JAMMU: A high-powered Union home ministry panel has questioned Ladakh’s top political groupings on whether inclusion under the Constitution’s Sixth Schedule would offer sufficient safeguards, signalling that New Delhi is weighing constitutional limits, fiscal costs and governance models as demands for statehood gather force in the region.During talks Wednesday in New Delhi, the committee asked representatives of Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Party (KDA) whether Sixth Schedule — framed for tribal areas in the Northeast — could serve as a constitutional shield for Ladakh, given that it falls under Article 368 and can be amended, sources said Thursday.Govt also sought clarity on the financial burden of granting Ladakh full statehood with a legislature, including salaries, provident fund liabilities and other expenditures for about 19,000 employees. Running a state or a Union territory with a legislature involves managing deficits and long-term fiscal responsibility, prompting the panel to press Ladakhi activists for detailed projections, the sources said.Sixth Schedule grants special protections over land, culture, and resources through autonomous councils. Since the 2019 bifurcation of J&K into two Union territories, Ladakhis have demanded similar safeguards and statehood.Senior BJP functionary Tashi Gyalson, who attended the meeting as former executive chairman of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, called the talks a step forward. “Talks were held for two-and-a-half hours and every member spoke,” he told reporters, saying discussions covered statehood, Sixth Schedule and the possibility of Article 370-type safeguards.“In broader terms govt indicated that Ladakh will get constitutional safeguards, that the region will be politically empowered, and that Ladakh will be developed as a sustainable model,” Gyalson said.LAB and KDA — umbrella groupings of political and religious organisations from Leh and Kargil — described the discussions as inconclusive. LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjay Lakrook and his KDA counterpart Asgar Ali Karbali said statehood for Ladakh and inclusion under Sixth Schedule — the two core demands — remained unresolved. Both expected another round of talks soon.Earlier, LAB and KDA met the home ministry panel in New Delhi on Oct 22, 2025. That engagement followed Centre’s decision to order an inquiry into the Sept 24 police firing on protesters in Leh demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status. Four protesters were killed.On Nov 14, the two groups submitted a joint 29-page draft proposal to the home ministry. The document also sought a general amnesty for LAB member and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and others arrested after the Sept 24 protests.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday mounted a sharp offensive against the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, accusing it of cloaking hostility and divisive slogans in the rhetoric of “Mohabbat ki dukaan,” a phrase frequently used by Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi. However, he did not provide any evidence of opposition chanting the slogan.“They are moving with the mantra of ‘Modi teri kabr khudegi’. They dream of this and speak of democracy. They put up signboards of ‘Mohabbat ki dukan’. Is such hatred harboured in public life?” PM Modi said in his motion of thanks speech.

“The Congress has a deeper problem, they cannot digest how Modi has reached this position, and their worry keeps growing… For them, it seems there is only one way out: to chant, ‘Modi, teri kabr khudegi (Modi, your grave will be dug).’ They (Congress) seem to assume that democracy and the Constitution exist only for their benefit. They believe that the Prime Minister’s post belongs to their family as a matter of right. And so, they go around spreading slogans about digging Modi’s grave,” he added.Continuing his attack on the opposition, he said that unlike past governments run by a “remote,” his authority flowed directly from the mandate of 140 crore people.“Their govt used to operate with a remote. My govt operated with a remote too. 140 crore people are my remote,” he said.He further blamed the opposition for weakening institutions, prioritising political survival over governance, and pushing agendas that, he said, compromised national security and public trust, accusing them of shielding illegal infiltrators while ignoring the aspirations of the youth and the long-term interests of the country.“A significant part of our energy is being spent on correcting the mistakes of the past. It takes great effort to erase the image that was created in the minds of the world during that period, they left things in such a damaged state. That is why we have placed strong emphasis on future-ready policies. Today, the country is being governed on the basis of policy and strategy. Global trust in India is growing. Guided by the mantra of ‘reform, perform, transform,’ we have moved forward, and the reality today is that the nation has boarded the Reform Express,” he said.His speech comes a day after his Lok Sabha address was cancelled amid protests by the opposition inside the House.

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha reiterated that the decision to skip the India match at the T20 World Cup rests entirely with the Pakistani government. While acknowledging fans will miss the marquee clash, Agha stressed the team’s focus is on the remaining group games.

