
No cabinet expansion envisaged
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is not planning any cabinet expansion or changes before the crucial confidence vote in Parliament on Tuesday, according to authoritative sources.
"No cabinet expansion is planned," was all that a source with access to the prime minister's thinking would say when quizzed.
There has been media speculation that some leaders of regional parties, like Shibu Soren of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Ajit Singh (Rashtriya Lok Dal) would be inducted into the Cabinet over the weekend in return for their support to the government in the parliament trust vote.
The prime minister, say sources, is quite looking forward to the parliament debate as it would give him an opportunity to explain to the nation the larger benefits of the nuclear deal and the overall record of the government during its stint in power for over four years.

Smuggled Nepalese cigarette brand dominates border areas of Uttarakhand
- ‘Khukuri’ a brand of Nepalese cigarette has captured the market in the border areas of US Nagar, Champawat and Pithoragarh. Over 90% of smokers prefer to purchase and smoke this not due to taste but its cheap prices, said an official.

Assam village sets example, holds fake buffalo fight to uphold SC ban
- In 2016, the Supreme Court had placed a ban on animal fights during religious and cultural festivals.

After protests, Goa CM announces relocation of IIT project from Melaulim

CBI ‘bribe-for-relief’ racket was running since 2018, finds probe

Construction work on New Parliament begins

Mumbai logs AQI of 190, breathes cleanest air so far this year
- Air quality had remained in the poor to very poor category since the beginning of January owing to low temperatures. On January 8, the AQI was the worst at 317 (very poor) for this year.

TMC MP Satabdi Roy voices dissent, Abhishek Banerjee steps in to solve crisis
- For the first time, TMC’s youth unit president and chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee stepped in to solve the crisis. He sent party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh to bring Roy to his office on Camac Street in south Kolkata and held a two-hour meeting on Friday.

Woman sanitation worker to get first vaccine jab in Chhattisgarh

Is Covid-19 vaccine mandatory?: All your FAQs about vaccination drive answered

Bengal BJP leaders meet Amit Shah in Delhi, discuss poll preparedness
- To meet Shah’s target of winning more than 200 of Bengal’s 294 assembly seats in 2021, the BJP has put together its biggest election machinery in the eastern state.

Ladakh soldiers among first set of army personnel to get Covid-19 vaccine
- More than 12,000 doses of the vaccine have reached Ladakh of which around 4,000 have been earmarked for armed forces personnel to protect them from Covid-19, the officials said speaking on condition of anonymity.
_1610727809220_1610727824299.png)
Thousands of Odisha's healthcare workers say no to Covid-19 vaccine, here's why
- MPW workers demand promotion and cadre-restructuring.

Join Congress to defeat BJP: Adhir Ranjan repeats invite to Mamata Banerjee
- Choudhury's comments came after the TMC had on Wednesday said the Congress and the Left should support Banerjee in her fight against the BJP, a suggestion rejected by the two parties.

News updates from HT: India-Japan to cooperate in field of 5G, smart cities
