India and the Maldives have reaffirmed their commitment to bilateral cooperation during a meeting between foreign minister S Jaishankar and his Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Khaleel. Both sides signed a MoU to implement High Impact Community Development Projects in the Maldives with Indian grant assistance, emphasizing India’s 'Neighbourhood First' policy.

Punjab govt has urged Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's intervention in resolving the farmers' protest at the Punjab-Haryana border. In a letter, Punjab's agriculture minister highlighted the ongoing hunger strike by farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal and sought actions aligned with the Supreme Court's directions.

PM Modi launched an attack on AAP, dubbing it a 'disaster' and accusing it of stalling Delhi's development and engaging in corruption. Modi emphasized his government's achievements and criticized AAP's handling of projects and policies. He urged voters to bring change, setting a combative tone for the upcoming Delhi assembly elections.

India's Army will implement a new quantified assessment system for promoting lieutenant generals, effective March 31, aimed at merit-based selection for apex-level roles. This system contrasts with the current seniority-based promotion policy, aligning with similar practices in the Air Force and Navy, and supports the creation of tri-Service theatre commands.

A zilla parishad school in Hiwali village, Maharashtra, stands out with its innovative approach, integrating academic lessons with practical skills like welding and organic farming. The transformation, led by Keshav Gavit since 2009, has greatly improved student engagement and academic achievements, garnering the attention of state education minister Dada Bhuse.

The draft rules for the DPDP Act released by the IT ministry in India state that children under 18 can join social media platforms only with parental consent. Restrictions are imposed on transferring certain personal data outside India, affecting companies like Meta and Google. Stakeholder comments on these rules will be accepted until February 18.

India's coastline has significantly expanded from 7,516km in 1970 to 11,098km in 2023-24, driven by new measurement methodologies. Gujarat and Bengal saw the most growth, while Puducherry's coastline shrank. The recalculations reflect advances in accurately measuring coastline features, boosting economic prospects in coastal states like AP with new ports and infrastructure projects.

The Indian government criticized the Washington Post, accusing it of fostering relentless hostility towards India after reports surfaced about India's alleged covert operations in the Maldives and Pakistan. New Delhi dismissed these claims as baseless and emphasized Pakistan's role in sponsoring terrorism instead.

Official sources have questioned the valuation of a 7.5-carat lab-grown diamond gifted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Jill Biden. They suggest the actual market value is between Rs 1.1 lakh and Rs 1.9 lakh, much lower than the US state department's assessment of $20,000, pointing out recent price drops in lab-grown diamonds.

Congress accuses the BJP government of violating the Places of Worship Act, 1991, and plans to join the Supreme Court case demanding adherence to the law. The party will file an application, highlighting the political stance regarding the recent developments and accusations of BJP's role in court applications.

Home Minister Amit Shah prioritises 100% renewable energy in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep using solar panels and windmills. He reviews progress, stressing the need for a holistic approach to infrastructure projects, highlighting the focus on tourism and trade while preserving cultural heritage.

A CBI court sentenced 10 individuals to life imprisonment and four others, including ex-CPM MLA KV Kunhiraman, to five years for the 2019 murder of two Youth Congress workers in Kerala. The court imposed a fine of Rs 2 lakh on each of the life-term convicts.

Train operations between Jammu and Srinagar will begin in the coming weeks, including a Vande Bharat train taking three hours and 10 minutes. Services will start from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, with round trips daily. Railways also introduced a new Jammu rail division and continue speed trials for the Vande Bharat sleeper train.

A new study reveals that only 25% of India's population has access to stroke-ready hospitals. With 1.5 million stroke cases annually, treatment options like IVT and EVT are limited, especially in the central, east, and north-east regions. Southern states, Chandigarh, Kerala, and Delhi have the best coverage.

Actor Allu Arjun has been granted regular bail after a stampede at the premiere of his film 'Pushpa 2: The Rule' led to a woman's death and her son's critical injury. The court imposed conditions including restrictions on leaving the country and regular check-ins at a police station.

The Supreme Court of India highlighted the importance of protecting senior citizens, stating that gift deeds executed by parents can be invalidated under the Maintenance and Welfare of the Parents and Senior Citizens Act if their children do not provide for them, even if such conditions are not explicitly stated in the deed.

The Supreme Court has ruled that existing laws in a state will remain applicable in a newly formed state unless modified by the new state. It stated that Telangana does not require separate approval for CBI investigations as existing laws from Andhra Pradesh would still apply until altered.

The UAPA Tribunal confirmed the Centre's notification declaring the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) as an unlawful organisation for five years. Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta cited evidence linking SFJ to international Khalistani terror groups, ISI, youth radicalization, terror financing, and threats to politicians, supporting the decision with testimonies from 52 witnesses.

The Allahabad High Court has stayed the arrest of Samajwadi Party MP Ziaur Rahman Barq in connection with the violence in Sambhal district. The court refused to quash the FIR and instructed Barq to cooperate with the investigation, noting that specific arrest guidelines must be adhered to if he is taken into custody.

Isro is preparing to launch Mission ShakthiSAT in Sept 2026, featuring 12,000 talented girls from 108 countries. The mission aims to encourage young female participation in space exploration. Selected participants will gather in Chennai to build payloads for scientific experiments. This initiative highlights the potential of untapped talent among young girls worldwide.

Tahawwur Rana, accused in the Mumbai 26/11 attacks, is making his final legal attempt to avoid extradition to India. His lawyer argues that extradition would violate the double jeopardy principle. The US government had disagreed earlier, indicating that some charges, such as forgery, were not addressed in previous trials. The Supreme Court will confer on this matter on January 17.

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2023 state visit to the White House, New Delhi gifted US First Lady Jill Biden a $20,000 lab diamond, the most expensive present. Modi also gave President Biden a carved sandalwood box, statue, oil lamp, and a book. Gifts totaling around $35,000 were presented to various US officials.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat clarified that 'lathi-training' given to its cadres is intended to instill bravery and steadfastness, not for fighting or public display. Speaking at an event in Indore, he emphasized that this training promotes a sense of resolve and patience, as well as fostering patriotism through traditional martial music and arts.

India's health ministry reassures there is no cause for alarm regarding Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) reports from China. Analysis of respiratory outbreak data in India shows no substantial increase. Public urged to follow precautions, while China downplays flu outbreak severity, asserting it's safe for travel.

A special MP-MLA court in Muzaffarnagar framed charges against several BJP leaders, including UP minister Kapil Dev Aggarwal and ex-Union minister Sanjeev Balyan, and others for their alleged roles in inciting violence during the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots. The next hearing is scheduled for January 30.

President Joe Biden blocked Japan's Nippon Steel’s proposed $15 billion acquisition of US Steel, citing national security concerns and the need for American steelmaking capacity to remain domestically controlled. This decision, aligning with opposition from political figures like Donald Trump, could impact US-Japan diplomatic relations.

The Supreme Court has ruled the CBI does not require state government consent to register FIRs against Central government employees, overturning an Andhra Pradesh High Court decision. The judgement held state-specific consent unnecessary for probing central offences under central legislation involving federal employees.

The Supreme Court used its special powers to ensure landowners receive compensation based on current market values if the government delays payment. The ruling came from a case involving land acquired for the Bengaluru-Mysuru project in 2003, with compensation significantly delayed, prompting the court to mandate payout based on 2019 rates.

The Supreme Court inquired about the Centre's stance on the proposal for guaranteeing MSP legally, following the withdrawal of farm laws. The court urged the Centre to keep negotiation channels open, acknowledging concerns about nationwide farmers but focusing discussions on specific groups.