Fitch Solutions, the research arm of Fitch Group, Monday projected the government's fiscal deficit to overshoot the budgeted target by 0.2 percent to 3.6 percent of GDP in 2019-20 fiscal. It said that 2019-20 Budget appears to show a strong populist bent in the run up to the General election due by May 2019.

It is on expected lines considering that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is looking to shore up its popularity following its loss of three strongholds in agrarian states at the November/December 2018 state legislative assembly elections, it stated.

"We believe that expenditure growth will exceed the government's projections, giving our expectation for high election spending and the budget speech's repeated emphasis that 'if necessary, additional funds will be provided'. Additionally, the government's revenue growth projections also appear too optimistic given its sweeping tax rebates for the middle class and small business," Fitch Solutions said.

Indian Banking Association has issued advisory requesting banks to waive off the processing, documentation, inspection and all other service charges for Kisan Credit Card and crop loans upto three lakhs rupees.

Agriculture Ministry in a release said, there are over 21 crore small and marginal farmers  in the country and providing them timely and affordable credit is the key to attaining inclusive growth. 

The Ministry observed, the small and Marginal farmers are the most affected during times of floods, droughts, and other natural calamities.

The Kisan Credit Card Scheme aims at providing adequate and timely credit support from the banking system to the farmers to meet the short term credit requirements for cultivation of crops, investment credit requirements for agriculture and allied activities and other needs.

The head of state of Monaco, Prince Albert II will meet President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi today.

He arrived in New Delhi yesterday on a week-long visit to India. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will call on the visiting leader this morning.

The Head of state of Monaco will pay homage to Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi at his Samadhi in Rajghat and visit Gandhi Smriti.

Prince Albert II will also visit Udaipur in Rajasthan before heading home on Sunday.

Legendary cricketer and former India skipper Kapil Dev will flag off the 'Tridhaatu Navi Mumbai Half Marathon' on February 17th from Vashi, in Navi Mumbai. 

Well-known marathon coach and ultra-marathon athlete Norrie Williamson is the race director for the event. 

The race will be held in two categories - the half marathon run over a distance of 21.097 kms, where participants above 18 years of age can take part, while another category is the 'Future Generali 10K run, where participants above 16 years of age can participate.

Prime Minister has reiterated the government's commitment towards ensuring early detection and affordable treatment of cancer. 

In a series of  tweets on World Cancer Day on Monday, Mr Modi said, initiatives like Ayushman Bharat have a strong emphasis on providing quality healthcare and ensuring cancer-free lives. 

The Prime Minister saluted all those who are valiantly fighting cancer. 

He said, millions of people are inspired by their remarkable zeal. 

Mr Modi also appreciated those researching on aspects of cancer treatment saying that their efforts will go a long way in ensuring a healthier planet. 

New Delhi has welcomed the decision of the UK Home Secretary to sign the order for Vijay Mallya’s extradition to India. 
MEA sources said in New Delhi that it is awaiting the early completion of the legal process for his extradition. 
Reacting to the development, Union Minister Arun Jaitley said, Modi Government has cleared one more step to get Mallya extradited while Opposition rallies around the Saradha Scamsters.   

UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid on Monday ordered the extradition of Vijay Mallya to India, in a major blow to the embattled liquor baron. The 63-year-old businessman had lost a legal challenge against his extradition in a British court in December.

Under the Extradition Treaty procedures, the Chief Magistrate's verdict was sent to the Home Secretary because only he is authorised to order Mallya's extradition. 

Mallya is on bail on an extradition warrant executed by Scotland Yard in April 2017 after the Indian authorities brought fraud and money laundering charges amounting to 9,000 crore rupees against the former Kingfisher Airlines chief. 

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Road Transport and  Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari today flagged off Suraksha Yatra - a motor car rally from Rajghat in New Delhi to commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The flag off was also part of an event to launch the 30th National Road Safety Week. 

The rally will travel through places historically associated with Gandhiji, both in India, as well as in Bangladesh and Myanmar. It will conclude at Yangon in Myanmar on the 24th of this month, covering a total distance of over seven thousand kilometre. It will take up advocacy on Road Safety concerns along the route.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Gadkari expressed hope that the rally will help in making people aware about the issue and the vital roles they can play in preventing accidents. 
 
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called upon road users to adopt Gandhiji’s principles of Peace, Patience and Tolerance for improving behaviour on road. She referred to the increasing incidents of road-rage, and said that a large number of road accidents occur because people are not mentally at peace while driving, they are impatient and intolerant.

To raise awareness about cancer, especially among the rural population, a Delhi-based hospital has conducted a special drive to reach out to hundreds of village school teachers and sarpanchs. 

In the run up to World Cancer Day on February 4, the BLK Super Specialty Hospital organised a ceremony on Saturday to felicitate sarpanchs each of whom contributed to this campaign by sensitising 100 families in his village and convinced them to attend the Cancer Talks and the cancer screening camps organised by the hospital.

The campaign which started in December, and so far has covered nearly 65 villages. Around 700 teachers in outer Delhi and Haryana actively contributed in spreading awareness about the disease in their villages and schools, a hospital official said.

According to the official, the felicitation ceremony was attended by nearly 50 sarpanches from Jhajjar, Bahadurgarh, Badli, Khorkhoda, Rohtak, Sonipat, Gannaur and outer Delhi villages.

Dr Surender K Dabas, Director of Surgical Oncology and the Chief of Robotic Surgery at BLK Cancer Centre, said, "Much needs to be done to break barriers, including the stigma on cancer, particularly in rural areas where it is a taboo."

Rishi Kumar Shukla, 1983 batch IPS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, was on Saturday appointed as the new chief of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The appointment came almost a day after his name was short-listed during the second meeting of the PM Narendra Modi-led selection committee.

“The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has, based on the panel recommended by the Committee constituted as per Section 4A(1) of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, approved the appointment of Shri Rishi Kumar Shukla, IPS (MP: 1983) as Director, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) vice Shri Alok Kumar Verma, IPS (AGMU: 1979), for a period of two years from the date of assumption of charge of the office,” read a letter by the Department of Personnel and Training.

Sri Lanka is celebrating its 71st  Independence day today with usual fervor and enthusiasm.

The main function will be held at Galle face grounds in Colombo where President Maithripala Sirisena will be chief guest while Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will attend the function as guest of honour. 

A total of 545 prisoners have been granted Presidential pardon to mark the occasion and will be released today.