Wednesday, January 28, 2026 | Vol. 69 No. 97 | 31 Pages Reg.No MCS/048/2021-23; RNI No. 1541/1957 M.p.c.s office Mumbai. PIN 400001 THE FREE PRESS JOURNAL INDIA EDITION | www.freepressjournal.in ● Leader in E-paper circulation l E-paper edition is not a replica of the print edition NATION Ex-Congress MP Shakeel Ahmad fears attack on his house after criticism of Rahul Gandhi GAMES Mohinder Amarnath backs Suryakumar and India at T20 WC, defends Gautam Gambhir INDIA-EU FTA | Trade agreement awaits a legal scrubbing, and passage through parliaments both in India & European Union Mother of all deals inked Ashwin Ahmad WIN-WIN NEW DELHI After nearly 20 years of negotiation, India and the EU finally inked the long-awaited IndiaEU Free Trade agreement. The deal was signed at Hyderabad House in the presence of Prime Minister Modi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa.  But while the deal is signed, its ramifications are not likely to come into place before it is vetted by the European Parliament and EU member nations, and the same process holds true for India. Nevertheless, diplomats say the signing of such a deal showcases political intent a fact that Prime Minister Modi stressed that India and the EU has concluded the “mother of all deals” on the sidelines of the 16th  India-EU summit.  “This agreement will bring major WHAT INDIA GAINS ● Nearly 99% of exports by value will get preferential EU entry. opportunities for the public in India and Europe. This is a perfect example of a partnership between two major economies of the world...This agreement represents 25% of the global GDP and one-third of global trade.  Along with trade, the agreement is also reflective of our [India and European Union] shared commitment for democracy and rule of law.”   Stating that the India-EU FTA would complement the India-UK FTA and the Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA), prime minister Modi added that the agreement would particularly benefit those working in the textile, gems and jewelry, the leather and Scan & Watch shoe sectors. 4Contd on | nation 4See also | money DEAL DEFIES HEGEMONS, SAYS CANADA: Canada’s Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson on Tuesday hailed India’s free trade agreement with EU as a bold pushback against global hegemons that use tariffs as instruments of coercion, in a veiled swipe at US President Donald Trump. Speaking at India Energy Week 2026, Hodgson said: “What is happening in the world today is not a gradual economic transition. It is a rupture... The hegemons of the world have decided the rules-based order is no longer how the world will work.” He said, “What you just did with the EU signing was a perfect example of how to say no.” PM unveils $500 bn energy sector vision Palazhi Ashok Kumar BETUL (GOA) PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday unveiled a $500 billion investment vision for India’s energy sector, projecting it as a key pillar of the economic strategy and an attractive hub for global investors amid a volatile global economy. Addressing India Energy Week virtually, Modi called on investors to “make in India, innovate in India, scale with India and invest in India”, saying the country’s expanding energy market, combined with regulatory reforms, offered long-term opportunities despite global uncertainty. Energy lies at the heart of Regulatory changes and scale are pitched as safeguards for foreign capital amid global volatility; liberalised rules and rising demand make the sector a long-term bet for global investors India’s development plans, Modi said, as the world’s fastest-growing major economy looks to convert rising domestic demand into export strength. India figures among the world’s top five exporters of petroleum products, supplying more than 150 countries. According to the government, the sector’s scale, policy reforms and political stability provide investors with both volume and predictability. The Centre has widened access to exploration acreage, reduced restricted zones and simplified licensing norms. Modi said the Samudra Manthan deep-sea exploration programme is aimed at boosting offshore output. More than 170 oil and gas blocks have already been awarded. 4Contd on | nation 4See also | money ● To boost sectors like textiles, engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, electronics, chemicals, plastics and rubber, leather, gems and jewellery, handicrafts, tea, spices. ● Will benefit MSMEs, IT and IT-enabled services, education sector, financial services, tourism, construction. WHAT EU GAINS ● Over 97% of exports to India will see tariffs cut or eliminated. ● Tariffs will fall from 110% to 10% for cars. ● Tariffs on wine to drop from 150% to 20%, on beer from 110% to 50%. ● Easier market access for machinery and electrical equipment, aircraft and spacecraft exports, chemical, pharmaceutical, agrifood products. Kalraj Mishra seeks Plea in SC review of UGC rules challenges exclusions Cinema Ahead of Mardaani 3, Rani Mukerji talks about 30 yrs in films Edit Is Maharashtra headed again towards bipolar politics? METRO LINE 8 TO LINK MUMBAI AND NAVI MUMBAI AIRPORTS Kalpesh Mhamunkar FEATURES MUMBAI Commuting between Mumbai’s two international airports is set to become significantly faster after the Cabinet Infrastructure Committee, chaired by CM Devendra Fadnavis, approved the construction of Mumbai Metro Line 8 — a dedicated rail corridor connecting the city’s existing airport with the newly inaugurated Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). Once operational, the corridor is expected to slash travel ● 35-km airport corridor ● 20 stations planned ● Twin-airport rail link ● `22,862-crore project ● Completion in 3.5 years ● 9 km underground and 26 km elevated time between the two airports to approximately 30–35 minutes, offering much-needed relief to commuters. The CM has directed officials to secure all statutory clearances in advance and ensure strict adherence to project timelines. 