India

Rahul Gandhi praised Priyanka Gandhi in the Lok Sabha, saying she achieved in minutes what he could not in years. His remarks, along with comments on women’s role and the Prime Minister, sparked laughter in the House

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the Nashik TCS case involves serious allegations of sexual harassment and religious coercion carried out under a systematic module, with investigations ongoing and the company cooperating fully with authorities

Rahul Gandhi criticised the Constitution amendment bill in Lok Sabha, alleging it aims to change India’s electoral map by reducing representation of southern and smaller states, and called the move anti-national while demanding implementation of the 2023 Women’s Reservation Act

Rahul Gandhi, during a Lok Sabha debate, made a light-hearted remark that he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi do not have a “wife issue”, while highlighting the influence of women in their lives and praising Priyanka Gandhi’s speech

The Supreme Court of India issued notice on a CBI appeal challenging the Kerala High Court acquittal of police officials in the 2005 Udayakumar custodial death case, where earlier convictions for murder, conspiracy and torture were overturned

The Supreme Court refused to grant protection from arrest to Congress leader Pawan Khera in a case related to allegations against Assam Chief Minister’s wife. The court asked him to approach a competent court in Assam for anticipatory bail

Karnataka has made nature guides mandatory for trekking on forest routes under a new SOP. The move aims to improve safety following recent incidents, with rules on registration, group size, communication, and environmental protection measures for trekkers

The Delhi High Court ruled that EWS candidates cannot claim age or attempt relaxations equal to SC/ST/OBC groups, stating economic disadvantage differs from caste-based discrimination, and upheld existing UPSC policies and related government notifications

Four Maoists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Jharkhand’s Hazaribag district. The operation was launched following a tip-off in a forest area. No security personnel were injured, and identities of the Maoists are being established

A close aide of self-styled godman Ashok Kharat and his wife were killed after their car hit a stationary truck on the Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra. Their son was injured. Police have registered a case and launched a crash analysis

A Bengaluru special court sentenced Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni to life imprisonment for conspiring in BJP leader Yogesh Gowda’s murder, awarding compensation to the victim’s family and convicting multiple accused after a prolonged Central Bureau of Investigation probe

The Income Tax Department conducted raids at premises linked to TMC MLA Debashis Kumar and Miraj Shah in Kolkata ahead of Assembly polls. The TMC termed the action politically motivated, while officials said it was part of a probe into unaccounted money

The National Human Rights Commission issued notices to Maharashtra authorities and Tata Consultancy Services over alleged sexual exploitation and forced conversion at its Nashik office, seeking detailed reports on FIRs, POSH compliance and internal mechanisms

India welcomed the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, with MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal backing peace efforts, while noting due process on designating Hamas as a terror outfit amid regional tensions.

Tata Consultancy Services has suspended employee Nida Khan, named as the main accused in a religious conversion-related case in Nashik. The company termed it an interim measure pending investigation, as authorities continue to probe the allegations

The Gujarat High Court dismissed the Asaram Ashram Trust appeal in a Motera land dispute, upholding government action to reclaim over 45,000 sq m citing violations, clearing the way for possession near Narendra Modi Stadium.

Indian equity markets ended higher on Friday, with Nifty and Sensex gaining amid cautious optimism ahead of US-Iran talks. Broader markets outperformed, while easing geopolitical tensions and sectoral gains supported investor sentiment despite ongoing global uncertainties

Global tech layoffs have crossed 80,000 in the first quarter of 2026 and may exceed 3 lakh this year, driven by AI-led restructuring. Major firms like Oracle, Amazon and Meta are leading job cuts amid cost optimisation efforts

Devendra Fadnavis said authorities will bust a module behind alleged sexual harassment and forced conversion at Tata Consultancy Services Nashik unit, with arrests made and central agencies assisting the ongoing multi-case investigation

The Enforcement Directorate conducted fresh raids in Nashik against self-styled godman Ashok Kharat in a money laundering probe, seizing documents and digital evidence linked to alleged benami properties, financial fraud and exploitation allegations.

Narendra Modi urged Lok Sabha MPs to support the women’s reservation bill, appealing to protect ‘nari shakti’ sentiments and create history by granting 33% quota, alongside voting on delimitation and related bills to expand parliamentary representation.

Shashi Tharoor criticised Narendra Modi for linking women’s reservation to delimitation, calling it “barbed wire” and warning it could become “political demonetisation”, urging immediate implementation of quota and wider consultation on delimitation reforms.

Gold prices have risen nearly 10 per cent in 2026 ahead of Akshaya Tritiya, driven by global uncertainty. Despite volatility and weak jewellery demand in India, long-term outlook remains positive, with investors increasingly shifting towards financial gold options like ETFs

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s epic romance Love and War, starring Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal, is now sets on silver screen for a January 21, 2027 theatrical release, postponed from March 2026, the makers announced officially on social media