New Delhi: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha, during the captain’s meet in Colombo ahead of the T20 World Cup, said that not playing against India is completely the decision of the Pakistan government.“The India game is not in our control. It’s the government’s decision, and we respect that. Whatever they are going to say, we will do that,” Agha told reporters in Colombo on Thursday. “And then, we have three other games, and we are very excited about that.”

On Sunday, the Pakistani government announced that its men’s cricket team will not take the field in the match against arch-rivals India on February 15, without stating the reason behind the decision.“The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026; however, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on February 15 against India,” the Pakistan government said in a post on X.Agha also deflected a question when he was coaxed about what Pakistan would do if they faced India in the semi-finals.“India’s game is not in our control. It was the government’s decision, and again, if we have to play them in the semi-final or the final, we have to go back to them and act on their advice,” he said.On fans not getting to see an India vs Pakistan match, Salman said, “There are three other games they can come and watch,” he said with a laugh.Shehbaz Sharif, the Pakistani Prime Minister, has also weighed in on the decision and termed the government’s move “appropriate” to boycott the February 15 fixture against India.“We have taken a very clear stand on the T20 World Cup that we won’t play the match against India because there should be no politics on the sports field,” Sharif told members of his cabinet on Wednesday.Sharif further stressed that Pakistan should stand with Bangladesh after the International Cricket Council (ICC) replaced them with Scotland, following Bangladesh’s demand to shift their T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka, citing security concerns.“We have taken a very considered stance, and we should completely stand by Bangladesh, and I think this is a very appropriate decision.”Alongside India, Pakistan have been placed with Namibia, the Netherlands and the USA in Group A. In 2024, Pakistan lost to India and were then knocked out after losing to the USA in a Super Over.However, they will go into the tournament having defeated Australia by 111 runs on Sunday to complete a 3-0 T20I series sweep.“Yes, we lost to the USA in the last World Cup, but that’s history now. It’s a new World Cup, a new team and a new combination, and we are very excited about that,” said Agha.This will be the first time Agha will be leading his country in a World Cup, and the captain sounded excited.“It’s my first World Cup as a captain, and I’m very excited about that. I don’t know how to describe myself as a captain,” he said.“It’s like people describe it, but as a captain, I just want to lead from the front, try to do as much as I can for my players, take the best out of them, and give them an environment where they can play their best,” he added.Pakistan will start their campaign against the Netherlands on February 7.

Abhishek Bachchan — just saying the name brings with it a flood of narratives and opinions, not all positive. There’s clearly a lot of noise, both kind and cutting. He endured a string of flops after his debut ‘Refugee’ before finally tasting success with ‘Dhoom’. His filmography does include its share of forgettable outings. But it also boasts performances in ‘Guru’, ‘Sarkar’, ‘Yuva’, ‘Bunty Aur Babli’, ‘Dostana’ and, more recently, ‘Manmarziyaan’, ‘Breathe: Into The Shadows’, ‘I Want To Talk’, ‘Housefull 5’ and ‘Kaalidhar Laapata’. While opinions on his work remain divided, his personal life has constantly been under the scanner, surrounded by narratives and fictional stories spun endlessly on the internet. Yet, here is a man who, in the face of failure and negativity, remains firmly rooted in his truth and reality — fully aware of the privilege of being Amitabh Bachchan’s son, but exeuding silent confidence in the fact that he has survived 25 years in the industry on his own merit and can say, “I’d do a much better job if I do ‘Guru’ now.” Unafazed by the chatter, Abhishek has continued to stay true to himself through the years. As he turns 50 today, he appears to be on a clear path of reinvention. This feels like Abhishek Bachchan 2.0. The actor turns 50 today, February 5, and is spending his day while shooting today, as he mostly prefers to work on his birthday. Opening up on his rebirth as an actor, Abhishek had told ETimes in an earlier interview, “If you’re not going to keep reinventing yourself you’re going to become very boring to the public. If we’re talking 25 years, the youth that is going to watch the movies today wasn’t even born when I debuted. The largest segment of the audience is I think between 17 and 25. So the majority of them weren’t even born when I started. So I was already around and working when they were born and growing up. So I’m not their contemporary. The people who were the youngsters same age as me when I debuted are all parents today, some are grandparents. People who were acting and were seniors of mine when I debuted, some are still around some are not. The ones that are around still, you see them and analyse that they can have this kind of an inning because they are re-inventing themselves constantly. They are hungry. It’s very important. How many of my colleagues who were starting off around the time I was starting off, how many of them are still active actors today? Not many, a handful.” But how has he not ever gotten cynical through the criticism and negativity? “Of course, you get cynical. It’s very difficult not to when on a weekly basis you’re failing publicly and it’s being rubbed in your face and people are deriving great pleasure by rubbing it in your face. So you get cynical, but you have to try your best to not remain cynical or be bitter about it. I’m not the kind of person who gets bitter. I’m always the kind of person who looks at the brighter side of life. I do think that life served me well most times and sometimes, it doesn’t serve me well and that’s all right.” When asked if his parents are proud of him, he had said, “I think my father and mother would be proud of anything that I do, provided they know that I’ve given it my best. People forget he’s also a father. For us, Amitabh Bachchan is a hero. So, we never look at it from that lens, but he’s also a family man! He’s a father, he’s a grandfather. For some reason we think, ‘Oh no, he’s not allowed to be that or be human’, but he is. He’s also a father, and my mother is also a mother. I’m their child. They’re allowed to feel the way every other parent would feel.” On work front, Abhishek will be seen in Shah Rukh Khan‘s ‘King’ next. Though, an official announcement on this hasn’t yet been made.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Pat Riley, and Ja Morant (Images via Getty)

