Friday, February 6, 2026 | Vol. 69 No. 105 | 32 Pages Reg.No MCS/048/2021-23; RNI No. 1541/1957 M.p.c.s office Mumbai. PIN 400001 THE FREE PRESS JOURNAL International day of zero tolerance for female genital mutilation INDIA EDITION | www.freepressjournal.in ● Leader in E-paper circulation l E-paper edition is not a replica of the print edition GAMES NATION In interim budget ahead of Bengal polls, Mamata govt increases sops for women and youth INDO-US TRADE DEAL Virtual signing by mid-March: Goyal Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal at the signing of Terms of Reference of GCC trade deal, on Thursday. PTI NEW DELHI India and the United States are likely to sign the first tranche of the long-pending bilateral trade agreement (BTA) by midMarch, which will lead to a reduction in import duties imposed by Washington on Indian goods, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday.The signing of the joint statement will take place virtually. Goyal said the two countries are expected to finalise and sign a joint statement on the first tranche of the agreement within the next 4-5 days. Following this, tariffs on Indian goods entering the US will be reduced to 18 per cent from the current 50 per cent. “At present, Indian goods attract 50 per cent import duty, comprising a 25 per cent reciprocal tariff and an additional 25 EAM: In the final stages of detailing The India-US trade deal is in the final stages of detailing and will be completed “very soon”, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday. After holding wide-ranging talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, Jaishankar also also said, “Our critical mineral cooperation is also advancing rapidly. Expect engagement on strategic issues, defence and energy in the coming days. Overall, a strong momentum is evident.” per cent levy for purchasing Russian crude oil,” officials said. 4Contd on | nation FPJ News Service SC guidelines for crimes punishable with up to 7-yr term Tilt is towards India: PM Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar NEW DELHI PM Narendra Modi on Thursday said the trade deal with the United States has made the world confident of India’s “speed along with stability” and that the fact that “big countries are now eager to improve relations with India” is testimony to the country’s growing importance in terms of talent and resources. Replying to the Motion of Haridev Pushparaj Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif categorically stated on Wednesday that the Pakistan cricket team will not play against India in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match on February 15th in Colombo, breaking his silence for the first time. Earlier, the Pakistan government had posted a message on its official ‘X’ account about the team’s boycott of the much-anticipated match but this is the first time Sharif has made a huge statement on the issue. With high stakes involved in terms of the finances that go into the blockbuster game and the potential losses for the a notice under Section 35(3) of the BNSS is complied with, Live Law reports. It was examining the question of whether notices under Section 35(3) of the BNSS, 2023 are required to be mandatorily issued in all cases involving offences punishable with imprisonment up to seven years. UPSC curtails re-attempts to improve rank SC asks WB to pay DA from 2008-2019 FPJ News Service KOLKATA The UPSC has significantly tightened the rules governing reappearance in the Civil Services Examination for candidates who are already serving in the civil services, effectively putting an end to the longstanding practice of multiple attempts to improve rank and service preference. In its Civil Services Preliminary Examination notification for 2026, released on February 4, UPSC laid down clearer and stricter eligibility conditions for serving officers, particularly those appointed to the IAS, IPS and IFS. 4Contd on | nation Observing that dearness allowance (DA) is a legally enforceable right, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed the West Bengal government to pay arrears to its employees for the period between 2008 and 2019. A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Prashant Kumar Mishra ordered the state government to pay 25% of the outstanding DA amount to its employees by March 6. “To receive dearness allowance is a legally enforceable right that has accrued in favour of the respondents... The employees of the appellant-state shall be entitled to release of arrears in accordance with this judgment for 2008-19,” it said. 4Contd on | nation The SC noted that DA serves as a practical instrument of protection in the hands of a welfare state, safeguarding employees from the adverse impact of rising prices. It said DA is not an additional benefit but a mechanism to ensure a minimum standard of living. Taking note of the financial implications, the SC constituted a committee to oversee the process. The committee will comprise former SC judge Justice Indu Malhotra, former HC Chief Justice/judge Justices Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Goutam Bhaduri, and the CAG or the senior-most officer in his establishment, nominated by him. 4Contd on | nation Mumbai’s crowded lanes and informal settlements are often defined by tin-blue metal sheets and uneven concrete walls. In 2018, Mumbai-based artist and educator Rouble Nagi decided those walls deserved a different destiny. Armed with paintbrushes and purpose, she began transforming slums in Dharavi and Jaffar Baba Colony in Bandra into vibrant canvases, turning neglected spaces into living art. What began as a modest Rouble Nagi won the $1 million Global Teacher Prize for her efforts using murals to make learning engaging beautification effort soon grew into ‘Misaal Mumbai’, an ambitious initiative that has since seen over 1.55 lakh houses across the city painted with colourful murals. The project did more than add colour — it gave these neighbourhoods a renewed identity and a sense of dignity. 