In this issue

Highlights of India Today 18th February 2019, issue:
This week's cover story - Surgical Sops - analyses the impact of the budget proposals on the upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The NDA has exuded confidence over its interim budget and is confident of a victory in the elections. While rival parties pegged the Narendra Modi government's budget as a populist measure, interim finance minister Piyush Goyal said there was careful rationale behind every move.

The package encompasses a feature on the state of jobs and farmers in the country. Apart from a detailed analysis of the minimum support price scheme proposed for the welfare of marginal farmers, it also examines whether the government addressed the elephant in the room - India's dismal employment outlook.

This edition's Big Story discusses the recent CBI vs Kolkata police episode and how West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee turned the showdown into an opportunity to project herself as the leader of the anti-Modi alliance.

The issue also offers an in-depth analysis of the economic and cultural advances in the state of Punjab. In this edition of State of the States, find out how Punjab has managed to keep growing economically even as its debt share continues to rise.

The issue also comes along with one free supplement: Spice

Fixing The Blame

The crash of a newly upgraded Mirage-2000 trainer aircraft, which killed two test pilots of the Indian Air Force, is the newest pain point between the air force and public sector undertaking Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

3 mins

Maoists Strike Back

Red terror is back in Gadchiroli with seven tribals killed in 15 days— the highest in a decade.

2 mins

Paying A Price For Diversion

The state government is under fire for repurposing contingency funds.

2 mins

Southern Toehold

The BJP has an ally in the state, but it might need more to thwart the DMK-Congress combine.

2 mins

Will Modi's Strategy To Target Key Vote Banks Help Him Win A Second Term?

With its micro-targeted sops for key vote banks, the Modi government has effectively used the interim budget as a platform to launch its election campaign. But will it work?

6 mins

The Jobs Jigsaw

The budget had no big ideas on creating jobs though it raised the mnrega budget 9 per cent.

2 mins

Pension Payback

The Enhanced Defence Pensions Will Warm Many Hearts But Also Weigh Heavy On The Exchequer.

2 mins

Still Far From Feeling Appeased

Dalit Groups Are Not Impressed With The Measly Incentives To Woo Them.

2 mins

Mamata Vs Modi: No Holds Barred

A master of dharna politics, Mamata turned the CBI-Kolkata police showdown into an opportunity to project herself as the leader of an anti-Modi alliance

9 mins

Baghel Hits The Ground Running

The Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Begins His Innings With A Flourish, But His Aggressive Approach Could Unsettle The Establishment.

5 mins

Read all stories from India Today

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