Since Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ja Morant’s names have hit the trade market, the league’s atmosphere changed. With teams gunning for the Greek Freak and Mr. 360 degree, salary caps have been continuously moved around to make space to afford these superstars. As reported, the Heat are exploring an option of a monumental double-swoop to acquire both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ja Morant before the NBA trade hits its deadline on February 5 at 3:00 PM ET. But there’s a catch. According to Steve Popper of Newsday, Heat’s President Pat Riley is looking for a scenario that could land both superstars while keeping All-Star center Bam Adebayo and veteran guard Norman Powell in Miami.

Miami Heat looking to acquire Giannis and Ja without losing its core

Steve Popper via his X account tweeted, “With about 30 hours to go ahead of the deadline, of all the rumors one wild one a league source told me yesterday he’s hearing: possibility of — Miami pairing moves for Giannis and Ja Morant without giving up Bam or Powell.”Reflecting on the situation, Popper said, “My reaction was what most will be — How could they pull that off? I was just told don’t doubt Andy Elisberg and then Spoelstra ability to fill out the rotation.”An ideal scenario for every franchise to construct a trade for two maximum-salary players without including the team’s most valuable asset, and that is what the Miami Heat is looking for. They want to acquire Bucks’ cornerstone Giannis Antetokounmpo, who’s currently earning $54.1 million, and Grizzlies star guard Morant, who carries a cap hit of $39.4 million, but without disrupting their core players, Bam Adebayo and Powell. With a potential $90+ million in salary cap space to get Ginnais and Ja, Miami would need to build a package with other younger players to be able to make their dream come true.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ja Morant’s impact on the hardwood

Giannis Antetokounmpo is currently sidelined with a right calf strain suffered on January 23 against the Nuggets, and as per the protocol is not expected to return until late February. Before the injury, he was averaging 28 points, 10 rebounds, and was shooting 64.5% from the field. Ja Morant is also recovering from a left-elbow UCL sprain and will be out through February. He played only 10 games this season and averaged 19.5 points and 8.1 assists. While the Heat may be interested, the injuries of both Giannis and Ja add a layer of risk. Despite all the speculations, Antetokounmpo recently told The Athletic on Tuesday that he remains committed to winning in Milwaukee, and he emphasized that his primary goal is to be in a position to compete for another championship immediately.

India-US trade deal (AI image)

Has India managed to secure the ‘father of all deals’ with the US? American President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi took everyone by surprise this week when they announced that the tariff rate on Indian goods to the US will be reduced to 18%. While a trade deal remains to be signed, and final nuances are being worked out, the stalemate in ties has finally ended, paving the way for two big world economies to resume normalcy in trade ties.The US is India’s single largest trading partner, and the 50% tariffs imposed by the Trump administration had hit exporters. With an 18% tariff rate, India’s exports are back to being competitive. Trump’s Truth Social Post spoke of several aspects to the deal including what he claimed was commitment to stopping Russian crude and also buying $500 billion worth of American goods.

Even as details of trade deal emerge, we explain the importance of the agreement for India in top 10 charts: Take a look:

Comparative advantage for India

With an 18% tariff, India has managed to secure a deal which places its duty rate lower than its neighbouring countries and competitors. Some of the main countries which compete with India’s labour-intensive sectors in the global markets are: Vietnam (20%), Malaysia (19%, Bangladesh (20%), Cambodia and Thailand (19%), China (34%). India has also got a lower rate than Pakistan which gets tariffed at 19%.

