Breaking a 90-year-old tradition, the Assam government under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has removed the two-hour break for Friday prayers during state assembly sessions. Muslim legislators in Assam were denied the usual Friday prayer break for the first time. The chief minister justified the move, stating that work should take precedence over tradition. This practice was introduced in 1937 by Syed Saadulla of the Muslim League. Earlier, the state government formed a seven-member team to assess the need for the break. AIUDF legislator Rafiqul Islam condemned the decision, calling it an injustice imposed by the majority on the minority. Meanwhile, the Congress party has demanded designated prayer spaces nearby.

Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly narrowly escaped a road accident. While traveling to Bardhaman for an event, a truck rear-ended his car. Fortunately, neither Ganguly nor his companions were injured, though two of his escort vehicles were damaged. This marks the second accident in his family, as his daughter Sana was also involved in a crash in January when a bus hit her car.

Rekha Gupta, MLA from Shalimar Bagh, has been selected as the Chief Minister of Delhi by the BJP. Her name was announced on Wednesday evening in front of the party legislators as the parliamentary leader. She will take the oath along with her cabinet members at Ramlila Maidan. Representing the Banik community, Gupta was previously a leader of ABVP. Notably, she became the Chief Minister in her very first term as an MLA. After 27 years, BJP has regained power in Delhi with 48 seats, while Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) secured only 22 seats.

In a recent interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, former U.S. President Donald Trump stated that India would not be exempt from Washington’s reciprocal tariff policies.

Trump revealed that he had told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “We are going to implement reciprocal tariffs. Whatever you impose on us, we will impose the same on you.” When Modi expressed his disapproval, Trump reaffirmed his stance.

India has historically imposed high tariffs on imported American goods, particularly in the automobile sector, where duties can reach up to 100%. During the interview, Trump boldly asserted, “No one can argue with me. If they impose tariffs, I will impose the same amount!”

Costa Rica has announced it will offer a temporary place for Indian immigrants being deported from the United States. Around 200 immigrants from the Middle East and India will be relocated there. Panama and Guatemala had previously taken similar steps. Costa Rica stated that they are willing to accommodate the illegal immigrants being deported by the U.S., with the country’s president’s office making the official announcement. Temporary camps will be set up for them, but it has not yet been confirmed when they will return to their home countries.

Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, arrived in India for a two-day visit, receiving an exceptional welcome from Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Delhi Airport on Monday. Breaking usual protocol, Modi personally greeted the Emir, emphasizing the strong ties between the two nations. Sheikh Tamim is set to meet President Droupadi Murmu and Modi on Tuesday. India’s Foreign Ministry stated that this visit will further enhance diplomatic and economic cooperation. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also met the Emir on Monday night.

The government of Madhya Pradesh, under Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, has announced plans to rename 54 villages in Dewas district, triggering widespread debate. Officials claim the move aims to “respect local sentiments” by replacing names associated with Muslim historical figures. However, critics argue that this is an attempt to fuel communal divisions and erase India’s pluralistic heritage. Many local residents have voiced their opposition to the decision, calling it unnecessary and divisive.

The United States has deported 113 undocumented Indian immigrants in its third phase of repatriation. On Sunday, February 16, their flight landed in Amritsar, Punjab. NDTV reported that among the deportees, 31 were from Punjab, 44 from Haryana, 33 from Gujarat, two from Uttar Pradesh, and one each from Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. In previous phases, the US deported 104 and 116 individuals, many of whom were shackled during transit. However, it remains unclear whether similar measures were taken this time.

An earthquake shook India’s capital, New Delhi, early Monday morning at 5:36 AM. Residents rushed out of their homes in panic. The tremor measured 4.0 on the Richter scale, with its epicenter in Dhaula Kuan, Delhi, at a depth of five kilometers. Though the quake lasted only a few seconds, locals reported hearing a loud noise along with the tremors. Many claim they have not experienced such a quake in the past 25 years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged citizens to remain calm and stay safe.

In February 2025, India Today conducted an opinion survey across eight northeastern states of India. The survey, titled India Today Mode of the Northeast, asked citizens their opinions on the Indian government’s decision to shelter Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The survey presented three main options. 23% of respondents expressed support for the notion that “Sheikh Hasina is an ally of India, and it is appropriate to shelter her.” On the contrary, 37.6% opposed it. A significant 55% of respondents stated, “In the current situation, to advance India’s relations with Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina should be sent back.” Meanwhile, 21.1% opposed this viewpoint. Only 16% of those surveyed suggested, “Sheikh Hasina should not be sent back to Bangladesh, but could be asked to go to another country,” while 29.1% disagreed.

In a controversial move, the United States has sent back a second batch of illegal Indian immigrants, with reports claiming their hands and feet were tied during the return. This follows a similar incident on February 5, sparking political outrage in India. Despite Prime Minister Modi’s meeting with President Trump, where he advocated for humane treatment of Indians, the U.S. continued its harsh deportation practice. Indian Congress leader P. Chidambaram criticized the failure of Indian diplomacy to prevent such actions.

A satirical cartoon depicting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with shackles on his hands and feet in front of U.S. President Donald Trump was published by Vikatan, a century-old weekly magazine in Tamil Nadu. The controversial illustration sparked a massive outcry, with allegations that the magazine’s website was blocked shortly after its release. According to a report by ABP Ananda, this incident came to light after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) raised objections against the magazine. The incident has raised concerns about the curtailment of press freedom in India. Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister has condemned the act. The cartoon was created in response to the issue of forcibly sending back illegal immigrants, symbolized by shackles on their hands and feet.

At least 18 people, including 11 women and 4 children, were killed in a stampede at Delhi Railway Station due to overwhelming crowds. Many others sustained injuries. According to an NDTV report on February 16, the situation spiraled out of control on two platforms as Kumbh Mela pilgrims overcrowded the station. Indian Railways has launched an investigation into the incident. Compensation of 1 million rupees for the deceased, 250,000 rupees for the injured, and 100,000 rupees for minor injuries has been announced.

As the U.S. tightens its immigration policies, another batch of 119 Indian nationals is being deported, following the return of 104 individuals earlier this month. The latest deportation flight is set to land in Amritsar, Punjab, tonight—just like the previous one. This has sparked outrage from Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who accused the central government of treating illegal immigration as solely Punjab’s problem. He called it a national issue and criticized the decision to land deportation flights only in Punjab. Mann demanded that future flights land in Delhi or Ahmedabad to ensure Punjab’s dignity is upheld.

The US has tightened visa renewal rules for Indian applicants, making the process more complicated. The renewal period for B1 and B2 visas has been reduced from 48 months to 12 months, forcing applicants to renew more frequently. This change is expected to increase congestion at US embassies, making interview appointments harder to secure. Currently, the wait time for visa interviews in major Indian cities ranges from 415 to 440 days. These new restrictions will significantly extend the overall waiting period for US visas.