Category: India

Outlining the government’s policy, the Home Minister said there would be zero tolerance for those who manufacture and sell drugs

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced a three-year, nationwide campaign against drug abuse and trafficking, describing the problem as one linked more to narco-terrorism than to routine law-and-order challenges. Chairing the 9th apex-level meeting of the Narco‑Coordination Centre (NCORD) at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, Amit Shah said the collective campaign would begin on March 31 and run for three years, with defined targets, clear timelines and regular reviews.

“The challenge of the drug problem is linked more to the issue of narco-terrorism than to law and order. It is a conspiracy to destroy the country’s future generations,” Amit Shah said, adding that the health of the youth, their ability to think and perform and growing social discontent are all directly linked to the drug menace.

Amit Shah directed all departments of the Government of India to prepare a detailed roadmap up to 2029, along with a monitoring mechanism, to comprehensively address the drug problem. He stressed that success should be measured not by the number of meetings held, but by outcomes and impact on the ground.

“We must strengthen command, compliance and accountability,” he said, calling for strict action against kingpins, financiers and logistics routes of the drug trade.

Outlining the government’s policy, the Home Minister said there would be zero tolerance for those who manufacture and sell drugs, while a humane approach would be adopted towards drug users.

“The goal of a drug-free India will be achieved only through a ruthless approach to break the drug supply chain, a strategic approach for demand reduction, and a humane approach for harm reduction,” Amit Shah said.

He added that continuous awareness campaigns are essential to protect society, especially young people, from drug abuse.

Amit Shah emphasised the need to improve conviction rates by ensuring timely filing of charge sheets and greater use of Forensic Science Laboratories (FSLs). He also noted that drug networks are adopting new methods of distribution and payment, and said enforcement agencies must constantly update their strategies.

Every state police force, he said, will constitute a permanent, mission-mode team of selected officers, better coordinated through intelligence inputs and artificial intelligence tools.

“We want to put in place a permanent system capable of fighting this battle,” he said.

Amit Shah also inaugurated the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) office in Amritsar. The NCORD mechanism, established in 2016, operates through a four-tier structure at the apex, executive, state and district levels to enhance coordination among central and state agencies.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/top-priority-amit-shah-announces-three-year-nationwide-campaign-against-drugs-ws-l-9820975.html

 

The central government wants to maintain the status of air purifiers as luxury goods that are categorised under the 18 percent tax slab

The Centre has strongly opposed a plea to classify air purifiers as essential health tools so as to slash GST on the device.

Despite the worsening air quality in Delhi-NCR, the central government wants to maintain the status of air purifiers as luxury goods that are categorised under the 18 per cent tax slab.

According to an affidavit filed before the Delhi High Court, the Centre argued that any judicial intervention to slash GST rates will disrupt the established constitutional GST framework. Officials said the GST Council is the exclusive constitutional body under Article 279A empowered to recommend tax rates. It submitted that for the court to direct a rate reduction or compel the council to adopt a specific outcome would amount to the judiciary “stepping into the shoes of the GST Council”, thereby violating the doctrine of separation of powers.

The legal tussle arose from a petition filed by advocate Kapil Madan, who contended that air purifiers cannot be treated as luxury items given the “extreme emergency crisis” caused by severe air pollution in Delhi. The petitioner argued that air purifiers should be brought under the 5 percent GST slab, noting that they qualify as medical devices under a February 2020 notification of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

The government, however, has countered that a regulatory tag of ‘medical device’ does not automatically decide the tax rate. It warned that such a reclassification will lead to tightened regulations and restricted market entry, potentially creating “monopoly conditions” that benefit only a select few licensed entities. It claimed that the petition is a “colourable” and “motivated attempt” to secure commercial advantages under the guise of public interest.

The high court had earlier expressed its displeasure over the authorities’ apparent inaction regarding tax exemptions during periods of “very poor” air quality in the national capital. It had specifically asked the Centre why GST could not be reduced to make the machines affordable for the common man.

In response, the Centre said if courts were to issue such directions, the GST Council will be reduced to a “mere rubber stamp”. From an economic perspective, it argued that reducing GST only for air purifiers risks an “inverted duty structure”.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/medical-device-tag-doesnt-decide-tax-rate-centre-opposes-plea-to-slash-gst-on-air-purifiers-ws-l-9818581.html

The Delhi Police on Thursday made six more arrests in connection with the violence. The fresh arrests take the total number of people held so far to 11, including the apprehension of a juvenile.

The Delhi Police has identified at least 10 social media influencers for allegedly spreading rumours in connection with the violence near central Delhi’s Turkman Gate. Violence and stone pelting had erupted in the area during an anti-encroachment drive by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) near the Faiz-e-Ilahi mosque.

The police said the misinformation campaign, amplified through WhatsApp voice notes and social media posts, triggered stone-pelting during a court-ordered anti-encroachment drive near the mosque on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Punjab Congress launched the ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’ from Gurdaspur, demanding the revival of MGNREGA and rollback of the VB-G RAM G Act. Leaders including Bhupesh Baghel, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, and Partap Bajwa criticised the BJP Centre for hostility towards the scheme, and the AAP government in Punjab for law-and-order failures, while vowing to protect rural employment and dignity.

The Punjab Congress on Thursday launched the ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’ from Gurdaspur district, reiterating party’s resolve that the BJP government at the Centre will be forced to revive the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), and withdraw the new Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act.

Addressing party workers on the occasion, former Chhattisgarh chief minister and party general secretary in charge of Punjab, Bhupesh Bhagel said that it was the Congress only which has always taken decisions in favour of the working people and the marginalised sections of the society. He held that the MGNREGA which was launched by the Congress government was praised and appreciated across the world as pro-poor scheme.

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टांडा उड़मुड़ में आज मनरेगा के समर्थन में उमड़ा जनसमर्थन बता रहा है कि मेहनतकश वर्ग अब चुप नहीं रहेगा। @bhupeshbaghel जी के नेतृत्व में शुरू हुआ यह आंदोलन गरीब मज़दूरों के अधिकारों की मज़बूत आवाज़ बनेगा। कांग्रेस हर स्तर पर @BJP4India की जनविरोधी नीतियों का सामना करेगी।… pic.twitter.com/zqTm23uzmM

— Amarinder Singh Raja Warring (@RajaBrar_INC) January 8, 2026

Speaking on the occasion, state party president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had revealed his hostility towards the MGNREGA from day one and described it as a failure.

He held that the MGNREGA scheme was accepted and acknowledged as the best rural employment generation scheme across the world as it had provided dignity to the rural poor and had also helped in moving the rural economy.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/punjab-congress-launches-mgnrega-bacaho-sangram

 

A viral video from Ghaziabad shows a restaurant worker allegedly spitting on rotis while cooking, prompting police action after the claims appeared prima facie true.

A video showing a restaurant worker in Ghaziabad allegedly spitting on rotis while baking them has gone viral on social media.

The incident occurred at a shop named ‘Chicken Point’. In the viral video, a worker is seen preparing rotis in a tandoor after spitting on them. A person present at the spot recorded the act, and the clip quickly spread across social media platforms, triggering public outrage.

Following the video’s circulation, Suryabali Maurya, ACP Kavinagar, said that on January 8, 2026, a video came to the notice of Vardhmanpuram outpost under Madhuban Bapudham police station, in which a shop worker was seen allegedly spitting while making rotis. After examining the video, the allegations appeared to be prima facie true.

He said the police immediately arrested the accused worker, identified as Javed Ansari. Authorities have registered a case against him under relevant sections of law and initiated necessary legal proceedings.

Notably, Ghaziabad has witnessed several similar incidents in the past.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ghaziabad-food-safety-worker-spitting-on-rotis-viral-video-uttar-pradesh-2849029-2026-01-09

Imam opposed the Delhi Police’s case invoking terror charges against him.

Activist Sharjeel Imam told a Delhi court on Thursday that the Delhi Police’s allegations that Umar Khalid is his mentor and guru are totally false and the two never had any major interaction while they were studying at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

Advocate Talib Mustafa appeared for Imam before the Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Sameer Bajpai of Karkardooma Courts and stated that there is no connection between his client and Khalid.

“In my five years at JNU, I never spoke to Umar Khalid. I don’t know what coordination they [Police] are talking about. To establish a conspiracy, it is necessary to show the agreement between us. But they have failed to show any agreement,” he said.

The counsel stressed that the allegation that Khalid instructed Imam is also false.

“There is only one meeting in which Umar and I are seen together. But even the witness statement from that meeting shows that there was no discussion of violence,” he said.

Mustafa was making submissions in the Delhi riots conspiracy case. At present, the court is hearing arguments on framing of charge.

The Delhi Police has accused Imam, Khalid and several others of being involved in terror activities and conspiring to commit violence during the Delhi riots of 2020.

The prosecution has invoked the provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in the case.

Today, Mustafa said that there were widespread protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in 2020 and that while many of the accused were also agitating against the citizenship law, that does not mean there was a conspiracy.

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/news/umar-khalid-not-my-guru-no-conspiracy-with-him-during-caa-protests-sharjeel-imam-to-delhi-court

Opposing a PIL to categorise air-purifiers as medical devices, the government has said that the GST Council is the sole body empowered to make decisions on GST rates.

The Central government has told the Delhi High Court that judicial directions to reduce Goods and Services Tax (GST) on air purifiers would be unconstitutional and violate the doctrine of separation of powers.

In an affidavit dated January 4, 2026, the government argued that under Article 279A of the Constitution, the GST Council is the sole body empowered to make decisions on GST. It stated that the determination of tax rates emerges from a complex process of cooperative federalism, requiring consensus-building between the Union and the states, while balancing competing fiscal interests.

Any judicial interference in matter would bypass this constitutionally mandated process, it has been argued.

“Any direction by this Hon’ble Court to modify GST rates, convene a meeting of the GST Council, or to compel the GST Council to consider or adopt a particular outcome, would amount to the Hon’ble Court stepping into the shoes of the GST Council, thereby, exercising functions that the Constitution has consciously and exclusively entrusted to the GST Council. Such an exercise would violate the doctrine of separation of powers and render the elaborate and well-defined constitutional role of the GST Council otiose,” the government said.

The government has made these submissions in its response to a public interest litigation (PIL) to categorise air-purifiers as ‘medical devices’ and slash the GST on them from 18 to 5 per cent

As per the petition filed by Advocate Kapil Madan, air-purifiers cannot be treated as a luxury considering the “extreme emergency crisis” caused by dire air pollution in Delhi.

While hearing the case on December 24, the Court had said that an urgent meeting of the GST Council should be convened to consider the issue of classifying air-purifiers as ‘medical devices’ and slash GST on them. It had asked the government counsel to seek instructions about how soon the GST Council can meet.

Later, on December 26, the government opposed the PIL and said that passing directions to the GST Council will open a Pandora’s Box.

The case will be heard by the High Court again on January 9.

In its counter affidavit filed through Advocate Akash Panwar, the government has argued that the petitioner’s reliance on the notification under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, to seek a reduction in GST on air-purifiers is misplaced.

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/news/court-cant-order-gst-cut-on-air-purifiers-pil-is-motivated-central-govt-to-delhi-high-court

The northern Indian city of Dehradun, located in the Himalayan foothills, was shaken by a violent incident weeks ago.

Brothers Anjel and Michael Chakma – students who had migrated more than 1,500 miles from the north-eastern state of Tripura for studies – had gone to a market on 9 December when they were confronted by a group of men, who allegedly abused them with racial slurs, their father Tarun Chakma told the BBC.

When the brothers protested, they were attacked. Michael Chakma was allegedly struck on the head with a metal bracelet, while Anjel Chakma suffered stab wounds. Michael has recovered but Anjel died 17 days later in hospital, he says.

Police in Uttarakhand state (whose capital is Dehradun) have arrested five people in connection with the incident, but they have denied that the attack was racially motivated – a claim that Chakma’s family strongly disputes.

The incident, which has triggered protests in several cities, has put the spotlight on allegations of racism faced by people from India’s north-eastern states when they move to larger cities for education or work. They say they are often mocked over their appearance, questioned about nationality and harassed in public spaces and workplaces.

For many, the discrimination extends beyond abuse to everyday barriers that shape where and how they live. People from the region report difficulty renting accommodation, with landlords refusing tenants because of their appearance, food habits or stereotypes.

Such pressures have led many north-eastern migrants in large cities to cluster in specific neighbourhoods, offering safety, mutual support and cultural familiarity far from home.

But while many say they learn to endure everyday prejudices to build lives elsewhere in the country, violent crimes such as Anjel Chakma’s killing are deeply unsettling. They reinforce fears about personal safety and a sense of vulnerability, they say.

India has seen many high-profile cases of racial violence involving people from the north-eastern region over the last several years.

The killing of Nido Tania in 2014 became a national flashpoint, prompting protests and widespread debate about racism after the 20-year-old student from Arunachal Pradesh state was beaten to death in Delhi following taunts about his appearance.

But activists say it did not mark an end to such violence.

In 2016, a 26-year-old student from the region was beaten up in Pune. A year later, another student was racially abused and assaulted by his landlord in Bengaluru.

Rights groups say there are many such incidents that do not grab national attention.

“Unfortunately, the racism faced by people from the north-east tends to be highlighted only when something extremely violent happens,” said Suhas Chakma, director of the Delhi-based Rights and Risks Analysis Group.

The federal government in its annual crime reports does not maintain separate data for racial violence.

For Ambika Phonglo from the north-eastern Assam state, who lives and works in the capital, Anjel Chakma’s killing has been deeply unsettling. “Our facial features like narrow eyes and flat noses make us easy targets of racism,” she says.

Phonglo recalls being subjected to racial name-calling by colleagues during a workplace discussion a few years ago. “You face it and learn to move on,” she says, “but not without carrying a heavy burden of trauma.”

Mary Wahlang, from neighbouring state of Meghalaya, said she decided to return home after college in the southern state of Karnataka, abandoning plans to seek work in larger cities, after repeated racial name-calling by classmates.

“Over time I realised that some people used these slurs without understanding they were racial or hurtful, while others did so despite knowing the consequences,” she says.

Such experiences, activists say, are not isolated, with many from north-eastern states describing racial taunts and everyday discrimination as a routine part of life in workplaces, campuses and public spaces across the country’s major cities.

While awareness about the north-eastern region and the racism people from there face have improved over the years, casual racism persists, they say.

“How do we look Indian enough? Sadly, there are no clear answers,” says Alana Golmei, member of a monitoring committee set up by the federal government in 2018 in the wake of increasing complaints of racial violence in Indian cities.

She says that dismissing such attacks as isolated incidents unrelated to racism only deepens the problem. “One has to first accept and acknowledge the issue to begin addressing it,” Golmei told the BBC.

The killing of Anjel Chakma has renewed calls for a specific anti-racism law. Several student and civil society groups have issued open letters demanding legal reform.

After Nido Tania’s death in 2014, the Indian government set up a committee to examine discrimination faced by people from the north-east living outside of the region.

The panel submitted its report to the home ministry the same year, acknowledging widespread racism and recommending several measures, including a standalone anti-racism law, fast-track investigations and institutional safeguards.

But activists say little has changed since. No specific anti-racism legislation has been enacted, and many of the recommendations remain only partially implemented.

The BBC has sought clarification from the federal government, but they are yet to respond.

The renewed demands over an anti-racism law have revived a broader debate over whether legislation can address prejudice, often seen as rooted in social behaviour.

 

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c931qx3lepro

According to officials, there are dozens of monkeys near and around the location who create trouble, jumping on wires and dish antennas and breaking them.

The Delhi Assembly is planning to hire people who can mimic langur’s sounds to tackle the persistent menace of simians entering the Vidhan Sabha premises, officials said on Friday.

According to officials, there are dozens of monkeys near and around the location who create trouble, jumping on wires and dish antennas and breaking them.

The move comes amid frequent incidents of monkeys straying into the Assembly complex, posing safety risks to legislators, staff and visitors. The Public Works Department (PWD) has floated a tender to deploy trained personnel capable of mimicking langur calls — a method considered effective and humane to scare away monkeys without causing them harm, said the official.

The expert will also bring a langur to scare monkeys away.

“There were also plans to put langur cutouts, but we have seen that monkeys no longer get scared of them. Instead, they sit atop those cutouts,” he added.

The official said they had langur impersonators, but their contract ended. A fresh tender has been floated to hire trained people who can mimic sounds made by langurs.

Officials said they plan to deploy trained handlers on working days and on Saturdays, with each person working an eight-hour shift. The agency will also be responsible for ensuring proper equipment, discipline and compliance with safety norms during operations, an official said.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/delhi/delhi-assembly-plans-to-mimic-langurs-sound-to-scare-monkeys-3849282

It was also alleged that the brother of the YouTuber threatened the victim’s family of dire consequences if they pursued the matter further.

A 14-year old schoolgirl was allegedly gang-raped by a You Tuber and a cop in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur district.

According to the police sources, the YouTuber, identified as Shivbaran Yadav, was arrested while the cop, identified as Amit Maurya, was absconding.

Taking a serious note of the matter, the government on Thursday shunted out deputy commissioner of police (West) Dinesh Chnadra Tripathi and suspended a station House officer (SHO) on charges of laxity.

Police said that the minor was abducted by the duo while she had gone out to answer call of nature on Monday night. The duo allegedly gang-raped her in a moving car and dumped her on the road in the wee hours of Tuesday.

The family members approached the police on Wednesday and an FIR was lodged in this regard. The police, acting swiftly, nabbed the YouTuber and launched a hunt to nab the cop.

The statement of the victim was recorded before a magistrate on Thursday. It was also alleged that the brother of the YouTuber threatened the victim’s family of dire consequences if they pursued the matter further.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/uttar-pradesh/schoolgirl-gangraped-by-youtuber-cop-in-uttar-pradeshs-kanpur-3854842

The information has been shared with multiple agencies, including those responsible for securing airports and other sensitive installations.

A high alert has been sounded in Mumbai after intelligence agencies alerted about a possible terror threat, security agencies’ sources told CNN-News18.

As per sources, intelligence agencies alerted that there is suspicion of planning for an ISI-backed attack, with explosives allegedly being arranged from Kashmir or Maharashtra.

The information has been shared with multiple agencies, including those responsible for securing airports and other sensitive installations, following which security measures have been intensified.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Police and other agencies have stepped up security in crowded areas. The police have also been asked to remain vigilant and take note of any suspicious activity.

The high alert for a possible terror attack has been sounded nearly two months after 15 people were killed and over two dozen others injured in the Delhi blast that occurred around 7 pm on November 10 in a moving Hyundai i20 car driven by one alleged suicide bomber, Dr Umar Un Nabi.

US President Donald Trump claimed that Narendra Modi personally approached him over long-pending Apache helicopter deliveries and trade issues, while acknowledging a strong personal rapport.

US President Donald Trump said Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally approached him over India’s pending defence purchases and trade issues, including the long-delayed delivery of Apache helicopters called him ‘Sir’.

Speaking at the House GOP Member Retreat, Trump said, “”India ordered Apache helicopters and didn’t get them for 5 years. Prime Minister Modi came to see me. Sir, may I see you please? Yes!” He added that he shared a strong rapport with the Indian leader, saying, “I have a very good relationship with him.”

Trump, however, claimed that PM Modi was unhappy with him over tariffs. “He’s not that happy with me because, you know, they’re paying a lot of tariffs now. Because they’re not doing the oil,” Trump said. He added that India had significantly reduced oil purchases from Russia, stating, “But they are, they’ve reduced it very substantially, as you know, from Russia.”

In Faridabad, a 32-year-old woman named Kavita discovered a bullet lodged in her leg for nearly two decades while cleaning a wound. She had been experiencing pain and infection for two months, leading her to investigate.

A routine attempt to clean an infected wound turned into a shocking discovery for a 32-year-old woman in Faridabad, after she accidentally pulled out a bullet that had been lodged in her leg for nearly two decades—an injury she never knew was caused by gunfire.

Kavita (single name), a resident of Dabua Colony, had been suffering from pain and infection at the back of her right thigh for the past two months, as per a HT report. On Sunday evening, while cleaning the wound at home, she felt a hard object inside.

“During cleaning, I felt something unusual. I slowly pulled it out and realised it was a bullet,” she said, still trying to process the moment.

The discovery triggered memories from Kavita’s childhood. She recalled sustaining a deep injury at the same spot when she was 12 years old, while studying at a government school in Kota Khandewala village in Tauru, Nuh.

Ankita Bhandari Murder Case: Sources said that during the several hours of questioning, the police seized several audio recordings from Sanawar’s mobile phone, which will be sent for forensic examination.

Urmila Sanawar, the actress who caused a political storm in Uttarakhand with fresh allegations in the Ankita Bhandari murder case, was questioned by the police for several hours on Wednesday, while Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met the parents of the deceased receptionist.

