In men’s hockey, India began their 2025-26 FIH Pro League campaign with a 1-3 loss to Belgium at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela yesterday. Nelson Onana, Thomas Crols and Arno Van Dessel scored for Belgium, while Shilanand Lakra netted the lone goal for India. The two sides were locked 1-1 at half-time and at the end of the third quarter, before Belgium struck twice in the final 15 minutes.

 

The Harmanpreet Singh-led Indian team will now take on Argentina today. The match will begin at 7:30 this evening. 

The hosts will face Belgium again on the 14th before concluding the leg against Argentina on 15th February.

 India’s trade surplus with the United States could cross 90 billion dollars annually after the new trade deal. This may also lead to an additional surplus of at least 45 billion dollars per year. A research report released today by the State Bank of India (SBI) said this increase is equal to 1.1 per cent of India’s GDP. It could also result in savings of 3 billion dollars in foreign exchange reserves. SBI Chief Economic Adviser Soumya Kanti Ghosh has said that, as per preliminary estimates, Indian exporters may raise exports of the top 15 items to the US by 97 billion dollars in a year.

 

Including other items, the potential increase can easily cross 100 billion dollars. He added that India’s trade surplus with the US stood at 40.9 billion dollars last year. It can now rise to over 90 billion dollars annually. The report also highlighted the recent trade deal with the European Union. It said the agreement has opened up a 260 billion dollar textile market to India with zero duty on textile imports.

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unveil the name of the building complex Seva Teerth tomorrow at around 1:30 PM in the National Capital. The Prime Minister will thereafter formally inaugurate Seva Teerth and Kartavya Bhavan-1 and 2, and also address a public programme at Seva Teerth at around 6 PM. The inauguration marks a transformative milestone in the country’s administrative governance architecture. It also reflects the Prime Minister Modi’s commitment to building a modern, efficient, accessible and citizen-centric governance ecosystem.

 

Seva Teerth houses the Prime Minister’s Office, the National Security Council Secretariat, and the Cabinet Secretariat, all of which were previously located across different locations. The new building complexes consolidate administrative functions within modern, and future-ready facilities.

 

Kartavya Bhavan-1 and 2 accommodate several key ministries, including the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

 

Both building complexes feature digitally integrated offices, structured public interface zones and centralised reception facilities. These features will foster collaboration, efficiency, seamless governance, improved citizen engagement and enhanced employee well-being. The building complexes also include comprehensive safety and security frameworks, such as smart access control systems, surveillance networks and advanced emergency response infrastructure, ensuring a secure and accessible environment for officials and visitors.

 

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)’s Vande Mataram Coastal Cyclothon-2026 reached Sullurpeta in Tirupati district last evening. The cycling team departed this morning from Nayudupeta and proceeded towards Chennai in Tamil Nadu.

 

CISF Assistant Commandant Madhusudhan and other officials were present during the team’s halt in the district. At various stops along the route, the cyclists are interacting with local residents, students and youth. They are spreading awareness about maritime security challenges, including smuggling and other threats. The programme also promotes physical fitness, discipline and community participation.

 

After Chennai, the team will continue its journey southwards and is scheduled to conclude the campaign later this month. The cyclothon is part of the CISF’s nationwide campaign to mark 150 years of the national song “Vande Mataram.” The initiative aims to create awareness about coastal security and national unity.

 

Launched on January 28 from New Delhi, the 25-day cyclothon is being conducted under the theme “Secure Coasts, Prosperous India.” CISF personnel are covering around 6,500 kilometres along India’s eastern and western coastlines.

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman gave a comprehensive picture of how this year’s Budget will contribute to the nation’s economic transformation in her speech in the Lok Sabha. Sharing the video of the Finance Minister’s reply on the budget in the Lok Sabha on social media, Mr Modi said that she emphasised on Reform Express, support to MSMEs, skilling, push to next-gen infrastructure, education, among others.