It’s Advantage Indian exporters

Commerce minister Piyush Goyal has also stressed on this point, saying that India got a ‘very good’ deal with the US, better than the competitors.Agneshwar Sen, Trade Policy leader, EY India says that the biggest takeaway is that India has shifted from being a passive tariff-hit exporter to a partner with a negotiated stake in the US market.“For India, the deal matters less for the headline concessions and more for what it signals. Since the new tariff rates will come into effect immediately, to start with it will arrest the export erosion we have been facing. India was steadily losing competitiveness in the US because the high tariffs were wiping out marginal advantages of quality and dependability. The deal will effectively cap further damage and restore predictability, allowing exporters to price, plan and retain market share rather than bleed slowly,” he tells TOI.“It will reinforce India’s credibility as a supply-chain alternative. The deal positions India as a reliable, lower-risk sourcing partner at a time when US buyers are seeking to de-risk from China,” Sen explains.

Tariff cut on 60% of Indian exports to US

“Finally, it will nudge Indian exporters to move up the value chain. Tariff relief will push Indian firms toward scale, compliance and higher value manufacturing, rather than operate on pure price arbitrage. The bottom line is that the deal doesn’t just recover lost exports – it reanchors India in the US market – and on a more durable, strategic basis, which is far more valuable over the medium term,” Sen adds.Gulzar Didwania, Partner, Deloitte India also highlights the important point that India has secured a level playing field in terms of tariff treatment vis-à-vis key competing economies in South Asia such as Vietnam, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.“Unlike earlier situations where some countries enjoyed distinctly preferential access, India is now broadly aligned within the same tariff bracket, reducing relative disadvantages for Indian exporters,” he tells TOI.

Will India stop buying Russian oil?

As part of the newly announced trade deal, US President Donald Trump claimed that India would stop buying Russian oil. “We spoke about many things, including Trade, and ending the War with Russia and Ukraine. He agreed to stop buying Russian Oil, and to buy much more from the United States and, potentially, Venezuela,” Trump posted on Truth Social. Meanwhile, Russia has maintained that it received no official communication from India on the matter. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, “so far, we haven’t heard any statements from New Delhi on this matter.”According to officials, imports from Russia have already been declining since November after the US imposed sanctions on major exporters Rosneft and Lukoil.Data from Kpler show Russia’s share of India’s crude imports fell to 33.7% between April and November 2025, from 37.9% in the same period last year. Over the same time, US share rose to 8.1 per cent from 4.6%. In absolute terms, Russian crude imports dropped from about 1.8 million barrels per day in November to 1.2 million in December and 1.16 million in January 2026.

Supply shuffle of oil

Despite this trend, analysts say the trade deal is unlikely to result in an immediate or sharp fall in Russian supplies. “The deal is unlikely to result in a near-term reduction in India’s Russian crude imports. Russian volumes remain largely locked in for the next 8-10 weeks and continue to be economically critical for India’s complex refining system, supported by deep discounts on Urals relative to ICE Brent,” said Sumit Ritolia, lead research analyst at Kpler.According to experts Russian imports will remain broadly stable through the first half of 2026–27, with any further moderation likely to be balanced by higher inflows from West Asia. A recent SBI Research report suggests that India could potentially save almost $3 billion in its crude imports bill annually, by redirecting part of its Russian oil purchases to Venezuela.The report said replacing some Russian crude with Venezuelan heavy crude could deliver meaningful savings for India, even after accounting for higher freight, logistics and related costs. It noted that Venezuelan crude would need to be priced at a discount of about $10–12 per barrel to make the switch commercially workable for Indian importers.SBI said, “India’s fuel import bill could even decline by $3bn in the event of shifting to Venezuela… discount of $10–12 could make the choice agnostic.”According to Oil Price data cited in the report, Venezuelan heavy crude is currently trading at around $51 per barrel. The study further added that the actual benefit would depend on several factors, including the size of the discount compared with Brent crude, longer shipping routes, and additional time and insurance costs associated with sourcing oil from Venezuela.

How does a trade deal with the US benefit India?