In a rapidly unfolding series of events, Sanawar arrived in Dehradun on Tuesday night and appeared before the police on Wednesday.

Sources said that during the several hours of questioning, the police seized several audio recordings from Sanawar’s mobile phone, which will be sent for forensic examination.

According to sources, Sanawar, the alleged wife of former MLA Suresh Rathore, is expected to appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in Haridwar on Thursday, where several cases have been registered against her since she made the allegations.

Sanawar recently released videos on social media and audio recordings of her conversations, purportedly with Rathore, alleging the involvement of a ‘VIP’ in the Ankita murder case.

In another video, she claimed that the ‘VIP’ is BJP leader Dushyant Kumar Gautam. Since then, several FIRs have been registered against her and Rathore in Dehradun and Haridwar.

Gautam, the BJP state in-charge, also filed a case against the two in Dehradun for allegedly conspiring against him in collusion with opposition parties.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met Ankita’s parents and assured them of justice.

Dhami told Ankita’s father, Virendra Singh Bhandari, and mother, Soni Devi, that ensuring justice is his government’s top priority.

On Tuesday, the chief minister said that a decision on a CBI investigation into the murder would be taken after he had talked to Ankita’s parents.

“As the chief servant of the state, I will talk to her (Ankita’s) parents. After talking to them and studying all the legal aspects, whatever they want for justice to their daughter, we will take it forward,” he had said.

In 2022, Ankita Bhandari, 19, a receptionist at Vanantra Resort in Pauri, was murdered by resort owner Pulkit Arya and two of his employees.

All three were sentenced to life imprisonment in this case.

A demand for a CBI probe into the 2022 killing has gathered pace ever since Sanawar claimed the involvement of a ‘VIP’ in the murder.

Meanwhile, addressing a press conference, Uttarakhand Congress president Ganesh Godiyal said Ankita’s family has been demanding a CBI investigation since her murder in 2002.

“Over the last three and a half years, Ankita’s parents have said dozens of times, and even gone to court, that the case should be investigated by the CBI… Is the chief minister not aware of this?” the Congress leader said.

Godiyal said his party demands a CBI inquiry into the killing under the supervision of a high court or Supreme Court judge, who can work without any pressure.

He also asked Dhami under whose orders the Vanantra Resort was razed by a bulldozer, implying a deliberate destruction of evidence.

The property was razed the night after Ankita’s body was recovered from a canal in Rishikesh.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/actor-urmila-sanawar-questioned-by-police-in-ankita-bhandari-murder-case-10500067

The choice of Singur is symbolic, given Mamata Banerjee’s 2006 protests against land acquisition for Tata Motors’ Nano project, which led the company to shift production to Gujarat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address a public gathering in Singur, Hooghly district, on January 18, during his planned two-day visit to West Bengal.

He will also visit Malda. BJP sources say PM Modi will address a massive rally at Tata Field, Singur, drawing lakhs. Local leaders are handling preparations. BJP leaders believe Modi’s visit will send a strong message on industrial development.

The choice of Singur is symbolic, given Mamata Banerjee’s 2006 protests against land acquisition for Tata Motors’ Nano project, which led the company to shift production to Gujarat. Ironically, Singur now regrets its support for Banerjee.

Meanwhile, BJP national president JP Nadda will visit West Bengal on January 8th and 9th to review the party’s preparations for the 2026 Assembly election. He’ll meet district leaders, party workers, and members of the BJP Doctors’ Cell to gather feedback on ground-level issues.

BJP working president Nitin Nabin will also visit West Bengal soon, according to party sources.

The iconic 2006 Singur land protests powered Mamata Banerjee to power 5 years later, ending West Bengal’s 34-year Left rule. Fast forward to 2021: Singur regrets backing Banerjee; farmers blame the Trinamool Congress for failing to revive their fallow land after the Tata Nano exit. Banerjee’s agitation forced Tata Motors to relocate to Gujarat; now, Singur locals hope to bring industry back.

Earlier during the winter session of parliament, the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched a scathing attack on the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in the Rajya Sabha, asserting that West Bengal’s development is being deliberately stifled by its own state leadership, despite record support from the Centre.

Replying to the discussion on the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025, FM Sitharaman highlighted that West Bengal has never been ignored by the Narendra Modi-led government.

On the contrary, she said, “It is the TMC government that is hurting the growth of the people of West Bengal. West Bengal withdrew from the Ayushman Bharat Scheme in January 2019. Is that good for the people of Bengal?

Industries have been leaving West Bengal from 1 April 2011 to 30 September 2025, with 448 listed companies and 6,447 unlisted companies exiting the state. Since 2014, Rs. 5.94 lakh crore has been given to West Bengal as tax devolution – a 4.4x increase compared to the Rs. 1.34 lakh crore provided during 2004-14. Under SASCI, Rs. 24,000 crore has been provided as 50-year interest-free loans.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-modi-to-address-rally-at-abandoned-tata-nano-site-in-bengals-singur-10490723

A new government report outlines how India could attract global students by 2047, while flagging key gaps that universities must fix to reach that goal.

India could host more than 1.1 million international students by 2047, the year the country marks 100 years of Independence, according to a new government-backed assessment that links higher education to the broader Viksit Bharat vision for India’s 1.4 billion people.

The latest report by NITI Aayog suggests that India aims to reclaim the global academic standing it held nearly two centuries ago and emerge once again as a major hub for international education.

Titled Internationalisation of Higher Education in India: Prospects, Potential and Policy Recommendations, the study, prepared in collaboration with IIT Madras and the Association of Indian Universities, maps both the opportunity and the risks ahead, noting that while India has the scale, demographic advantage and policy momentum to attract global students, deep structural challenges within universities will need to be addressed for that ambition to be realised by 2047.

India already has the second-largest higher education system in the world, with more than 1,200 universities and nearly 40 million students enrolled. It also has one of the youngest populations globally, with an average age of just over 28 years.

Yet, despite this scale, India attracts far fewer international students than it sends abroad. In 2021–22, India hosted fewer than 50,000 foreign students, while more than 11 lakh Indian students went overseas for higher education. By 2024, that outbound number rose further.

This imbalance is one of the central challenges flagged in the report.

THE COST OF SENDING STUDENTS ABROAD

The report highlights the economic impact of outbound student mobility.

According to official estimates cited in the study, Indian families spent tens of billions of dollars annually on overseas education. By 2022, total spending by Indian students abroad was estimated at nearly USD 47 billion, a figure projected to rise sharply if current trends continue.

This outflow, the report argues, is not just a financial concern.

It also results in talent leaving the country at a time when India needs skilled graduates to drive growth in technology, research, healthcare, and manufacturing.

WHY STUDENTS LOOK OUTSIDE INDIA

The reasons are structural.

The report identifies gaps in research infrastructure, limited global exposure on Indian campuses, weak industry-academia linkages, and outdated curricula in many institutions.

While top institutes like the IITs and IIMs have global recognition, the broader university ecosystem struggles to offer comparable academic depth or international experience.

Families, the report notes, increasingly see foreign degrees as a pathway to better careers and global mobility.

THE OPPORTUNITY BEFORE 2047

Despite these challenges, the report is optimistic about what lies ahead.

Using two forecasting models, it projects a sharp rise in international students coming to India if reforms are implemented. By 2030, inbound international enrolment could reach between 85,000 and 1.5 lakh students.

By 2035, this number could rise to nearly 3.6 lakh. By 2047, the report estimates India could host anywhere between 3 lakh and nearly 11 lakh foreign students.

This would mark a major shift, from a country known primarily for sending students abroad to one that attracts global learners.

WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE

The report is clear that this transition will not happen automatically.

It calls for a national strategy focused on “internationalisation at home”. This includes joint degrees with foreign universities, international faculty exchanges, globally aligned curricula, and stronger research collaborations.

Another key recommendation is the creation of higher education hubs in select regions, similar to global models in Singapore, the UAE, and parts of Europe.

These hubs would host foreign campuses, international conferences, and research centres, making India a destination rather than a transit point.

RESEARCH AS THE MISSING LINK

A recurring theme in the report is research.

India’s share of global research output has grown, but citation impact and international collaboration remain limited outside elite institutions.

Without stronger research ecosystems, the report warns, India will struggle to attract top global faculty and doctoral students.

Strengthening research funding, enabling cross-border projects, and reducing administrative barriers are seen as essential steps.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/featurephilia/story/11-lakh-international-students-by-2047-indias-education-push-faces-hurdles-2847695-2026-01-07

“I have a very good relationship with him. He’s not that happy with me because you know they’re paying a lot of tariffs now because they’re not doing the oil,” Trump said

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday reiterated his good relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi; however, he underscored PM Modi’s unhappiness over the high tariffs imposed on India for purchasing Russian oil.

At the House GOP Member Retreat, US President Donald Trump discussed his exchanges with PM Modi regarding US defence sales and tariff measures. He suggested that although relations remain cordial, the tariff issue has created tension.

“… I have a very good relationship with PM Modi, but he is not happy with me, as India is paying high tariffs. But now they have reduced it very substantially, buying oil from Russia,” Donald Trump said.

The tariffs, totalling 50%, were imposed due to India’s significant purchases of Russian oil, which the US sees as supporting Russia’s economy amid the Ukraine conflict.

Trump’s remarks came a day after he warned that Washington could further raise tariffs on Indian goods if New Delhi does not address US concerns over Russian oil imports.

“They wanted to make me happy, basically. Modi is a very good man; he is a good guy. He knew I was not happy, and it was important to make me happy,” he said.

Trump also defended the tariff policy during his address, asserting that the United States was benefiting financially from the measures.

Trump’s comments follow a series of warnings to New Delhi over its ongoing energy trade with Moscow. Earlier, he warned that the US could raise tariffs further if India does not “help on the Russian oil issue,” directly connecting the pressure to the Russia-Ukraine war.

He has accused India of strengthening Moscow by buying discounted Russian crude and has cited this as the basis for sharply higher duties on Indian goods. Trump has also used tariff pressure to influence India’s actions, suggesting that New Delhi was aware of his dissatisfaction and sought to maintain stable trade relations.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-modi-not-that-happy-with-me-as-they-are-paying-lot-of-tariffs-trump-10418831?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

The scavenger birds were translocated from the Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre at Pinjore to the Somthana Range of Melghat in Amravati district on April 23 last year and were subsequently kept in a pre-release aviary to help them acclimatise to the local conditions

The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) has released 15 critically endangered Indian vultures at the Melghat Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra as part of its ongoing vulture conservation programme, officials said.

The scavenger birds were translocated from the Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre at Pinjore to the Somthana Range of Melghat in Amravati district on April 23 last year and were subsequently kept in a pre-release aviary to help them acclimatise to the local conditions, they said.

All the vultures were fitted with GSM and satellite tags on December 19, 2025, to enable scientists to track their movement, and survival after release into the wild.

The soft release process began on January 2, when the aviary gates were opened remotely and food was placed outside the enclosure to encourage the birds to emerge naturally.

The programme faced challenges, such as limited food availability, the absence of a resident vulture population to guide the captive-bred birds and the continued presence of harmful veterinary drugs in the landscape, BNHS conservation biologist Bhaskar Das said in a statement.

“These challenges were addressed by establishing feeding stations and sourcing safe cattle carcasses through active partnerships with gaushalas,” he said.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/15-endangered-indian-vultures-released-in-maharashtra-tiger-reserve-10427974

Jawaharlal Nehru University said that any form of violence, unlawful conduct or anti-national activity will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration on Tuesday said that it would take strictest action against students found raising objectionable slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah during a protest on campus on Monday, warning that those involved could face immediate suspension, expulsion and permanent debarment from the university.

In a series of posts on X, the University said that an FIR has been lodged in the matter and disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against students identified in connection with the incident.

“The Jawaharlal Nehru University administration has vowed the strictest action against students found raising objectionable slogans against Hon’ble Prime Minister and Hon’ble Home Minister. Students involved in this incident will also face disciplinary measures including immediate suspension, expulsion and permanent debarment from the University,” it said.

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The Jawaharlal Nehru University administration has vowed the strictest action against students found raising objectionable slogans against Hon’ble Prime Minister and Hon’ble Home Minister. An FIR has already been lodged in the matter. @PMOIndia @HMOIndia @EduMinOfIndia
1/3

— Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) (@JNU_official_50) January 6, 2026

It stressed that universities are centres for innovation and new ideas, and they cannot be permitted to be converted into laboratories of hate.

Emphasising that although freedom of speech and expression is a fundamental right, the university said that “any form of violence, unlawful conduct or anti-national activity will not be tolerated under any circumstances.”

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But any form of violence, unlawful conduct or anti-national activity will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Students involved in this incident will also face disciplinary measures including immediate suspension, expulsion and permanent debarment from the University.

3/3 https://t.co/CJMZARj0LC

— Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) (@JNU_official_50) January 6, 2026

As per sources, the university administration would issue show-cause notices to students involved in the protest. People familiar with the developments told CNN-News18 that the varsity administration will seek written explanations from the students concerned, giving them an opportunity to respond before any further action is taken.

Sources said that the strictest possible action would be taken if the students are found guilty, and that every step in the process would be in accordance with the law, university bye-laws and established disciplinary procedures.

Earlier today, the university administration said that competent authorities have taken serious note of the incident and directed the university’s security branch to cooperate fully with the police investigation.

It stressed that such sloganeering is inconsistent with democratic dissent, violates the JNU Code of Conduct, and has the potential to seriously disturb public order, campus harmony, and the safety and security environment of both the university and the nation.

A report submitted by the Chief Security Officer to the JNU Proctor concluded that the slogans raised were deliberate and intentional, and not a spontaneous expression of protest.

The statement came after a group of students associated with the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) raised anti-Modi and anti-government slogans during a gathering at “Guerilla Dhaba” on the campus.

Around 30–40 students, associated with the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), Democratic Students’ Federation (DSF) and All India Students’ Association (AISA), were present when the slogans were raised after the Supreme Court denied bail to former JNU students Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the 2020 Delhi riots case.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/jnu-students-involved-in-objectionable-slogans-case-to-face-suspension-expulsion-fir-registered-9814009.html

 

The GHCAA has written to the Chief Justice seeking immediate action to remove stray dogs from Gujarat High Court premises after the incident.

A lawyer was bitten by stray dogs inside the Gujarat High Court premises on Monday night, reigniting concerns about the lack of the action by authorities including the High Court to address the threat posed by stray canines inside the court campus.

The incident occurred in the evening around the auditorium parking area of the Gujarat High Court complex when advocate Radhesh Vyas was attacked and bitten by two stray dogs.

The bite was severe and stitches were required in addition to prescribed injections. He is reported to be recovering.

Vyas was immediately assisted by advocate Pramodkumar C Gehlot, a GHCAA committee member, along with a police personnel present at the spot.

Vyas was accompanied by advocate Gehlot who took him to GMERS Medical College and Hospital for treatment.

Two precautionary injections were administered immediately, and three more have been scheduled on specific dates, advocate Gehlot told Bar and Bench.

He also stated that stray dogs are commonly seen within the Gujarat High Court premises, including areas beside the bar rooms, near the canteen, outside courtrooms and other parts of the complex.

He said that the matter will be taken up by the GHCAA.

“We are having a meeting on this issue and steps will be taken to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future,” Gehlot said.

Following the incident, GHCAA President Senior Advocate Yatin Oza wrote to the Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court seeking the immediate removal of stray dogs from the entire High Court campus.

Speaking to Bar and Bench, Oza said,

“This happens frequently on the premises, not just to lawyers, but to litigants as well.”

Oza stated that dog attacks on the High Court premises are frequent and recurring. He noted that in December alone, four to five clients and other visitors suffered dog bites

He also said that some advocates have been feeding the dogs, a practice that has contributed to the animals becoming a persistent menace on the Court premises.

Further in a video message, Oza said that municipal officials, who had earlier come to remove stray dogs, were allegedly assaulted and obstructed by certain members of the Bar.

He stated that such conduct would not be tolerated, disciplinary action would follow, and he would request the Municipal Commissioner to register an FIR against those involved.

“Please be mindful of the fact that your gundaism and rowdism is not going to deter me or any of my member of my managing committee to take the steps which we feel is in the best interest of the lawyers and Bar Association,” said Oza.

Oza added he will personally oversee the process and act as the first informant if municipal officials are obstructed again.

The GHCAA is coordinating with municipal authorities to implement a long-term solution, including relocating the animals to a designated facility while ensuring humane treatment.

The incident comes against the backdrop of earlier concerns raised by the GHCAA with the High Court administration about the presence of stray dogs on the premises.

In the past, the association has formally asked for the removal of stray dogs from the High Court complex.

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/news/stray-dog-attacks-lawyer-inside-gujarat-high-court-premises-ghcaa-seeks-urgent-action

The Centre pulled up X and directed it to immediately remove all vulgar, obscene and unlawful content, especially generated by Grok (X’s built-in artificial intelligence interface) or face action under the law.

India opted out of a significant naval exercise in the Indian Ocean involving BRICS nations—Russia, China, Iran, and South Africa—due to strategic considerations regarding Beijing. Despite being invited, India’s absence reflects a deliberate political choice, emphasizing cautious defense relations amid ongoing tension with China.

Russia, China, Iran and South Africa. All BRICS countries, but no India. Keeping in mind Beijing, India chose not to be involved in this Indian Ocean naval exercise, which began last week off the coast of Durban, South Africa.

It is a biggish exercise, involving two Russian warships, three Chinese ships, in the Indian Ocean as part of the 48th Anti Piracy Escort Task Force, two Iranian frigates and three South African vessels. The Russian warships include the 7,000 tonne Marshal Shaposhnikov, the destroyer/frigate and a tanker, while the Chinese ships are the 7,000 tonne Tangshan, a new guided missile destroyer, the 4,000 tonne Daqing, a guided missile frigate and the Taihu, a supply ship. The Iranian Navy has contributed two frigates and the South Africans, shree warships, including an offshore patrol vessel.

India, of course, was invited, the South Africans being the lead country here, but not accepting was a “considered political decision,” highly placed sources said. While India-China ties have improved and Prime Minister Narendra Modi did visit China in August-September this year for the SCO or Shanghai Cooperation organisation summit, where he met Chinese leader Xi Jin Ping and Russian President Vladimir Putin and closer cooperation is visible in areas like business and tourism, there is a conscious decision to restrict defence cooperation till there is a political breakthrough.

The Chinese have been keen to suggest more visits and exercises, but the Indian side remains hesitant. The situation along the line of actual control has improved, but it is not where things were, when it comes to positioning of troops before the Galwan clashes in the summer of 2020.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/brics-at-sea-but-no-india-why-new-delhi-skipped-the-indian-ocean-naval-drill-off-south-africa-article-153406222

A 15-year-old boy was arrested from Pathankot for sharing sensitive information with Pakistan-linked handlers.

Within a span of 24 hours, two alleged espionage cases in Punjab and Haryana have exposed how Pakistan-linked handlers are using online traps to extract sensitive information from Indians – including minors.

In Punjab’s Pathankot, police arrested a 15-year-old boy for allegedly sharing national security-related information with Pakistan’s ISI, terror outfits and Pakistan military officers. In a separate case in Haryana, a contractor working at an Air Force station in Ambala was held on suspicion of spying for the neighbouring country.

Teen Groomed Online

According to Punjab Police, Pakistani handlers allegedly targeted the teenager through social media, by making him believe that his father had been murdered and exploiting his emotional vulnerability.

The police said the boy was gradually drawn into contact with Pakistani accounts online. “He fell into the trap of Pakistani agencies through social media, as he was suspicious that his father had been murdered, which affected him mentally. However, the investigation did not reveal any such evidence,” said a senior police official.

Police said the minor had allegedly sent videos of sensitive locations and was in touch with Pakistan-based gangsters operating terror modules, “for almost a year”.

Investigators are now examining the extent of information shared and identifying the individuals he communicated with.

The teenager remains in custody, with further action to follow based on the probe.

Air Force Contractor Under Scanner In Haryana
In a similar case, Haryana Police arrested Sunil alias Sunny, a contractor in Ambala, for allegedly spying on an Air Force station. DSP Crime Virendra Kumar said the accused had been handling repair work at the Air Force base since 2020.

“The police had information that he was providing details about our defence area, specifically the Air Force. His mobile was seized and several suspicious things emerged from it,” Kumar said, according to a TOI report.

According to police, Sunil was allegedly in contact with a woman who sought information from him, which he passed on. “According to his device, he used to send information to a neighbouring country, which we can call an enemy country. But this is his version. Investigation is ongoing,” the officer said.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/pakistan-digital-honeytrap-indian-teens-espionage-punjab-pathankot-haryana-article-153402424

 

 

A viral Reddit post by a Delhi NCR resident who recently lived in Mumbai has reignited the Delhi vs Mumbai debate. Calling Delhi more livable, the user criticised Mumbai’s high cost of living, strained infrastructure, expensive healthcare and overrated food. The post drew mixed reactions online, with users from both cities agreeing and disagreeing sharply.

