Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a ₹40,000 crore allocation for the semiconductor sector in Union Budget 2026 under “Semiconductor Mission 2.0”. She said the programme will build on the earlier mission and support industry-led research and training centres. The plan focuses on developing semiconductor equipment and materials using full-stack Indian intellectual property. The government said the budget approach favours reforms and long-term capacity building. Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has earlier stated that India is on track to begin commercial chip production in 2026, with multiple plants expected to start operations. Pilot production has already begun in several units during 2025. (PC: NDTV)

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor should be ready to give evidence to the US Congress if he has relevant information linked to Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer said anyone holding useful details should share them and stressed that victims must come first. His remarks followed a new US Department of Justice release of Epstein case files, including photos that appear to show Mountbatten-Windsor inside Epstein’s New York residence. No context was provided with the images. He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. US lawmakers earlier invited him to answer questions as part of their investigation. Being named or pictured in the files does not itself indicate wrongdoing. (PC: BBC)

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman outlined a three-duty framework as the main theme of Union Budget 2026 during her speech in Parliament. She said the government’s financial planning rests on three kartavya, or duties. The first is to accelerate and sustain economic growth by improving competitiveness. The second is to meet the aspirations of citizens. The third is to ensure every family, community and region gets access to resources and opportunities. Sitharaman said this approach needs a supportive ecosystem and described the budget as driven by youth power. This is her ninth consecutive budget under the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (PC: HT)

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present Budget 2026 with a stronger focus on long-term economic reforms rather than major tax relief. Government sources say Part B of the speech will highlight reform priorities, including manufacturing growth, export expansion, and global value chain integration. Customs duty simplification and a unified framework for export and manufacturing zones are also expected. India’s macro indicators remain stable, with solid GDP growth and easing inflation. However, fiscal discipline is likely to guide spending plans. Large personal income tax changes appear unlikely after last year’s overhaul, though small tweaks like higher standard deduction and compliance relief for small businesses may be considered. (PC: India Today)

Indian ultra-runner Sufiya Sufi has officially entered the Guinness World Records for completing the grueling Manali–Leh high-altitude run in 98 hours 27 minutes, becoming the first woman to finish the roughly *470–480 km route in under 100 hours. The endurance challenge crosses five Himalayan passes with an elevation gain of more than 8,500 m, known for thin oxygen and harsh conditions. Although her record was approved in 2023, the official certificate reached her only recently, which she celebrated on social media, thanking supporters and sponsors. (PC: X)

Unidentified assailants fired multiple gunshots outside Bollywood filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s residence in the Juhu area of Mumbai in the early hours of Sunday, February 1, 2026, police said. Initial reports indicate about four rounds were discharged at the building, but no injuries have been reported so far. Mumbai Police, along with the Crime Branch and forensic teams, responded quickly, cordoning off the area and stepping up security as investigations continue. Authorities are examining CCTV footage and probing the motive and identity of the shooters. Shetty and his family have not issued a public statement yet. 

U.S. President Donald Trump said India has agreed to buy oil from Venezuela rather than Iran, asserting a shift in New Delhi’s energy sourcing amid strained ties with Tehran. Trump stated that an agreement was already in place and emphasized the strategic move during comments aboard Air Force One. He framed the shift as part of a broader U.S. effort to reshape global oil trade and reduce reliance on Iran and Russia. There has been no official confirmation from the Indian government on a formal deal yet, and India continues to balance its energy needs with geopolitical pressures. 

Sunetra Pawar, 62, was sworn in as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, becoming the first woman to hold the post on January 31, 2026, just three days after the tragic death of her husband, Ajit Pawar, in a plane crash. The oath was administered by Governor Acharya Devvrat at Lok Bhavan in Mumbai, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde present. Supporters chanted “Ajit Dada Amar Rahe” in tribute to her late husband. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished her success, noting her new responsibilities. Sunetra Pawar succeeds Ajit Pawar and takes on key portfolios including State Excise and Sports. 

At least 80 people were killed after Baloch insurgents launched coordinated attacks at 12 locations across Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province from Friday night into Saturday, officials said. The violence, described as one of the most widespread assaults in recent years, targeted security forces, police posts and civilians in areas including Quetta, Gwadar, Makran, Hub, Chaman and Naseerabad. Authorities reported 70 militants and 10 security personnel killed, while bomb disposal teams defused explosives on a railway track. Civilian deaths were also reported in Gwadar. Clearance operations are ongoing as the army and law enforcement respond. (PC: India Today)

Thousands of protesters rallied in Minneapolis and across the United States on January 30 after two U.S. citizens were fatally shot by federal immigration agents, sparking national outrage and calls to end aggressive ICE operations. Students and teachers staged walkouts from California to New York, demanding that federal immigration agents leave Minnesota and an end to what they call harsh tactics under Operation Metro Surge. Demonstrations included families, activists, and solidarity actions in major cities under the slogan “No work. No school. No shopping. Stop funding ICE.” President Trump defended the crackdown amid mixed de-escalation signals. (PC: Reuters)