Top news of the day: Yumnam Khemchand Singh sworn in as Manipur CM; Mamata in Supreme Court says Bengal being targeted in SIR exercise, and more

Yumnam Khemchand Singh sworn in as Manipur CM; Mamata Banerjee alleges West Bengal targeted in SIR exercise, and more in The Hindu’s top news of February 4, 2026.

BJP Manipur Legislature Party Leader Yumnam Khemchand Singh sworn in as Manipur’s Chief Minister on Wednesday (February 4, 2026). BJP’s Nemcha Kipgen and Losii Dikho of Naga People’s as Deputy Chief Minister took oath as the Deputy Chief Ministers of the State. The swearing-in ceremony was held at Lok Bhavan in Imphal, hours after the President’s rule in Manipur was revoked.

In a rare move by a serving Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday (February 4, 2026) argued her petition in the Supreme Court against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and alleged unfair targetting of West Bengal by the poll panel and bulldozing of its citizens. Moving an interlocutory application seeking permission to appear and argue in person, Ms. Banerjee claimed the Election Commission of India (ECI) was targetting the State as micro-observers were not appointed in any other State where the process was being carried out. The Bench issued a notice to the ECI on the appointment of micro-observers. The next hearing is posted for Monday (February 9, 2026).

Two unidentified terrorists were killed in an anti-terror operation in Jammu’s Udhampur on Wednesday (February 4, 2026). The encounter had started around 4 p.m. on Tuesday (February 3, 2026). “Contact with terrorists was established yesterday (Tuesday) and since then, terrorists were prevented from breaking contact. Following a calibrated and coordinated response, two terrorists have been successfully neutralised,” an Army spokesperson said. The operation, named Kiya, “concluded successfully”. However, the area remains under surveillance,” the spokesperson added.

The Supreme Court orders the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the Anil Ambani/Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) alleged bank fraud ‘scam’ case. The Supreme Court said, “The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) must look into the nexus and conspiracy between the bank officials and the accused,” adding that the CBI has already delayed looking into the allegations, and no further delay would be tolerated. Further, the Supreme Court said the investigation should be held in a fair and dispassionate manner. Directing the CBI to submit a status report within four weeks, the SC said it would monitor the case.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday (February 4, 2026) told the Lok Sabha that the sensitive sectors of the country, like agriculture and dairy, are completely protected in the India-U.S. trade deal. He said that the U.S. tariffs for Indian goods will be reduced to 18%. The tariff on India is among the lowest as compared to its competitor nations, Mr. Goyal said in the Lok Sabha. “India has been successful in protecting the agricultural and dairy sectors,” he said, adding the deal will help promote initiatives like ‘Make in India’ and ‘Design in India’, and will make India self-reliant.

Three minor girls were found dead in Ghaziabad’s Sun City complex on Tuesday (February 3, 2026) night. A senior Ghaziabad police officer told The Hindu that the incident happened at midnight after the children told their mother that they were stepping out of their rooms to fetch water. The girls had sustained fatal injuries and were rushed by an ambulance to a hospital in Loni, where doctors declared them dead on arrival. The police are yet to zero in on the cause of the incident.