India News

Budget 2026 balances high capex and growth, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Union Budget 2026 strikes a balance between high capital expenditure and strong growth while reinforcing reforms and fiscal discipline.

Published

3 months ago

February 1, 2026

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the Union Budget 2026 strikes a fine balance between high capital expenditure and sustained economic growth, calling it a roadmap for long-term national development.

Speaking after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her ninth consecutive Budget, the prime minister said the proposals reflect a vision of trust-based governance and a human-centric economic framework. He added that India is not just focused on being the fastest-growing economy but is working towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy.

PM Modi said the Budget also reinforces India’s strong global standing and will provide fresh momentum to the country’s reform agenda. According to him, the measures announced will energise what he described as India’s “reform express”.

The prime minister highlighted the Budget’s focus on promoting tourism in the northeastern region, noting that it would create new opportunities and support regional development.

On fiscal management, the finance minister retained the states’ share in the divisible pool of central taxes at 41 per cent. She announced that Rs 1.4 lakh crore has been provided to states as Finance Commission grants for 2026–27, in line with the recommendations of the commission.

The Finance Commission, chaired by Arvind Panagariya, had submitted its report to the President in November 2025 after consultations with states and Union Territories, several of which had sought a higher share.

Sitharaman pegged the fiscal deficit for 2026–27 at 4.3 per cent of GDP, lower than the revised estimate of 4.4 per cent for 2025–26. She also said the debt-to-GDP ratio is projected to decline to 55.6 per cent in 2026–27 from 56.1 per cent in the previous fiscal.

A gradual reduction in the debt burden will help free up resources for priority sectors by lowering interest outgo, the finance minister said.

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India News

Turnout crosses 80% in Bengal and Tamil Nadu till 5 PM in key elections

Bengal phase 1 and Tamil Nadu elections witness strong voter turnout, crossing 80% with largely peaceful polling.

Published

7 mins ago

April 23, 2026

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Polling for the 2026 Assembly elections is underway in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, with voters turning out in large numbers across key constituencies.

In West Bengal, voting is being held across 152 constituencies, with around 3.6 crore voters expected to participate in this phase. Security arrangements were tightened, and long queues of voters were seen at polling stations from early morning.

Turnout rises steadily through the day

Voter participation increased consistently as polling progressed. By afternoon, turnout had crossed the halfway mark in both states, indicating steady engagement.

As per latest updates till 5 PM, West Bengal recorded 89.92% turnout, while Tamil Nadu reported 82.24% voter participation.

Large electorate participates in phase 1

In West Bengal, nearly 3.6 crore eligible voters took part in the first phase across several districts, including Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri.

Tamil Nadu is witnessing a three-way contest between the DMK-led alliance, the AIADMK-BJP alliance, and actor Vijay’s entry into the political space.

Sporadic incidents reported

Polling has been largely peaceful, though isolated incidents were reported, including an attack on BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul’s car and a boycott reported in parts of Tamil Nadu.

Despite these disruptions, voting continued without major interruptions, and authorities maintained overall control.

High-stakes political contest

The elections are being closely watched as major political parties compete for power. West Bengal is witnessing a closely fought contest, while in Tamil Nadu, key regional rivals are battling for control of the state Assembly.

The outcome is expected to play an important role in shaping the political landscape of both states.

Education

UP Board result 2026 declared: Class 10 pass rate at 90.42%, class 12 at 80.38%

UP Board 2026 results are out with strong pass rates. Here’s how to check your score and key highlights.

Published

33 mins ago

April 23, 2026

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The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad has declared the UP Board Class 10 and Class 12 results for 2026 on April 23 at 4 pm.

This year, more than 52 lakh students registered for the exams, including over 27 lakh candidates in Class 10 and nearly 25 lakh in Class 12. The examinations were conducted between February 18 and March 12 across around 8,000 centres in the state.

Pass percentage and performance trends

The overall performance remains strong:

Class 10 pass percentage: 90.42%
Class 12 pass percentage: 80.38%

Girls have once again outperformed boys in both classes, continuing the trend seen in previous years.

How to check UP Board result 2026

Students can access their results through official platforms by following these steps:

Visit the official website: upmsp.edu.in or upresults.nic.in
Click on the result link for Class 10 or Class 12
Enter roll number and required details
View and download the provisional marksheet

Alternatively, results are also available via DigiLocker and other digital platforms.

What students should do after results

Students are advised to:

Download and print the provisional marksheet immediately
Collect the original marksheet from their respective schools later
Apply for re-evaluation or compartment exams if required

India News

Voting underway in West Bengal phase 1 and Tamil Nadu as turnout crosses 50% by afternoon

Voter turnout crosses 50% in West Bengal phase 1 and Tamil Nadu as polling continues across key constituencies.

Published

5 hours ago

April 23, 2026

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Voting is underway in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu as the 2026 assembly elections see active participation from voters across both states. In West Bengal, the first phase of polling is being held across 152 constituencies in 16 districts, marking the beginning of a multi-phase election process.

Tamil Nadu, on the other hand, is witnessing single-phase polling across all 234 assembly seats, making it a crucial electoral day for the state.

Polling began in the morning with voters arriving at booths early, and arrangements were in place to ensure smooth voting.

Turnout figures show steady participation

As voting progressed, turnout figures indicated moderate to strong participation in both states.

West Bengal recorded around 62.2% voter turnout by 1 pm
Tamil Nadu saw approximately 56.8% turnout by the same time

Earlier in the day, initial turnout trends showed gradual momentum as queues built up at polling stations.

High-stakes contest in both states

The elections are significant for major political parties in both regions.

In West Bengal, the contest remains largely between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party, with several key constituencies drawing attention. Around 3.6 crore voters are eligible to vote in this phase, highlighting the scale of the exercise.

Tamil Nadu’s election features a traditional contest between the DMK and AIADMK alliances, with the outcome expected to shape the state’s political direction.

Security and arrangements in place

Authorities have deployed security personnel and made logistical arrangements to ensure peaceful polling. Reports indicate that voting is largely proceeding smoothly, with monitoring systems in place across sensitive areas.

The election process in West Bengal will continue with the second phase scheduled for April 29, while Tamil Nadu will conclude voting in a single day.