An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 on the Richter Scale jolted Morigaon district in Assam early Monday morning. The tremor, with its epicentre at a depth of 50 km, was felt across central Assam. Authorities are monitoring the situation, with no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
The Supreme Court has ruled that Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBC, and EWS candidates are eligible for general category posts if they meet the general cutoff marks. This decision, inspired by the Indra Sawhney case, allows reserved category candidates to be considered on merit for unreserved posts, preventing them from being barred despite higher scores.
Indore health officials declared a waterborne disease outbreak in Bhagirathpura an epidemic after 10 deaths. Specialized national and state teams are investigating the contamination source. Narmada water supply remains suspended, with residents instructed on borewell and tank chlorination. Clean water is being supplied via tankers, and affected patients receive free treatment.
Official audits for years warned of public health risks from contaminated drinking water in Madhya Pradesh, citing over 5.45 lakh water-borne disease cases in Bhopal and Indore between 2013-2018. Despite these alerts, systemic lapses in monitoring and testing by urban local bodies persisted, leading to faecal coliform detection in water supplies and potential health impacts for lakhs of residents.
A Bihar youth, duped by cybercriminals, arrived at the prestigious LBSNAA in Mussoorie for IAS training, only to be stopped at the gate. He had paid Rs 30,000 after receiving forged UPSC results and a fake selection letter. Police are investigating this elaborate scam targeting aspiring civil servants.
A 7-km twin-tube tunnel is planned to connect Chaumasi to Sonprayag, improving connectivity and safety for Kedarnath pilgrims. This project aims to reduce travel time and provide an emergency escape route, complementing the upcoming Sonprayag-Kedarnath ropeway. The government is prioritizing detailed geological studies for the tunnel construction.
Dense fog over Lucknow caused significant disruption for Air India Express flights on January 2 and 4. One Boeing 737 MAX 8 circled the city 28 times across two mornings, ultimately returning to Delhi without landing due to poor visibility. Other flights also faced substantial delays.
Senior Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor and Abhishek Manu Singhvi condemned the US airstrikes on Venezuela, calling it «law of the jungle» and «19th-century imperialism.» Meanwhile, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi drew a parallel to India, prompting sharp retorts from BJP and Shiv Sena leaders. India's Ministry of External Affairs expressed deep concern and urged peaceful resolution.
The “white-collar” terror module began to unravel on the intervening night of October 18-19, 2025, when posters of the banned Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) appeared on walls outside Srinagar city, warning of attacks on police and security forces in the Valley. A large cache of arms and ammunition, including 2,900 kg of ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate and sulphur, was seized during the operation, officials said.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his condolence message on the passing of former PM Khaleda Zia. The BNP acknowledged Zia's contributions to India-Bangladesh relations. India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar represented the country at Zia's funeral.
At a time when the Centre is pushing for restructuring the defence forces, the Indian Army has carried out one of the biggest ever transformations to meet modern warfare challenges as it has created a pool of over one lakh drone operatives across the force.
India is set to unveil a landmark exposition of Buddha's Piprahwa relics, recently repatriated after 127 years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 'Light and the Lotus' exhibition in Delhi, showcasing over 80 objects, including sculptures and manuscripts, marking a significant reunification of authenticated relics.
2026 marks a pivotal year for space exploration, with India's Gaganyaan and Samudrayaan missions, NASA's Artemis II lunar journey, and China's Chang'e-7 targeting the Moon's south pole. New telescopes like PLATO and Xuntian, alongside India's Aditya-L1 observing the Sun, promise groundbreaking discoveries, pushing humanity's reach further into the cosmos and oceans.
Former actress Sana Khan is preparing for her fourth Haj, opting for a modern multi-storey tower in Mina instead of traditional tents. This shift reflects a growing trend among Indian pilgrims seeking enhanced amenities during the sacred journey. Saudi authorities have introduced these towers, offering a more comfortable experience, though some traditionalists express reservations.
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) warns that the EU's new carbon border tax will shift decarbonisation costs onto developing nations like India. This measure, set to generate significant revenue for the EU, imposes tariffs on emission-intensive goods, potentially impacting India's steel and aluminium exports by around 25% and creating trade disadvantages.
J&K government convened a workshop with over 100 mosque imams to combat rising heroin addiction. Religious leaders were urged to destigmatize patients and raise awareness about substance abuse's harmful impacts. This initiative is part of a three-stage strategy focusing on awareness, identification, and rehabilitation to address the growing drug menace in the region.
Tech co-developed with IIT-M is now under development trial
A key Hindu candidate, Gobindadeb Pramanik, had his nomination rejected for the Gopalganj-3 seat in Bangladesh polls due to alleged invalid signatures. Pramanik, general secretary of Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mahajote, claims political intimidation led to the rejection, despite having the required 1% voter support. He plans to appeal the decision.
A Meitei civil society group has alerted PM Modi about a Chin Kuki Zo organization's appeals to foreign governments and UN bodies, warning of threats to India's sovereignty and security. The group urged a review of security policies and Suspension of Operations agreements to ensure a lawful resolution for Manipur.
Following the encounter of top Maoist Madvi Hidma, his close confidant Barse Deva surrendered with 40 rebels in Telangana, marking the apparent wipeout of the feared PLGA battalion number 1. Deva, a Koya tribal from the same village as Hidma, was involved in numerous deadly ambushes, including the Jhiram Ghati attack.
Security forces have eliminated 14 Maoists in Bastar, including key figures like Sachin Mangtu, in separate operations in Bijapur and Sukma. This significant crackdown, following intelligence on armed cadres, has led to the recovery of a large weapons cache. Officials claim commanders involved in a recent ASP's killing are now neutralized, significantly weakening rebel presence in the region.
Rajasthan government controversially redrew Barmer and Balotra district boundaries just before census freeze, shifting thousands of voters. The move, impacting over 2.5 lakh voters, has sparked political accusations of manipulation for electoral gains and delimitation calculations.
The Allahabad High Court ruled that waitlisted candidates do not have an absolute right to appointment, and waitlists cannot exist indefinitely. This decision came after a petition by candidates who were initially not selected for assistant teacher posts. The court emphasized that selection processes must conclude within a reasonable timeframe.
Congress has launched a 45-day nationwide protest, the 'MGNREGA bachao sangram,' starting January 8, demanding the restoration of the job guarantee scheme. The party plans to challenge the new VB-GRAMG law in court, alleging it violates constitutional provisions by shifting financial burdens to states and undermining panchayat autonomy. This agitation aims to force the government to reinstate the scheme.
Nitin Nabin is poised to become the BJP's new national president, with elections anticipated post-January 14. This move signals a potential «generational change» within the party, as Nabin, aged 45, is expected to lead a revamped team of office-bearers. The organizational overhaul will likely follow his formal election, preceding the budget session.
Political clashes erupted in Indore's Bhagirathpura as BJP and Congress workers confronted each other over contaminated water deaths. Police intervened, detaining Congress leaders and workers who were attempting to meet affected families. The incident highlights escalating tensions amidst a growing death toll from diarrhoea.