Mumbai: A detailed post shared on Reddit by a professional who recently lived in Mumbai for a few months after spending most of his life in Delhi NCR has gone viral. The post has reignited the long-standing Delhi vs Mumbai debate. In the viral post, the man called Delhi far more livable than Mumbai, comparing it over the cost of living, infrastructure, healthcare and the much-discussed “spirit of the city.”

The post was shared on Reddit’s ‘Delhi Community’, where the man called the cost of living in the city as biggest shock. Calling the city insanekly expensive, he said, I was quoted Rs 25k for a single-sharing room barely big enough to stand in. Friends in NCR pay Rs 12–15k for an entire massive 1RK/1 BHK. In Mumbai suburbs, not even South Mumbai, 1BHKs easily cross Rs 40k. For the same money in Delhi, you can get a spacious 3BHK or an independent house.”

He later mentioned that despite staying in a premium neighbooh like Juhu, “daily commuting meant traffic jams, bad smells, and general chaos.” Speaking on traffic, he added, “Traffic is exhausting on normal days and miserable during monsoons,” adding that “flooding affects slums, middle-class areas, and even premium societies.”

In the post, he also criticised Mumbai’s healthcare system, claiming that consultation fees are significantly higher than in Delhi, despite doctors in the national capital appearing academically stronger on average.

He claimed that the city lives in denial, as long-time residents often refuse to acknowledge flaws and instead romanticise everything. “Overcrowded local trains are sold as ‘love’ and ‘spirit.’ Crushing rents are portrayed as a badge of pride. Slums are framed as resilience.”

Social media reaction on the viral post

The post received mixed but intense reactions online. Several users agreed, with one commenting, “Finally someone said it. Those in denial stay in denial. I went to Mumbai few times and long ago as well. Never liked it compared to Delhi but people will simply deny it.”

Another Delhite said, “There’s absolutely no comparison to Delhi’s infrastructure, food, public transport in India.”

A Mumbaikar also agreed to the post and said, “As a Mumbai person who stayed in delhi for a year last year, I wholeheartedly agree with you.”

A user called people in Delhi as fake, “In Delhi, people are fake. In Mumbai, except for people, everything feels fake. That’s how I’d describe these two cities as a dilliwala who interned in Mumbai last summer.”

On people calling Delhi people as fake, one user stormed and said, “Delhi people are fake? Lmao. Delhiites are probably the most straight forward people I’ve ever met. They won’t sugarcoat you and will speak the truth even if you feel bad. I agree that some of them are rude”

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/delhi-vs-mumbai-debate-reignites-on-reddit-as-viral-post-compares-cost-of-living-infrastructure-healthcare-food

Six patients have been referred for treatment, and 110 are currently undergoing treatment in hospitals, including 15 in ICUs, officials said.

Indore: At least 38 fresh cases of vomiting and diarrhoea linked to contaminated drinking water were detected on Monday at the Bhagirathpura primary health centre in Indore, with a senior official putting the death toll so far to seven.

Six patients have been referred for treatment, and 110 are currently undergoing treatment in hospitals, including 15 in ICUs, officials said.

Indore Divisional Commissioner Sudam Khade told PTI over the phone that seven deaths have been reported so far as per the health department.

Till the previous day, officials had been maintaining six fatalities linked to the water contamination. Locals, however, have claimed 17 deaths due to the outbreak.

The health department on Monday conducted a real-time household survey using the Kobo tool in the affected Bhagirathpura area to assess the situation and ensure the availability of chlorinated drinking water to residents.

The survey followed training on the Kobo tool, imparted by the Central government’s regional health director Dr. Chandrashekhar Gedam, in coordination with the district administration. The tool enables real-time assessment of field conditions, officials said.

Under the direction of Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr Madhav Prasad Hasani, around 200 teams were deployed in the area. Each team visited pre-marked houses and carried out surveys.

The teams distributed 10 ORS packets, 30 zinc tablets, and a Clean Water dropper at each household, according to an official statement.

Residents were advised to add eight to 10 drops of the clean water solution to 10 litres of water and use it after one hour for purification.

Health teams provided counselling to residents and shared toll-free helpline numbers. They emphasised completion of medicine doses, boiling of drinking water, and displayed proper hand-washing methods.

Each team comprised a doctor, a nursing officer, a community health officer, an ASHA worker and an ANM. The teams covered 2,745 households during the day, reaching around 14,000 people, and carried out IEC activities, along with kit distribution and counselling, it added.

Officials said the main objective was to ensure access to chlorinated, germ-free drinking water in the affected area.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/madhya-pradesh/indore-water-contamination-38-new-diarrhoea-cases-detected-110-in-hospital-death-toll-7-3852434

Sunil Grover is buzzing online after his recent mimicry stint on The Great Kapil Sharma Show episode, where he mimicked Aamir Khan. His effortless portrayal has left netizens and audiences impressed and calling him ‘Mr. AI, with the fact that he always shows up with his best whenever he portrays any Bollywood actor.

Sunil Grover is buzzing online after his recent mimicry stint on The Great Kapil Sharma Show episode, where he mimicked Aamir Khan. His effortless portrayal has left netizens and audiences impressed and calling him ‘Mr. AI, with the fact that he always shows up with his best whenever he portrays any Bollywood actor.

“Asli Amir Khan se bhi asli lag raha hai,” one user commented on the promo video of the episode. Sunil Grover can be seen in conversations with the guests on the show, Kartik Aaryan & Ananya Panday, with his exact look of Aamir Khan.

WATCH VIDEO:

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This is not the first time Grover has left audiences stunned with his performance. His mimicry of Salman Khan on the show is one of the most popular episodes online. Salman Khan himself has praised the actor for his carbon-copy mimicry.

Salman Khan has gone ahead and made a commercial with the actor in which Grover is playing the character of ‘Bhaijaan’ right in front of him. The advertisement has made headlines then with Grover elevating his talent and taking it to the next level.

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Taking this list further, Grover has not spared the third Khan & the King of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan. Among many of his mimicries of SRK, one of his most popular ones was when Alia Bhatt was the guest on the show, and he portrayed SRK’s character from his movie, Dear Zindagi.

From pulling off charming Shah Rukh Khan to maintaining his ‘Salman posture’ & now being ‘Mr. Perfectionist in the most possible way, Grover has once again proved why he is called one of the best aspects of the Kapil Sharma Show.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/lifestyle/sunil-grover-is-ai-version-of-all-khans-3-times-when-he-left-audiences-impressed-with-his-mimicry-watch

 

Four students were seriously injured after another student allegedly poured thinner on them and set them on fire inside a school campus in Odisha’s Rayagada district.

Four students were critically injured in a fire incident on the school premises during classes at the Advanced High School in Paikadakuluguda, under the Bismakatak block of Rayagada district.

According to sources, at around 3 PM, some students from the school went towards the toilets on the school premises. During this time, a student allegedly poured thinner on four other students and then lit a match, setting them on fire. The students engulfed in flames started screaming.

Upon receiving the information, the teachers promptly rescued the four students from the fire and immediately took them to the Bismakatak Community Health Center.

After receiving first aid there, and considering their serious condition, all of them were referred to the Christian Hospital.

Biraj Takri is reported to be in the most critical condition among the injured.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/odisha-rayagada-school-horror-thinner-poured-students-set-on-fire-odisha-article-153402059

Suresh Kalmadi passes away: He earlier served as Union minister of state for railways and was also the president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

Suresh Kalmadi, former Union minister and Congress leader, died after a prolonged illness on Tuesday at the age of 81, HT has learnt. He was undergoing treatment at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Maharashtra’s Pune.

His mortal remains will be kept at Kalmadi House in Pune’s Erandwane until 2 pm. The cremation will take place at Vaikunth smashanbhumi at 3.30 pm, his office said in a statement.

He is survived by his wife, his son and daughter-in-law, two married daughters and a son-in-law, along with his grandchildren.

Who was Suresh Kalmadi?

He earlier served as Union minister of state for railways and was also the president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

A popular political leader from Pune, Kalmadi was elected to the Lok Sabha from the city on several occasions.

Over the years, he handled many roles in public life and remained closely linked to sports administration at the national level for a long period.

However, his tenure at IOA came under fire over the 2010 Commonwealth Games corruption case and he was charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act over alleged misuse of funds.

He was arrested in April 2011, after which the Congress suspended him from the party.

Even after the controversy, Kalmadi remained influential within sports organisations. In 2016, a group of more than 150 members chose him and Abhay Singh Chautala as life presidents of the Indian Olympic Association. However, the move backfired when the Union sports minister demanded an inquiry into the selection.

Later, Kalmadi turned down the position, writing to the then Indian Olympic Association president N Ramachandran that the moment was not right for him to take up the role.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/fashion/why-everyone-s-searching-nike-tech-fleece-after-venezuelan-president-nicolas-maduros-arrest-101767608058807.html

Singh, who is serving a 20-year jail term for raping two of his disciples, was given a 40-day parole on Sunday.

As Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh walked out of the Sunaria jail in Rohtak on Monday after he was granted a 40-day parole, his 15th release from the jail since 2020, the victim’s kin and the Opposition slammed the government over the move.

Singh, who is serving a 20-year jail term for raping two of his disciples, was given a 40-day parole on Sunday to celebrate the birth anniversary of Shah Satnam Ji Maharaj, second chief of Dera Sacha Sauda on January 25.

So far, he has spent 366 days out of jail during his period of incarceration.

His parole and furloughs have been a matter of contention and often raised by the families of the victims as well as flagged by national political leaders.

However, the dera and the government have maintained that all were granted “as per the rules”.

Following his release, Anshul Chhatarpati, son of slain journalist Ram Chander Chhatarpati and various political leaders termed the development unfortunate.

Chhatarpati said that Singh’s frequent release from jail is creating a life threat to the victims of the cases.

“The victims in the undertrial cases have often flagged threats to life and his release poses risk to them,” he added.

He also made a contrast of the case with former UP BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar and said that the dera head is accused in several cases, out of which some are still under trial.

Senior Congress MLA Geeta Bhukkal said, “It would be better if you ask this question to the government: what is the reason? Generally, when people seek parole saying that their father has passed away, they need to attend a wedding at home, or there is some other urgent reason, parole is often not granted. Then why is it that whenever Ram Rahim seeks parole, he gets it so easily?”

Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP John Brittas and Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj Jha drew a direct contrast with the Supreme Court’s refusal to grant bail to activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, who have been behind bars for over five years, with Ram Rahim’s frequent release.

National spokesperson of the Nationalist Congress Party (Pawar) Anish Gawande wrote on X, “Ram Rahim comes out of jail today, on the same day that Umar Khalid’s bail application is denied. Let that sink in. A child rapist has more rights than a student who dared to question the government.”

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/oppn-victim-s-kin-cry-foul-as-dera-head-ram-rahim-walks-out-on-40-day-parole-101767642272127.html

The tribunal’s order recorded concerns about Agra Development Authority constructing kiosks, paved paths and brick-cement structures in Shahjahan Park situated between Taj Mahal and Agra Fort.

Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI is reportedly involving Indian minors in espionage activities, raising serious security concerns in Punjab. Authorities have arrested a 15-year-old boy and are investigating a wider network of minors linked to ISI handlers.

Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI has widened its alleged recruitment net to include Indian minors, with Punjab Police arresting a 15-year-old boy on charges of espionage in a case that has raised serious security concerns.

The arrest was made by Pathankot Police after investigators found that the minor had been in touch with ISI handlers based in Pakistan for nearly a year. According to the police, the boy had been sharing important and sensitive information related to India through his mobile phone.

The minor, who is a resident of Samba district in Jammu, was taken into custody following surveillance and technical analysis that linked his communications to Pakistan-based handlers.

OTHER MINORS UNDER ISI INFLUENCE

During questioning, investigators uncovered indications that the boy was not acting alone. Police sources said several other minors across different districts of Punjab are suspected to be in contact with ISI operatives.

Given the seriousness of the findings, alerts have been sent to police stations across Punjab to remain vigilant and identify other vulnerable children who may have been drawn into similar networks.

Further investigation is underway to establish the scale of the operation and the nature of information that may have been shared.

SSP CONFIRMS INTELLIGENCE INPUTS

Addressing a press conference, Pathankot Senior Superintendent of Police Daljinder Singh Dhillon said, “The child who has been apprehended is 15-years-old and was in contact with ISI handlers in Pakistan. During the investigation, crucial information has come to light about how data was being passed on. We have also found inputs suggesting that other minors in Punjab are involved. Police units across the state have been informed, and action will follow.”

Visuals from the SSP office and the press briefing showed senior officers outlining the investigation and the steps being taken to prevent further breaches.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pakistan-isi-recruits-indian-minors-15-year-old-arrested-in-punjab-espionage-case-police-investigate-wider-network-2847207-2026-01-06

Even as the death of another sick and elderly man at Joynagar in the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal is being blamed on the ongoing revision of the electoral rolls, Mamata alleged that the citizens, including the elderly, infirm and seriously ill, were being subjected to needless anxiety and harassment.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has once again written to the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, urging him to rectify the glitches in the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls in West Bengal and warning that if the process continued with serious irregularities, it might lead to mass disenfranchisement of eligible voters.

Even as the death of another sick and elderly man at Joynagar in the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal is being blamed on the ongoing revision of the electoral rolls, Mamata alleged that the citizens, including the elderly, infirm and seriously ill, were being subjected to needless anxiety and harassment.

The chief minister, in her third letter to the CEC since the start of the SIR of the electoral rolls in West Bengal, conveyed her “grave concern” regarding the serious irregularities, procedural violations, and administrative lapses being witnessed during the process.

“I strongly urge you to immediately address and rectify the glitches, address the flaws and make the necessary corrections, failing which this unplanned, arbitrary and ad hoc exercise must be halted,” she wrote, adding: “If allowed to continue in its present form, it will result in irreparable damage, large-scale disenfranchisement of eligible voters, and a direct assault on the foundational principles of democratic governance.”

Mamata wrote to Gyanesh Kumar even as her party, Trinamool Congress, continued to criticise the Election Commission for the SIR in West Bengal, accusing it of working to ensure an advantage for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the forthcoming assembly elections in the state.

Her heir apparent and the TMC general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, recently presented three voters during a rally, alleging that all of them had been declared dead by the EC and struck off from the draft electoral rolls published at the end of the first phase of the SIR.

He alleged that the names of many such electors, who continued to be alive, had been removed from the draft electoral rolls on the grounds that they had died.

“Further, in the name of addressing so-called logical discrepancies—such as spelling errors, age-related variations, etc.—the ECI has directed verification of documents of all such electors,” Mamata alleged in her letter to Gyanesh Kumar. “In cases where these certificates have been issued by authorities in other districts or states, verification is required to be carried out by the concerned issuing authorities.

” This approach appears to be intended to delay the exercise, as such inter-district or inter-state verifications will, in many cases, not be possible to complete within the stipulated time. This is likely to result in the deletion and disenfranchisement of genuine electors,” the CM and the TMC supremo pointed out.

She wrote the letter to the CEC even as the family of Najitul Mollah alleged that the ailing 68-year-old had appeared for the hearing for the revision of the electoral rolls on December 31 after being released from a hospital, but with oxygen tubes fitted to his nostrils. He had later died, the family reported, alleging that the anxiety over being struck off from the electoral rolls had killed him.

There were reports about ailing and elderly people being brought for hearings for the SIR in wheelchairs and even on stretchers from across the state.

“Additionally, electors are being summoned for hearings, without being informed of the specific reasons for such hearings, thereby subjecting them to needless anxiety and harassment. Even elderly, infirm, and seriously ill citizens are not being spared,” alleged Mamata, adding: “Many electors are being compelled to travel distances of 20–25 kilometres to attend hearings, which have inexplicably been centralised rather than decentralised. This has caused severe hardship to ordinary citizens. A decentralised hearing mechanism would have ensured accessibility, convenience, and orderliness; however, the Commission appears wholly insensitive to ground realities and persists with these deeply flawed practices.”

Mamata also referred to the “grave allegations regarding the backend deletion of electors through the misuse of IT systems, without following due process and without the knowledge or approval of the Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), who are the competent statutory authorities under the Representation of the People Act”. “This raises serious questions as to who has authorised such actions and under what legal authority. The ECI must be held fully accountable for the propriety of all acts and omissions carried out under its supervision or direction.”

She had recently alleged that the BJP’s IT cell was operating from within the EC and using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to delete names of genuine voters from the roll.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/west-bengal/mamata-writes-3rd-letter-to-cec-on-sir-asks-him-to-halt-process-warns-mass-disenfranchisement-3851548

A late-night drinking session in Greater Noida turned tragic when a South Korean national was fatally stabbed by his live-in partner from Manipur. The police have arrested the woman and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

What began as a late-night drinking session inside a plush Greater Noida apartment spiralled into a deadly confrontation, leaving a South Korean national dead and his live-in partner from Manipur under arrest for murder.

The incident surfaced in Uttar Pradesh’s Greater Noida on Sunday, when GIMS Hospital alerted the police that a foreign national had been brought in with fatal stab injuries. By the time doctors examined him, he was already dead.

Cops rushed to the hospital and launched an investigation.

The deceased was identified as Duck Jee Yuh, a South Korean citizen. He was working as a branch manager with a reputed mobile phone company, police said.

The woman who rushed him to the hospital was identified as Lunjeana Pamai, a resident of Manipur. During sustained questioning, she confessed to stabbing her live-in partner with a knife.

Police said the couple had been living together for the past two years.

According to investigators, the couple was consuming alcohol late into the night when an argument erupted over an undisclosed issue. The verbal spat soon escalated into a physical confrontation.

“In a fit of rage during the scuffle, the woman stabbed him in the chest. The wound was deep and he began bleeding heavily,” a police officer said.

Realising the seriousness of the injury, she took him to GIMS Hospital. Doctors, however, declared him dead on arrival. A memo was sent to the police early in the morning, following which the full sequence of events came to light.

The police said, “A South Korean national, Duck Hee Yuh, was brought dead to GIMS Hospital on January 4, 2026. Preliminary investigation revealed that the deceased was admitted to the hospital by Lunjeana Pamai, a resident of Thangal, Manipur. During the investigation, police found that the accused woman had allegedly stabbed him to death with a knife. The two had been living together in a live-in relationship for a considerable period. A case has been registered at the Knowledge Park Police Station, and the accused woman has been arrested. Further investigation into the circumstances and motive behind the murder is currently underway.”

Police probing the case said the relationship was far from smooth. The South Korean national allegedly drank heavily and frequently assaulted the woman, leading to repeated arguments between the two.

The accused told police she did not intend to kill him and that the stabbing happened during the altercation. Officers said they are verifying her claims as part of the ongoing investigation.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/manipur-woman-stabs-south-korean-live-in-partner-to-death-in-greater-noida-2846582-2026-01-05

 

Addressing a BJP rally, Devendra Fadnavis mocked the alliance, termed it a “bheeti sangam”, and accused the Sena (UBT) of corruption and lack of focus on development.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said Uddhav and Raj Thackeray have come together ahead of the January 15 Mumbai municipal corporation elections as they fear the ruling Mahayuti alliance in the state, led by BJP.

“This is not a preeti sangam, but a bheeti sangam (the cousins have come together not out of love but out of fear),” Fadnavis said, addressing a campaign rally in north Mumbai on Sunday night.

“Somebody told me that a cartoonist (Raj) and a photographer (Uddhav) have united,” Fadnavis said. “I told the person that confusion and corruption have united,” the CM said.

Fadnavis said he had offered a Rs 1,000 reward to anyone who could find Uddhav Thackeray speaking on the topic of development. “Now I have decided to increase that amount to Rs 2,000,” he added.

On Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray unveiling their manifesto for the BMC polls earlier on Sunday, Fadnavis said they could have done it a day earlier, on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Rajmata Jijabai, mother of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

“But in recent times, our old friends have started sitting with those allergic to Vande Mataram, so I am not aware what else they are allergic to,” Fadnavis said, without naming Raj or Uddhav.

At the rally, the ruling alliance campaign song ‘Mahapalika radate aahe’ (municipal corporation is crying), highlighting the alleged misrule when Shiv Sena (UBT) controlled the BMC, was released.

Incidentally, the song has been composed by singer and musician Avadhoot Gupte, who also came out with the “Shiv Sena Shiv Sena” song in 2009, when the party was undivided. Gupte was present at Sunday’s rally.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/raj-uddhav-thackeray-united-out-of-fear-of-mahayuti-maharashtra-cm-devendra-fadnavis-2846542-2026-01-04

Aam Aadmi Party leader Jarmal Singh, 50, was shot dead by two unidentified assailants at a wedding in Amritsar. CCTV footage shows the attackers, posing as guests, fleeing the scene. Police have launched an investigation to identify the culprits, amid political outrage over Punjab’s law and order situation.

An Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and village sarpanch was shot dead by two unidentified assailants during a wedding function in Punjab’s Amritsar district on Sunday, triggering political outrage and renewed concerns over the state’s law and order situation. Police officials and eyewitnesses confirmed that the attackers fled the scene immediately after the shooting, leaving guests in panic. A purported CCTV footage of the dreaded killing has surfaced on the internet.

The victim, Jarmal Singh (50), was the sarpanch of Valtoha village in Tarn Taran district. He had attended a wedding ceremony at a private resort near the Verka bypass in Amritsar. The function was hosted to celebrate the wedding of the sister of Harjit Singh Serry, the sarpanch of neighbouring Amarkot village. According to reports, the event was proceeding normally when the shooting took place in full public view.

SAD Chief Shares Video, Condemns Killing

A purported video of the incident, later shared on the social media platform X by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal, shows two men dressed casually in hoodies and jeans walking through the crowd while carrying firearms. The footage suggests that the assailants blended in as guests, drawing little attention as they moved through the venue.

In the video, Jarmal Singh can be seen seated at a table, wearing a yellow turban and conversing with another attendee. Within moments, the attackers approach him, open fire at close range and then escape on foot. The sudden violence caused chaos among guests, many of whom reportedly ran for cover.

Singh was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital following the attack. However, doctors declared him dead shortly after arrival, confirming that he had succumbed to his gunshot injuries.

Condemning the killing, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal blamed the Punjab government for what he described as a deteriorating law and order situation in the state. Sharing the video clip online, Badal termed the incident a “cold-blooded murder” and demanded accountability from the authorities. His post intensified political reactions, with opposition leaders questioning public safety even at private and social gatherings.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/aap-sarpanch-shot-dead-in-punjab-cctv-footage-shows-exact-moment-when-jarmal-singh-was-killed-in-full-public-view-at-amritsar-wedding

Community health expert Amulya Nidhi, associated with Jan swasthya Abhiyan India (JSAI), says the situation in Indore’s Bhagirathpura has crossed beyond physical illness and entered psychological and systemic collapse.

Sixteen people have already died in Bhagirathpura after consuming contaminated drinking water in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore, officially India’s “cleanest city.”

More than 1,400 residents have fallen ill. Several are still battling for life in hospitals.

Now, the tragedy has taken a disturbing new turn.

A 67-year-old woman from Bhagirathpura, Parvati Bai Kondla, shows symptoms of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) a rare, potentially fatal neurological disorder that attacks the body’s nerves, raising fears that the water contamination has caused not just gastrointestinal illness, but long-term, irreversible neurological damage.

Parvati, who is on a ventilator, is undergoing dialysis due to kidney failure. And her nervous system is failing.

She first fell ill on the night of December 27. She had vomiting and loose motions. The next day, she was admitted to a private hospital. Her condition deteriorated rapidly. Her limbs became weak. Her reflexes disappeared. She could no longer breathe on her own.

On January 2, she was shifted to Bombay Hospital, Indore.

A Nerve Conduction Study (NCS) carried out at Alpha Brain Study Centre in Indore found clear evidence of acute nerve injury. The findings show, reduced muscle response (CMAP) in both peroneal nerves, absent sensory nerve signals in both legs, absent late nerve responses and a pattern consistent with acute inflammatory nerve damage, not age-related degeneration.

A senior AIIMS neurologist said,”This is an acute process. This does not happen slowly over the years. It is often triggered by infections, toxins or immune reactions. In the context of a water contamination outbreak, this is medically significant and deeply concerning.”

GBS is a rare autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system attacks its own nerves. It often follows gastrointestinal or viral infections. About 10% of patients may die. Many suffer long-term disability. Treatment involves intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) injections costing around Rs 30,000 per dose. Patients often need 5-10 doses. Total cost per patient can reach Rs 10-15 lakh.

For families already devastated by illness and job losses, this is financially crushing.

Despite the medical evidence, the state health administration is denying any confirmed link.

Indore Chief Medical & Health Officer (CMHO) Dr Madhav Hasnani said, “GBS is a neurological disease caused by various factors, including viruses. A single test is not enough. It is a clinical diagnosis. We have not received any such report officially. We are monitoring all patients daily.”

However, Parvati’s treating physician Dr Rahul Karode said,”She was admitted with acute gastroenteritis and kidney injury. Her blood pressure was very low. Loose motions improved but reflexes were diminished. NCS showed changes consistent with GBS. We referred her because our hospital does not have advanced facilities. We informed the administration as per instructions.”

Community health expert Amulya Nidhi, associated with Jan swasthya Abhiyan India (JSAI), says the situation in Bhagirathpura has crossed beyond physical illness and entered psychological and systemic collapse.

“This cannot be treated as a simple diarrhoeal outbreak anymore. We are seeing systemic effects neurological, immunological and mental. This suggests the contamination was far more severe,” he said.

He refers to the 2019 CAG report, reported by NDTV which said 5.45 lakh cases of waterborne diseases in Bhopal and Indore alone and alleges that at least 50,000 cases of diarrhoea and waterborne illness per district every year.

“In October alone, 200 people fell ill in Barwani due to contaminated water but nobody paid attention,” he said.

The Madhya Pradesh government had taken a $200 million loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for water management with strict conditions. One of those conditions was, Water audits every 15 days and regular water quality testing.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bhagirathpura-indores-water-crisis-that-claimed-16-lives-enters-a-terrifying-new-phase-10304211?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

The earthquake was felt across several parts of central Assam.

A strong earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale jolted Assam and other parts of the Northeast this morning.

The epicentre of the earthquake, which struck at 4:17 am, has been recorded near Assam’s Morigaon district, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS). the nodal agency of the Government of India that monitors earthquake activity in the country.

The epicentre was at a depth of 50 kilometres, the NCS said in a post on X.

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EQ of M: 5.1, On: 05/01/2026 04:17:40 IST, Lat: 26.37 N, Long: 92.29 E, Depth: 50 Km, Location: Morigaon, Assam.
For more information Download the BhooKamp App https://t.co/5gCOtjdtw0 @DrJitendraSingh @OfficeOfDrJS @Ravi_MoES @Dr_Mishra1966 @ndmaindia pic.twitter.com/6HvwbZHFTZ

— National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) January 4, 2026

The tremors were felt across several parts of central Assam, including Morigaon and nearby districts, triggering panic among residents who rushed out of their homes amid cold and thick fog conditions.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/earthquake-today-5-1-magnitude-earthquake-strikes-assam-morigaon-no-injuries-or-damage-reported-10319114?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

 

The Supreme Court is set to deliver its verdict on the bail pleas of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and five others jailed under the UAPA in 2020 Delhi riots case.

Jailed for over five years, student activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam will finally walk out of jail or not will be known on Monday, January 5, as the Supreme Court is set to pronounce its verdict on their bail please along with that of five others accused in the alleged “larger conspiracy” case linked to the 2020 Delhi riots.

A bench of justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria had on December 10 last year reserved its judgment after hearing arguments from the accused and the Delhi Police, which has invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) to oppose their release.

The Umar Khalid-Sharjeel Imam case so far

• Umar Khalid has been in custody since September 13, 2020, while Imam has been prisoned since January 28, 2020, weeks before the Delhi riots broke out. The accused argued that the prosecution was adopting a tactic of arresting one accused at a time to artificially extend the alleged conspiracy and delay the trial, as mentioned in an earlier HT report.
• The 2020 riots took place in February in parts of Northeast Delhi, following weeks of tension around protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). The violence, which lasted several days, led to the several deaths, along with large-scale damage to homes, shops, and places of worship.
• In the aftermath, Delhi Police investigated the violence and described it as a “conspiracy” linked to protests against the CAA. Several activists, students, and intellectuals were arrested under stringent laws such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Among them were Sharjeel Imam, a former JNU student, and Umar Khalid, a student activist associated with earlier campus movements. The police alleged that their speeches and activities contributed to the planning and escalation of violence, claims that both have strongly denied.
• One of the actions by Sharjeel Imam cited as a crucial piece of evidence in court hearings to have him jailed is a video of him in which he is seen speaking about blocking the “chicken neck” corridor and separating Assam from the rest of India. Delhi Police has also cited another video in which Sharjeel Imam allegedly laid out a plan to “paralyse Delhi” through a “chakka jam”, cutting off essential supplies, such as milk and vegetables.
• During the December 10 hearing, the Supreme Court repeatedly questioned the Delhi Police on the applicability of Section 15 of the UAPA, which defines a “terrorist act”, to speeches and protest-related activities relied upon by the prosecution.
• Besides Khalid and Imam, the bail pleas pertain to Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa ur Rehman, Mohd Saleem Khan and Shadab Ahmed, all of whom are facing prosecution for allegedly being part of a coordinated conspiracy that culminated in communal violence in northeast Delhi in February 2020, leaving 53 people dead and hundreds injured.
• On Umar Khalid’s role, the Additional solicitor general (ASG) SV Raju has in previous hearings referred to what he described as Khalid’s antecedents, including a controversial 2016 JNU protest, alleging that Khalid had raised the slogan “Bharat tere tukde tukde honge”. Raju said this FIR had been relied upon in the supplementary charge sheet filed in November 2020.
• The bail pleas before the Supreme Court stem from from a September 2, 2025, order of the Delhi high court, which had refused bail to nine accused, including Khalid and Imam. A bench of justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur (since retired) held that the material collected by investigators prima facie pointed to a coordinated conspiracy, describing Khalid and Imam as the “intellectual architects” of the violence.
• Advocate for the accused has countered in court the allegations saying that snippets from hours-long speeches and WhatsApp chats have been handpicked speeches to create “prejudice”.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/will-umar-khalid-sharjeel-imam-walk-out-of-jail-big-supreme-court-verdict-on-their-bail-plea-today-101767571256842.html

The sacred Piprahwa relics of Buddha include gemstones, bone fragments, crystal caskets, a sandstone coffer, and ornaments

The Piprahwa jewels, which returned to India in July 2025, are now showcased at the Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics in New Delhi. The one-of-a-kind exhibition, which allows you to take a stroll down the past, is titled: The Light & The Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One.

Located at the Rai Pithora Cultural Complex, the exposition was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, January 3, 2025. As the exhibition is now open to the world, you should know what it encompasses.

Inside The Grand Exhibition Of The Sacred Piprahwa Relics Of Buddha

According to the official Instagram handle of DD News, the exhibition of the sacred Piprahwa Relics of Buddha in New Delhi highlights India’s enduring civilisational link with Buddhism. It showcases the country’s commitment to preserving the sacred heritage revered by the Buddhist community across the world.

This exhibition marks a historic moment as the relics, which made their way to India after 127 years, reunited with the soil they originated in 1898. According to reports, the relics include bone fragments believed to belong to Lord Buddha himself. One can witness gemstones, ornaments, crystal caskets, and a sandstone coffer that were discovered during a 1898 excavation, led by William Claxton Peppe, of an ancient Buddhist stupa in Uttar Pradesh’s Piprahwa, close to the India-Nepal border.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi Inaugurated The Grand Exhibition Of The Sacred Piprahwa Relics Of Buddha

If you are not digitally detoxing today, you know that Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Grand International Exposition of the Sacred Piprahwa Relics of Buddha. Sharing the news on Instagram on Friday, he wrote, “A delight for those passionate about culture, history and the ideals of Bhagwan Buddha!”

He added, “This will showcase: The Piprahwa relics repatriated after more than a century. Authentic relics and archaeological materials from Piprahwa that are preserved in the collections of the National Museum, New Delhi and the Indian Museum, Kolkata.”

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Speaking during the inauguration of the Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics related to Bhagwan Buddha.
https://t.co/8irFbkh8pn

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 3, 2026

How Did The Sacred Piprahwa Relics Of Buddha Come To India

Peppe’s grandson, Chris Peppe, put the sacred Piprahwa Relics of Buddha up for auction via Sotheby’s Hong Kong. Valued at $100 million (Rs 900 crore), they were bought by industrialist Pirojsha Godrej of Godrej Industries Group.

Sotheby’s Hong Kong website in May 2025 stated, “Sotheby’s is honoured to present the Piprahwa gems, appearing for the first time in Hong Kong. The 1898 discovery of these gems by William Claxton Peppe at Piprahwa in northern India – where they were found buried together in reliquaries with the corporeal relics of the Historical Buddha – ranks among the most extraordinary archaeological discoveries of all time.”

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/lifestyle/inside-delhis-grand-exhibition-of-the-sacred-piprahwa-relics-of-buddha-10245672

 

Such was the fear and hate for Communists in the US, spouses used to spy on their partners. That same paranoia now seems to have been reserved for Indian techies. But how did Indians, who helped build Silicon Valley, become such subject of hate?

Generalisation is a form of prejudice, and America, despite its power and what it promises, has had many such prejudices over the decades. Today, that prejudice has turned against Indian techies. Soon after the Second World War, in the 1950s and the 60s, Americans feared the Soviet communists. Decade after decade, the paranoia kept shifting — from African-Americans, to homosexuals, to Hispanic crowds in the US, to Asians, everyone has been on target.

Today, the hostility toward desi techies is such that they almost seem like “counterparts” of the Communists of yesteryears. The suspicion and hate, similar to what was once reserved for the Communists, are now directed at Indian techies, who gave America its global tech giant character of today. Though the techies are the polar opposite of the “commies” — they have bourgeois aspirations, their “American Dream” was conceived in middle school, and they would most likely slog in NR Narayana Murthy’s 72-hour work week instead of the Left-championed eight-hour shifts.

Today, Indian techies, who hold the top positions in US firms and lead innovation in Silicon Valley, are under attack from the Trump administration. US President Donald Trump, in a bid to please its Maga supporter base, is going all out against the engineers and coders from India. The visa scheme that brought them to America, the H-1B, is facing unprecedented scrutiny today. From a $100,000 fee for new H-1B entrants, strict social media vetting, and fierce racism, the hurdles are too many.

The fear that Indian techies are taking away jobs from Americans has now blended with the rise in general anti-immigrant sentiment in the US.

Racism against Indians in general is on the rise too. On Christmas, American journalist and right-wing activist Matt Forney openly warned of targeted attacks against Indians and Hindu temples in 2026, and suggested that all of its members be deported back to India.

It’s almost like a flashback from the Cold War era, when communists of the USSR, China, Cuba, and East Germany, were hated and feared so much in the US that even spouses would spy on their partners, thinking they might be hiding a crimson core under their white skin.

Think of Indian techies in the US as their Great Lakes — they support the biodiversity and the ecosystem in the heart of America. With that analogy, Maga’s theory about Indians stealing Americans’ jobs is like a layer of ice on top of the lakes — the stretch might be kilometres wide, but it’s likely only a few inches deep. It’s as absurd as saying a rose is red because it’s communist.

Though it is clear that Maga’s arguments against Indian techies — calling them “job stealers”, “low-skilled workforce”, and calling the H-1B visa scheme a “scam” — are shallow, India Today Digital spoke to techies and activists in the US to understand how and why this narrative has suddenly blown up, and the things they have faced in America after Trump came to power this year.

THE AMERICAN PARANOIA AND HOW THE FUTURE DEPENDS ON POLICY, NOT CONTRIBUTION

A man in Badaun climbed a 30-foot water tank demanding a second wife, claiming he had worn dirty clothes for 10 days and threatened to jump if his demand wasn’t met. Police intervened after 30 minutes and safely rescued him. His family later revealed he suffers from mental illness and is under treatment

A dramatic scene unfolded in Uttar Pradesh’s Badaun district on Thursday when a young man climbed a 30-foot-high water tank and threatened to jump unless his demand was met, he wanted a second wife.

The incident took place at the Primary Health Centre (PHC) campus in Islamnagar, leaving villagers shocked and triggering panic in the area.

“Everyone Has a Wife, I Want One Too”

Standing atop the water tank, the man, identified as Har Prasad Maurya, shouted repeatedly, “Sir, I have been wearing the same dirty clothes for ten days. Who will wash them? Everyone has wives, so I want one too. My first wife has already left me. If you don’t get me a second wife, I will give up my life.”

For nearly half an hour, Har Prasad continued shouting and threatening to jump, drawing a large crowd that struggled to understand what was happening.

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साहब, मैं दस दिन से यही गंदे कपड़े पहने हूं, कौन धुलेगा? सबकी पत्नियां हैं, तो मुझे भी चाहिए…!

पहली पत्नी मुझे छोड़कर जा चुकी है..दूसरी बीबी दिलाओं नहीं तो जान दे दूंगा..!

यूपी के बदायूं में दुल्हन की चाह में हर प्रसाद मौर्य 30 फीट ऊंची पानी की टंकी पर चढ़ गया..!
आधे घंटे तक… pic.twitter.com/KuKt6XPapZ

— Rahul Saini (@JtrahulSaini) January 3, 2026

Chaos at the health centre

At first, people were confused by the commotion. Soon, it became clear that the man was demanding marriage while standing dangerously high above the ground. As reported by Jagran, inside the PHC, Dr. Kusum Jain, who was attending to patients, was informed about the situation.

Sensing the seriousness of the matter, she immediately alerted the local police outpost.

Police step in after 30 minutes ofpersuasion

Police arrived swiftly and began a long session of counselling and persuasion. After nearly 30 minutes of effort, officers managed to calm Har Prasad and safely bring him down from the tank.

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🚨 UP | बदायूं
दुल्हन की चाह में हर प्रसाद मौर्य करीब 30 फीट ऊंची पानी की टंकी पर चढ़ गया।
उसका कहना था— “पहली पत्नी छोड़कर जा चुकी है, दूसरी दिलाओ नहीं तो जान दे दूंगा।”

करीब आधे घंटे तक हंगामे के बाद ग्रामीणों ने पुलिस को सूचना दी।
काफी मान-मनौव्वल के बाद वह नीचे उतरा।
परिजनों… pic.twitter.com/Zvs5ANXl2W

— News & Features Network | World & Local News (@newsnetmzn) January 3, 2026

He was taken to the hospital in the presence of his family for a medical examination and later handed over to them.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/viral/sabki-patniyan-hoti-hai-mujhe-bhi-chahiye-up-man-climbs-30-foot-water-tank-in-desire-for-second-wife-watch-viral-video

 

At least 14 Naxals were neutralised in major encounters with security forces in Sukma and Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, with weapons recovered and operations led by Kiran Chavan.

At least 14 Naxals were neutralised in two separate encounters with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma and Bijapur districts on Saturday, officials said, in one of the biggest recent anti-insurgency operations in the Bastar region.

The bodies of two Maoist cadres, including Hunga Madkam, were recovered along with one SLR and one 12-bore rifle from a forested area near Gaganpalli village under Basaguda police station limits in Bijapur district. With this, a total of 14 Maoist cadres—12 in Sukma and two in Bijapur—have been neutralised so far in two ongoing operations.

The operation was launched late on Friday evening by the District Reserve Guard (DRG) Sukma from Palodi and Potakpalli areas under Kistaram police station limits.

Automatic weapons, including AK-47 and INSAS rifles, were recovered from the encounter site.

Officials said the operation was closely monitored by Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan, adding that further details are awaited.

Earlier in the day, two Naxalites were killed in a separate encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, police said.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/more-than-10-maoists-killed-in-encounter-in-chhattisgarhs-sukma-9807164.html

The remarks sparked widespread outrage, prompting the Bihar State Women’s Commission (BSWC) to take suo motu cognisance of the matter.

The husband of Uttarakhand’s Women and Child Development Minister has triggered widespread outrage after a video surfaced in which he is heard making derogatory remarks about women from Bihar.

A video of his comment is going viral on social media, where he can be heard saying, “Will you get married in old age? If you’re unable to get married… we’ll bring a girl for you from Bihar– you can get one there for Rs 20000-25,000.”

He was speaking at an event in the Someshwar constituency of Almora. “Come with me, we’ll get you married,” he said.

The remarks sparked widespread outrage, prompting the Bihar State Women’s Commission (BSWC) to take suo motu cognisance of the matter.

Speaking to ANI, Apsara, chairperson of Bihar Mahila Aayog, said, “This statement reflects his intellectual bankruptcy. When the women of Bihar are reaching new heights. You are making such statements about the women of Bihar, which is reprehensible.”

“The Women’s Commission is taking suo motu cognisance and sending him a letter,” she added.

Uttarakhand Mahila Congress president Jyoti Rautela also reacted to the controversy, terming the statement “shameful” and demanding an apology. “He should sincerely apologise for his statement. We should also look into why such a statement was made,” she said.

Amid the controversy, Sahu said he holds the utmost respect for women.

“In my address, I mentioned the marriage of one of my friends. Opposition leaders including the Congress have twisted that discussion and presented it in the media, which is completely wrong,” The Print quoted him as saying in a report.

