Morning Digest | February 1, 2026

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to present her ninth straight budget

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present her ninth Budget in the Parliament today (February 1, 2026). This is the first time in the history of India that the Union Budget is being presented on a Sunday. The Budget is expected to unveil measures to sustain growth momentum, maintain fiscal discipline, and contain reforms that could buffer the economy from global trade frictions, including U.S. tariffs.

Sunetra Pawar becomes the first woman Deputy CM of Maharashtra, to handle three portfolios

A day after the conclusion of the three-day State mourning for late Ajit Pawar, who died in a tragic air crash in Baramati on January 28, his wife Sunetra Pawar was sworn in as the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra at a brief ceremony at Lok Bhavan in Mumbai on Saturday (January 31, 2026) evening. The swearing-in, which lasted barely a few minutes, took place amid intense political activity in Baramati and Mumbai, with several leaders questioning the need for the hurried decision. Sunetra Pawar will oversee three portfolios—Excise, Minority Affairs and Sports and Youth Welfare.

MEA denies Epstein claim that U.S. played a role in PM’s 2017 visit to Israel

The Union government on Saturday (January 31, 2026) denied the contents of newly released emails from the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which claimed that U.S. President Donald Trump had played a role in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel in 2017, referring to the mails as “trashy ruminations by a convicted criminal”. In more than a dozen mails and phone messages released by the U.S. government on Friday (January 30, 2026), Epstein referred to India and Mr. Modi, expressing a desire to enhance U.S.-India engagement. He also claimed he would set up a meeting with the Prime Minister for Republican strategist and Mr. Trump associate Steve Bannon, shortly after the 2019 general election. Epstein also appeared to be engaged in correspondence with Indian businessman Anil Ambani about many of these issues.

Taking forward the comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict is today a widely shared priority: Jaishankar

Ending the violence in the Gaza Strip is a ‘shared priority’ for the world, said External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday (January 31, 2026), welcoming representatives and Ministers at the second India-Arab Foreign Ministers meeting. Delivering the inaugural address at the meeting, which came ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s expected visit to Israel later this month, Mr. Jaishankar expressed India’s support for ending the violence in Gaza as well as in other regions such as Sudan, Libya, and Lebanon.

Search operation launched along IB in J&K’s Samba after suspected Pakistan’s drone spotted

Security forces launched a search operation following the sighting of a drone, suspected to be from Pakistan, along the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba district on Saturday (January 31, 2026), officials said. The drone briefly hovered over Indian territory along the IB near Chillyari village, they said, adding that the suspicious flying object returned towards Pakistan after hovering for a couple of minutes along the IB.

Thousands rally to assert stand on territorial, administrative integrity of Manipur; security tightened

Thousands of people on Saturday (January 31, 2026) held a rally in the Manipur capital Imphal to assert their stand that the territorial and administrative integrity of the State cannot be divided at any cost. The “Save Manipur” rally was organised by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an umbrella body of several Meitei civil society organisations.

Professors, students protest against apex court stay on UGC equity rules

A section of professors and students questioned the Supreme Court’s recent decision to stay the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions rules at a protest organised by the Left-backed All India Students’ Association at Jantar Mantar on Saturday (January 31, 2026).

Government in 21 States does not matter, real satisfaction will come with victory in Bengal, says Amit Shah

Emphasising that the founder of Jana Sangh and later Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Syama Prasad Mookerjee, hailed from West Bengal, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday (January 31, 2026) said that the BJP and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) have governments in 21 States and Union Territories in the country. However, the real satisfaction will come when the BJP wins the West Bengal Assembly polls.

Economic Survey confirms distress under BJP government: Kharge

A day before Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is to table the Union Budget, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday (January 31, 2026) stressed that the Narendra Modi government cannot hide behind the excuse of ‘legacy’. “Their own legacy has pushed the economy into an unprecedented mess. Will this Budget offer real solutions to the multiple economic indicators that are now in free fall?” Mr. Kharge asked in a post on social media platform X.

57 terrorists, 10 security personnel killed in different operations across Pakistan’s Balochistan

A total of 57 terrorists were killed after they carried out attacks on security forces, law enforcement agencies and civilians at 12 different locations in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, officials said Saturday (January 31, 2026). Ten security personnel were also killed during the operations that were conducted from late Friday (January 30) night through Saturday afternoon. These operations come after Pakistani security forces killed 41 terrorists in two different counter-terror measures in Panjgur and Harnai of the province on Thursday (January 29) and Friday (January 30).

Blast in Iran’s Bandar Abbas kills 1, wounds 14 before Strait of Hormuz naval drill watched by U.S.

An explosion tore through an apartment building on Saturday (January 31, 2026) in Iran’s port city of Bandar Abbas, killing a four-year-old girl as local media footage purportedly showed a security force member being carried out by rescuers. The blast happened a day before a planned naval drill by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of all oil traded passes.

Iran says progress made towards U.S. talks despite attack jitters

Iran’s top security official said Saturday (January 31, 2026) that progress had been made towards negotiations with the United States, even as the Islamic republic’s army chief warned Washington against launching military strikes. U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the two sides were talking, while keeping the threat of an attack in the foreground.

India vs New Zealand fifth T20I: Kishan knocks the stuffing out of Black Caps

Ishan Kishan’s stunning comeback tale turned even more stunning on Saturday night. From two years of wilderness to the World Cup squad, it has been a remarkable journey for the man from Jharkhand. Now, the team management may find it difficult to keep him out of the XI in the T20I World Cup starting on February 7. Kishan did no harm to his prospects in India’s last match before the big event. He scored a sensational maiden T20I hundred in the fifth match of the series against New Zealand as the Men in Blue posted 271 for five and scripted a 46-run win at the Greenfield Stadium.

Rybakina topples world no. 1 Sabalenka to clinch second grand slam with Australian Open triumph

Elena Rybakina finally won her second Grand Slam title with a victory over top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka at the Australian Open on Saturday, and it was something of a testament to quiet achievers. Outwardly showing no signs of nerves or distress, Rybakina closed with an ace to cap a third-set comeback and a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win over a regular rival who beat her in the final here in 2023.

Published – February 01, 2026 06:58 am IST