Daily Briefing: What happens when IOE opens its purse strings; chaos continues in & around Parliament; and more

🔍 Express Investigation 

In part-three of its investigation, The Indian Express visited the eight educational institutions —including 4 IITs, Delhi University and Banaras Hindu University — that have been given the Institution Of Excellence (IOE) tag and found that so far, a total of Rs 3244 crore until January 31, has been channelled into a range of initiatives: from investing in a state-of-the-art research centre, to constructing new hostels and classrooms. 

We give you a breakdown of IOE funds issued to each of these institutions in the last few years. 

(While you are here, you can also check out Part 1 and Part 2 of The Indian Express investigation)

🚨 Big Story 

Meanwhile, while the Centre and Opposition continue to lock horns in Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned his party MPs to brace for more “below-the-belt attacks” as the elections draw nearer. PM Modi said “all corrupt faces are coming together on one platform… because the BJP is waging a war against corruption.”

In other news, after the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena skipped Opposition meetings on Monday over Rahul Gandhi’s comments about VD Savarkar, fellow ally and NCP chief Sharad Pawar has urged the Congress leadership to tone down its attacks on the Hindutva ideologue. The Congress leadership is said to have explained the party’s ideological position vis-a-vis Savarkar, but agreed to tone down the rhetoric in the interest of Opposition unity.

📰 From the Front Page

The Central Board of Trustees (CBT) of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) recommended an interest rate of 8.15 per cent for its over 6 crore subscribers for the current financial year 2022-23, marginally higher than 8.1 per cent for the previous year.

👩🏽‍💻Must Read 

Three days into Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification from the Lok Sabha following his conviction in a 2019 defamation case, Wayanad constituency, that has fallen vacant now, has been missing the heat that the Congress has built up over the issue in Delhi. Despite a few protests it has organised in Wayanad, the Congress has failed to galvanise the local people over Rahul’s disqualification in this hilly, agrarian belt.

As the air chiefs of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden last week agreed to integrate their air defences to counter the Russian threat, C Raja Mohan writes on the ‘New Warsaw Pact’.

The Bombay High Court will hear the dispute between the current leader of the Dawoodi Bohra sect and his challenger to the post, again this week. So, what is this case? How is a leader picked? What are Syedna Qutbuddin’s claims? Read our explainer here.

The Central Board of Trustees of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), in its two-day meeting, discussed steps needed to resolve issues related to the joint option form by employees and employers, along with problems being faced by senior citizen pensioners who are opting for higher pensions linked to actual salaries.

⏱️ And Finally 

As the cricket finds itself in T20 leagues with so many teams, it’s not always possible to find a charismatic and tactical leader. Instead, the coaches are slowly gaining the upper hand. In IPL, the likes of Daniel Vettori and Dale Steyn want the coach-captain to be in each other’s ears, and a greater role for coaches. 

🤐 Delhi Confidential: With the UP polls drawing closer, the state’s PWD Minister Jitin Prasada has taken it upon himself to woo the Brahmin community. His big plan is to develop Jalalabad, the birthplace of Lord Parshuram, and to make it part of the tourist circuit. 

🎧 In today’s episode of the ‘3 Things’ podcast, we look at Assam’s crackdown on child marriage, why a Bilkis convict shared the stage with BJP leaders at a recent event; and why doctors are protesting against Rajasthan’s new health bill. 

Until tomorrow,

Rahel Philipose and Anamni Gupta