Times of India

Every year, as the Finance Minister stands with that iconic budget briefcase – or, more recently, the red cloth that suspiciously resembles a laptop bag from an artisanal market – Twitter transforms into a battleground. Economists, pseudo-economists, WhatsApp University graduates, and that one cousin who did an MBA but now sells artisanal pickles all chime in with their expert takes.

Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2025 wearing a Madhubani saree gifted by artist Dulari Devi, reflecting Bihar's cultural heritage. The budget is expected to include significant allocations for Bihar, including road projects, airports, medical colleges, and tourism development to support Nitish Kumar's re-election efforts.

India secured a 15-run victory over England in the fourth T20I in Pune, with captain Suryakumar Yadav crediting Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube for their crucial innings after a poor start. Harshit Rana made a remarkable debut, taking three wickets. England's captain Jos Buttler admitted to key mistakes, including missed chances and losing vital wickets.

In terms of design, the new Kia Syros features a completely new design and follows Kia’s global design language. It takes design inspiration from the Carnival, EV3 and EV9. The Syros features a boxy and upright design, with vertically stacked LED headlamps positioned at the edges of the bumper.

Arvind Kejriwal, AAP chief, reached out to BJP supporters, emphasizing the potential adverse effects on Delhi's public services if he loses. He also wrote to the Election Commission, accusing them of targeting him while ignoring similar actions by BJP leaders, especially over the Yamuna River water issue.

The Royal Rumble 2025 will take place on Saturday, February 1, at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis. Fans can watch the event live on Peacock and Netflix in the U.S., and on Sony Liv app and Sony Sports Networks in India. Featuring star-studded matches and surprise entrants, this event marks the beginning of the road to WrestleMania 41.

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the 2025 budget in Parliament wearing a white silk saree with a magenta border and golden motifs. Each year, her saree choices draw public interest during budget presentations. This marks her seventh consecutive budget presentation, surpassing Moraji Desai's record.

Congress MP Manish Tewari criticized the budget as an annual accounting exercise and suggested submitting income and expenditure statements in Parliament. Manickam Tagore called for policy changes, pointing out that the wealthy are getting richer while the middle class is suffering. The Economic Survey projects India's economic growth between 6.3% and 6.8% for 2025-26.

In Pune, 18 out of 140 Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) patients are on ventilator support, hinting at one of the largest outbreaks recorded. This autoimmune condition has shown increased incidents linked to the microbe Campylobacter jejuni, similar to past outbreaks in Peru, necessitating epidemiological study to understand these links.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the first full Union Budget of the Modi 3.0 government on February 1, 2025. This will be her eighth consecutive budget, bringing her closer to Morarji Desai's record of ten. The budget aims to stimulate economic growth and provide relief to the middle class.

A medical transport jet with a pediatric patient and five others crashed into a Philadelphia neighbourhood, causing a massive fireball and significant damage to homes and vehicles. The Learjet 55 took off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport and crashed 30 seconds later. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos. Authorities including the NTSB and FAA are investigating the tragic incident.

The Pentagon has banned access to the AI chatbot DeepSeek due to data privacy risks and its connection to Chinese servers. Some US Defense Department employees used the app on work computers, prompting a security review. The US Navy has also instructed its personnel to avoid using DeepSeek.

A Delhi court directed the registration of an FIR against the former SHO of Jyoti Nagar police station for allegedly committing hate crimes during the 2020 Delhi riots. The court also advised the complainant to seek action against BJP's Kapil Mishra for his involvement in the incident.

Rashtrapati Bhavan condemned Sonia Gandhi's comments about President Murmu's address, describing them as in poor taste and avoidable. PM Modi and BJP leaders criticized Sonia for disrespecting the first tribal President, with Priyanka Gandhi coming to her mother's defense.

PM Modi sought special blessings from Goddess Lakshmi for the middle class and poor during the Budget session. This gesture, emphasized by President Murmu, hints at potential tax reliefs and increased welfare measures to fulfill the aspirations and boost the consumption of the middle class.

The Supreme Court has agreed with a PIL petitioner that VIP darshan facilities at temples and religious places should be eliminated to ensure equal access for all devotees. Despite acknowledging the issue, the court stated it couldn't direct states to create a standard procedure under Article 32 of the Constitution, leaving policy decisions to the states.

Ten pilgrims returning from the Maha Kumbh were killed in two separate road accidents in Uttar Pradesh on Friday. Eight were crushed under a truck in Ghazipur and two died after a car crash in Sitapur. Several others were injured, and UP's chief minister expressed condolences and called for optimal treatment for the injured.

Witnesses cited by various media outlets reported several injuries following a supposed rerun of Wednesday's Akhara Marg stampede at 6am, as pilgrims moved en masse towards the ghats. Some accounts suggested 'six to seven casualties.' DIG (Maha Kumbh) Vaishnav Krishna stated Mela police will investigate, reviewing CCTV footage despite no initial information about the incident.

A district court in Gadag, Karnataka sentenced four individuals to death for the 2019 'honour killing' of Gangamma Rathod and her husband Ramesh Madar. Despite their inter-caste marriage and two years living in different cities, the couple's return to their native village led to their murder by Gangamma's relatives, resulting in legal action.