The India–US trade deal cuts tariffs on almost 60% of Indian exports to the US, lowering reciprocal duties to 18% from 50%. The agreement is expected to deliver a clear boost for exporters while also supporting GDP growth and investor sentiment.Sectors ranging from garments, leather, footwear, carpets, shrimps and gems and jewellery are set to benefit, as Indian products will become more competitive in the US market. For garments, the 18% levy is marginally lower than the 20% faced by Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, the jewellery and gems sector is also waiting for the deal’s fine print.With tariffs now rolled back, uncertainty has also eased sharply. “We estimate an incremental boost of around 0.2 percentage point of GDP (annualised), if the new lower tariffs are enforced,” Goldman Sachs said, adding that the estimate is based on India’s goods exports exposure of roughly 4% of GDP to US final demand and a goods export demand elasticity of about 0.7.

How did Trump’s tariffs impact India’s exports to the US?

Earlier estimates had suggested a GDP impact in the 30–50 basis points range. Barclays said, “Statistically speaking, we estimate lower tariffs will add 30 basis points to headline GDP growth (essentially reversing the threat posed by 50% tariffs until now).”Latest projections show the economy growing 7.4% in the current fiscal year ending March, with growth for FY27 seen in the 6.8%–7.2% range. Moody’s Ratings said the reduction in US tariffs on most Indian goods would reinvigorate exports to the US, India’s largest goods export market, accounting for about 21% of total goods exports in the first eleven months of 2025.Arvind Shrivastava, secretary, department of revenue, said that the deal would deepen trade ties and create new opportunities for labour-intensive and manufacturing sectors, while also giving a push to collaboration in high and advanced technology areas. M. Nagaraju, secretary, department of financial services, said that the rollback to 18% lifted the “dark clouds of uncertainty” and would help exporters.

Eyeing a level playing field

For exporters, especially smaller firms that had slowed or halted shipments, the timing is critical. With summer consignments already dispatched and fears looming over the next season, the tariff cut has restored competitiveness and eased pressure after months of discount-led survival.

Stock markets and rupee cheer

The Indian stock market and rupee which have been hit badly by the persistent outflow of foreign investors’ money have taken a breather – both rallying strongly after the trade deal announcement. The surge in Sensex left Indian investors richer by a massive Rs 12 lakh crore on Tuesday! In fact, it was the fifth biggest single-day gain in history. The market had been languishing, with some spurts of rallies and some downturns in the last few months, waiting for the conclusion of the trade deal which lifted clouds of uncertainty.

Market weathers Trump talk

Market experts expect the rally to continue as more details of the trade deal emerge in the coming days.“With this deal announcement, we believe that the market will now begin to accord correct weightage to the improving trajectory of corporate earnings growth, which has shown successive improvement over the quarters with an improving earnings revision trend,” Motilal Oswal Financial Services said in a report.

FPIs net sold Rs 1.2 lakh crore stocks in 1 year

“This is a high-impact development and will have a multi-layered positive effect on the Indian economy, prevailing market sentiments, and sectors exporting to the US, which will benefit from better competitiveness,” it said.Tuesday’s rally was proof that the announcement has been met with cheer from foreign institutional investors as they led the rally, with their net inflow in stocks at Rs 5,236 crore.

Rupee outlook

The Indian rupee, the worst performing Asian currency last year, appreciated 124 paise to 90.27 against the dollar. It logged its strongest single-day gain in seven years and the best since late 2018.

What happens to agriculture, dairy sectors?

Trump’s announcement that India has agreed to “BUY AMERICAN” at a higher level than before triggered concerns, particularly over agriculture. Since trade negotiations began, India has drawn a firm line on protecting its dairy and farm sectors.Piyush Goyal has clarified that the priorities still have not shifted and the dairy and agriculture sectors are still protected. Speaking in Lok Sabha, the minister said, “during negotiations, the Indian side successfully ensured the protection of its sensitive sectors, particularly agriculture and dairy,” he said, noting that the US too had areas it considered sensitive.On the US side, trade representative Jamieson Greer also confirmed that though India agreed to cut tariffs on industrial goods to zero from 13.5%, the agriculture segment is still safeguarded.Agriculture has long been the biggest flashpoint in India-US trade talks, with Washington pressing for greater access to India’s dairy and agricultural markets. US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick had even accused India of shutting out American farmers, questioning why it would not import “even a bushel” of US corn.The decision to safeguard the sector is not solely commercial, rather it is non-negotiable. The agriculture and dairy sector sits at the heart of rural life and food security. Farming and allied activities, including animal husbandry, support the livelihoods of over 700 million people.India is largely self-sufficient in food production, while countries such as the US, Australia and the European Union treat agriculture as a major export business. Opening Indian markets to heavily subsidised farm products from these regions could flood the country with cheap imports, sharply undercutting farmer incomes.India already maintains agricultural tariffs ranging from zero to 150%. The US also follows a similar approach, imposing steep duties on select products such as tobacco, which attracts tariffs of up to 350%.