Describing the comment as deeply offensive, Bihar BJP spokesperson Prabhakar Mishra said it insulted not only the women of Bihar but women nationwide, and demanded action against those responsible.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/bihar-girls-ready-for-marriage-at-rs-20000-uttarakhand-ministers-husband-sparks-row-ws-l-9807329.html

Mandeep Kumar, a specially-abled man from Punjab, was allegedly trafficked and forced to fight in the Russian Army, dying months before his identity was confirmed. With no official help, his brother travelled to Russia to uncover the truth, raising serious questions about human trafficking, accountability and state apathy.

Mandeep Kumar should never have been a soldier. Born with a congenital limb disability, the 30-year-old from Goraya in Punjab was, by any standard, unfit for military service. Yet in December 2023, while pursuing the promise of a better life in Europe, his journey spiralled into a nightmare that ended on a battlefield far from home — acknowledged by the system only after his family crossed borders to uncover the truth.

Mandeep was allegedly duped by travel agents, routed through Armenia and forcibly recruited into the Russian Army despite being specially abled. From a foreign land, he sent desperate video messages, pleading to be rescued from a war that was never his to fight.

“He kept sending videos, begging for help,” Jagdeep Kumar, Mandeep’s brother, told India Today. “He said he had been forced to join the army. He was scared. He just wanted to come home.”

SILENCE AFTER MARCH 2024

The last time Mandeep spoke to his family was in March 2024. After that, there was nothing — no calls, no messages, no official word. Only fear, uncertainty and an endless wait. Mandeep was among the recruits allegedly trafficked into the Russian Army during the Russia-Ukraine war.

For months, the family knocked on every possible door — local authorities, the state government and the Centre — seeking help to locate Mandeep or bring him back. They allege their pleas were met with silence.

“With no support from the system, we were left alone to fight this battle,” Jagdeep said. “No one told us anything.”

A BROTHER’S DESPERATE JOURNEY TO RUSSIA

The confirmation the family had dreaded finally came, but not through diplomatic channels or official communication. It came after Jagdeep himself travelled to Russia.

Towards the end of 2025, Jagdeep, accompanied by his father, went to Russia at his own risk to search for his missing brother. He tracked down members of the Russian Army and submitted his DNA sample in December to identify Mandeep.

Seven days later, as the New Year dawned, the call finally came from Russia — not with hope, but with the truth the family had been dreading: his brother was dead.

What makes the revelation deeply troubling is Jagdeep’s allegation that he had already submitted his DNA sample at AIIMS in February 2025, a process facilitated by the Ministry of External Affairs. He claims those DNA reports were never sent to Russia.

“If my DNA was already collected in India, why did it take me going to Russia for them to confirm my brother’s death?” he asked. “Why were those reports never sent?”

‘CLOSURE CAME, BUT WITHOUT THE GOVERNMENT’

Jagdeep says neither the Punjab government nor the Centre extended any meaningful help during his search — not logistical, not diplomatic, not financial.

Instead, he says the cost of the Russia trip that finally brought closure was assisted by Congress MP Raja Warring.

“The government did nothing,” Jagdeep alleged. “It was Raja Warring who helped me. Not the system.”

Deepak Vashisht, a Congress worker who was present at the Delhi airport to assist Jagdeep, said the family had been left to fend for itself. “Neither the state government nor the Centre extended any help. What this family has gone through is not just an administrative failure, it is humanly wrong,” he said.

DISTURBING IMAGES, QUESTIONS OF DIGNITY

Images shared by a Russian commander showed Mandeep’s body in a severely decomposed state — visuals that have left the family traumatised and raised disturbing questions about dignity in death.

In a chat accessed by India Today, an official from the Russian Army, while confirming Mandeep’s death through DNA identification, is seen saying that the condition of the body was “not pretty.” When the family nevertheless insisted on seeing proof, the official sent a disturbing image, adding, “It was taken before freezing. Not much is left. He was identified by DNA.”

On Tuesday, Mandeep’s mortal remains finally arrived at the Delhi airport, bringing an end to more than a year-long wait — but not to the grief. “It has ended the waiting, but not the pain,” Jagdeep broke down while speaking.

‘AT LEAST TELL FAMILIES IF THEIR LOVED ONES ARE DEAD’

Jagdeep says he has been in touch with at least 13 other families from Uttar Pradesh’s Azamgarh and parts of Bihar, whose sons too were allegedly trafficked and sent to fight in Russia. “Out of them, at least 10 have died,” he claimed.

“There are many families connected with me,” Jagdeep said, his voice breaking. “But there is no help from the embassy or the government. At least families deserve to know if their loved one has died.”

The pain is compounded by the fact that Jagdeep has not yet found the courage to tell his parents the truth. “They are still waiting for him,” he said. “They believe Mandeep will return. I don’t have the strength to tell them that their son will never come home alive.”

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/trafficked-forgotten-specially-abled-indian-died-fighting-foreign-war-mandeep-kumar-forcibly-recruited-russian-army-human-trafficking-2846111-2026-01-03

The woman left her phone with her two children and then jumped into Hussain Sagar lake in Telangana.

A 29-year-old woman died by suicide in Telangana after jumping into a lake on Friday evening.

The woman was identified as Vasantha. She is survived by her two sons — the elder aged seven, a Class 2 student, and the younger aged three-and-a-half years.

According to the police, Vasantha lost her husband, Laxman, four years ago and had since been living with her mother and brother. She supported her family by working as a daily wage labourer.

On Friday evening, she brought her children to Tank Bund, gave them a mobile phone to play with, and then jumped into the Hussain Sagar lake. Some people present at the spot noticed the incident and alerted the police.

Police personnel rushed to the scene and retrieved her body from the water. The body was later shifted to the Gandhi Hospital mortuary for post-mortem examination.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/telangana/story/telangana-woman-suicide-hussain-sagar-lake-sons-orphaned-2846143-2026-01-03

 

A 33-year-old man in Singapore cheated 14 victims of nearly ₹ 3.5 crore by abusing an internal staff purchase scheme to fund his spiralling credit card debts.

A former employee of luxury watch retailer Cortina Watch cheated customers of nearly S$500,000 (around ₹3.46 crore) by abusing an internal staff purchase scheme to fund his spiralling credit card debts, a Singapore court has heard.

According to a report by CNA, the accused has been identified as 33-year-old Soh Jian Kun. He pleaded guilty on January 2 to four amalgamated cheating charges. Another 13 charges will be taken into consideration during sentencing, which is expected in February.

Soh had reportedly worked at Cortina Watch since 2015 and was arrested when his offences came to light in 2025. According to court documents, he swindled S$494,583 from 14 victims between September 2024 and July 2025.

The 33-year-old began applying for credit cards after his salary increased following his deployment to the retailer’s Marina Bay Sands store in 2017 or 2018. At one point, he had approximately seven credit cards, and he reportedly splurged on luxury goods and travel, accumulating substantial debt.

Even after entering a debt consolidation plan through Credit Counselling Singapore, he was unable to keep up with repayments and continued borrowing from moneylenders. According to CNA, Soh also cheated his friends, acquaintances and former clients whom he believed trusted him because of his long service with Cortina Watch.

The company operated a staff purchase scheme allowing eligible employees and their next-of-kin to buy “hard-to-obtain” luxury watches. Soh “was of the view that Cortina Watches did not closely scrutinise the purpose of the purchase under the scheme, and thought that this was a loophole he could exploit”, said the prosecutor.

Failed Ponzi scheme

Soh reportedly convinced victims they could purchase high-demand watches through him, citing the scheme. To sustain the deception, he forged receipts, falsified company forms with Cortina Watch’s stamp and fabricated screenshots of conversations with supposed company staff. Several victims were told to pay deposits of up to half the retail price in advance.

One of Soh’s victims transferred S$181,350 for 7 luxury watches from Rolex and Patek Philippe. However, Soh never intended to place orders and instead used the funds to repay his debts. Prosecutors said he planned to run what effectively became a Ponzi-style arrangement, where he planned on refunding earlier victims using deposits from later ones. However, the scheme eventually collapsed.

Soh resigned from the company after his offences came to light in 2025. He has since cooperated with investigators and provided details of victims who had not yet lodged police complaints. He has repaid S$13,000 so far.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/singapore-man-admits-to-cheating-customers-of-rs-3-5-crore-through-luxury-watch-scheme-to-repay-his-credit-card-debts-101767408917056.html

A Pune man’s inspiring journey from factory worker to full-stack developer went viral online.

A Pune man’s inspiring journey from a factory worker to a full-stack developer role has gone viral on X (formerly Twitter).

Sambhav Wakhariya shared his story with the caption, “From a factory worker to a full-stack developer in 1.5 years of grind.”

From factory worker to developer:

According to the post, about 1.5 years ago, his life looked very different. Wakhariya worked in a vegetable factory, spending nearly 10 hours a day packing and picking products.

The daily routine was demanding, with little rest and constant physical strain. Financial issues had pushed Wakhariya out of college.

“I had dropped out of college because of financial issues. This felt like the end of the road,” the post adds.

A turning point came after a friend suggested that he should learn coding. With limited savings and help from his parents, Wakhariya purchased a laptop and left his factory job. For the next few months, the internet became his classroom.

“I kept remembering something Elon Musk once said: Everything you need to learn is available on the internet for free.”

Hard work pays off:

Wakhariya focused on learning HTML, CSS, and JavaScript within a month before moving on to React. Instead of expensive courses, he relied on official documents, hands-on projects, and learning from mistakes.

The early stages of his tech career were not easy. His first internship came with steep learning curves, but it helped him build confidence and skill.

Challenges continued in his personal life when his grandfather suffered a heart attack. Wakhariya paused his professional work to recover from the setback before returning to freelance projects.

“My journey hasn’t been clean. It’s been messy, uncertain, and uncomfortable. If you’re starting from zero, don’t underestimate what 1–2 years of focused grind can do,” the post adds.

HT.com has reached out to the user for more details. This report will be updated when he responds.

Check out the post here:

The student reportedly fell ill following the attack and repeated mental and sexual harassment. Her health deteriorated over time, and she died on December 26.

A 19-year-old student died during treatment in Himachal Pradesh’s Dharamshala on December 26 after allegedly being ragged by three senior students and sexually assaulted by a college professor. A purported video chilling has now surfaced of the woman in hospital, in which she details the ordeal she said she faced at her college.

Confirming that a case has been registered, Kangra Superintendent of Police (SP) Ashok Ratan said that all the allegations are being thoroughly investigated. Medical records, video evidence and statements of all concerned are being examined, PTI news agency quoted him as saying.

A case has been registered in the matter following a complaint by the woman’s father, who alleged that his daughter was beaten by three senior students, Harshita, Aakriti and Komolika. He also alleged that a college professor, Ashok Kumar, subjected her to “obscene acts”, the report said.

The student reportedly fell ill following the attack and repeated mental and sexual harassment. Her health deteriorated over time, and she died on December 26 in Ludhiana, police said.

What did the woman say in the video?

The case drew attention after a video purportedly showing the student in a hospital surfaced on social media. The girl in the video accuses the professor of indecent acts, mental harassment and intimidation after she objected to his behaviour.

HT.com could not independently verify the authenticity of this video.

A woman was heard asking the name of the professor, to which she replied, “Ashok sir.”

When asked what he would do to her, the student said, “Peeche padh jaate the. Ajeeb harkatein karte the.” (He would keep bothering me, do strange things.)

She was then asked to describe the kind of acts the professor would indulge in. She appeared hesitant, after which the woman questioning her asked whether she wanted her father to step out of the room.

The student said she did not want her father to leave and replied, “Touch wagerah karte the. Bahut kuch bolte the.” (He would touch me, say a lot of things.)

A case has been filed under Sections 75 (sexual harassment), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with Section 3 of the Himachal Pradesh Educational Institution (Prohibition of) Ragging Act, 2009. Police said a probe is currently underway.

The accused professor has denied all allegations levelled against him, the news agency reported, adding that some teachers have come in support of the professor.

The professor reportedly said that the student had studied under him in a previous academic session and was not his student in the current session.

Who was the student

Preliminary investigations by the police pointed out that the deceased student was enrolled in the college in 2024 and faced ragging by some students and failed her BA first-year examination, according to the PTI report.

She later stopped attending college after the results were declared in July 2025. Her name was reportedly dropped from college rolls on August 21, 2025.

In a bid to get admission, the student is believed to have again in September visited the college, where she was told that she would be admitted to the second year only if she cleared the re-evaluation, failing which she would have to re-enroll in the first year.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/breathing-through-your-mouth-ent-surgeon-shares-major-health-risks-from-gum-problems-to-sore-throat-101767356764599.html

A drunk man triggered panic at the Sri Govindarajaswamy Temple in Tirupati after climbing the gopuram and reaching the kalashas, demanding alcohol to come down.

A man under the influence of alcohol caused panic at the Sri Govindarajaswamy Temple after he managed to evade security personnel and enter the temple premises late last night, officials said.

Vigilance staff noticed the individual just in time as he attempted to climb the temple wall. After gaining access to the complex, the man climbed the gopuram and reached the kalashas, alarming temple authorities and devotees present at the site. Vigilance personnel immediately informed the police and fire department to prevent any mishap.

Officials identified the man as Kuttadi Tirupati (45), a resident of Peddamalla Reddy Colony, Kurmawada, in Telangana’s Nizamabad district. According to officials, he entered the temple like other devotees and allegedly climbed the Nadimi Gopuram using tent poles placed there.

During the standoff, the man demanded a quarter bottle of alcohol and claimed he would come down only after receiving it. After authorities agreed to his demand, he climbed down safely without sustaining injuries.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/andhra-pradesh/story/tirupati-temple-drunk-man-climb-gopuram-incident-andhra-pradesh-sri-govindarajaswamy-temple-2845891-2026-01-03

Speaking at an event in Udapipur, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh warned that rising “white-collar terrorism” showed education without ethics can be deadly, citing the Red Fort car bomb blast, where three doctors were arrested.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday flagged what he described as a disturbing rise of “white-collar terrorism” in the country, warning that higher education without values can turn dangerous for society.

Speaking at the 104th foundation day of Bhupal Nobles’ University, Singh cited the November 10 car bomb blast near Delhi’s Red Fort to underline his point. He noted that the accused in the attack were qualified doctors, calling it a stark example of how education alone does not guarantee ethical conduct.

“Today, an alarming trend of white-collar terrorism is emerging in the country. Highly-educated people are working against society and the country. The perpetrators of the (Delhi) bomb blast were doctors – those who had degree in hand and RDX in their pockets. This highlights the need for knowledge to be accompanied by values and character,” he said.

The explosion involved an explosives-laden i20 car driven by Dr Umar-un-Nabi and resulted in the deaths of 15 people. Officials later uncovered a white-collar terror module, leading to the arrest of three doctors — Muzammil Ganai, Adeel Rather and Shaheena Saeed — among others.

“The purpose of education is not only professional success but also the development of morality, ethics and human character. Any education system that cannot fulfil this objective, which does not impart humility, a sense of character and ‘dharma’ (righteousness) along with knowledge, is incomplete,” the Defence Minister said.

Singh said terrorists are not necessarily illiterate and can hold university degrees, but often lack wisdom and values.

“When I talk about religion, it should not be associated with going to the temple, mosque or church for prayer. Religion is a sense of duty. Education devoid of religion and morality will not be useful to society, and sometimes it can even prove fatal. This is why educated people are sometimes found to be involved in crimes,” he added.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/rajnath-singh-white-collar-terror-degrees-in-hand-rdx-in-pockets-red-fort-blast-2845880-2026-01-03

Shashi Tharoor stressed that India must continue diplomatic pressure on Dhaka while keeping sport separate.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, amid a political row over Kolkata Knight Riders’ selection of Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman, came out strongly in defence of the decision, asserting that sport must remain insulated from geopolitical tensions.

“Cricket should not be made to bear the burden for attacks on minorities in Bangladesh,” he said, adding, “We should try and insulate some areas from others.”

Shashi Tharoor stressed that India must continue diplomatic pressure on Dhaka while keeping sport separate.

“We are reaching out to Bangladesh and urging them to do the right thing to protect and look after their minorities, and this messaging must continue,” he said, continuing, “But Mustafizur Rahman is a cricketer and has nothing to do with any of these things.”

Calling the backlash against Mustafizur Rahman unfair, Shashi Tharoor said the player had not been accused of any wrongdoing.

“He has not been personally accused of any hate speech or condoning or defending any attacks. Mixing these two things is simply not fair,” he said.

The row began over KKR- co-owned by Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan- picking Mustafizur Rahman for Rs 9.20 crore at the IPL auction. The decision triggered a backlash amid strained India–Bangladesh ties following the killing of a Hindu man in Mymensingh.

Shashi Tharoor cautioned against isolating neighbouring countries, arguing that such an approach would be counterproductive.

“If we become a country that isolates all of our neighbours and say nobody is playing with any of them, how does it do any good?” he asked.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/cricket-shouldnt-bear-burden-of-politics-shashi-tharoor-on-calls-to-boycott-bangladeshi-player-ws-l-9806585.html

In a meeting with the chief minister, aggregator companies said they are ready to onboard private EVs provided regulatory changes are notified.

Delhi is preparing a major overhaul of how people commute as rising pollution levels continue to plague the capital. From allowing privately owned electric vehicles to operate as taxis to launching shared ride services and airport shuttles, the latest plan aims to cut the number of vehicles on the road, a key contributor to toxic air.

The roadmap emerged from a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta with automobile manufacturers and ride-hailing platforms such as Ola, Uber and Rapido. The message was blunt: Without fewer vehicles on the road, pollution control will remain out of reach.

“Effective and sustainable control of pollution in Delhi is possible only by reducing the number of vehicles on the roads,” Gupta told the companies, stressing that transport firms must actively support the effort.

Private EVs as Taxis: What’s Changing

In a first for the city, the Delhi government has agreed, in principle, to allow privately owned electric vehicles to operate as shared taxis. This would require amendments to existing rules, which the government said will be made.

Aggregator companies said they are ready to onboard private EVs, and even BS-VI vehicles, provided regulatory changes are notified. The chief minister assured them that the government would put a mechanism in place while insisting that passenger safety norms must be strictly followed.

Shared Rides and Women-Driven Taxis

Ride-hailing companies also committed to rolling out shared taxi services within a month. Alongside this, taxis driven by women drivers are expected to be introduced, a move the government sees as both a safety and employment push.

Gupta said flexibility in rules would be offered to encourage EV adoption, but added that companies must also pass on benefits to commuters. “If people don’t find EV services affordable and attractive, the shift won’t happen,” officials quoted her as saying.

Airport, Ring Road Shuttles

To reduce the number of private cars entering key corridors, the government has asked aggregators to explore shuttle services on the Ring Road and to and from the airport. Pilot projects may be launched to test feasibility.

Automobile manufacturers flagged the need for faster expansion of EV infrastructure, particularly charging stations. In response, the chief minister said the government is ready to provide land for charging stations, but pushed companies to explore solar-powered charging as well.

She also highlighted battery disposal as a growing concern. “Battery waste cannot become the next pollution problem,” she said, asking companies to take responsibility for managing it.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/to-battle-pollution-delhi-plans-to-allow-private-evs-to-operate-as-cabs-or-taxis-10209823

The accused has been identified as Pramod Kumar Raj, a resident of Bhagwanpur in the Bochaha police station area, they said.

A man was arrested in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district on Friday for allegedly creating and circulating AI-generated fake videos and audio clips of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu, police said.

The accused has been identified as Pramod Kumar Raj, a resident of Bhagwanpur in the Bochaha police station area, they said.

Raj allegedly edited and shared fabricated content on social media by misusing the names, images and voices of the president and the PM, police said in a statement.

“The objective behind the AI-generated content was to mislead the public, undermine the dignity, prestige and trust associated with the highest constitutional offices of the country, create distrust towards democratic institutions, and adversely affect social harmony and law and order,” the statement said.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/man-arrested-in-bihar-for-circulating-ai-generated-fake-videos-of-pm-modi-president-10213257

They said the action was taken following orders of a special court in connection with cases registered at the Malhar police station.

Police on Friday attached immovable properties of seven people from Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district who are allegedly involved in anti-national activities while operating from Pakistan, officials said.

They said the action was taken following orders of a special court in connection with cases registered at the Malhar police station. The attached properties include over 10 kanals of land in the Lohai Malhar area of Kathua district, valued at crores of rupees.

“A proclamation had earlier been issued against the seven accused, all residents of Tehsil Lohai Malhar, who are presently staying in Pakistan. As they remained on run, police, with assistance from the revenue department, identified and attached their immovable properties after completing all legal formalities under BNSS,” an officer said.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/jammur-and-kashmirs-police-attach-properties-of-7-pak-based-men-in-j-ks-kathua-10223309

MasterChef India’s Vikas Khanna recently raised concerns about the dirty carpet at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. His post quickly grabbed attention, prompting the airport authorities (CSMIA) to respond. The issue has sparked discussions about hygiene and maintenance standards at one of India’s busiest airports. See his post below!

