ThePrint

US & India have reached a framework for an interim agreement on trade. #CutTheClutter Episode 1793 looks at India’s agriculture sector and possible effect of the trade deal on farmers. ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta also explains India’s agriculture trade data- exports, imports and surplus.

PM Modi didn’t find it safe to come to the Lok Sabha, based on Speaker Om Birla’s ‘credible information’. The Speaker must order a high-level inquiry as it concerns the PM’s security, ThePrint Political Editor DK Singh weighs in on this issue in this episode of PoliticallyCorrect----more----Read this week's Politically Correct here: https://theprint.in/opinion/politically-correct/narendra-modi-rahul-gandhi-national-security/2849708/

FirstPersonSecondDraft: Remembering General K. Sundarji & how he rewrote India’s military doctrine

What does the India-US joint statement on trade actually say, and what does it leave unsaid? In this episode of ThePrint Worldview, Consulting Editor (International & Strategic Affairs) Dr Swasti Rao speaks with Ambassador Mohan Kumar, India’s ex–lead negotiator at the WTO and GATT, to decode the fineprint of India-US trade understanding. From India’s purchases of Russian oil and the much-talked-about $500-billion trade target, to questions around agriculture market access, this conversation cuts through political noise and headline hype to explain the real implications for India-US economic ties.

NationalInterest: Dear Narendrabhai, Bangladesh polls give India space to hit reset button

https://theprint.in/diplomacy/agenda-for-modis-malaysia-visit-upi-potential-dornier-order-asean-india-trade-pact-review/2847827/

CutTheClutter: Manipur's complex politics & challenges as new govt with a Meitei CM & Kuki Deputy faces protest

Mishra has served twice as UP BJP president, and three terms as Rajya Sabha member. He was a Union minister from 2014 to 2017, and has been governor of Himachal and Rajasthan.----more----https://theprint.in/politics/kalraj-mishra-how-the-bjp-old-timer-brahmin-flag-bearer-is-stirring-the-political-pot-in-up/2847146/

Hyderabad’s International Arbitration and Mediation Centre has been mired in controversy since 2022. At centre of row is free allotment of govt land that was quashed by HC last year.----more----https://theprint.in/judiciary/not-inclined-to-interfere-sc-upholds-telangana-hc-order-junking-iamc-land-grant-all-about-the-row/2847335/

Billionaire Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos owned The Washington Post has laid off over 300 journalists, including most of its international correspondents. #CutTheClutter with ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta looks at the significant development, the missteps leading up to sacking of almost a third of its newsroom & why it’s a tragedy for global news media. Episode 1791----more----Read David Bauder's The Washington Post article here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/02/04/washington-post-staff-reduction-layoffs-cuts/b718ec42-01d5-11f1-ad9f-6f689ec6b060_story.html----more----Read Jeff Bezos article here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/10/28/jeff-bezos-washington-post-trust/----more----Read The New York Times article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/business/media/washington-post-layoffs.html----more----Read The Atlantic's article here: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2026/02/washington-post-layoffs-bezos/685872/----more----Read ThePrinr's 50 Word article here: https://theprint.in/50-word-edit/layoffs-washington-post/2846417/

Manipur has got a new Chief Minister- Y. Khemchand Singh, almost a year after N Biren Singh's resignation. In ThePrint #InstantAnalysis, Moushumi Das Gupta explains what it means for the state.

In big development, HAL is out of the AMCA prototype development plan. ThePrint's Editor - Defence and Diplomacy Snehesh Alex Philip explains the significance of this in @DefenceScope. To visit ThePrint Store: https://store.theprint.in/

How Yogi government has laid the groundwork to make UP a major investment destination and what’s the outcome so far, ThePrint Political Editor DK Singh elaborates in this episode of #PoliticallyCorrect

https://theprint.in/politics/rahul-quoted-from-ex-army-chief-naravanes-unpublished-memoir-in-ls-why-it-sparked-showdown-with-govt/2843754/

CutTheClutter: Surprising findings of reality check on India’s defence budget under Modi & UPA,& Naravane book row

Sitharaman in the 2026-27 Budget has shifted focus away from Amaravati and Polavaram. But TDP is confident about leveraging allocations to accelerate Andhra’s 'next phase of growth'.----more----https://theprint.in/economy/andhra-pradesh-missing-from-budget-spotlight-why-chandrababu-naidus-still-happy/2843132/

https://theprint.in/politics/high-speed-rail-coconut-push-a-kanjeevaram-nod-nirmalas-budget-pot-for-poll-bound-states/2842522/

MEA spokesperson says Islamabad should address domestic grievances, instead of blaming New Delhi.

