Delhi government today announced the launch of a new welfare scheme, Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana for the bright future of the girls of the national capital. Under the new scheme, daughters in Delhi will receive a total assistance of 56 thousand rupees in instalments, starting from birth and continuing until the completion of their graduation.

After successfully completing their education, the scheme will mature, and the beneficiary will receive over one lakh rupees. Addressing a press briefing in National Capital, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta informed the entire process, from application to payment, will be fully online and transparent, eliminating the need for beneficiaries to visit government offices. She further said the scheme is designed to combine social security with education-linked incentives, reinforcing the state’s long-term commitment to gender equity, financial inclusion and human capital development.

The Magenta Line (Line-8) of the Delhi Metro network is set to emerge as the longest corridor in the system, featuring the highest number of interchange stations and underground stations. The expansion is expected to significantly enhance cross-city connectivity across Delhi-NCR, officials said on Wednesday.

In light of the recently sanctioned Phase -V (A) corridor, namely Line 8 (Magenta Line) extension from Ramakrishna Ashram Marg to Indraprastha (Via Central Vista), the Indraprastha - Inderlok corridor of Phase -IV shall be implemented as an extension of the Magenta Line.

With these additions, the total length of the Magenta Line, stretching from Noida Botanical Garden to Inderlok, will be approximately 89 kilometres, making it the longest corridor in the Delhi Metro network. The line will run from Botanical Garden to Inderlok and, once fully operational, will function entirely as a driverless Metro corridor, Anuj Dayal, Principal Executive Director (Corporate Communications), DMRC, shared the details of the project expansion.

Seeking to avoid any future unwarranted complication over the continuity of certain laws replaced by the Industrial Relations Code of 2020, an amendment bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha yesterday. The Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill 2026 was introduced by Union Minister of Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya in the House during Zero Hour. The Bill is expected to be taken up for consideration and passing today.

According to the statement of objects and reasons of the Bill, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, replaces the Trade Unions Act, 1926, the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946 and the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, relating to trade unions, industrial employment and industrial disputes.

NATO on Wednesday (February 11, 2026) said it had launched a new mission to bolster security in the Arctic, in a move to assuage U.S. President Donald Trump after he backed off claims on Greenland.

“Arctic Sentry underscores the alliance’s commitment to safeguard its members and maintain stability in one of the world’s most strategically significant and environmentally challenging areas,” U.S. General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, said in a statement.

NATO said the “multi-domain activity” would initially pull together undertakings already being carried out by alliance members in the region such as upcoming exercises by Norway and Denmark.

The Centre has launched a cooperative-led initiative, “White Revolution 2.0”, aimed at expanding cooperative coverage in the dairy sector, generating employment and strengthening women’s empowerment, the Lok Sabha was informed on Monday.

The initiative, launched by the Ministry of Cooperation, seeks to increase milk procurement by dairy cooperatives by 50 per cent from the present level over the next five years by providing market access to dairy farmers in uncovered areas and increasing the share of dairy cooperatives in the organised sector.

In absolute terms, milk procurement by dairy cooperatives is expected to reach 1,007 lakh kg per day by the end of 2028–29, the fifth year of implementation. The target will be achieved through a two-pronged strategy focusing on expanding the coverage of dairy cooperatives and deepening their reach.

The National Productivity Council (NPC) will begin observing the National Productivity Week from today to celebrate its 68th Foundation Day. The Week will be observed across the country till the 18th of this month. The theme of the week is Clusters as Growth Engine: Maximising Productivity in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The Ministry of Commerce and Industry said that the theme aligns with the emphasis of Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on strengthening MSMEs, enhancing manufacturing competitiveness and promoting sustainable industrialisation.

During the week, a series of events, seminars and workshops will be organised nationwide, including in Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Gandhinagar, Guwahati and Hyderabad. Twenty-four Local Productivity Councils, concerned Ministries of the Government of India, State Governments, industry associations and academic institutions will collaborate in conducting outreach and awareness activities during the week.

James Van Der Beek, one of the defining television faces of the late 1990s and early 2000s, has passed away aged 48. His family announced his death in a statement shared on his social media accounts, saying he died peacefully after a prolonged illness. “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” the statement read, adding that he faced his final days “with courage, faith, and grace.”

Van Der Beek revealed in November 2024 that he had been diagnosed with stage three colorectal cancer the previous year. In interviews following his diagnosis, he spoke candidly about recognising subtle changes in his health and undergoing screening, which revealed the disease had spread to nearby lymph nodes. He later used his platform to encourage early testing and awareness, telling Business Insider that if sharing his experience could help others, “that’s magic.”

Train travel will soon become a hassle-free experience for Keralites once the Alappuzha-Ambalapuzha doubling and the Palakkad Town-Parli Bypass line projects are completed.

In a latest development, the railway board has sanctioned funds for the doubling and the bypass projects. As per the Southern Railway notification, Alappuzha–Ambalapuzha Doubling (12.66 km) has been sanctioned Rs 324.16 crore, while Palakkad Town–Parli Bypass Line (1.80 km) will get Rs 163.57 crore.

Hailing the announcements, Ajas Vadakkedam, executive member of the railway passengers’ group, Friends On Rails, said the bypass project will be very beneficial to travellers.

Indian Railways has approved a series of major infrastructure projects aimed at easing congestion, expanding line capacity, improving safety systems, and enabling faster and more reliable passenger and freight movement across the country. The projects span multiple zones, including Southern, Northern and South Eastern Railways, and include line doubling, third and fourth lines, bypass corridors and the deployment of advanced electronic interlocking systems.

Capacity expansion in Jharkhand’s industrial corridor

Among the key approvals is the Barbenda-Damrughutu doubling and the addition of third and fourth lines between Damrughutu and Bokaro Steel City in Jharkhand at an estimated cost of ₹815.32 crore. Implemented under South Eastern Railway, the project is a critical component of India’s Energy, Mineral and Cement Corridor.

In a first for the country, the Delhi government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bharat Taxi for cooperative cab services, officials said on Friday.

Curated taxi-based services for tourists, including two-hour, four-hour and full-day sightseeing, covering major attractions in and around Delhi will be launched, they added.

The MoU was inked between the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) and Sahkar Taxi Cooperative Limited (STCL), the cooperative arm of Bharat Taxi. Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta and tourism minister Kapil Mishra were also present.