At least 18 killed in explosion at ‘illegal’ coal mine in Meghalaya

An explosion in an illegally operated rat-hole coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district killed 18 miners on Thursday (February 5, 2026), officials said. This is one of the biggest mishaps since July 2012, when 15 miners died in a flooded mine in the State’s South Garo Hills district. Two years later, in 2014, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had banned the hazardous mining method.

Kuki-Zo groups boycott tribal MLAs in Manipur government, accuse them of ‘betrayal’

Kuki-Zo tribal groups declared a social boycott on Thursday (February 5, 2026) of Kuki-Zo legislators who have joined the newly formed Manipur government of Yumnam Khemchand Singh. The boycott and a dawn-to-dusk “total shutdown” across the hills inhabited by the Kuki-Zo people, to protest “betrayal” by these MLAs, were enforced hours before the seventh session of the 12th Manipur Assembly began with an address by Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla.

Centre signs tripartite MoU to create Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority

A tripartite agreement for the creation of Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) was signed between Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO), the Nagaland Government and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday (February 5, 2026). The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.

India and Gulf Cooperation Council nations signs Terms of Reference for an FTA

Representatives of India and the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Thursday (February 5, 2026) signed the Terms of Reference for negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). The GCC countries are together India’s largest merchandise trade partners, with total merchandise trade exceeding that done with even the European Union and the U.S.

India-U.S. trade deal: Joint statement in ‘four to five days’, legal agreement by mid-March, says Piyush Goyal

India and the U.S. will “finalise and sign” a joint statement regarding the first tranche of a Bilateral Trade Agreement in the next 4-5 days, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday (February 5, 2026). He added that the U.S.’ reduction of tariffs on India from 50% to 18% will come through an executive order issued by the U.S. President following this joint statement. India, on the other hand, will be legally allowed to reduce tariffs on U.S. imports only after the signing of the legal and formal agreement, which is expected to take place in mid-March, Mr. Goyal and Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said.

Amit Shah embarks on two-day J&K visit

The security apparatus has been placed on alert in Jammu and Kashmir as Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to begin his two-day tour of the Union Territory (UT), which starts on Friday (February 6, 2025). The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has highlighted the need to “heal the wounds of J&K’s youth”. Mr. Shah arrived in Jammu on Thursday (February 5, 2026), where he was received by LG Manoj Sinha and J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

UPSC expands conditions for attempting CSEs after being allotted for IPS, Group A Services

The Union Public Services Commission has expanded the restrictions on applying for the Civil Services Examination from 2026 onwards for candidates who are allotted the Indian Police Service or any other Central Services Group “A”, according to a notification for the CSE 2026 issued on Wednesday (February 4, 2026).

DAC to consider Rafale acquisition ahead of Macron visit

Ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India for the Artificial Intelligence Summit, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, is scheduled to meet in the second week of February to consider key procurement proposals aimed at enhancing the operational capabilities of the Armed Forces. A senior defence official confirmed that the DAC meeting will grant Acceptance of Necessity for several acquisition proposals. During his stay, President Macron is also expected to meet Mr. Singh to discuss bilateral defence cooperation between India and France.

U.N. Human Rights agency in ‘survival mode’: chief

The U.N. Human Rights chief said on Thursday (February 5, 2026) his agency was “in survival mode” due to funding shortfalls, as he launched a $400 million appeal to tackle global rights crises in 2026. Volker Turk warned countries that at a time when global human rights are under significant assault, his office was facing dire funding shortages hampering its increasingly important and life-saving work.

Agreement signed on creation of Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority

A tripartite agreement for the creation of the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority has been signed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) and Nagaland Government on Thursday (February 5, 2026) in Delhi.

Union Minister Amit Shah launches Bharat Taxi, first cooperative-led ride-hailing platform

Union Home, Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Thursday (February 5, 2026) launched Bharat Taxi, India‘s first cooperative-led ride-hailing platform, after a successful two-month pilot operation. The service has been initially launched in Delhi-NCR and Gujarat, and will be expanded across all States and Union Territories within two years.

U.S. shuts down over 200 ‘illegal’ online pharmacies tied to India-based TCO

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has announced the shutdown of over 200 website domains tied to an India-based transnational criminal organisation (TCO) allegedly responsible for at least six fatal and four non-fatal overdoses. Four persons have been arrested so far.

Trump, Xi discuss Iran in wide-ranging call as U.S. presses China, others to break from Tehran

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday (February 4, 2026) that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed the situation in Iran in a wide-ranging call as the U.S. administration pushes Beijing and others to further isolate Tehran. Mr. Trump said the two leaders also discussed a broad range of other critical issues in the U.S.-China relationship, including trade and Taiwan and his plans to visit Beijing in April.

Pentagon asked to probe SpaceX for potential Chinese ownership

Democratic U.S. senators on Thursday (February 5, 2026) urged the Pentagon ‍to conduct an immediate review of SpaceX amid allegations that ​Chinese investors have secretly acquired stakes in ‌the closely held rocket maker, citing ​potential national security risks, according to a letter seen by Reuters.

Asian Shooting Championship: Pistol shooter Esha Singh helps India to two gold, Samrat settles for bronze

Olympian Esha Singh carried her excellent form from last year into the new season, clinching the women’s individual 10m air pistol gold and helping the home team to another top-podium finish, even as world champion Samrat Rana settled for bronze on the opening day of the Asian Championship (pistol/rifle) on Wednesday (February 4, 2026).

IOC elects first female member from Iran to join exclusive global Olympic body

The International Olympic Committee elected its first female member from Iran on Wednesday (February 4, 2026), who also became the current youngest representative. Soraya Aghaei is now the 107th member of the IOC by a 95-2 vote as just the third-ever Iranian representative and the first since 2004.

T20 World Cup boycott row: India ready to face Pakistan, says Captain Suryakumar Yadav

India skipper Suryakumar Yadav has stressed that the team is fully prepared to face Pakistan in their Men’s T20 World Cup preliminary-stage clash on February 15. However, he questioned whether the decision-makers would be able to ensure that the game takes place following the Government of Pakistan’s directive to the Pakistan Cricket Board not to take the field against India.