यूनियन बजट 2026-27 की हाइलाइट्स से लेकर रक्षा बजट और राज्यों के लिए नियुक्ति तक -- दिप्रिंट के शो #ShekharSeSawaal में दिप्रिंट के एडिटर-इन-चीफ शेखर गुप्ता दे रहे हैं आपके सवालों का जवाब अपूर्वा मंधानी के साथ. 3:44 - क्या आपको लगता है कि सरकार अब अपने चुनावी समर्थन को लेकर पूरी तरह कॉन्फिडेंट है? क्या आप इस बजट की कुछ कमियों के बारे में भी बता सकते हैं? 5:48 - शेखर जी कहते रहे हैं कि भारत को अपने डिफेंस बजट खर्च का बढ़ाना चाहिए. इस बजट वृद्धि से कितना फायदा होगा? 12:18 - क्या पुरानी पेंशन स्कीम के दोबारा शुरू होने की कोई संभावना है? 14:00 - फिस्कल डेफिसिट टारगेट के अलावा, क्या आपको लेटेस्ट नेशनल बजट में फिस्कल समझदारी के लिए कोई भरोसेमंद रोडमैप दिखता है? 17:24 - क्या इस बजट से देश पर मौजूद कर्ज बढ़ेगा या घटेगा? क्या हमें अपने मौजूदा कर्ज को लेकर चिंतित होना चाहिए? 18:55 - सरकार FII की परेशानी कम करने के लिए कुछ सक्रिय कदम क्यों नहीं उठा सकती? 21:05 - भारत में R&D पर खर्च इतना कम क्यों है? 22:47 - क्या आपको लगता है कि सरकार को हर साल बजट भाषण के इस एनुअल फैन्फेयर को बंद कर देना चाहिए? Apply here for ThePrint School of Journalism : https://tinyurl.com/48hdbx9d

The Finance Minister presented the Union Budget 2026-27 today. In #CutTheClutter Ep 1789, ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta explains how, of Nirmala Sitharaman’s 9 budgets so far, this shows the least political anxiety and yet, it is a budget designed for geopolitically anxious times.

As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveils her budget, ThePrint's Editor - Defence and Diplomacy Snehesh Alex Philip takes a granular look at the numbers in the #DefenceScope.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tabled the Union Budget in the Parliament. Bidisha Bhattacharya, Associate Fellow, Chintan Research Foundation, explains what the Budget really says about India's economy with 12 big takeaways.

This week, President Trump warned Iran that US warships were inching closer to the country and military action was on the table if Tehran didn’t stop its nuclear programme and the crackdown on protesters. In Asia, China executed 11 people allegedly linked to scam and criminal networks in Myanmar. And Beijing hosted UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer as geopolitical lines redraw to account for Trump’s turbulence. Catch this week’s World 360 with Varnika Dhawan.

ThePrintPOD: India-EU FTA & Turkey, Jamaat's rise in Bangladesh & why Iranian regime has run its course| Ep39

The crash that resulted in the tragic demise of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and everyone else on board the Learjet to Baramati reminds us how fragile life is. Decades from now, we will wonder how things could have been in Maharashtra but for a twist of fate. Watch this week's #ThePrint #SharpEdge with Vir Sanghvi. TO READ: https://theprint.in/opinion/sharp-edge/ajit-pawar-death-indian-politics/2839157/

ThePrintAM: What has DGCA told HC on rest hours of pilots?

The recently concluded Free Trade Agreement, or FTA, between India and the European Union is unprecedented. Few bilateral arrangements in modern trade diplomacy can match the scale or ambition of what the ‘mother of all deals’ has unlocked. Established in 1968, the EU Customs Union is a foundational pillar of European economic integration. With Turkey in the mix, India’s biggest deal with the EU suddenly looks more complicated. Watch ThePrint Consulting Editor (International & Strategic Affairs) Swasti Rao explains. To read: https://theprint.in/opinion/india-eu-fta-turkey-customs-union/2840686/?amp

#nationalinterest The key to fighting a war successfully, or even launching it, is a clear objective. That’s an entirely political call. It isn’t emotional or purely military. There is a good reason behind the oldest wisdom that war is too serious a business to be left to generals. Operation Sindoor had a limited objective, destroying nine Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba centres by the IAF and Army. This done, a truce was offered on the morning of 7 May. Because Pakistan fought on, their bases were attacked, imagery secured, and it was time to call it a day, in victory. Knowing when and how to stop fighting is as important as starting it. Watch this week’s #NationalInterest with Shekhar Gupta. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To read this week's National Interest: https://theprint.in/national-interest/operation-sindoor-ceasefire-india-pakistan/2841384/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To visit ThePrint Store: https://store.theprint.in/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Produced by: Mahira Khan

For India and the EU, the reliance on the US for security needs and on China for goods and services is associated with greater risks and vulnerability to major disruptions.

