due to electrocution while cleaning. On receiving information about the incident, officers and employees of Vartaknagar police station reached the spot took the body into their custody and sent it for post-mortem. Police have registered a case under ADR and started further investigation.

Discussion on interim budget 2024-25, and the interim budget of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will resume in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.