Ahead of presenting Budget 2024-25, President Droupadi Murmu greeted Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman with a spoonful of sweet curd at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The customary gesture symbolized goodwill for Sitharaman and was also attended by Ministers of State and Finance Ministry officials. The tradition holds significance as Sitharaman detailed an interim budget outlining government expenses for the election year, with a comprehensive budget slated post-general elections. The heartwarming exchange garnered positive reactions, recognizing the significance of two influential women in key roles.

An injured Indian team will look to bounce back against England in the 2nd Test starting Friday in Vizag. With Jadeja and Rahul ruled out due to injury, India have named Sarfaraz Khan, Washington Sundar, and Sourabh Kumar as replacements. One among Sarfaraz, Sundar, Sourabh, Rajat Patidar, and Dhruv Jurel is expected to make their Test debut on Friday. Logically, Sundar should replace Jadeja as the all-rounder and either Sarfaraz or Patidar slot into the middle order. For England, debutant Shoaib Bashir replaces injured Jack Leach and James Anderson is back in place of Mark Wood. England will aim to build on their win in the 1st Test, while India has a point to prove after their hammering. The hosts will hope to fight back strongly in the 2nd Test despite injuries.

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate, is held in Hotwar Jail after a one-day judicial custody decision. The court reserves judgment on the ED's 10-day remand request. Soren challenges the action in the Supreme Court, nominating Champai Soren as his successor. JMM claims 43 MLAs support Champai Soren, considering a move to Hyderabad. Hemant Soren, filing an FIR against ED, alleges harassment. Amidst political reactions, tribal outfits call for a Jharkhand bandh. Supreme Court to hear Hemant Soren's plea on Friday, questioning the "unseemly haste" of his arrest.

In the aftermath of the Varanasi district court's historic decision permitting Hindu prayers at Vyas ka Tahkhana within the Gyanvapi mosque complex, lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain announced daily aarti timings. The schedule includes Mangla at 3:30 am, Bhog at 12 pm, Apranh at 4 pm, Sanykaal at 7 pm, and Shayan at 10:30 pm. The court's swift implementation faced criticism from the Muslim side, questioning the 'hot haste' in starting puja late at night, prompting them to move the Allahabad High Court challenging the decision. The Tahkhana, a cellar belonging to the Vyas family, holds significant religious importance.

Indian student has been discovered dead in Cincinnati, making it the third death in US within a week, with the cause of death yet to be determined. Recent incidents include the murder of 25-year-old MBA graduate Vivek Saini, fatally attacked by a homeless man, and the death of Neel Acharya, a Purdue University student reported missing on social media. This adds to a series of tragic cases, including Aaditya Adlakha's shooting in Ohio last November and Akul Dhawan's hypothermia-related death in Illinois this January. The circumstances surrounding these losses highlight the vulnerability of Indian students studying in the U.S.

Mumbai police released a pigeon detained for 8 months on suspicion of being a Chinese spy, after investigations revealed it was just a racing bird from Taiwan that had strayed into India. The pigeon was captured near a Mumbai port eight months back with two rings tied to its legs, carrying words that looked like Chinese, raising espionage concerns. Police held the bird and sent it to an animal hospital. However, it was finally identified as an open-water racing pigeon that had escaped and reached India. With its innocence proven after months of detention, the pigeon was set free into the wild on Tuesday, closing an avian spy saga.

Jharkhand's Transport Minister, Champai Soren, has been invited by Governor CP Radhakrishnan to lead the state's government after the arrest of former Chief Minister Hemant Soren on money laundering charges. With the backing of 43 lawmakers from the ruling JMM-Congress-RJD alliance, Champai Soren met the Governor in Ranchi, requesting a prompt swearing-in ceremony. The Governor, however, has not yet specified a date for the inauguration. This development comes as the state undergoes a political transition amidst legal challenges faced by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader, Hemant Soren.

After 31 years, puja was performed in the 'Vyas Tehkana' or the southern cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi late in the night on Wednesday. This followed an order from the Varanasi district judge allowing the resumption of the practice that was discontinued since 1993. On Wednesday, The Varanasi district judge permitted the Vyas family and a temple-appointed priest to offer prayers in the cellar. The temple trust opened the southern cellar around 10:30pm on Wednesday and the puja was held at 3am. The Gyanvapi Masjid Committee has challenged the order in Allahabad High Court. The development marks prayers resuming at Gyanvapi mosque's southern cellar after 31 years. [Video: Hindustan Times X handle]

The Opposition came down heavily on the government after the Union Budget 2024 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. "The budget speech was more political and had no relief for the common man," said Congress's Sachin Pilot, terming it a "political statement to praise the government". Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav called the budget "useless", saying 'It is not for the people.' Congress's Manish Tewari criticised the "extremely worrying" fiscal deficit. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray took a jibe at the BJP-led Centre and said the government has finally realised that the country has these four sets (poor, women, youth, and farmers) of people.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that India's economy is undergoing a profound transformation while presenting the last Modi government budget before the 2024 polls. She emphasized welfare schemes to uplift the conditions of the "garib" (the poor), "mahilayen" (women), "yuva" (the youth) and "annadata" (the farmer). 250 million people were brought out of poverty in 10 years and crop insurance reached 40 million farmers, said Ms Sitharaman. Inflation moderated as economic growth picked up due to tax reforms that widened the tax base and collections. The next 5 years will see unprecedented growth in India, the Finance Minister remarked.