The Mings—first among the alleged kingpins of the fraud to face execution—was responsible for the deaths of 14 Chinese citizens and injuries to several others from 2015 to 2023.

https://theprint.in/judiciary/new-ugc-rules-on-hold-why-supreme-court-believes-they-are-regressive-can-deepen-caste-divisions/2839882/

A recent Washington Post report has triggered intense debate across Bangladesh and the region, suggesting the United States wants a greater say in Bangladesh’s political future. The audio was first procured and investigated by Bangladeshi journalist Zulkarnain Saer, who deemed it of critical importance to public interest. Since then, he has been praised for exposing backroom diplomacy and criticized by former U.S. diplomats who question his interpretation. He speaks to ThePrint on why he went public with it, why the U.S. is reaching out to Jamaat, and whether Bangladesh’s political reality is fundamentally shifting.

The Economic Survey was tabled in Parliament today, January 29. It is the government’s most comprehensive report card on the Indian economy and it also sets the intellectual framework for the Union Budget. Bidisha Bhattacharya explains ten key takeaways from the survey.

The Supreme Court on Thursday put on hold the controversial 2026 UGC anti-discrimination rules, observing that their vague language could have sweeping consequences and may divide society. As student protests erupt across campuses, the top court questioned the constitutionality of the new regulations, flagged the exclusion of ragging, and warned of possible misuse. The bench clarified that the 2012 Regulations will remain in force so that students are not left remediless. Ruchi Bhattar explains in this #InstantAnalysis----more----Read full article here: https://theprint.in/judiciary/new-ugc-rules-on-hold-why-supreme-court-believes-they-are-regressive-can-deepen-caste-divisions/2839882/

ThePrintAm: Ajit Pawar dies in plane crash: What next for NCP?

Keir Starmer has landed in Beijing for a 3-day China visit. It is the first visit to China by a UK PM since 2018. This comes days after Canadian PM Mark Carney & French President Macron’s visit to China. #CutTheClutter Episode 1788 looks at the reset in trade & ties between China & the West. ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta also looks at how Trump is making China acceptable to US’ Western allies.

A news story about two Indian PhD students in the US receiving a $200,000 settlement over a racist remark about the “smell” of palak paneer quickly took over social media. This is a case of conflict within a multicultural society. The question is, how can minority practices that offend majority sensibility coexist in the same place and be reconciled? Watch this week's column for ThePrint by Amana Begam Ansari.----more----Read full article here: https://theprint.in/opinion/palak-paneer-prejudice-food-racism-indians-abroad/2834718/

India unveiled its first Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LR-AShM) during the 77th Republic Day parade this week. #CutTheClutter Episode 1787 looks at the long-range hypersonic missile & what makes it a formidable challenge for India's adversaries. ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta also explains why this is a big step in modern warfare, and how it sends a message to Pakistan.----more----Read Snehesh Alex Philip's article here: https://theprint.in/defence/india-test-fires-its-maiden-long-range-hypersonic-missile-that-can-carry-various-payloads/2360229/

ThePrint’s Khadija Khan dissects the Madras HC division bench's ruling which set aside the judge's decision clearing the release of the Vijay-starrer that took 500-crore rupees to make and was also widely publicised as his last film before he enters politics. In this video, we examine what the entire controversy surrounding the film is about, how the case unfolded before the Madras HC and what this means for the status of the film’s release

https://theprint.in/politics/armed-with-an-advani-throwback-congress-slams-modi-govt-over-rahul-kharge-seating-at-r-day-parade/2837058/

#cuttheclutter China’s top military general Zhang Youxia, who was the Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission has been put under probe. He has been accused of ‘grave violations of discipline & law’. As per Wall Street Journal report, General Zhang is accused of sharing nuclear secrets with US. In #CutTheClutter Ep 1786, ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta explains what Xi’s military purge actually means, what next for China’s Central Military Commission & for the country’s ambitions.

Actor alleges elderly guests made obscene gestures, threw roses despite protests during stage performance at a wedding; Karnal SP says no complaint received yet----more----https://theprint.in/india/i-can-only-imagine-what-new-girls-face-actor-mouni-roy-alleges-misconduct-at-karnal-wedding/2836651/

13 Padma awards went to Tamil Nadu followed by Bengal, 11, Kerala, 8, & Assam, 5. All these states are headed to polls & so is Puducherry which had one personality in the list.----more----https://theprint.in/politics/political-messaging-in-padma-awards-poll-bound-kerala-bengal-figure-high-in-cross-party-outreach/2836514/