Freeze on LS seats till 2026 proposed
New population policy unveiled
NEW DELHI, Feb 15 — In a bid to boost population control programmes, the government today proposed to freeze till 2026 the number of Lok Sabha seats of every state at the current level and put on hold the delimitation exercise.

Govt to table Kargil report
NEW DELHI, Feb 15 — The government has decided to table the findings of the Subramanyam Committee, which went into the circumstances leading to the Pakistani intrusion in Kargil in May last year, in the Budget session of Parliament.

Columns of T-72 tanks and infantry combat vehicles move towards a target at Purbana ki Dhani in Bikaner district of Rajasthan in an Army exercise, Vijay Chakra
(Report on Nation page)

No division in NCP: Pawar
NEW DELHI, Feb 15 — A day after voicing reservations over inclusion of his party colleague P.A. Sangma in the Constitution Review Commission, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar today justified it saying his presence would be “helpful” in preserving and protecting Parliamentary democracy.

B.R. Chopra gets Phalke award
NEW DELHI, Feb 15 — Indian cinema’s highest national honour the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for lifelong contribution to the medium was today presented to Bollywood’s living legend B.R. Chopra at the 46th National Film Awards function here.

Don’t jail mentally ill: NHRC
NEW DELHI, Feb 15 — The National Human Rights Commission has directed the state governments to ensure that no mentally ill person is kept in jail as it amounts to violation of human rights.

Peaceful repoll in Bihar
PATNA, Feb 15 — Barring an incident of violence in which a CRPF jawan was injured, repoll in 187 booths in 44 Assembly constituencies of Bihar passed off peacefully today with an estimated 45 to 50 per cent voters casting their ballot.