Feb 12 News Live: BJP MP Dubey moves substantive motion against Rahul Gandhi

Jairam Ramesh says IR Code amendment enables ease of firing

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Thursday criticised the Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill, 2026, calling it a reflection of the government’s failure in drafting labour reforms. He said the original 2020 Code was passed “in the din” by voice vote and is now being amended retrospectively, which he termed a “bizarre proposition,” though prompted by a Supreme Court ruling.

Ramesh argued that the amendment promotes “ease of firing” without ensuring ease of hiring, weakens collective bargaining and was introduced without discussion at the Indian Labour Conference. He added that even the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh had objected to the Code.

Rajya Sabha takes up Industrial Relations Code Bill

The Rajya Sabha on Thursday took up the Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill, 2026 for consideration, with Labour Minister Dr Mansukh Mandviya moving the motion.

Chairperson C.P. Radhakrishnan said the Business Advisory Committee has allotted 30 minutes for the discussion, 10 minutes to the BJP, three minutes to the Congress and one minute each to other parties, based on their numerical strength.

Sitharaman highlights subsidy, education spend in RS reply

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the total outgo on major subsidies — food, fertiliser and petroleum — stands at Rs 4.1 lakh crore.

She added that expenditure on education has increased from Rs 41,000 crore in 2014 to Rs 93,000 crore at present.

With these remarks, she concluded her reply to the discussion on the Union Budget in the Rajya Sabha.

T20 WC: India sent into bat by Namibia; Sanju, Bumrah return

Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus won the toss and asked India to bat first in their T20 World Cup game in Delhi. India made two changes with Sanju Samson and Jasprit Bumrah returning in place of Abhishek Sharma and Mohammed Siraj. Abhishek has not fully recovered from a stomach infection, for which he was hospitalised.

Ben Shikongo and Malan Kruger are playing in place of Dylan Leicher and Willem Myburgh, respectively, for Namibia.

Playing XIs

India: Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.

Namibia: Louren Steenkamp, Jan Frylinck, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Gerhard Erasmus (captain), JJ Smit, Zane Green (wicketkeeper), Ruben Trumpelmann, Malan Kruger, Bernard Scholtz, Ben Shikongo, Max Heingo.

Sitharaman says INDIA-ruled states must answer on farmers’ distress

Responding to a member’s comment that farmers are happy in Texas, Kentucky and Wisconsin but not in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka or West Bengal, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the remark was an admission in itself.

“I am sorry to say… he is basically admitting it. I am glad he brought up Tamil Nadu… because farmers in INDIA alliance-ruled states are not happy. They have to take care of it. All three states are ruled by their alliance. They have to talk among themselves and work on it,” she said.

Nirmala Sitharaman also alleged that some state governments, including West Bengal, have failed to implement welfare schemes funded by the Centre.

“There are governments like West Bengal which do not implement welfare schemes for people. WB doesn't implement just because it is financed by the Centre. How can we be held responsible?” she said.

Citing the Pradhan Mantri Cha Shramik Protsahan Yojana, introduced in 2021-22 for the welfare of tea estate workers, especially women and children, she said the scheme aimed to improve education, health, housing and infrastructure, but the West Bengal government refused to implement it.

“If the farmers are unhappy, is it our blame?” she asked.

Sitharaman says unemployment at historic low amid reforms

Responding to criticism on unemployment, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said India is undergoing a structural transformation and that joblessness is at a historic low.

She said the unemployment rate has fallen from 5.27 per cent in 2017 to 3.2 per cent in 2023-24. According to her, 56.2 crore people were employed in the latest quarter, with 8.7 lakh new jobs created during the period.

Sitharaman says India has no inflation problem

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said inflation is at a historic low and asserted that India does not currently face an inflation problem.

She stated that since 2014, inflation has been on a downward trajectory, and urged critics who claim that rising prices are hurting people to examine the data.

She added that inflation in India is better than what is seen in the UK, and that the reason is not because of chance but a clear strategy by the government.

T20 WC: Italy beat Nepal by 10 wickets!

Brothers Justin and Anthony Mosca produced a polished performance to script an upset of sorts as debutants Italy thrashed Nepal by 10 wickets to notch their maiden T20 World Cup win on Thursday.

Justin struck an unbeaten 60 off 44 balls, while Anthony contributed 62 not out from 32 deliveries, the duo stitching together a match-winning -run partnership as Italy overhauled the opponents' score of 123 in just 12.4 overs.

Earlier, Italy's spinners delivered a disciplined performance, maintaining tight lines and lengths to dismiss Nepal for 123 in 19.3 overs.

Their bowlers, especially spinners Ben Manenti (2/9) and Crishan Kalugamage (3/18), applied the brakes effectively, playing a key role in strangling the opposition.

Nepal, who had come close to stunning England in their previous match before eventually losing by four runs, never quite found momentum. They struggled to score freely and lost wickets at regular intervals, preventing them from building any substantial partnerships.

Brief scores: Nepal 123 all out in 19.3 overs (Rohit Paudel 23, Aarif Sheikh 27; Ben Manenti 2/9, Crishan Kalugamage 3/18).

Italy 124 for no loss in 12.4 overs (Justin Mosca 60 not out, Anthony Mosca 62 not out). 

Sitharaman cites EPS on Tamil Nadu debt, faces Opposition protests

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman quoted former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palanisamy, who claimed that successive governments in the state accumulated Rs 5 lakh crore in debt over 73 years, while the DMK government added Rs 4.46 lakh crore in just four years since 2021.

She remarked that if Tamil Nadu’s borrowing can rise sharply, questions should not be raised when the Centre’s borrowing increases.

Her speech was interrupted by Opposition members, with Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge asking whether she was speaking about the Tamil Nadu Budget or the Union Budget.

Sitharaman rejects claim that middle class is squeezed

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman dismissed the Congress’ claim that the middle class has been “sandwiched,” saying there is no evidence to support the charge.

She said the number of income taxpayers has risen from 5.26 crore to 12.13 crore in the last 11 years, more than doubling at a CAGR of 7.9 per cent. “Suppression cannot happen if more people are coming forward to pay taxes,” she said, adding that the income tax exemption limit has been raised to Rs 12 lakh.

She further argued that the middle class consumption basket is widening and that such expansion would not be possible if the middle class were truly under stress. With inflation at historic lows, she questioned the basis of the Opposition’s claims.