India

India lost 166 tigers in 2025, with Madhya Pradesh reporting 55 deaths, largely due to territorial conflicts and space constraints. Experts highlight natural causes, cub mortality, and limited forest corridors as key factors behind rising fatalities

Intelligence agencies have warned that Bangladesh-based terror outfits HuJI and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh are increasingly using proxy groups and aliases to operate in India, aiming to create deniability and expand recruitment across multiple States

Securities and Exchange Board of India has barred 26 individuals from the securities market for manipulating DU Digital Global shares on the SME platform, ordering disgorgement of Rs 98.78 lakh and imposing penalties of Rs 1.85 crore over an artificial price surge

Ravichandran Ashwin has raised doubts about the survival of ODI cricket beyond the 2027 World Cup, citing the rise of T20 leagues and ICC’s frequent tournaments. He suggested limiting ODIs to the World Cup every four years to keep relevance

The National Sports Governance Act has partially come into effect, paving the way for the National Sports Board and Tribunal. The phased rollout introduces reforms in sports federations, elections, and athlete representation, with full implementation set for January 2026

Rishabh Pant’s ODI future looks uncertain ahead of the New Zealand series starting January 11 in Vadodara. With KL Rahul established, Ishan Kishan and Dhruv Jurel in contention, selectors face a tough call on Pant’s place in the squad

Vadodara will host the WTT Youth Contender 2026 and WTT Feeder Series 2026 at Sama Indoor Sports Complex from January 2 to 11. Over 300 players from several countries will compete, with top Indian stars leading the challenge

The Draft Seeds Bill, 2025, erodes farmers’ rights, strips States of authority, and concentrates power in corporate hands 

Party veteran Digvijay Singh has belled the proverbial cat in the Congress by openly comparing its lack of organisational strength with that of RSS-BJP

Cigarette prices may rise by 20–30 per cent from February 1 after the government revised excise duties based on cigarette length and category. Here’s what changes.

PM Narendra Modi will soon flag off India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train between Kolkata and Guwahati. The service, expected around January 18–19, will offer lower fares than air travel, with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd AC options designed for affordability

The Indian Army recovered a consignment dropped by a suspected drone along the Indo-Pakistan border in Poonch. Dozens of ammunition rounds and a tiffin box suspected to contain an IED were found and examined by the Bomb Disposal Squad

Siddhant Chaturvedi and Alizeh Agnihotri have been cast in the Hindi remake of French film “La Famille Bélier,” directed by Vikas Bahl. The musical drama explores a young girl’s journey balancing her singing talent with family responsibilities

Shiv Sena (UBT) faced a setback ahead of BMC elections as deputy leader Sheetal Devrukhkar-Sheth resigned and is set to join BJP. She was a close aide of Aaditya Thackeray and a senior member of Yuva Sena

Rajasthan began the New Year with rain, hailstorms, dense fog, and a severe cold wave. Jaipur, Chittorgarh, and Bikaner experienced low temperatures and reduced visibility. IMD forecasts continued fog and a cold wave, while Rabi crops may benefit from the rainfall

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi criticized China’s claim of mediating between India and Pakistan, calling it an affront to India’s sovereignty. He urged the government to officially reject third-party intervention, emphasizing that bilateral resolution resolved recent tensions post-Pahalgam attack

Kerala Police arrested seven people, including an MBBS doctor and a BDS student, in a major anti-narcotics operation near Thiruvananthapuram. MDMA, ganja, vehicles and mobile phones were seized as investigations continue into an interstate drug racket

Light snowfall hit higher reaches of Kashmir while rain lashed the plains on New Year, boosting tourist spirits and winter tourism. Resorts saw celebrations and full occupancy, though snowfall deficit during Chillai Kalan raised concerns over water resources and irrigation needs

Dense fog disrupted flight operations across northern and eastern India, including Delhi, on New Year’s Day, reducing visibility at several airports. Airlines issued advisories and offered rescheduling options, while very poor air quality and cold conditions further complicated travel across affected regions

Sabarimala witnessed a peaceful New Year welcome amid the Makaravilakku festival, as police and security personnel marked midnight with a simple camphor-lighting celebration. Devotees joined in prayers, while heavy pilgrim flow continued with authorities ensuring safety and smooth darshan arrangements

A 22-year-old man was killed in a daylight mob attack in Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar district following an altercation with local youths. One accused has been arrested, while police deployed additional forces and continue searching for other suspects involved in the incident

A four-day-old baby girl was found critically injured in Maharashtra’s Palghar district, with police suspecting negligence and possible abandonment after inconsistencies in the mother’s statements. The infant was shifted to a Gujarat hospital as investigations continue from all angles

Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty opened 2026 higher, buoyed by domestic institutional buying and gains in Reliance Industries. Thin global cues aided cautious optimism, despite FII selling. Markets extended 2025 momentum after strong annual gains in early trade Thursday session

Delhi faced severe air pollution and cold conditions on New Year, with AQI remaining in the very poor category at 372. Dense fog, low temperatures and weak winds worsened pollution, while NCR cities also reported alarming air quality levels