Celebrity chef Vikas Khanna, best known for judging MasterChef India, recently took to his social media handle to express his concern over the condition of the carpet at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. While he appreciated the airport’s overall efficiency, he called the carpet “unnecessary and unacceptable,” saying it has become too dirty to clean properly. Highlighting health risks, he urged authorities to remove it. He said that it could cause serious breathing problems, especially for people with asthma or bronchitis. After his message prompted discussions about urgent action, CSMIA’s official handle reacted to the post.

Louis Vuitton’s Monogram hits 130 and it’s still the hottest icon in luxury. From graffiti-splashed collaborations to bold reinventions, the emblem has grown far beyond luggage, becoming a symbol of creativity, status, and relentless style. In 2026, the house marks the milestone with year-long capsule collections, global window displays, and exclusive campaigns celebrating a design that continues to captivate the world.

French maison Louis Vuitton is celebrating 130 years of its monogram. The Louis Vuitton Monogram is one of the most popular and recognisable symbols in luxury.

In 1896, Louis Vuitton’s innovative trunks became so popular that they began to be copied, with fakes flooding the market. Georges Vuitton, son of Louis Vuitton, started brainstorming ways to protect the integrity of the brand in a unique manner. An ornamental pattern of interlaced LV initials and stylised floral motifs became the Louis Vuitton monogram. “Conceived amid Paris’s artistic bloom, the iconic design was created in tribute to Georges Vuitton’s father, in a fusion of inspirations from kitchen tiles in the family’s Asnières home and Neo-Gothic art. Undeniably recognisable and destined to endure, it has been continually renewed through dialogue with art and culture, a story rooted in legacy,” states the Louis Vuitton website.

The Monogram was patented in 1897.

But under successive creative directors, the Monogram evolved into a fashion statement. Marc Jacobs was appointed the creative director in 1997. He played a pivotal role in modernising the canvas. Under Jacobs, it transformed from classic travel luggage into a chic, fashion-forward emblem. It was during his tenure that the Monogram became a platform for artistic dialogue through high-profile collaborations with the likes of Stephen Sprouse, Takashi Murakami and Richard Prince. The designs were reinterpreted by each with graffiti, vibrant colour palettes and pop sensibilities. Traditional notions of luxury were challenged through these collaborations, and the Monogram was firmly positioned within modern culture.

In 1996, Louis Vuitton celebrated 100 years of its brown and gold canvas. For the 130th anniversary of the Monogram, a year-long celebration has been planned. Throughout 2026, special anniversary capsule collections will be launched.

See more

According to the maison’s website, “To celebrate 130 years of the legendary Monogram, three exclusive capsules reinterpret the House’s emblem: Monogram Origine, VVN, and Time Trunk. Reimagining five icons across canvas, leather, and trunk-making savoir-faire, each capsule embodies a distinct facet of Louis Vuitton’s heritage. The Monogram Multicolore also returns in a vibrant re-edition of the icons originally created by Takashi Murakami.”

The Monogram is associated with some of Louis Vuitton’s most iconic bags, including the Speedy and the Keepall, launched in 1930. The Noé was designed in 1932 to carry multiple bottles of champagne.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/lifestyle/fashion/louis-vuitton-celebrates-130-years-iconic-monogram-article-153386962

 

A look back at the judiciary’s most controversial moments this past year.

On March 14, 2025, a blaze at the official residence of then Delhi High Court Justice Yashwant Varma caused India’s higher judiciary to come under fire. Images and videos of burning cash recovered from the site were symbolic of the public’s eroding trust in the courts.

The fire may have been doused that evening, but its smoke continues to hang in the air. Much like Delhi’s infamous PM10 and PM 2.5.

However, 2025 didn’t see the judiciary fighting just one fire. It moved from one controversy to another right until the end of the year. Here, we look at the judiciary’s most controversial moments of the year.

Blaze of (no) glory

After his transfer from the Allahabad High Court in October 2021, Justice Varma established a distinct presence in Delhi by delivering verdicts of seminal importance. He did not shy away from writing judgments that were lengthy and often complex in their drafting. Ironically, he now finds himself at the centre of a verdict that is equally lengthy and complex, but this time, he is not the author.

A three-member committee constituted by Lok Sabha Speaker under the Judges (Inquiry) Act is probing the allegations relating to the discovery of cash at Justice Varma’s residence. On the other hand, Justice Varma has moved the Supreme Court alleging irregularity in the initiation of the impeachment proceedings and the constitution of the probe panel.

Of hot-headed lawyers and flying shoes

Politicians are often seen being hit with shoes by angry members of the public. For a judge to face something similar in his own courtroom, however, is a rarity.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai experienced just that when a lawyer, emboldened by right-wing rhetoric, threw a shoe towards him in the Supreme Court’s first courtroom. The attack was reportedly in reaction to an oral remark attributed to CJI Gavai during a case seeking the restoration of a seven-foot idol of Lord Vishnu at Khajuraho.

CJI Gavai showed magnanimity by choosing not to act against the lawyer. Unlike his predecessor, CJI Gavai may not have been worried about the legacy he would leave after retirement. Yet, given that two trial court judges faced similar shoe attacks weeks later, he might have considered whether a non-personal and institutional response was needed to deter such brazen acts inside India’s apex court.

Lungs aflame

Just days after the shoe-throwing incident, a CJI Gavai-led Bench permitted so-called green firecrackers to be burst in the National Capital Region (NCR) during Diwali, departing from the strict stance adopted by the Court in view of the capital region’s abysmal air quality. Beyond the legal arguments lay the unmistakable rhetoric around the right to celebrate a religious festivity at any cost. Yet, the Court proceeded to allow the fireworks. The burden today continues to be borne by the city’s lungs.

Since then, Delhi’s air quality has continued to remain abysmal (it occasionally improves to poor). Of course, there are multiple factors at play and the Supreme Court’s changing stance on firecrackers is not the sole cause. What remained troubling, however, was that despite a situation demanding urgent intervention, the Supreme Court did not make the air pollution case a priority for weeks.

What magic wand can a judicial forum exercise? CJI Surya Kant asked recently. The answer was perhaps obscured in the polluted air itself – where do citizens turn when neither the executive appears unwilling to act?

Emergency exits?

Transfers are said to be incidental to service, or so we are told. 2025 saw a series of transfers of High Court judges across India. In all, 6 Chief Justices and 41 judges were transferred. While some moves were routine, others remained shrouded in mystery.

Much like the rest of the national capital, the Delhi High Court now has the privilege of outside talent. 10 of its judges including the Chief Justice come from different parts of the country. An anguished Bar circulated many representations in protest, yet no one told us why a judge from the Rajasthan High Court was sent back within weeks of his arrival in Delhi. Perhaps, a different kind of fire was at play.

Similar is the case with the out-of-turn elevation of Gujarat High Court Justice Vipul Pancholi to the Supreme Court, where there was no dearth of Gujarati talent on the Bench. Justice BV Nagarathna had opposed the move, but the Central government wasted no time to approve the Collegium recommendation. Justice Pancholi is slated to become CJI in October 2031.

Calcutta High Court Justice Joymalya Bagchi was elevated to the Supreme Court, superseding several senior judges across High Courts. The Collegium explicitly justified the recommendation on the ground that Justice Bagchi would assume office as CJI in 2031, noting that no judge from the Calcutta High Court has held the position since the retirement of Justice Altamas Kabir in 2013.

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/columns/no-smoke-without-fire-indias-judiciary-in-2025

Early reports from an inquiry into the deaths confirmed the presence of bacteria ‘generally found in sewer water’ in drinking water samples.

Early reports from an inquiry into the deaths of at least nine residents in Indore’s Bhagirathpura area confirmed the presence of bacteria “generally found in sewer water” in drinking water samples, officials familiar with the matter said on Thursday, three days after the first of victims were brought in with vomiting and diarrhoea.

Officials earlier said that the cause of bacterial infection likely lay in a sewage pipeline leeching into a drinking water line, and added on Thursday that more results are awaited before specific pathogens can be identified. The total number of dead rose from a confirmed four on Wednesday. At least 150 more residents of the locality are being treated at hospitals.

The National Human Rights Commission, meanwhile, has issued a notice to the Madhya Pradesh government over the deaths.

“The initial report has confirmed the presence of abnormal bacteria generally found in sewer water comprising human waste. However, we are yet to identify the bacteria as the culture report of bacteria is awaited. The report of stool tests of affected patients has not been received yet — that will also make it clear,” Indore-based Mahatma Gandhi Medical College’s dean Dr Arvind Ghanghoria said.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/madhya-pradesh-bacterial-infection-likely-cause-of-deaths-in-indore-101767292757517.html

From crew safety systems to long-duration life-support and mission management, the foundations being laid in 2026 may well determine the pace and direction of space exploration

The year 2026 is shaping up to be a watershed moment in the story of human space exploration, with India and the United States preparing for two landmark missions that could redefine the future of spaceflight. While Gaganyaan programme aims to establish India’s independent human spaceflight capability, NASA’s Artemis-II mission will send astronauts beyond the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years. Together, the missions signal a decisive shift towards a more multipolar space era.

India is gearing up for the first uncrewed orbital test under the Gaganyaan programme, known as the G1 mission, tentatively targeted for March 2026. The launch will take place aboard the human-rated LVM3 (Gaganyaan-Mk3) rocket. A humanoid robot named Vyommitra, designed to simulate astronaut functions and responses, will be placed onboard to help validate critical systems.

The spacecraft will operate in low-Earth orbit at an altitude of roughly 300 to 400 kilometres. The mission’s primary objective is to thoroughly test life-support systems, re-entry safety, communication links, mission control and parachute-assisted sea recovery before India attempts a crewed flight. Success would see India join an elite club of nations capable of independently sending humans into space and bringing them back safely. It would also pave the way for future Indian space stations, private space missions and reduced reliance on international partners.

Across the world, NASA is preparing to return humans to deep space with the Artemis-II mission, now scheduled no earlier than February 5, 2026. The approximately 10-day journey will carry four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft, powered by the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, on a trajectory around the Moon. It will mark the first human mission beyond low-Earth orbit since Apollo-17 in 1972.

Artemis-II will test a wide range of deep-space systems, including navigation and communications, radiation shielding, extended life-support capability and mission operations at great distances from Earth. The spacecraft is expected to travel at least 5,000 nautical miles beyond the Moon, making it the farthest human voyage in history. The mission is seen as a precursor to future lunar landings, permanent lunar bases and the eventual human exploration of Mars.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/isros-gaganyaan-and-nasas-artemis-ii-poised-for-history-in-2026-all-you-need-to-know-ws-kl-9804272.html

The incident occurred on Wednesday night at Amrapali Golf Homes Kingswood Society in the Bisrakh area.

A 31-year-old man died after allegedly falling from the 15th floor of a residential society in Greater Noida while celebrating New Year’s Eve with his friends, police said on Thursday.

The incident occurred on Wednesday night at Amrapali Golf Homes Kingswood Society in the Bisrakh area.

According to police, the man, Vineet, a native of Tarwara village in Bihar’s Siwan district, was living in a rented flat in the society and while celebrating a New Year’s Eve party with his friends, he fell from the 15th floor.

Investigations are on to ascertain how he fell, police said.

Residents of the society rushed him to a hospital, where he died during treatment, they added.

Police said CCTV footage from the society is being examined and people who were present at the time of the incident will be questioned to ascertain the exact sequence of events.

The victim’s family has been informed and the body has been sent for post-mortem examination after completing the required legal formalities, they said.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/man-dies-after-falling-from-15th-floor-in-noida-on-new-years-eve-cops-10184378

The SIT claims that gold-clad copper plates, including those from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols, were removed and taken from replating. The same method was used for plates from two nearby pillars and seven plates from the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum), the investigators assert.

In a startling revelation, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Sabarimala gold theft case has moved the Kollam Vigilance Court with a custody application, stating that more gold was likely siphoned off from the temple than initially believed.

The SIT’s probe suggests that seven gold-clad copper plates, apart from the earlier Dwarapalaka idols and door frame, were also stolen in a similar manner.

The custody application was filed for further questioning of the prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potty; the ninth accused, Pankaj Bhandari; and the tenth accused, Govardhan. According to the SIT, the gold was extracted using a chemical mixture at Chennai-based Smart Creations, which is owned by the ninth accused Pankaj Bhandari, and is in his and Govardhan’s possession.

The SIT, through its petition, submitted that gold-clad copper plates, weighing a total of 42.1 kg, were handed over to Potty in 2019 for electroplating at Smart Creations.

The remaining gold was allegedly siphoned off by the accused after the plating process. The SIT claims that gold-clad copper plates, including those from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols, were removed and taken from replating. The same method was used for plates from two nearby pillars and seven plates from the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum), the investigators assert.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/sabarimala-gold-theft-case-sit-suspects-more-gold-than-previously-believed-stolen-from-sabarimala-temple-2845242-2026-01-01

An Air India pilot was removed from operating a Vancouver-Delhi flight after failing a pre-flight alcohol test, prompting concerns from Canadian authorities regarding his fitness for duty.

New Delhi: An Air India pilot was grounded from operating Vancouver-Delhi flight allegedly after he failed a pre-flight alcohol test, reports have said. The matter came to light after Canadian authorities raised the matter over pilot’s “fitness” for duty before the airline.

The matter was first reported by a duty-free store manager at the Vancouver airport. The manager informed authorities that the pilot was purchasing alcohol at the duty-free shop adding that there was something suspicious about his (pilot) conduct as he was allegedly smelling of alcohol.

In a letter written by the Canadian authorities to Air India, they mentioned, “We were advised by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) that the pilot reported for duty on Air India flight Al186 on December 23, 2025, while under the influence of alcohol, and unfit for duty. Two breathalyser tests conducted by the RCMP at Vancouver International Airport confirmed this, after he was advised to leave the aircraft.”

“This incident indicates a contravention of Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) 602.02 by the Operator and the Crew Member, and CARs 602.03 by the Crew Member, as well as condition outlined in Air India’s Foreign Air Operator Certificate issued by Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA). It is likely that enforcement action will be pursued by the RCMP, and by TCCA,” the letter mentioned.

The Canadian authorities further asked Air India to conduct a thorough review and investigation under their Safety Management System (SMS) and provide details of corrective actions taken to prevent any such recurrence.

What Air India Said After Pilot Denied From Operating Vancouver-Delhi Flight
Meanwhile, addressing the matter, Air India on Thursday said that one of its pilots was grounded after being stopped from operating a Vancouver-Delhi flight on December 23, following concerns raised by the Canadian authorities over his “fitness” for duty.

PTI quoted Air India saying that the pilot was deplaned just prior to the departure of the airline’s Delhi flight from Vancouver.

“Flight AI186 from Vancouver to Delhi on December 23, 2025, experienced a last-minute delay after one of the cockpit crew members was offloaded prior to departure,” Air India said in a statement.

Canadian authorities raised concerns regarding the pilot’s “fitness for duty”, following which the crew member was taken for further inquiry, the airline stated.

“Air India regrets the inconvenience caused to its passengers and is fully cooperating with the local authorities. The pilot has been taken off flying duties during the process of enquiry,” it said.

In accordance with safety protocols, an alternate pilot was rostered to operate the flight, resulting in the delay, Air India said.

Pending the outcome of the investigation, any confirmed violation will attract strict disciplinary action in line with the company policy, the airline said.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/canada-air-india-pilot-offloaded-over-alcohol-smell-before-operating-vancouver-delhi-flight-detained-for-2-days-what-we-know-article-153382350

A truck veered off the main highway and rammed into a house in Patrasahi village, Chandbali area of Odisha’s Bhadrak district. The driver was reportedly follow Google maps.

A truck veered off the main highway and crashed into a house in Patrasahi village, Chandbali area of Odisha’s Bhadrak district early Thursday morning. The truck was reportedly using Google Maps to navigate through dense fog.

According to sources, the accident occurred near Digachhia Chowk on the Bhadrak-Chandbali main road while the truck was en route from Cuttack to Dhamra port.

Due to the thick fog, the truck driver could not clearly see the road signs and turns, so he attempted to find his way using GPS data. This led the vehicle into a narrow village lane.

Realising his mistake, the driver tried to reverse out of the narrow lane, but the truck collided with the asbestos-roofed house of Ramesh Das. The collision partially damaged the house, but fortunately, the family escaped unharmed.

Villagers then informed the police, who arrived at the scene and seized the truck for investigation.

Police attributed the accident to low visibility due to dense fog and the driver’s reliance on Google Maps navigation despite being unfamiliar with the local route.

Ten Andhra Fishermen Held for Intruding into Odisha’s Marine Sanctuary
In another incident, the authorities in Odisha on Thursday arrested 10 marine fishermen from Andhra Pradesh on the charge of illegally fishing within the prohibited turtle congregation zone in Gahirmatha marine sanctuary of Kendrapara district, said forest officials.

The fishing equipment of the 10 individuals, haling from Vizianagaram district of the neighbouring state, were seized. Later they were remanded to judicial custody.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/odisha-truck-misled-by-google-maps-in-dense-fog-crashes-into-village-house-in-bhadrak-district-article-153382653

The deceased have been identified as Gardi Birowa (43) and Mira Birowa (33).

Diphu, Assam: A group of people burnt alive a couple in a village in Karbi Anglong district of Assam, suspecting them to be involved in witchcraft, police said on Wednesday.

The incident took place at No 1 Beloguri Munda village in Howraghat area on Tuesday night.

“The miscreants first attacked the couple with sharp weapons inside their house. After that, they burnt the house, and the couple died in the fire,” he added.

The villagers accused the deceased of practising witchcraft and bringing ill effects to the surrounding area, the official said.

The deceased have been identified as Gardi Birowa (43) and Mira Birowa (33).

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/assam/assam-couple-burnt-alive-on-suspicion-of-witchcraft-3847306

Officials said engineers from Lucknow, Auraiya and Kanpur were rushed to the site and efforts were on to contain the leak.

Kanpur: A deafening explosion followed by a gas leak at a GAIL India Limited substation triggered panic in the area on Wednesday evening, with the leakage continuing for over four hours.

Officials said engineers from Lucknow, Auraiya and Kanpur were rushed to the site and efforts were on to contain the leak, which had not been fully stopped till late night.

As a precautionary measure, police asked residents and roadside vendors to extinguish burning bonfires in the vicinity, citing the risk of ignition. Security around the installation was tightened and movement in the area restricted.

Traffic on the Achalganj–Unnao road was halted after police put up barricades nearly a kilometre away from the site to prevent vehicles from entering the danger zone.

 

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/explosion-at-gail-substation-in-unnao-causes-gas-leak-traffic-halted-101767203889478.html

Victim suffered severe injuries to her face and head and required more than 12 stitches. Her condition is critical, and she is not yet fit to record a statement

A 25-year-old married woman was allegedly raped in a moving car in Haryana’s Faridabad while being driven around and was later thrown out while the vehicle was at high speed, resulting in severe injuries to her face and head.

In a shocking revelation by the police, the accused allegedly drove around through the night on Monday and threw her out of the vehicle that was moving at a speed of over 90 kmph near Raja Chowk at around 3 AM.

She suffered severe injuries to her face and head and required more than 12 stitches. Her condition is critical, and she is not yet fit to record a statement, a police officer said.

Two people have been arrested in connection with the alleged rape.

India will showcase a first-of-its-kind animal contingent from the Indian Army’s Remount and Veterinary Corps during the Republic Day 2026 parade.

India is set to witness a rare and evocative spectacle on Republic Day, 2026, as the Indian Army showcases, for the first time, a specially curated animal contingent during the ceremonial parade along Kartavya Path, which underlines the endurance, sacrifice and operational versatility that define the country’s defence forces.

The unique contingent, drawn from the Army’s Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC), will highlight the indispensable role animals continue to play in safeguarding India’s most challenging and sensitive frontiers, from icy glaciers to cold deserts.

The animal contingent will comprise two Bactrian camels, four Zanskar ponies, four raptors, ten Indian-breed Army dogs, and six conventional military dogs currently in active service.

Together, they represent a blend of tradition, innovation and the Indian Army’s increasing emphasis on self-reliance within its operational ecosystem.

Leading the formation will be the Bactrian camels, recently inducted for deployment in the cold deserts of Ladakh.

These hardy animals are uniquely adapted to extreme weather conditions, thin air and altitudes exceeding 15,000 feet.

Capable of carrying loads of up to 250 kilograms, the camels can traverse long distances with minimal water and feed, significantly enhancing logistical support and mounted patrolling along the Line of Actual Control, particularly in sandy terrain and steep gradients.

Marching alongside them will be the Zanskar ponies, an indigenous mountain breed native to Ladakh.