What led to the sudden trade deal?

The ‘mother of all trade deals’ – the recently concluded India-EU Free Trade Agreement – may have been what finally spurred the Trump administration into action. According to a News Week analysis, it led the US government to blink.While discussions for a trade deal with the European Union had been ongoing, this time, “the trade agreement with the EU appears to have provided a strong goad for the US to wrap up the long-lingering negotiations with India,” says a TOI report.

Why deal was finalised now

Talks between India and the US for a trade deal had continued, despite the 50% tariffs imposed by the latter. While Trump and PM Modi continued to talk, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also engaged in talks with their respective counterparts. The arrival of the new US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor also seems to have worked to help push for the trade deal.Now, the wait for the fine printWhile experts and analysts have welcomed the news as a positive for the Indian economy, they also caution that details of the deal need to emerge for a better understanding of what it holds for each sector and the economy as a whole.

India’s trade through deals

Piyush Goyal has said that a joint statement by the countries will be issued soon.“Experience suggests caution. The US–Korea FTA showed how initial optimism can be diluted by ‘later’ safeguards and reinterpretations while recent tariff threats linked to Greenland-related geopolitical tensions underscore how strategic considerations can quickly reshape trade outcomes,” says JM Financial in a report.

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday stirred a fresh controversy after he took a jibe at BJP MP Ravneet Singh Bittu and called him “traitor friend.”While protesting at the Makar Dwar of the parliament complex over the suspension of Congress MPs, Rahul and Bittu engaged in a verbal altercation. While the Congress leader called Bittu a “traitor”, Bittu retorted by calling Rahul Gandhi and Congress MPs “Sadak ka gunda”.

Reportedly, the war of words began when Bittu commented on the MPs protesting outside Parliament, saying, “They are sitting as if they won a war.”‘Unacceptable’Taking offence to the remarks, the Sikh leaders of BJP launched a sharp attack against Rahul Gandhi, calling the remark “unacceptable” and deeply offensive to the Sikh community.During a press conference, Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri demanded an apology from the Congress leader and “This word, traitor, can not be taken lightly. The word is used for someone who has betrayed his country. This is a very sensitive issue for the Sikh community,” Puri said.Ravneet Singh Bittu is not just an MP elected from Ludhiana, he is not just a member of a Sikh family that has served the country, his grandfather, Sardar Beant Singh, who was the chief minister of Punjab, fell to an assassin’s bullet. And you call him a traitor. This is unacceptable,” he added.‘You were fine when I was with you’Countering Rahul Gandhi, Bittu recalling the anti-Sikh riots in 1984 and accused Congress of indulging in attrocities on Sikhs.“They think they are the biggest patriots. I said, you are the biggest traitor of this country, the murderers of Sikhs. His goons killed thousands of Sikhs in this country. They vandalised our most sacred Gurudwara. When workers used to chant ‘shaheed’ for Rajiv Gandhi, they also used to also call Sardar Beant Singh ‘Shaheed-e-azam’. The problems in Punjab, the terrorism there – Sikhs were called, but action was not taken. So, it was Sardar Beant Singh who calmed Punjab,” Bittu said“You were fine when I was with you, but now that I am in the BJP, you are using such language. After such remarks, he is offering his hand as if he were a king,” the Union MoS added.BJP stages protest at Congress HQBJP leaders and workers staged a protest near the Congress headquarters on Akbar Road against Rahul Gandhi The protesters gathered at Mansingh Road near Congress headquarters, raising slogans “Sikh Sardar Hai, Rahul Gandhi Gaddar Hai”, and demanded an apology from the from the Congress leader in the Lok Sabha.Leading the protest, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said that “Gandhi not just abused an individual but the entire Sikh community, which is the pride of the country.”

India’s 2026 Baggage Rules: Are UAE Travellers Finally Getting a Fair Deal?

