1. Facebook Live Tragedy: In a bizarre turn of events, Abhishek Ghosalkar, son of a prominent Shiv Sena UBT leader, was shot and killed during a Facebook Live session. The assailant, Mauris Noronha, then took his own life. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, as the two were seen patching up during the webcast.
2. BJP’s White Paper on UPA’s Economic Journey: The Narendra Modi government has unveiled a White Paper in Parliament, scrutinizing the economic legacy of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA). The document highlights a decade of UPA rule marked by scandals, including the infamous 2G and Coalgate affairs, as well as economic woes like double-digit inflation and a foreign exchange crisis.
3. Manmohan Singh’s Retirement: Former PM Manmohan Singh, after a storied five-decade career, is set to bid adieu to public life. His frail health has made parliamentary duties impossible, leaving him unable to attend this year’s Budget session. Singh, a Rajya Sabha member since 1991, recently expressed his inability to continue.
4. Madrasa Demolition Sparks Chaos: After the demolition of an ‘illegal’ madrasa in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani, chaos erupted. Miscreants pelted stones at police officers, torched vehicles (including a police car), and left over 100 cops injured. A curfew now blankets the city, as authorities grapple with the aftermath. Five people have died so far in the incident.
5. Opinion polls Suggest Modi’s Return: According to ABP News and C-Voter, the Modi-led NDA is poised to return with 295-335 seats, while the opposition Congress and its allies may secure 165-205 seats. Meanwhile, the India TV-CNX survey suggests that the BJP could cross the majority mark of 272 seats on its own.
6. LDF and Allies Rally Against Centre: Kerala’s Left Front and Tamil Nadu’s DMK joined forces in Delhi, raising their voices against the BJP-led Centre’s alleged neglect and biased allocation of funds to their states. The LDF’s protest, spearheaded by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, saw Left Front ministers, legislators, and parliamentarians coming together.
7. Railway Gets ₹12,343 Crore Approved: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, greenlit six railway projects with an estimated cost of around ₹12,343 crore. These projects will cover 18 districts across six Indian states—Rajasthan, Assam, Telangana, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Nagaland.
8. Congress Veteran Baba Siddique Jumps Ship to NCP: Baba Siddique, a seasoned Maharashtra politician, bid adieu to the Congress after an impressive 48-year stint. The man known for his charismatic presence and trademark white kurta-pyjama combo is now set to sail with the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
9. Farmer Protests Leads To Traffic Jams: Farmers from Noida and Greater Noida, demanding increased compensation and developed plots in exchange for lands acquired by local authorities, caused severe traffic congestion at the Delhi-Noida border. Police have intensified vehicle inspections along the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border in anticipation of farmer demonstrations.
10. Honoring Agniveers: A parliamentary panel has recommended that the families of Agniveers, who lay down their lives in the line of duty, should receive the same benefits as regular soldiers. The report suggests augmenting the ex gratia awarded to these families by Rs 10 lakh.
11. Indian Air Force’s Vayu Shakti 2024: The skies near Jaisalmer are set to dazzle as the Indian Air Force gears up for Exercise Vayu Shakti-24 on February 17, 2024. This high-octane display will feature 121 aircraft, including the indigenous marvels Tejas, Prachand, and Dhruv. Also, Akash and Samar surface-to-air systems, showing off their skills.
12. India’s Technical Personnel to Replace Troops in Maldives: India has decided to replace its military personnel operating three aviation platforms in the Maldives with competent Indian technical personnel. The transition is scheduled between March and May, ensuring the continued operation of two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft for medical emergency services.
13. Borders With Myanmar Tighten: India has immediately suspended the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the Myanmar border. The move comes after the influx of undocumented migrants following the military coup in Myanmar. The entire 1,643-kilometer-long border will now be fortified with a smart fencing system, ensuring controlled entry into India.
14. Bharat Ratna Honors For Rao, Charan Singh, and Swaminathan: PM Modi announced the prestigious Bharat Ratna for Former Prime Ministers PV Narasimha Rao and Chaudhary Charan Singh, along with the eminent agriculture scientist MS Swaminathan. He praised Rao’s transformative leadership, Charan Singh’s unparalleled contributions, and Swaminathan’s pivotal role in India’s agricultural self-reliance.
15. Supreme Court Debates ‘Secular’ and ‘Socialist’ In Preamble: The Supreme Court is set to deliberate on a plea by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy to excise the words “secular” and “socialist” from our Constitution’s preamble. Swamy contends that these terms, added during the 1976 Emergency, clash with our constitutional bedrock.