The film fraternity mourned the passing of Shyam Benegal, a pioneer of New Wave cinema, who mentored numerous actors and revolutionized Indian cinema with films like 'Ankur' and 'Manthan'. His work, celebrated for its raw and real storytelling, leaves a lasting legacy.

A Joint Parliamentary Committee's first meeting on 'one nation, one election' is set for Jan 8, with an agenda to assess the implications of simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assembly elections. The Constitution and Union Territories Laws Amendment Bills face strong opposition, needing a two-thirds majority for constitutional amendments.

A claims tribunal in Meerut has ordered 69 individuals to pay over Rs 12 lakh for damaging public property during protests against the Agnipath scheme in 2022. The protests saw trains torched and buses damaged in Aligarh. The order was passed under the UP Recovery of Damages Act, 2020.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasizes cooperation with friendly nations on intelligence to detect anti-India outfits. He highlights the importance of new strategies to counter emerging threats, including cyber and psychological warfare, and calls for the use of AI and blockchain to address these security challenges.

Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti has criticised RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's remarks cautioning against temple-mosque disputes, emphasizing that such religious matters should be decided by religious leaders. This dissent highlights ongoing tensions within the Hindu community over RSS's role in spiritual matters. The comments follow legal petitions and unrest related to temple-mosque conflicts.

Jagjit Singh Dallewal's hunger strike reaches day 28, with Abhimanyu Kohar criticising the Modi government's indifference towards farmers earning just 27 rupees daily. Dallewal remains committed to farmers' welfare despite his poor health. Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar urges the end of the hunger strike, emphasizing health risks and the need for productive discussions to resolve agricultural issues in Punjab.

The 'Pushpa-2' production team provided Rs 50 lakhs to the family of a woman who died in a stampede during the film's screening in Hyderabad. Producer Naveen Yerneni visited the woman's injured son in the hospital. Allu Arjun announced a Rs 25 lakhs donation and issued a public apology following criticism over the incident.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited the family of Somnath Suryawanshi, a Dalit law student who died in custody following protests in Parbhani, Maharashtra. Gandhi alleged Suryawanshi was murdered for protecting the Constitution and blamed the RSS ideology. Chief minister Fadnavis called Gandhi's visit a political move to incite caste hatred and announced a judicial inquiry into the death and protests.

Unidentified individuals vandalized Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar's statue in Ahmedabad, damaging the nose and spectacles, leading to local protests. Authorities filed a case under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita. This incident follows another act of vandalism in Parbhani, Maharashtra, which sparked violent protests. Locals demand swift action against those responsible for these attacks.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow over efforts to disrupt peace, referencing the recent attack at a German Christmas market. Attending a Christmas event, he emphasized love and unity as taught by Lord Christ. Modi also highlighted India's humanitarian responses during major crises, stressing a commitment to global aid and human rights.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav defended Suresh Yadav's remark calling the BJP a «Hindu terrorist organization.» Yadav justified the label, citing the BJP's alleged hate-mongering, fake encounters, and unlawful activities. This followed protests sparked by Amit Shah's comments on B.R. Ambedkar, which the opposition interpreted as an insult, despite Shah's denial.

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav criticized the Uttar Pradesh government, alleging a surge in crime after two bank robberies. One incident involved thieves breaking into lockers at the Indian Overseas Bank in Lucknow, while another occurred in Saharanpur. Yadav shared CCTV footage of the Saharanpur incident, accusing the state of leading in "ease of doing crime.

BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad accused the Congress party of hypocrisy, citing their historical treatment of B.R. Ambedkar. Prasad highlighted Congress's failure to support Ambedkar's memorial and questioned their silence on his resignation. He contrasted this with the BJP's efforts to honor Ambedkar, including building a memorial and demanding an apology from Congress for their past actions.

Bangladesh formally asked India to return ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The interim government wants Hasina to face trial. She is accused of mass killings during student protests. An extradition treaty exists between the two nations. Hasina fled to India after protests ended her 15-year rule. The government plans to use the treaty to bring her back.

A group claiming affiliation with the OU-JAC vandalized actor Allu Arjun's Hyderabad residence, protesting a stampede death at a 'Pushpa 2' screening. Six individuals were arrested and granted bail. Political tensions flared as opposition parties criticized the ruling Congress over law and order, while Allu Arjun's family urged calm and reliance on legal processes.