India has introduced a major overhaul of its customs baggage rules for 2026, bringing changes that will significantly benefit international travellers, especially UAE residents, Indian expats (NRIs) and tourists of Indian origin flying into the country. These changes come into effect from February 02, 2026 under the Customs Baggage (Declaration and Processing) Regulations, 2026 and a consolidated “Baggage Rules, 2026,” which replace decade-old frameworks and modernise customs procedures at Indian airports.For UAE travellers, a large diaspora that frequently shuttles between India and the Gulf for family, business and leisure, these developments make shopping, carrying personal goods and returning home with prized purchases far easier and more predictable.

India hikes duty-free allowance to ₹75,000

One of the most impactful changes is the increase in the general duty-free limit that passengers can bring into India without paying customs duty:

This increase reflects the government’s recognition that baggage values and travel-shopping patterns have shifted significantly since the previous rule was introduced over a decade ago. This matters for UAE flyers because with the Dirham/Rupee exchange rate and lower prices for many electronics and fashion products in markets like the UAE, the higher duty-free band allows travellers to bring more back home from smartphones and watches to clothing and accessories, without getting hit with import duties at Indian airports.

India simplifies gold jewellery rules for the UAE: No value caps

Another welcome reform affects gold jewellery duties, an especially important issue for Indian expats returning from the UAE, where gold shopping is common before trips home. Under the 2026 framework, value-based caps on duty-free gold jewellery have been removed, leaving only weight-based limits.Eligible travellers who have been abroad for more than a year can carry:

This applies regardless of the market value of the gold, easing stress from price fluctuations and aligning the rules with contemporary market conditions. Previously, passengers faced both weight and value limits (₹100,000 for women and ₹50,000 for men), which became confusing as gold prices soared over the years. The revised rule removes this complexity and reduces disputes at customs.For many in the UAE’s Indian community, this has been a long-pending demand and the updated rule is seen as a practical and fair resolution that improves compliance and avoids hassles for genuine travellers.

Other traveller-friendly additions by India for UAE

The 2026 customs regime streamlines several other baggage categories that directly affect UAE travellers –

These enhancements signal a broader shift toward efficiency and passenger convenience in India’s customs processes, aligning with global travel standards.

What UAE travellers should know before flying to India

Here are key takeaways for UAE passengers planning trips to India in 2026 –

India’s Baggage Rules, 2026 represent one of the most significant updates to its customs framework in nearly a decade by increasing duty-free limits, scrapping outdated value caps on jewellery, streamlining digital procedures and clarifying exemptions. For UAE-based travellers, returning expats and frequent flyers, these reforms mean less worry about customs duties, simpler airport clearance and greater flexibility in carrying purchases home. As international travel resumes full pace and global shopping remains a strong part of travel culture, these new rules help India stay aligned with modern travel expectations and passenger convenience

NEW DELHI: Defending champions India will walk into the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as firm favourites, and few voices carry more weight on the subject than Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The former India captain, who famously led the side to the inaugural T20 World Cup title in 2007, believes the hosts have all the ingredients required to go deep in the tournament, while also underlining the fine margins that can undo even the strongest teams in the shortest format.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, open their campaign against the United States at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Saturday. The top-ranked side arrives on the back of a dominant 4-1 series win over New Zealand, extending their run to nine consecutive bilateral T20 series victories and reinforcing their status as pre-tournament favourites on home soil.

Explaining why Team India stands out, Dhoni said: “It’s one of the most dangerous teams. You know, they would have already started, batting or bowling. But what all is needed in a good team and everything is there. They have the experience. Especially when it comes to this format, the experience is vast. They have played under pressure. Whoever is playing, whatever roles they are playing in the team, they have been in that situation for a considerable period of time.”However, Dhoni was quick to point out his biggest concern ahead of the tournament. “What worries me again, I hate dew. Dew changes a lot of things. So even when I was playing something that really scared me was dew where the toss becomes crucial and all of that,” he said. “If you are playing 10 matches with some of the best teams, we will come out as winners more often than not if the conditions remain, condition is neutral and all of that.”Dhoni also highlighted the unpredictability that defines T20 cricket. “The problem is when some of your players have a day off and somebody from the opposition has a brilliant day. And it can happen in T20 cricket,” he said, stressing the importance of timing and luck. “Whether it happens in a league stage, whether it happens in the knockout stage, that’s where all the prayings are needed. Nobody should get injured. Whatever roles are given, people should accomplish their roles for the team.”He signed off with a familiar note of caution: “And if that’s the case, I don’t want to jinx it by saying anything but it’s one of the most dangerous teams.”