Farooq tantary cni
The Budget session of Parliament is likely to commence on January 28 and the Union Budget is set to be tabled on February 1, a Sunday.Officials, citing the tentative schedule finalised by the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, said on Friday that President Droupadi Murmu will address a joint sitting of the two Houses on January 28.
The customary address of the President takes place on the first day of the first Parliament session of the year.
The two Houses will not meet on January 29 due to the Beating Retreat ceremony.
Parliament will sit on January 30 when the Economic Survey is likely to be tabled.
On January 31, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha will not meet.
The Union Budget is set to be tabled on February 1, a Sunday.
After discussions on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address and Union Budget, Parliament will adjourn for a near month-long recess on February 13.
Parliament will reconvene on March 9 and the session will conclude on April 2, a Thursday.
Usually Parliament is adjourned on a Friday but keeping in mind Good Friday on April 3 and the subsequent weekend, the session could conclude on April 2, officials said. The recess in the Budget session helps department-related standing committees to examine demands for grants of various Union ministries and departments.cni
[09/01, 9:17 pm] CNI Chief: CHIEF OF THE ARMY STAFF, GENERAL UPENDRA DWIVEDI CONCLUDES VISIT TO UAE AND SRI LANKA, STRENGTHENING DEFENCE COOPERATION
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The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Upendra Dwivedi, has successfully concluded his official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Sri Lanka from 05 to 08 January 2026, reinforcing India’s commitment to deepening defence cooperation, enhancing military-to-military engagement and strengthening strategic partnerships with friendly nations in West Asia and the Indian Ocean Region.
Visit to the United Arab Emirates
During his visit to the UAE from 05 to 06 January 2026, the COAS held wide-ranging discussions with senior leadership of the UAE Armed Forces, including the Commander of the UAE Land Forces, focusing on strengthening defence cooperation, enhancing interoperability and expanding avenues for joint training and professional military exchanges.
General Dwivedi received detailed briefings on the organisational structure, roles and operational capabilities of the UAE Land Forces and visited key military establishments, where he interacted with officers and troops. These engagements provided an opportunity to exchange best practices and explore collaboration in areas of mutual interest.
The COAS addressed officers at the UAE National Defence College, underscoring the importance of strategic dialogue, leadership development and shared perspectives on regional and global security challenges.
The visit also included interactions with the Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Dr Deepak Mittal, during which issues pertaining to defence diplomacy and cooperation were discussed.
Visit to Sri Lanka
From 07 to 08 January 2026, the COAS visited Sri Lanka, where he held substantive discussions with senior military and civil leadership, including the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Deputy Minister of Defence and the Defence Secretary, focusing on training cooperation, capacity building, defence education and regional security dynamics.
Reflecting India’s enduring commitment to defence capacity building, the COAS addressed officers at the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) and interacted with officers and trainees at the Army War College, Buttala. During his visit to the Army War College, General Dwivedi laid the foundation stone of a Sports Complex and formally handed over Ambulance Vans. In addition, he handed over 20 Mahindra Scorpio vehicles and simulators to the Sri Lanka Army, further strengthening operational capability and training infrastructure.
The COAS paid homage at the IPKF War Memorial, honouring the supreme sacrifice of Indian soldiers and reaffirming the shared history and deep people-to-people bonds between India and Sri Lanka. He also interacted with the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Shri Santosh Jha.
Outcomes and Takeaways
The visit significantly advanced defence and military-to-military cooperation with both the UAE and Sri Lanka through enhanced strategic dialogue, expanded professional military education exchanges, and tangible capacity-building initiatives. It reinforced mutual trust, strengthened interoperability and underscored India’s role as a reliable and trusted defence partner.
The successful engagements reaffirm India’s commitment to fostering peace, stability and cooperative security in the Indian Ocean Region and West Asia, while deepening longstanding defence partnerships with friendly nations cni