Delhi BJP released a charge sheet against AAP government. BJP criticized AAP's handling of pollution and alleged scams. Kejriwal defended his government's work. He highlighted improvements in electricity, water, and other areas. Kejriwal also launched new schemes for women. BJP labeled these schemes as election promises. Delhi Assembly elections are scheduled for February.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributed of over 71,000 appointment letters at a Rozgar Mela, highlighting nearly 10 lakh permanent government jobs created in the last 1-1.5 years. He emphasized the government's commitment to transparency and inclusivity, enabling recruitment exams in 13 languages and empowering women with opportunities and policies like extended maternity leave.

Two BJP MPs, injured during a scuffle with Congress leaders at the new Parliament building, were discharged from the hospital Friday. The confrontation arose from a BJP protest against alleged disrespect towards Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. During the incident, MP Pratap Sarangi suffered a head injury, and MP Mukesh Rajput briefly lost consciousness.

The Karnataka High Court directed Karnataka State Law University to examine repeater students in the Indian Penal Code (IPC), not the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Two students challenged the university's notification, arguing they hadn't studied the new code. The court agreed, stating the university's argument applied only to students currently studying BNS.

Calcutta High Court granted a man divorce, citing cruelty, as his wife's family and friends stayed at his house against his will. The couple, married in 2005, lived in Kolaghat before the wife moved to Kolkata in 2008, allegedly for work convenience. However, her family continued staying at the husband's residence, causing him distress.

A Dalit post office employee in Bulandshahr died by suicide after CBI questioning related to a Rs 2.5 crore embezzlement case. Rahul Kumar, suspended for alleged negligence, left a note claiming innocence and accusing colleagues of harassment and caste discrimination linked to exposing an extramarital affair.

CLAT 2025 first admission list is delayed. Delhi HC ordered a merit list revision. Errors were found in the undergraduate exam's answer key. The court directed changes to scoring. One question was removed from evaluation. This impacts NLU admissions. The Consortium assures fairness and transparency.

Home Minister Amit Shah visited a Bru resettlement village in Tripura, reviewing the implementation of the 2020 agreement. He interacted with the community, addressing concerns about rations, Ayushman cards, and schooling. Shah encouraged skill development and self-employment opportunities while celebrating their successful resettlement and participation in elections.

Jammu and Kashmir's government is considering raising the monthly disability pension from Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000, according to Health Minister Sakeena Itoo. Itoo interacted with people with disabilities while distributing assistive devices in Jammu, assuring continuous support to improve their quality of life. The increase aims to ease the financial strain on families.

Amidst a turbulent week in Parliament, including an altercation with BJP MPs and subsequent accusations, Rahul Gandhi enjoyed a family lunch at Delhi's Kwality Restaurant. Joined by Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Robert Vadra, and other family members, they savored the restaurant's famous chole-bhature. Rahul Gandhi shared photos of the gathering on Instagram, recommending the dish to his followers.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal criticised the central government for excluding Delhi's tableau from the Republic Day parade, alleging political motivations. He questioned the BJP's vision for Delhi's upcoming assembly elections, highlighting their focus on attacking him instead of presenting a constructive narrative. Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva countered, accusing Kejriwal of politicizing national events and deflecting from real issues.

Delhi's air quality plummeted to 'severe' on Sunday, with an AQI of 409, following Saturday's 'very poor' rating. The city experienced foggy conditions and fluctuating humidity. Temperatures reached a maximum of 24.1°C and a minimum of 7.3°C. Cloudy skies and light rain are forecast for Monday, with temperatures expected between 7°C and 20°C.

Jammu and Kashmir police expanded their operation against potential misuse of SIM cards to Jammu's Samba and Kishtwar districts on Sunday, following a similar drive in Kashmir on Saturday. The initiative targets enforcing KYC guidelines and preventing SIM card misuse for illegal activities, including terrorism. Police scrutinized vendor records, verifying customer verification processes and investigating unauthorized SIM card issuance.

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi will visit Parbhani, Maharashtra, to meet families of two deceased individuals following violence sparked by alleged desecration of an Indian Constitution replica. Forty arrests were made after protests and stone-pelting erupted. While allegations of custodial death exist, the Chief Minister denies police brutality. The BJP criticizes Gandhi's visit as a «drama.»

Epigamia co-founder Rohan Mirchandani, 42, died from a sudden cardiac arrest on December 21. His passing follows other recent losses in the startup world, raising concerns about stress-related illnesses among young professionals. Mirchandani, an NYU and Wharton alumnus, founded Drums Food International in 2013, leading Epigamia to become a prominent yogurt brand in India.