4Contd on | nation BJP-Sena to register councillors jointly Shefali Parab-Pandit MUMBAI In a calculated political manoeuvre aimed at denying the opposition control over the powerful statutory Improvement Committee, the BJP and the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) have decided to register their councillors as a single group. The move is intended to break a numerical deadlock that could otherwise result in the committee chairperson being decided by lottery—a prospect the ruling alliance is keen to avoid. The joint registration is expected to be formalised before the Konkan Divisional Commissioner at Konkan Bhavan on Thursday. Calculation game: CM CM Devendra Fadnavis said there was a “percentage calculation game” behind the registration of groups. He said the process for electing the Mayor and Deputy Mayor was clearly defined, but political arithmetic inevitably came into play during the formation of standing committees and other statutory panels. Sources said the BJP is unwilling to part with the Mayor’s post, which it views as a major prestige position, while the Shinde-led Sena is equally determined to secure the chairmanship of a statutory committee to reinforce its political standing within the alliance. Apart from the mayoralty, the Improvement Committee has emerged as a major flashpoint. Considered the second most powerful civic body after the Standing Committee, the Improvement Committee comprises 26 members and plays a crucial role in shaping the city’s development agenda. 4Contd on | nation 4See also | city FPJ News Service NEW DELHI Senior BJP leader and former governor Kalraj Mishra’s demand for a review of the newly implemented UGC regulations has brought internal unease within the ruling party into the open, amid widening protests by students and social groups across Uttar Pradesh, resignations by BJP office bearers, and disciplinary action against the Bareilly city magistrate. Calling the new UGC framework “highly discriminatory against the upper caste”, Mishra said that while every student has the right to complain about caste discrimination, no single caste should be targeted. He said the present rules violated this principle and urged the government to review the regulations to ensure justice for all. Anger against the rules was visible on the streets of several cities on Tuesday. In Varanasi, students and members of various organisations staged a protest at the district headquarters. Youths from the Savarna community took out a large march, alleging the provisions could lead to false cases against general category students. Protesters warned that if the Centre failed to amend or withdraw the regulations, the agitation would be taken to Delhi. In Lucknow, students of Lucknow University demon- Protests spread across UP, BJP office bearers resign, and Bareilly city magistrate suspended strated near Gate Number One, demanding a rollback of the UGC circular. They alleged the rules would pit students against each other and fuel conflict on campuses instead of ending discrimination. Police were deployed near the protest site. The street protests were accompanied by signs of organisational dissent within the BJP. In Lucknow, Ankit Tiwari, mandal general secretary of the party’s Kumharawan mandal under the Bakshi Ka Talab assembly segment, resigned from all party posts in protest against what he termed Scan & Watch the “UGC law”. 4Contd on | nation 4See also | city A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, over concerns that the rules exclude ‘general category’ students from the grievance redressal mechanism and could lead to caste-based bias against them. The regulations, notified on January 13, apply to all higher educational institutions. Their stated objective is to “eradicate discrimination only on the basis of religion, race, gender, place of birth, caste, or disability, particularly against the members of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, socially and educationally backward classes, economically weaker sections, persons with disabilities, or any of them, and to promote full equity and inclusion amongst the stakeholders in higher education institutions,” Bar & Bench reports. Under the regulations, higher educational institutions are required to set up Equal Opportunity Centres and Equity Committees to ensure effective implementation of policies for disadvantaged groups and to enquire into complaints of discrimination. 