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Today, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the last full budget of the Modi 2.0 government. Expectations are high, like every year. Since this will be the last full Budget before the 2024 general elections, Nirmala Sitharaman may announce income tax relief for salary earners, and people in small businesses. Inflation and a jobs crisis have significant issues in recent times.

This is 2023. But do you know who presented the first budget for independent India? And why was it presented at 5 pm? And why was there an air of secrecy around the process? And about the scandal that broke after budget details were leaked?

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a plea challenging the government’s decision to block the BBC documentary on 2002 Gujarat riots, leading law minister Kiren Rijiju to target the petitioners — lawyer Prashant Bhushan, journalist N Ram and Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra— for “wasting the precious time of SC”.

The joint petition alleging that criticism of the government or its policies does not tantamount to violating sovereignty and integrity of the country and blocking critical views is unconstitutional.

The case was mentioned before a bench of CJI DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala and the court posted hearing on February 6.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today attended and addressed the Vitasta Festival at Kalakshetra Foundation in Chennai.

Addressing the gathering, the he said that the 4-day festival is the biggest celebration of J&K’s culture, literary legacy, cuisine, arts & music and the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.

Events like Vitasta in Chennai open up the limitless world of literature, art, history, heritage and culture and encourage us to think and expand our horizon, he added.

Hitting back at critics, PM Modi on Friday said his government was taunted as being filled with “average” talent, but India is now shining in the world as a beacon of hope in the post-pandemic era.

During his interaction with students, teachers and parents in the sixth edition of ‘Pariksha pe Charcha’ at Talkatora Stadium here, the PM said it is his “firm conviction” and “article of faith” that criticism is a purification exercise for a robust democracy.

He was responding to questions by students Mannat Bajwa (Chandigarh) and Astami Sen Rangit Nagar (South Sikkim) on how to deal with criticism. “Criticism is a nutrient that makes us strong. But you don’t need to take those levelling allegations seriously,” he said.

For the first time in the illustrious history of the Kartavya Path, an Egyptian military contingent marched across its length while saluting the dais as the country’s army took part in India’s 74th Republic Day parade in the presence of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a show of strong diplomatic ties between the two nations.

“We have the pleasure of participating in India. This is the first time we are visiting India. It is a great country with civilisation as old as ours in Egypt. We both are old civilisations. We have been here for the last few days and practised with our friends in the Indian Army. Our relationship is strong, and we love supporting each other,” said Egyptian Colonel Mahmoud Mohamed Abdel Fattah El Kharasawy, who led the contingent, while addressing the media on Wednesday.