School assembly headlines February 2: Key national, global and sports developments
Staying updated with current affairs is a key part of a student’s overall learning experience. News headlines in school assemblies offer an engaging platform for students to understand what’s happening around them, strengthen their English skills, and develop critical thinking.
Reading and presenting news in English helps pupils expand their vocabulary, build confidence in public speaking, and learn to examine events from multiple perspectives. These discussions spark curiosity and bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world developments.
For Monday, February 2, the school assembly headlines feature important national, international, and sports stories. Today’s news selection encourages meaningful discussion, thoughtful debate, and reflection, helping students gain a clearer understanding of global and domestic events.
With today’s English news headlines for the school assembly, students remain informed, engaged, and better prepared to explore news from India and across the world.
National News:
1. Union Budget 2026 highlights: 20 takeaways from Finance Minister’s speech
The Union Budget 2026, presented in Parliament on Friday, laid out the Government of India’s economic roadmap for the coming financial year, with a sharp focus on growth, fiscal consolidation, job creation, and social welfare. Balancing macroeconomic stability with targeted relief for the middle class and vulnerable sections, the budget continued to prioritise capital expenditure, infrastructure expansion, and digital governance, while keeping an eye on inflation and global uncertainties.
2. Did you know? AI was mentioned a record 11 times in Union Budget 2026
Artificial Intelligence emerged as one of the most dominant themes of the Union Budget 2026-27, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman referring to AI a record 11 times in her budget speech, the highest ever in any Indian budget address, according to an analysis by The Hindu. The repeated emphasis signals the government’s intent to place AI at the centre of India’s economic and technological transformation.
3. Union Budget 2026: TCS reduction, eco-friendly tourism, rail corridors, and more
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday announced a slew of measures to boost manufacturing, a tax holiday for global data centres, and incentives for the agriculture and tourism sectors as she unveiled a Rs 53.5 lakh crore Budget seen as a long-term blueprint for sustaining growth amid rising global risks.
4. Union Budget 2026 puts Kerala on national map for turtle trails
The Union Budget 2026, presented on Sunday, has proposed the creation of turtle trails along Kerala’s coast, positioning the state within a broader plan to expand ecologically sustainable tourism across India. Announcing the initiative, the Finance Minister said, “India has the potential and opportunity to offer world-class trekking and hiking experience. We will develop ecologically sustainable (i) Mountain trails in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir; Araku Valley in the Eastern Ghats and Podhigai Malai in the Western Ghats. (ii) Turtle Trails along key nesting sites in the coastal areas of Odisha, Karnataka and Kerala; and (iii) Bird watching trails along the Pulikat lake in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.”
5. CJ Roy’s death exposes India’s legal blind spot: Why do tax raids have no time limit?
The death of CJ Roy, a Bengaluru-based billionaire, during an ongoing Income Tax search is not merely a tragic footnote in the business pages. As per the latest news, the mortal remains Roy were brought to Anekal on Sunday. Roy allegedly died by suicide after shooting himself while an Income Tax team was carrying out search operations at his Bengaluru office.
6. Last rites of Confident Group Chairman CJ Roy held; SIT to investigate death
The last rites of Confident Group Chairman CJ Roy, who allegedly died by suicide on January 30, were held in Bengaluru on Sunday morning. Roy was found dead at his office in Langford Town, Bengaluru, on Friday, with a gunshot injury, police said.
7. ‘Forgotten that Kerala is on the map of India’: CM Vijayan, FM Balagopal hit out at Union Budget
The Kerala government has launched a sharp criticism of the Union Budget 2026 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday, accusing the Centre of sidelining the state and pursuing policies that could harm both Kerala and the wider national economy. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the budget reflects sustained neglect of Kerala, while Finance Minister KN Balagopal warned of economic consequences for the country.
8. Minor girl abducted, rape attempted by miscreants in Odisha's Balsore
A class 12 girl student was allegedly abducted by two miscreants who also attempted to rape her while she was returning from tuition in Odisha's Balasore district, police said on Sunday. The incident was reported from Soro police station area of the district on Saturday evening.
9. Rajkot: Father arrested for repeatedly raping minor daughter over four years
A 19-year-old girl has accused her father of subjecting her to repeated sexual assault over several years at their family home in Rajkot district, police said on Saturday. According to investigators, the alleged abuse began when the survivor was still a minor, shortly after her mother was diagnosed with cancer and became bedridden. Officials believe the crime continued for nearly four years, largely hidden from other family members.
10. WATCH | Rare vintage 1953 video captures Nehru, AKG and S Radhakrishnan together at the crease
The Congress has released a rare video of a cricket match played between a team led by India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and another captained by Dr S Radhakrishnan, who was then Vice President and would later become President of India. The exhibition match, held in 1958, was organised by Members of Parliament to raise funds for people affected by floods. Nehru was 64 years old at the time. Sharing the video on X, AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh said Nehru’s team won the toss and chose to bat first. The footage was discovered by Jai Galgali, a researcher of Indian cricket history.
International:
1. Bus crashes in wet conditions in southern Turkey, killing 9
An intercity bus rolled off a road in southern Turkey’s Antalya province on Sunday, killing nine people, a senior official said. Images on state broadcaster TRT showed the vehicle lying on its side on an embankment on a highway slip road in Dosemealti, a district to the northwest of Antalya city center.
2. Inside the latest Epstein files drop: Allegations, emails and unanswered questions
The United States Department of Justice has released a sweeping new tranche of more than three million documents linked to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, reopening scrutiny of his ties to some of the world’s most powerful political, business and cultural figures.
3. Trump claims India has finalised Venezuelan oil deal; Signals openness to China
Washington: US President Donald Trump has said that India has already struck a deal to purchase Venezuelan oil, while China is “welcome” to enter into similar arrangements. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump declared, “China is welcome to come in and make a great deal on oil. We’ve already made a deal. India is coming in, and they’re going to be buying Venezuelan oil as opposed to buying it from Iran.”
4. Gaza border crossing is preparing to reopen after years of near-complete closure
Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt showed signs of activity Sunday as Israel said that limited travel to and from the territory is set to resume after years of near-complete isolation. Reopening the border crossing is a key step as the Israel-Hamas ceasefire moves ahead.
Sports:
1. AO 2026: Carlos Alcaraz beats Djokovic to become youngest man to complete career Grand Slam
Carlos Alcaraz etched his name into tennis history on Sunday, becoming the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam after defeating Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final at Melbourne Park.