4Contd on | nation ● Interchanges with Metro Lines 2, 3, 4 & 7 Maha nod to land leases up to 49 yrs Kalpesh Mhamunkar MUMBAI Biswajeet Banerjee LUCKNOW ● Direct connectivity to LTT and Kurla GAGRANI TO PRESIDE OVER MAYORAL POLLS Devashri Bhujbal MUMBAI For the first time in the civic body’s history, the Municipal Commissioner, Bhushan Gagrani, will act as the Presiding Authority for the election of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of BMC, following amendments to the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (Conduct of Election to the Office of Mayor and Deputy Mayor) Rules. According to senior BMC offi- cials, the change stems from a government resolution (GR) issued by the state urban development department (UDD). Under the amended rules, Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani will preside over a special meeting of the newly elected corporators in the BMC House to conduct the elections to the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor. 4Contd on | nation Delayed poll The mayoral election has been pushed back further as the BJP and the Shinde Sena are yet to complete the registration of their groups and councillors. Sources said the election, earlier expected on February 4, will now be held at least seven days after the registration formalities are completed. In a move aimed at boosting long-term investment and enhancing revenue generation, the Maharashtra cabinet on Tuesday approved extending the lease period of government land beyond the existing 30 years, allowing leases of up to 49 years. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by CM Devendra Fadnavis. Under the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966, and the Maharashtra Land Revenue (Disposal of Government Lands) Rules, 1971, government land has so far been leased for various purposes for a maximum period of 30 years. The cabinet has now cleared amendments enabling the initial lease tenure to be extended to 49 years, with scope for renewal under defined conditions. According to the revised policy, government land held by various administrative departments, as well as land transferred by the revenue department for specific purposes, can be leased for commercial and revenuegenerating activities for up to 49 years. This includes land under the control of stateowned corporations, boards and statutory authorities. After the initial lease term, it may be renewed once more for up to 49 years, subject to compliance with all stipulated terms and conditions. 4Contd on | nation Nipah watch tightened in Bengal, Kerala FPJ News Service MUMBAI Investigations are underway to screen another 100 to 200 individuals who may have been exposed to the Nipah virus, according to Dr Narendra Kumar Arora, resident of AIIMS Bilaspur and Chairman of India’s Covid-19 Working Group at the National Tech- nical Advisory Group. Speaking on the spread of the virus in India, Dr Arora said that Kerala and West Bengal are endemic zones for Nipah. He noted that the current outbreak in West Bengal was first reported among five healthcare workers, raising concerns over possible institutional transmission. Describing Nipah as a highly infectious zoonotic disease, Dr Arora said it carries a high mortality rate of 40% to 75%. Patients typically develop either acute encephalitis or severe respiratory illness. Zoonotic diseases are infections transmitted from animals to humans through bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi. The outbreak has triggered regional alerts across Asia. Thailand has begun screening passengers at three airports receiving flights from West Bengal, while Nepal has initiated checks at Kathmandu airport and major land border crossings. Several Asian airports have also reintroduced Covid-style health screening measures following the outbreak. UN not delivering on peace, security: India France okays social PTI UNITED NATIONS India on Monday said the United Nations is not perceived as an organisation that delivers on international peace and security, and that discussions are increasingly shifting to “parallel plurilateral frameworks”. “The multilateralism of universal membership, with the United Nations at its core, is under strain. The challenges facing this organisation go far beyond the budgetary realm. Paralysis and lack of effectiveness in tackling conflicts remain a significant shortcoming,” India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, said. Speaking at the UN Security Council Open Debate on ‘Reaf- firming International Rule of Law: Pathways to Reinvigorating Peace, Justice, and Multilateralism’, Harish said people around the world do not per- ceive the United Nations as an organisation that delivers on international peace and security. “Conversations and discussions have moved on to parallel plurilateral frameworks, some even involving private sector actors, to bring about outcomes on peace and security outside the United Nations framework,” he said. India’s remarks come against the backdrop of the continued failure of the UN and its most powerful organ, the Security Council, to prevent and resolve global geopolitical conflicts and maintain international peace and security. It also comes close on the heels of US President Donald Trump launching his ‘Board of Peace’ on Gaza, which is perceived as a rival to the UN. Trump has invited several global leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to join the Board of Peace, which will work towards bringing lasting peace to Gaza and embark on a “bold new approach” to resolve “global conflict”. He has posited that it could ultimately turn out to rival UN. 4Contd on | nation media ban for U-15s AP PARIS French lawmakers have approved a bill banning social media for children under 15, paving the way for the measure to come into force at the start of the next school year in September, as the idea of setting a minimum age for using such platforms gains momentum across Europe. The bill, which also bans the use of mobile phones in high schools, was adopted by a 130-21 vote late Monday. French President Emmanuel Macron has asked for the legislation to be fast-tracked, and it will now be discussed by the Senate in the coming weeks. 4Contd on | nation 4See also | world