4Contd on | nation 18 KILLED IN MEGHALAYA MINE BLAST Om Birla claims he played kavach role Digjyoti Lahkar RIVAL BEATS FRIEND The WPL final in Vadodara on Thursday played out as a gripping contest, highlighted by a fascinating face-off between rival captains — Delhi Capitals’ Jemimah Rodrigues (R) and her friend-turned-opponent, Smriti Mandhana of RCB. RCB won by 6 wickets to lift the title. broadcasters and the legal implications, it is understood that there are back-channel talks being held between ICC repre- Crackdown on illegal online pharmacies PTI NEW YORK US federal authorities have seized more than 200 website domains tied to an Indiabased transnational criminal organisation having illegal online pharmacies allegedly responsible for at least six fatal and four non-fatal overdoses. The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) field offices throughout the country also conducted multiple operations leading to the arrest of four individuals, it said in a statement said on Wednesday. US federal atuhorities have seized more than 200 websites The DEA, with the cooperation of the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, announced the seizure of more than 200 website domains tied to the Indiabased transnational criminal organisation (TCOs) working within the United States allegedly responsible for at least six fatal and four non-fatal overdoses as part of Operation Meltdown. 4Contd on | nation ‘Nobel of Teaching’ for Mumbai educator FPJ News Service on various fora”. The Prime Minister said India is doing future-ready trade deals with several countries and recently concluded agreements with nine blocs, including what he described as the “mother of all deals” with the European Union, which has 27 countries. “After the deal with the US, the world is now confident of speed along with stability,” he said. Over time, Nagi expanded her work beyond slum walls to schools, using murals and visual storytelling to make learning engaging and accessible. Her work earned international recognition, culminating on Thursday in Dubai, where she was awarded the $1 million Global Teacher Prize at the World Governments Summit. Often described as the “Nobel of Teaching”, the award honours educators who have made exceptional contributions to the field. 4Contd on | nation sentatives and the PCB. 4Contd on | nation 4See also | games Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar GUWAHATI offgrid MUMBAI changed global scenario, “the entire world is talking about the Global South, of which India has become a bold voice MUMBAI Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh ruled that no arrest can be made for offences punishable with less than seven years’ imprisonment unless the mandatory requirement of issuing MUMBAI Thanks to the President’s Address in the Rajya Sabha, which was later passed by a voice vote, the Prime Minister said, “After the World War, a new world order was created, and now the world is moving towards yet another world order,” in which the “tilt is towards India”. He added that as a “Vishwa mitra and Vishwa bandhu”, India has become a partner for countries across the world. Modi said that in the Won’t play India: Pak PM The Supreme Court of India has held that arrest is not the rule for offences punishable with imprisonment up to seven years and that the police must mandatorily serve a notice under Section 35(3) of the BNSS, 2023 in such cases. A Bench of Justices MM FPJ News Service Edit Bihar’s dry dream: A bloody, wet, and bankrupt reality Modi links global confidence to India’s expanding economic and strategic footprint as Delhi courts international partners ‘Arrest exception, not rule’ NEW DELHI Cinema Amruta Khanvilkar calls Emraan Hashmi a ‘secure actor’ Suryakumar Yadav says consistency across competitions is secret to Team India’s success NEW DELHI At least 18 labourers were killed, and several others feared trapped following an explosion at an "illegal" coal mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district on Thursday, Director General of Police I Nongrang said. Rescue teams have been engaged in search operations, she said, adding that the incident occurred in the Thangsku area in the morning. Underlining the growing trust deficit between the government and the Opposition, the Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address without PM’s reply, a first in 22 years. What followed sharpened the political edge of the episode, with Speaker Om Birla disclosing that he had personally urged PM Narendra Modi to stay away from the House, citing fears of “unexpected activity” and possible bodily harm. Birla said he had 4Contd on | nation Speaker urged PM to stay away from LS to protect him. Priyanaka response: What nonsense! received “concrete information” that some Congress members could approach the PM’s chair, and that Wednesday’s protests — when Opposition MPs came close to Modi’s bench — had prompted him to err on the side of caution. 4Contd on | nation 4See also | nation