Despite their relatively small size, these ponies are renowned for exceptional endurance, routinely carrying loads of 40 to 60 kilograms across inhospitable terrain at extreme altitudes and in temperatures that can plunge to minus 40 degrees Celsius.

Since their induction into the Army in 2020, Zanskar ponies have served in some of the harshest operational areas, including the Siachen Glacier, supporting logistics and mounted patrols that can cover up to 70 kilometres in a single day.

Adding a dimension of aerial vigilance will be four raptors, deployed for bird-strike control and surveillance, reflecting the Army’s innovative use of natural capabilities to enhance operational safety and effectiveness.

A key highlight of the contingent will be the Army Dogs, often referred to as the “Silent Warriors” of the Indian Army.

Trained and nurtured at the RVC Centre and College in Meerut, these dogs support troops in counter-terrorism operations, explosive and mine detection, tracking, guarding, disaster response and search-and-rescue missions.

Over the years, Army dogs and their handlers have earned gallantry awards and commendations for acts of courage in both combat and humanitarian operations.

In line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision, the Army has increasingly inducted indigenous breeds such as Mudhol Hound, Rampur Hound, Chippiparai, Kombai and Rajapalayam, underscoring India’s push towards self-reliance in defence.

HEAVY SECURITY IN DELHI

As preparations intensify for Republic Day and New Year celebrations, security across the national capital has also been significantly stepped up.

Large-scale verification drives are underway in sensitive areas of Delhi, with the Delhi Police and central security agencies holding coordination meetings to prevent any untoward incident.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/republic-day-parade-2026-animal-contingent-camels-raptors-ponies-army-military-dogs-9801826.html

PM Modi wrote that the death of Khaleda Zia has created an irreplaceable void in the country. However, he asserted that the legacy of the former Bangladesh PM would be carried forward by her son, Tarique Rahman.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent his letter to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s acting chairperson, Tarique Rahman, appreciating his mother, Khaleda Zia’s role in boosting bilateral ties between India and Bangladesh on the day of her funeral. India’s Foreign Minister S Jaishankar handed over the letter to Rahman after meeting him in Dhaka during Zia’s funeral on Wednesday.

“I warmly recall my meeting and discussions with Begum Sahiba (Khaleda Zia) in Dhaka in June 2015. She was a leader of rare resolve and conviction, and had the distinction of being the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh. She made many important contributions to the development of Bangladesh as well as to the strengthening of the India-Bangladesh ties,” PM Modi wrote in his letter.

PM Modi also expressed his condolences following Zia’s death. Mentioning that Zia’s death would create an irreplaceable void in the country, he emphasised that her legacy would be carried forward in the coming time under the supervision of Tarique Rahman.

“While her passing leaves an irreplaceable void, her vision and legacy will endure. I am confident that her ideals will be carried forward under your able leadership of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, and will continue to serve as a guiding light to ensure a new beginning and the enrichment of the deep and historic partnership between India and Bangladesh,” Modi mentioned.

On Wednesday, the former three-time Bangladeshi Prime Minister, Khaleda Zia was buried with state honours in Dhaka, with thousands of people and several dignitaries, including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, attending the funeral ceremony.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/khaleda-zia-a-leader-of-rare-resolve-contributed-to-boost-india-bangladesh-ties-pm-writes-to-tarique-rahman-2844819-2025-12-31

Pig manure is commonly used as a fertiliser in corn cultivation in the United States. The issue has gained traction and generated buzz because Bangladesh is a Muslim-majority country, where the use and consumption of pork-related products are considered haram.

The US embassy in Dhaka recently posted that American corn was on its way to Bangladesh. However, the post ended up feeding a social media frenzy as users zeroed in on an unlikely, and culturally sensitive, detail – pig manure.

Pig manure is commonly used as a fertiliser in corn cultivation in the United States. The issue has gained traction and generated buzz because Bangladesh is a Muslim-majority country, where the use and consumption of pork-related products are considered haram or forbidden under Islamic law.

“US corn is on its way to Bangladesh this month. Known for its nutritious quality, it serves as a key ingredient in many foods, including staples like cornbread and breakfast cereals. Corn is also used to feed animals, helping to ensure a reliable supply of meat, dairy, and eggs,” the US embassy in Dhaka tweeted.

SOCIAL MEDIA ERUPTS

However, social media users had a field day in mocking the post after pointing out that pig manure is used as fertiliser in US corn farming. Several users framed the issue sarcastically.

“For su***** up to the Don (Trump), Bangladesh gets American corn (boosted by pig poop manure), and Pakistan gets to send ‘peacekeeping force’ to Gaza,” a journalist tweeted.

Another posted, “Uncle Sam destroying Bangladesh. They will now eat pig-manured corn.” “Now, the Islamists will eat the corn grown with pig faeces. Enjoy,” a third said. “Poor Bangladeshis are becoming the scapegoats of Trump’s malicious food and debt policies,” another tweeted.

The US embassy has not responded to the wave of criticism so far.

Just a few years ago, Bangladesh authorities detected the presence of pork products in meat and bone meal (MBM) powder that was being imported for use as fish and animal feed. MBM is a powder made by drying and grinding inedible parts of slaughtered animals. Following the incident, Bangladesh banned the sale and import of MBM powder.

US CORN IN BANGLADESH: THE BACKSTORY

Corn requires significant fertilisation, and pig manure is often applied to cornfields to boost production. This year, the US had a bumper corn production and has been pushing for its exports to global markets like Bangladesh and India. There have been reports that the glut has forced US farmers to dump stacks of corn by highways.

In fact, India’s pushback against US pressure to import corn and soybeans is believed to have stalled trade deal negotiations. India has, so far, resisted large-scale market access for American corn, citing the need to protect the livelihoods of small farmers. However, as per Reuters, India may allow limited imports only for ethanol output.

Bangladesh’s move to import corn from the US comes amid trade tensions with Washington. Bangladesh has a whopping $6 billion trade deficit with the US.

Sara Tendulkar, who is an entrepreneur and the daughter of cricket great Sachin Tendulkar, is facing intense trolling on social media

Sara Tendulkar, who is an entrepreneur and the daughter of cricket great Sachin Tendulkar, is facing intense trolling on social media. The reason: a video of her with friends on the streets of Goa. While it cannot be confirmed when the video was shot, some social media users claimed it was filmed close to New Year’s Eve. In the video, Sara can be seen strolling on the road along with her friends. Some social media users, however, made unsavoury comments as she was holding a bottle, which they claimed was a beer bottle.

Some social media users even name-dropped Sachin Tendulkar in their comments. Sara, however, received support from a section of social media too. “What kind of brain-dead mentality is this? How is Sara having a beer equivalent to Tendulkar promoting alcohol? And can’t a daughter have a drink?” wrote one user.

“There is nothing worth trolling here,” wrote another user.

This is the video which is going viral.

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In August, Sara revealed the reason behind not pursuing a career in cricket. Sara’s brother, Arjun, is also a cricketer and plays at the domestic level for Goa as an all-rounder. However, Sara said that while she has countless favourite memories of her father’s iconic knocks, the 27-year-old never thought about following in his footsteps. “Never. It’s been my brother’s forte. I have played gully cricket, but never thought about it,” Sara told India Today in an interview.

On the professional front, Sara officially stepped into India’s wellness landscape with the launch of Pilates Academy X Sara Tendulkar in Andheri, Mumbai.

Source: https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/sara-tendulkar-daughter-of-sachin-tendulkar-targetted-over-video-with-friends-in-goa-gets-support-on-social-media-10142822

 

The federal probe agency said in a statement on Wednesday that a provisional order was issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on Tuesday to attach the asset.

The Enforcement Directorate has attached an immovable property worth Rs 150 crore near the Buckingham Palace in London in a case of alleged bank loan fraud linked to money laundering involving textile major S Kumars Nationwide Ltd and its ex CMD Nitin Kasliwal.

The federal probe agency said in a statement on Wednesday that a provisional order was issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on Tuesday to attach the asset.

The “high-value” property valued at Rs 150 crore near the Buckingham Palace is held under the “beneficial ownership” of Nitin Shambhukumar Kasliwal and his family members, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) said.

Kasliwal is accused of defrauding a consortium of Indian banks to the tune of Rs 1,400 crore, it said.

After attaching assets located abroad, the ED approaches its counterpart agencies in that country to take possession of such properties under the criminal provisions of the anti-money laundering law.

The agency alleged that Kasliwal, through S Kumars Nationwide Ltd, cheated the consortium of banks and “diverted” the funds outside India in the guise of foreign investments and subsequently acquired immovable assets abroad, which were “concealed” through a complex structure of private trusts and companies in foreign jurisdictions.

The ED conducted raids in this case on December 23 and seized some documents and devices.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bank-fraud-case-ed-attaches-rs-150cr-worth-property-near-buckingham-palace-in-london-10138928

In Indore, Madhya Pradesh, Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava reported seven deaths due to contaminated drinking water, causing widespread diarrhoea and vomiting.

Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava on Wednesday (December 31) confirmed that at least seven people have died after allegedly consuming contaminated drinking water in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, triggering cases of diarrhoea and vomiting. His statement came amid conflicting claims over the actual number of fatalities linked to the outbreak.

“The health department has reported three deaths due to the diarrhoea outbreak in the Bhagirathpura area. However, to my knowledge, four more patients suffering from the disease were admitted to hospitals and they too passed away,” Bhargava told reporters.

He said a preliminary assessment indicated that drainage water had entered the drinking water pipeline because of a leak, leading to the outbreak in Bhagirathpura. District Magistrate Shivam Verma separately confirmed that doctors had verified four deaths caused by diarrhoea linked to contaminated water.

Victims of Water Contamination

149 patients across the city suffering from the disease have been admitted to 27 different hospitals and their health condition is currently under observation, reported PTI.

Earlier reports suggested conflicting figures. Local residents claimed that around eight people, six of whom were women, had succumbed to illness in the past one week after consuming contaminated water in the Bhagirathpura area.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed deep grief over the deaths and announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh for the families of the deceased. He also assured patients undergoing treatment that the state government would bear their medical expenses.

Investigation into the Outbreak

A probe into the incident has been ordered, with a three-member committee headed by an IAS officer constituted to investigate the contamination of drinking water. Municipal Commissioner Dilip Kumar Yadav said a leak was found in the main water supply pipeline in Bhagirathpura at a location where a toilet has been constructed, raising the possibility that the water supply was contaminated.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/indores-contaminated-water-outbreak-leaves-seven-dead-what-we-know-so-far-article-153376793

The recovery comes just weeks after the deadly Delhi Red Fort car blast. Two men have been arrested, and intelligence agencies are probing the source and intended use of the explosive material amid heightened security concerns.

Police seized a large cache of explosive material from a car on the Tonk–Jaipur highway during a special vehicle-checking drive on New Year’s Eve, triggering a security alert.

Around 150 kg of ammonium nitrate was recovered from the vehicle, along with 200 explosive batteries and 1,100 metres of electric wire, officials said on Wednesday.

The seizure was made within the limits of Baroni police station after officers intercepted a Maruti Ciaz car that was reportedly heading towards Bundi. Two men travelling in the vehicle were detained and later arrested in connection with the recovery.

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#WATCH | Tonk, Rajasthan: DSP Mrityunjay Mishra says, “Explosives were seized from a Maruti Ciaz car. 150 kg of ammonium nitrate hidden in sacks of urea seized. In addition, police recovered 200 explosive batteries and 1100 meters of wire. Two accused have been arrested. One is… pic.twitter.com/RYPLPW7ZgE

— ANI (@ANI) December 31, 2025

Confirming the details, DSP Mrityunjay Mishra said, “Explosives were seized from a Maruti Ciaz car. 150kg of ammonium nitrate hidden in sacks of urea seized. In addition, police recovered 200 explosive batteries and 1,100 meters of wire. Two accused have been arrested. One is Surendra and the other is Surendra Mochi.”

Police said multiple bags containing ammonium nitrate were found concealed inside the car.

The arrested men are being questioned to ascertain the source of the chemical and its intended destination.

Intelligence agencies have also been alerted, and investigators are tracing the supply chain to determine who procured the material and for what purpose.

The recovery has raised serious concerns in view of the recent suicide bombing in Delhi on November 10 that killed 15 people.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/new-years-eve-alert-150-kg-ammonium-nitrate-200-explosive-batteries-found-in-car-on-tonkjaipur-highway-article-153375901

In his statement, Faisal Karim Masud said his connection with Hadi was purely for business purposes and suggested that Jamaati elements could have orchestrated the murder

Bangladesh’s most wanted man and the prime accused in the Osman Hadi murder case—who sections of Bangladeshi media had alleged fled to India—has in fact surfaced in Dubai, dramatically shifting the narrative around one of the country’s most politically sensitive killings.

CNN-News18 has accessed documents and a video statement showing that Faisal Karim Masud, the prime accused in the Hadi murder case, is currently in the UAE. Masud has launched a blistering attack on Jamaat-e-Islami, claiming the Islamist outfit may be behind the murder.

In a sensational video message from Dubai, Masud categorically denied any role in the killing of Hadi, asserting that he and his family are victims of a “political witch-hunt.” “I did not kill Hadi. My family and I are being implicated. I have come to Dubai to save myself from the witch-hunt,” Masud said, contradicting reports that he had taken refuge in India.

A couple of days ago, additional Police Commissioner (Crime and Operations) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) SN Md Nazrul Islam told a press conference, “The suspects, Faisal Karim Masud and Alamgir Sheikh, crossed into Meghalaya with the help of local associates.” The Daily Star quoted him labelling allegations against India that Masud entered India through the Haluaghat border.

Turning the spotlight on Jamaat, Faisal claimed that Hadi himself was a “product of Jamaat” and suggested that Jamaati elements could have orchestrated the murder. “Jamaatis may have been behind it,” he alleged, in what is likely to deepen political fault lines in Bangladesh, where the killing has already triggered widespread outrage and violence.

Masud admitted to having professional and political dealings with Hadi, saying the relationship stemmed from his business interests. “Yes, I met Hadi for professional reasons as I own an IT firm. I made political donations to him. He promised to get me government contracts,” he said.

CNN-News18 has exclusively accessed Masud’s UAE visa documents, confirming his presence in Dubai. The documents show that the Hadi murder prime accused holds a five-year multiple-entry UAE visa and is currently on a long-term tourism visa. The visa was paid for in December 2022.

With Bangladesh’s ‘most wanted’ now confirmed to be in Dubai—and publicly naming Jamaat—the case appears to be entering a far more complex and politically charged phase. As investigators sift through competing claims, Masud’s allegations threaten to redraw the contours of the Hadi murder probe and intensify scrutiny of Islamist politics, political patronage, and accountability in Bangladesh.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/key-accused-in-osman-hadi-murder-says-he-is-in-dubai-denies-role-in-killing-ws-l-9801224.html

Amid dense fog conditions impacting flight operations in Delhi, airlines also issued travel advisories and urged passengers to check their latest flight status.

A total of 150 flights have been cancelled and more than 250 others are delayed at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport today as dense fog enveloped the national capital on the final day of the year 2025 (Wednesday), disrupting New Year travel plans for many passengers, HT has learnt. IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet were among the airlines that issued travel advisories for passengers due to flight disruptions at the airport.

Delhi’s IGI Airport said that delays and cancellations were expected due to dense fog conditions.(Vipin Kumar/ Hindustan Times)
Delhi’s IGI Airport said that delays and cancellations were expected due to dense fog conditions.(Vipin Kumar/ Hindustan Times)
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a yellow alert for moderate to dense fog on New Year’s Eve. Visuals shared by news agency ANI showed that visibility had dropped to only a few metres, leaving almost nothing visible on Wednesday morning.

Dense fog in Delhi: 150 flights cancelled, over 250 others delayed

The dense fog reduced visibility and disrupted normal movement along several key stretches.

At least 150 flights have been cancelled at Delhi’s IGI airport for the day, which include 79 arrivals and 71 departures. Meanwhile, more than 250 flights are delayed the airport amid dense fog conditions.

Notably, rail services were also hit, as poor visibility led to delays across several routes. Passengers were seen waiting at railway stations in the national capital while train movement remained slow because of foggy conditions.

Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality also showed no sign of improvement. The national capital recorded “very poor” air quality and was on the brink of turning “severe” on Wednesday, as Delhi recorded an overall air quality index (AQI) of 383 as of 6:05 am, data from the Sameer app developed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed.

Delhi airport issues advisory

In its latest passenger advisory, Delhi’s IGI Airport said that delays and cancellations were expected due to dense fog conditions. It urged passengers to contact their respective airlines for the latest flight updates.

“Due to prevailing dense fog conditions, flight operations are currently being conducted under CAT III protocols, which may result in delays or cancellations. Our ground teams are on-site and actively assisting passengers to ensure a smooth travel experience,” it said.

The advisory added, “For the latest flight updates, please reach out to your respective airlines. We sincerely regret any inconvenience caused.”

IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet issue travel advisories

Amid dense fog conditions impacting flight operations in Delhi, several airlines also issued travel advisories and requested passengers to check their latest flight status before heading to the airport.

In its advisory, Air India said: “…We anticipate impacts on flight schedules and potential cascading delays across our network. We are keeping a close eye on the situation and have taken proactive measures to minimise inconvenience to our passengers. This includes planned cancellation of some morning flights most likely to be affected by fog with advance information to passengers to avoid prolonged and uncertain wait at the airports. In the event of any unexpected delay, diversion or cancellation of flights, our airport teams will remain at your service to extend necessary assistance and support.”

It added, “To give you more control over your travel, our FogCare initiative allows passengers booked on certain flights during the fog window, which may be affected, to receive advance alerts on their registered phone numbers, offering the option to reschedule their flights without any additional payment or seek a full refund on their bookings without penalty.”

Meanwhile, India’s largest airline IndiGo said that flight departures and arrivals may be impacted throughout the day due to reduced visibility conditions across Delhi and other airports in northern India.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and are making operational adjustments wherever required to keep journeys moving as smoothly as possible,” it said.

The advisory further said, “Should there be any changes to your flight, timely updates will be shared on your registered contact details and through our digital channels. Our teams remain attentive and ready to assist, and we will continue to keep you informed as conditions evolve.”

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/delhi-fog-indigo-spicejet-air-india-flight-status-igi-airport-advisory-passengers-new-year-eve-2026-101767145124399.html

The levy, locally known as a safeguard duty, will be imposed at 12% in the first year followed by 11.5% in the second year and then 11% in the third year.

India has imposed a three-year import tariff of between 11% and 12% on some steel products, according to a finance ministry order published on Tuesday, as the government aims to curb cheap shipments from China.

The levy, locally known as a safeguard duty, will be imposed at 12% in the first year followed by 11.5% in the second year and then 11% in the third year.

The measure, which was published on the official government gazette, excludes imports from certain developing countries, though China, Vietnam, and Nepal will be subject to the levy. It also will not apply to specialty steel products such as stainless steel.

The federal steel ministry has repeatedly said it does not want the domestic steel industry to face injury due to cheap imports and sub-standard products.

The government imposed a temporary 200-day tariff of 12% in April.

The Directorate General of Trade Remedies recommended the three-year duty after finding a “recent, sudden, sharp and significant increase in imports … causing and threatening to cause serious injury to the domestic industry”, the order said.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-imposes-tariff-on-steel-products-for-3-years-to-curb-cheap-imports-10120273?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

A shocking incident in Punjab’s Dhani Sucha Singh left NRI Harpinder Singh dead after his pistol misfired as he stood up. CCTV footage shows the frantic efforts of family members. Despite being rushed to hospitals, he didn’t survive. Police are probing the unnatural death under BNS Section 194.

In a bizarre accident from Punjab, a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) died after his licensed pistol accidentally went off while he was getting up from a sofa at his residence in Dhani Sucha Singh village on Monday. The entire incident was captured on the house’s CCTV cameras.

The deceased has been identified as Harpinder Singh, also known as Sonu. According to police, Harpinder was sitting in the house and conversing with his cousin at the time of the incident. He was carrying a fully loaded pistol holstered at his waist.

Police said that while attempting to stand up from the sofa, the firearm accidentally discharged. The bullet struck Harpinder in the abdomen, causing him to collapse on the spot.

CCTV Footage Captures Chaos

India has overtaken Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy at USD 4.18 trillion and is on track to surpass Germany by 2030. Strong domestic demand drove GDP growth to 8.2% in Q2 FY26, with global agencies projecting India as the fastest-growing major economy.

India has surpassed Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy with a size of USD 4.18 trillion, and is poised to overtake Germany to become the third-largest by 2030, the government has said.

With continuing good growth numbers, India is also the world’s fastest-growing major economy.

India’s real GDP grew 8.2 per cent in the second quarter of 2025-26, up from 7.8 per cent in the first quarter and 7.4 per cent in the fourth quarter of the last fiscal.

“With GDP valued at USD 4.18 trillion, India has surpassed Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy, and is poised to displace Germany from the third rank in the next 2.5 to 3 years with a projected GDP of USD 7.3 trillion by 2030,” according to a government release providing a snapshot of reforms in 2025.

The US is the world’s largest economy, and China occupies the second spot.

The growth momentum further surprised on the upside, with GDP expanding to a six-quarter high in Q2 of 2025-26, reflecting India’s resilience amid persistent global trade uncertainties, it said.

Domestic drivers, led by robust private consumption, played a central role in supporting this expansion.

The release further said international agencies have echoed this optimism and cited projections made by various entities.

The World Bank has projected a 6.5 per cent growth in 2026; Moody’s expects India to remain the fastest-growing G20 economy with a growth of 6.4 per cent in 2026 and 6.5 per cent in 2027.

The IMF has raised its projections to 6.6 per cent for 2025 and 6.2 per cent for 2026; the OECD forecasts 6.7 per cent growth in 2025 and 6.2 per cent in 2026.

Also, S&P anticipates a growth of 6.5 per cent in the current fiscal and 6.7 per cent in the next; the Asian Development Bank has lifted its 2025 forecast to 7.2 per cent; and Fitch has raised its FY26 projection to 7.4 per cent on stronger consumer demand.

“India is among the world’s fastest-growing major economies and is well-positioned to sustain this momentum. With the ambition of attaining high middle-income status by 2047- the centenary year of its independence, the country is building on strong foundations of economic growth, structural reforms, and social progress,” the government said.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/india-overtakes-japan-to-become-worlds-fourth-largest-economy

A collision between a loco train carrying workers and officials and a goods train occurred inside the Pipalkoti tunnel of the Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydro Electric Project in Uttarakhand, injuring approximately 60 individuals.

About 60 people were injured after two trains collided inside a hydropower project tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district late Tuesday evening.

The incident happened when a loco train carrying workers and officials collided with a goods train inside Pipalkoti tunnel of the Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydro Electric Project tunnel, officials said.

Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar said that there were a total of 109 people on the train at the time of the accident, which occurred late in the evening, and 60 of them were injured.

He said that all the people have been rescued and condition of all the injured is stable.

See more

#WATCH | Chamoli, Uttarakhand | Several workers injured after internal transport trains operating within the THDC hydropower project area at Pipalkoti, collided with each other.

SP Chamoli, Surjeet Singh says, “42 people have been admitted to the district hospital, out of which… pic.twitter.com/gxVEXHwScB

— ANI (@ANI) December 31, 2025

The DM said that one train carrying people and another carrying materials were moving inside the Pipalkoti tunnel of the project, being constructed by THDC (India), when they collided.

According to officials, loco trains are used inside tunnels for the transportation of workers, officials, and materials for construction work.

The Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Chamoli said that 10 injured people have been sent to the district hospital in Gopeshwar for treatment.

This 444-megawatt hydroelectric project is being built on the Alaknanda River between Helang and Pipalkoti in Chamoli district. The project is to generate 111 megawatts of electricity through four turbines. It is targeted to be completed by next year.

 

The Dehradun police have urged the family of Angel Chakma to formally include allegations of racial slurs in their complaint following the tragic death of 24-year-old after an attack on him on December 9.

The Dehradun police is likely to ask the family of deceased Angel Chakma to formally include allegations of racial slurs in their complaint statement, police sources said. Chakma, a 24-year-old student from the northeastern state, was attacked by six men on December 9, and he succumbed to injuries on December 26.

Chakma who hailed from Nandannagar in West Tripura district was allegedly attacked when he objected to a racial slur at Dehradun on December 9. Five of the accused have already been arrested, including two minors sent to a juvenile reform home, while the sixth accused, a Nepalese national, remains at large with a reward of Rs 1 Lakh announced for his capture.

As the case is under investigation, Dehradun SSP may direct the new Investigating Officer to reach out to Michael Chakma — the younger brother of Angel — and record a fresh statement via video conference, documenting accounts of racist abuse, in this case.

The move comes after police noted that no mention of racial slurs was made by the Chakma family in statements from December 9 to 26.

Police maintain that while the family shared the racism allegations with the media, those claims currently have no legal standing as they are not part of the FIR or complaint.

The Dehradun police will now invite the family to update their statement with detailed accounts of the alleged slurs. The existing FIR only refers to casteist remarks, without specifying the exact words or racial language used.

The step aims to broaden the scope of investigation by incorporating new allegations raised after Angel’s death. Additional sections may be invoked once the updated statement is recorded.

The hotel body said that the restriction applies even to Bangladeshis visiting India on student visas or for medical treatment. The reason cited for the decision is the repeated anti-India statements issued in Bangladesh.

Hotels across Siliguri in West Bengal have decided to deny accommodation to Bangladeshi nationals during the New Year period, citing recent anti-India campaigns and statements from Bangladesh.

The decision was announced by the Greater Siliguri Hotel Welfare Association, which said the earlier relaxation granted this year has now been withdrawn. As a result, no Bangladeshi nationals will be allowed to stay in hotels in the city.

Ujjwal Ghosh, Joint Secretary of the association, told ANI that the boycott was first implemented in December last year. “This year, we had given a relaxation, which we have now withdrawn. No Bangladeshi nationals are being allowed to stay in any hotel in Siliguri this time,” he said.

He added that the restriction applies even to Bangladeshis visiting India on student visas or for medical treatment. According to Ghosh, the decision was taken in response to what he described as repeated anti-India statements.

“First comes the country’s identity, then business. Business cannot be given priority by hurting the country’s identity,” he told ANI, urging Bangladesh to restrain such remarks, particularly references to Siliguri’s strategically important ‘chicken neck’ corridor.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/west-bengal/story/siliguri-hotel-body-bars-bangladeshis-on-new-year-over-anti-india-remarks-2844355-2025-12-31

Speaking at a public meeting, Mamata Banerjee also warned against digital misinformation and urged vigilance among voters.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday levelled a sensational charge against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that the party had used artificial intelligence to delete the names of 54 lakh voters from the electoral rolls ahead of elections. Warning people against “digital manipulation” and fake videos on social media, Banerjee claimed the exercise was aimed at creating duplicate entries to deprive citizens of their voting rights.

Addressing a public meeting at Barjora in Bankura district, Chief Minister Banerjee said, “Don’t believe every video on the social media. Today there is AI. They (BJP) have deleted names of 54 lakh voters with the help of AI. Just see that the BJP is doing this. Duplicate names are being made to snatch your voting rights. When you will go to the polling booth, you will find out that you cannot vote as someone having the same name will cast your vote. Keep you eyes and ears open. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) means your doom.”

She alleged that the party had set off to remove 1.5 crore names from Bengal’s voters’ list and alleged that Booth Level Agents (BLAs) are not allowed inside hearing polling centres. “Instructions are being issued through the WhatsApp. If you (Election Commission) have guts then give us in writing. We will go to the people’s court and the court of law for justice,” CM Banerjee said, IANS reported.

She also asked BLAs to remain stationed in SIR camps set up by the Trinamool Congress to provide all kinds of assistance to people who have been called for the SIR hearings.

“What was the crime of an elderly person from Purulia? He was called for an SIR hearing yesterday. Humiliated by this, that person has committed suicide. Don’t you have sympathy? If your parents were called for hearings, wouldn’t you be ashamed? Have some shame and stop harassing people of Bengal in the name of SIR,” Chief Minister Banerjee said.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday accused the West Bengal government of allowing illegal immigration from Bangladesh for political gains, claiming the state’s demography has been “dangerously altered” over the years.

The home minister accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of promoting a culture of fear and violence and said, “We will identify infiltrators and drive them out,” Shah said.

India has firmly dismissed Pakistan’s allegations regarding the treatment of religious minorities, labeling Islamabad’s criticism as hypocritical given its own poor human rights record.

India on Monday strongly rejected Pakistan’s allegations of attacks on religious minorities, saying the neighbouring country has an “abysmal record” on the treatment of minorities and no moral authority to comment on India’s internal affairs.

Responding to remarks by Pakistan’s foreign affairs spokesperson Tahir Andrabi, the Ministry of External Affairs said Islamabad was indulging in baseless “finger pointing” to divert attention from its own human rights record.

“We reject the reported remarks from a country whose abysmal record on this front speaks for itself. Pakistan’s horrific and systemic victimisation of minorities of various faiths is a well established fact. No amount of finger pointing will obfuscate it,” the MEA said in a statement.

The response came after Andrabi urged the international community to take note of what he described as recent incidents “targeting religious minorities” in India, including “Christmas-related vandalism and attacks on Muslims”, according to a report by ARY News.

In a statement issued from Islamabad, the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “The persecution of minorities in India is a matter of deep concern. Recent condemnable incidents of vandalism during Christmas, as well as state-sponsored campaigns targeting Muslims including the demolition of their homes and repeated lynchings, notably the case of Muhammad Akhlaq, in which the state worked to shield the perpetrators from accountability have deepened fear and alienation among Muslims. The list of such victims is sadly long. The international community should take note of these developments and take appropriate steps to help protect the fundamental rights of vulnerable communities in India.”

Last month, a day after Pakistan’s Foreign Office expressed “deep concern” over the raising of a religious flag on the shikhara (spire) at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Ministry of External Affairs rejected Islamabad’s remarks with “contempt” and said Pakistan should look into its own record of “bigotry” and “repression”.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/abysmal-record-india-rejects-pakistan-allegations-on-minority-attacks-mea-article-153366530

Four people were killed after they were hit by a BEST bus while it was reversing in Mumbai tonight. Nine others were injured. The incident happened in Mumbai’s Bhandup

Four people were killed and nine others injured after they were hit by a BEST bus in Mumbai on Monday. The incident happened in Mumbai’s Bhandup around 10 pm, officials said.

The injured people have been admitted to a hospital.

BEST, short for Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport, runs the country’s largest public bus fleet.

The Mumbai Police said the bus lost control before it hit pedestrians. The accident occurred when the driver was reversing the bus at the endpoint of its route.

Soon after the accident, a large police presence was deployed at the site to manage the situation and regulate traffic in the area.

Senior officials rushed to the spot to help with emergency response teams.

At the time of the accident, Santosh Ramesh Sawant (52), a BEST staff driver, was driving the bus, while Bhagwan Bhau Ghare (47) was on duty as the conductor.

The authorities have started an investigation to determine the sequence of events leading to the accident, including whether mechanical failure or other factors were involved.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/4-dead-9-injured-after-mumbais-best-bus-crashes-into-pedestrians-10065689?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Amit Shah in a strong message to party workers in Bengal said that there should be only one goal — Victory.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday held a meeting at the BJP office in Salt Lake in Kolkata to take stock of the party’s organisational preparedness for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections in 2026.

The meeting was held for more than two hours, where he was briefed by leaders on the preparations for next year’s elections.

According to sources, Shah instructed the party workers to work on every front — campaigns, protests, and programmes — and stated that there must be “tight and aggressive mobilisation”.

He further instructed the party leaders to sharpen their pitch so that the Trinamool Congress does not get any breathing space. Additionally, in a strong message, the Union Home Minister said, “There should be only one goal — Victory.”

Amit Shah’s message to the state leadership clearly mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that winning in Bengal is crucial for the entire country. “Focus entirely on that objective. No loopholes should be left,” Shah was quoted by the sources.

The Union minister further sought reports on public outreach and street meetings—how much response they are getting and how many people are attending. He has asked the party leadership to provide these details.

Shah has also sought an update from the state party president on the condition of the organisation, according to BJP sources. State leaders raised complaints with Shah regarding the law and order situation.

Amit Shah’s Schedule

Shah on Tuesday is expected to hold a press conference, followed by back-to-back closed-door meetings with BJP’s public representatives from the state in Parliament, Assembly and civic bodies and also with the top brass of Bengal RSS.

He may also chair several core committee meetings during his stay.

Source : https://www.news18.com/politics/only-goal-should-be-victory-amit-shahs-strong-message-to-bjp-workers-ahead-of-bengal-polls-9799202.html

“I have got justice from the Supreme Court. I will not rest until he is hanged. I will keep fighting,” Unnao rape survivor said after high court’s order stayed.

The Supreme Court on Monday paused a Delhi High Court order suspending expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar’s life sentence in the 2017 Unnao rape case.

The big move has triggered reactions from both sides — with the survivor calling it justice, her lawyer terming it only a brief respite, and the convict Kuldeep Sengar’s daughter maintaining her father’s innocence.

A special vacation bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices J K Maheshwari and Augustine George Masih stayed the Delhi high court’s December 23, 2025 order that had opened the door for Sengar’s release.

Survivor vows to continue fight

The order was welcomed by the survivor, who had attempted self-immolation outside the Uttar Pradesh chief minister’s residence in 2018 to draw attention to her case.

“I have got justice from the Supreme Court. I will not rest until he is hanged. I will keep fighting,” she said, as reported by HT earlier.

In an interaction with news agency PTI later, she said that her family continues to face threats. “I will keep fighting. I will not rest until he is hanged. Only then will my family and I get justice. We receive threats even today.”

Reiterating her faith in the judiciary, the survivor said, “I do not make allegations against any court. I have faith in all courts, but the Supreme Court has given me justice and will continue to do so.”

The survivor’s family also expressed relief over the apex court’s intervention. Her sister said she had complete faith that the court would ensure Sengar is not released.

“He is a monster. He first raped my sister and then destroyed the entire family. I am satisfied today. His bail should remain rejected,” she added.

The survivor’s mother also thanked the top court and told reporters that those responsible for her husband’s death should be awarded the death sentence, the PTI report added.

Sengar’s daughter alleges injustice

On the other side, Sengar’s daughter Aishwarya Sengar voiced anguish and accused the system of denying her family a fair hearing.

“We have been stripped of our dignity, our peace, and even our basic right to be heard. Still, I hope for justice,” she said in a statement after the Supreme Court order.

She claimed there was an “age-old enmity” between her family and the survivor’s family that predated the rape case, and urged the media to question the survivor about evidence against her father, reported ANI news agency.

Aishwarya also alleged that the survivor’s uncle was a history-sheeter with 17 cases against him and claimed he had attacked her uncle.

She further levelled allegations against the survivor, saying, “The rape victim had previously filed cases against other people, and two and a half months later, she deliberately included my father’s name”.

At the same time, Aishwarya said, “If my father has even glanced at that girl with ill intent, he should be hanged,” ANI reported.

Survivor’s lawyer calls stay ‘small relief’

Reacting to the Supreme Court’s order, survivor’s counsel Mehmood Pracha said the stay only offered limited relief. “This should not be called victory, but we have got a little time to breathe,” ANI quoted Pracha as saying.

Expressing anguish, he questioned whether the order truly amounted to relief. “I will leave it to the people of the country and the legal fraternity to gauge for themselves if this is a big respite for us. I would say no. Do you want me to be happy when the girl has been taken away by the CRPF? I don’t even get a chance to speak to her about the order, so do you think I will be happy?” he said.

Background of the case

Sengar, a strongman politician from the Unnao region of central Uttar Pradesh, has won assembly elections four times from three different parties, most recently from Bangarmau in 2017 on a BJP ticket.

In 2019, he was convicted under IPC Section 376 (rape) and Section 5(c) of the Pocso Act. In 2020, he was also convicted under IPC Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) in connection with the custodial death of the survivor’s father.

In its order, the Delhi high court had held that while Sengar was convicted under Section 5(c) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, an elected representative did not qualify as a “public servant” under Section 21 of the Indian Penal Code.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/unnao-victim-vows-more-fight-kuldeep-sengar-s-daughter-cries-foul-play-who-said-what-after-sc-stay-order-101767057913324.html

Delhi’s air quality settled at 385 on Tuesday morning with the general visibility of 350 metres. IMD issued an alert for dense to moderate fog in the city.

Delhi’s air quality on Tuesday remained in the ‘very poor’ category with a dense fog taking over the city. The Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 385 as of 6 am.

On Monday, the overall 24-hour average AQI stood at 401, falling in the ‘severe’ category. As per the India Meteorological Department, the general visibility of Delhi at 6:30 in the morning was 350 metres.

The IMD also issued a fog alert for the night of December 29 and the morning of December 30. It sounded a warning for dense to very dense fog expected in Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of the Northeast, East, and North India.

The weather panel also issued a red alert for dense fog for Tuesday, HT reported earlier.

Airlines issue advisory

Low visibility around Delhi led to IndiGo Airlines releasing a Travel Advisory warning of possible flight disruptions. It said the visibility is expected to reduce across Delhi, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Ranchi, Kolkata and others.

A similar advisory was released by Air India for Delhi and parts of northern India. It said that flight schedules to and from Delhi are likely to be affected. Delhi Airport also issued a warning for possible flight disruptions a day before. However, on Tuesday, it said that flight operations are running smoothly as the visibility improved.

Regional Meteorological Department’s nowcast warning showed an orange and yellow alert issued for Delhi for moderate to dense fog on Tuesday. A yellow alert was issued in west, northwest and north Delhi, while the orange alert was for the south, northeast and central Delhi. The temperature was recorded at 10 degrees Celsius at 6:30 in the morning.

Earlier on Monday, over 550 flights were delayed, and at least 130 were cancelled at Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport due to low visibility, HT reported.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/delhi-pollution-continues-with-very-poor-air-red-alert-for-dense-fog-today-101767056952257.html#google_vignette

The suo motu case was initiated amid protests over a potential threat to the Aravallis following the Supreme Court’s decision to accept a committee’s recommendations on the mountain range.

The Supreme Court on Monday said that certain clarifications were necessary regarding the definitions it recently approved for the Aravalli Hills, while staying a ruling passed last month on the issue.

The Court also stated that a committee of experts will be constituted to study the environmental impact of the recommendations made by an earlier committee that was mostly comprised of bureaucrats.

A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices JK Maheshwari and AG Masih thus stayed the recent ruling on Aravalli that was based on the recommendations made by a panel constituted to define the Aravalli range for the purposes of mining.

The Court passed today’s order in a suo motu case on issues concerning the definition of the Aravalli Hills, following widespread protests over fears of threats to the mountain range.

“We direct that recommendations of the committee and findings of the Supreme Court … shall remain in abeyance till then. Case to be taken up on January 21, 2026,” the Court ordered.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared for the Union government.

“There were a lot of misconceptions regarding orders, the government’s role, etc. An expert committee was constituted and a report was given which the court accepted,” Mehta said.

CJI Kant said that an independent expert opinion was needed to resolve ambiguities and to provide definitive guidance on the issues concerning Aravalli, particularly the definitions of hills and ranges.

The Court added that there was a need to examine whether the restrictive demarcation approved last month would broaden the scope of areas where activities like mining can be permitted.

“An analysis of whether sustainable mining or regulated mining within the newly demarcated Aravalli area, notwithstanding the regulated oversight, would result in any adverse ecological consequences… that aspect can be examined,” CJI Kant said.

It then issued notice to the Union government as well as the concerned State governments. In the interim, the Court ordered that the earlier court directions as well as the previous committee’s recommendations shall remain in abeyance.

In its order staying the November 20 judgment and the recommendations of the expert committee in the Aravalli matter, the Supreme Court acknowledged that its earlier ruling had triggered a wave of challenges and requests for clarification.

At the same time, the Bench made it clear that these challenges were not being entertained on the basis of scientific merit. The Court recorded that it had “no scientific reasons justifying any ex-facie acceptance of the same, nor any cogent evidence or expert testimony to substantiate these individual contentions.” Despite this, the Court said that it appeared prima facie that there were gaps in the articulation of its earlier directions.

The bench took note of the wider reaction to the judgment, recording that there had been “a significant outcry among environmentalists,” who had raised concerns about how the newly adopted definition and the Court’s directions might be interpreted and implemented on the ground.

According to the Court, this reaction could not be brushed aside. The order states that such public dissent and criticism “appear to stem from the perceived ambiguity and lack of clarity in certain terms and directives issued by this Court.” In that backdrop, the Bench underlined the need for institutional caution before allowing the directions to operate.

The Aravalli range spans across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat. The suo motu case was initiated amid protests over a potential threat to the Aravallis following the Supreme Court’s decision to accept a committee’s recommendations on the mountain range.

Last month, the top court had approved an elevation-linked definition for classifying landforms as part of the Aravalli Hills for the purpose of mining regulation. According to reports, the definition will exclude more than 90 per cent of the Aravallis for the purpose of mining.

In May 2024, the Court in a matter related to illegal mining in Aravalli had called for properly defining the mountain range. It was then noted that States had adopted different definitions for “Aravalli Hills/Ranges”.

A constituted a committee to look into the issues then submitted a report in October this year, suggesting various measures to protect and preserve the Aravalli Hills.

It said that any landform in the Aravalli districts having an elevation of 100 metres or more from the local relief shall be termed as Aravalli Hills.

Source : https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/supreme-court-stays-its-recent-verdict-on-aravalli-says-clarification-necessary