American billionaire and philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs visited the ashram of her guru, Swami Kailashnand Giri, in Prayagraj to participate in the Maha Kumbh mela. Accompanied by her 40-member team, she will stay until January 15 before returning to the US.

Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw launched a 'Kumbh War Room' at Rail Bhawan ahead of Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. Operating 24x7, it features live CCTV feeds from 1,176 cameras across nine stations and multilingual announcements. With Rs 5,000 crore invested in infrastructure, 13,000 trains will ensure smooth operations. This enhances coordination between railway officials and district authorities.

Groundwater quality across India significantly varies, with states like Rajasthan, Haryana, and Andhra Pradesh facing widespread contamination from uranium, nitrate, fluoride, arsenic, and iron. Urgent concerns include health risks like fluorosis and cancer due to elevated contamination levels in several regions, exacerbated by agricultural run-off and overuse of fertilizers.

Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin criticized Governor RN Ravi for walking out of the assembly due to the playing of the Tamil anthem instead of the national anthem. The governor claimed that Stalin disrespects the nation and constitution, while the assembly followed its tradition of starting with the Tamil anthem.

Sanyukt Kisan Morcha postponed its unity meeting with two farmer groups to Jan 13 as Jagjit Singh Dallewal's health deteriorated during his fast unto death. An elderly protester died at the site. SKM requested PM Modi to engage in dialogue with farmer organizations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized focusing on improving infrastructure, amenities, and transportation networks in naturally growing urban zones. He suggests prioritizing vertical development over creating new cities to better manage growth and decongestion. The housing ministry aims to develop a framework for transit-oriented development while collaborating with states.

V Narayanan will become the new chairman of Isro on January 14. Rising from humble beginnings, the son of a farmer, he has been pivotal in developing cryogenic engines vital for India's Chandrayaan missions. A rocket and spacecraft propulsion expert with an M.Tech and Ph.D., Narayanan aims to elevate Isro further.

L&T chairman SN Subrahmanyan's suggestion of a 90-hour work week and mandatory Sunday work sparked a social media backlash, with netizens and corporate bosses criticizing the idea. His comments on reducing home time in favor of workplace presence stirred significant debate, highlighting the ongoing discussion around work-life balance.

India is set to finalize four major defense deals worth over Rs 1.5 lakh crore, including contracts with France for 26 Rafale-Marine fighters and three Scorpene submarines. The deals also cover 156 Prachand light combat helicopters and 307 advanced towed artillery gun systems, significantly enhancing India's military capabilities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue, emphasized that India's youth will drive the nation towards becoming a developed country by 2047. He highlighted the role of young leaders in shaping policies and the importance of collective effort and determination in achieving ambitious goals.

Over 1 crore devotees congregated at the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati for the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, braving the cold for a holy dip. The spiritual event, including significant 'amrit snan' days, will run until February 26. Extensive preparations include 8 permanent ghats, 1.6 lakh tents, and 13,000 trains to facilitate pilgrims.

Karnataka High Court ruled that mediclaim reimbursements must be deducted from accident compensation under medical expenses. Justice Hanchate Sanjeevkumar directed Oriental Insurance to pay Rs 4.93 lakh to the family of S Hanumanthappa after deducting Rs 1.8 lakh received from mediclaim. Hanumanthappa was awarded Rs 6.7 lakh by a tribunal, but the insurer challenged the medical expenses.

Bangladesh's foreign ministry summoned Indian high commissioner Pranay Verma to address concerns over BSF's unauthorized construction of barbed wire fencing along the border, causing tensions. Bangladesh also raised issues of border killings and urged India to stop such incidents and ensure enquiries and actions against those responsible.

Total annual groundwater recharge in India slightly declined in 2024 due to higher extraction, with significant contributions from northwest states like Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi. Increase in 'critical' and 'over-exploited' units raises concerns about water scarcity, despite improvement in some areas.

The Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, from January 13 to February 26, is set to be the world's largest gathering, with cultural and tourism ministries collaborating to enhance visitor experience. With expected attendance of 40 crore, preparations include enhanced connectivity, cultural showcases, and multilingual toll-free assistance for tourists.

A five-year-old girl from Badhaal village in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district has died, and five of her siblings were hospitalized due to food poisoning-like symptoms. Four critically ill children were transferred to Jammu. This incident follows the deaths of nine people from unknown diseases in the same village last December. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation.

Eight people died and several others were injured when a tempo collided with a truck near Dwarka Circle in Nashik, Maharashtra. The accident occurred around 7:30 PM, with the tempo carrying 16 passengers returning from a religious event. Immediate rescue operations were conducted, and the injured are being treated at hospitals. The death toll may rise due to critical injuries.

A bus accident in Uttarakhand's Pauri Garhwal District resulted in six deaths and 16 injuries. The vehicle fell into a 100-metre-deep ditch. Rescue operations are ongoing, and injured passengers are being treated at nearby hospitals. Uttarakhand CM expressed condolences and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.

BJP MLA Mohan Singh Bisht criticized his party's decision to field ex-AAP member Kapil Mishra for the Karawal Nagar seat, calling it a mistake. Bisht stated he will still contest from Karawal Nagar and voiced the importance of ground workers in upcoming Delhi elections.

The central panel in Delhi-NCR revoked Stage-III air quality restrictions amid improved pollution levels and favorable weather conditions. Institutions are urged to adhere to Stage-I and II protocols to prevent deterioration of air quality. Citizens are advised to follow guidelines, with further potential weather disruptions expected around mid-January 2025.

Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva accused AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal of attempting to incite religious conflict by requesting the removal of Dalit voters from the Valmiki Temple area. Sachdeva claimed bias in Kejriwal's approach and accused him of targeting Hindu Dalits. The BJP also criticized AAP for corruption and inefficiency ahead of the upcoming Delhi assembly elections.

BJP's Manohar Lal Khattar called Nehru's appointment as India's first PM 'accidental', suggesting Vallabhbhai Patel or BR Ambedkar were more deserving. Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda retaliated, calling Khattar an 'accidental chief minister' and critiquing BJP's governance in Haryana for poor economic performance.

Five Maoists, including two women, were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Bijapur, Bastar. This operation came days after an IED blast killed eight policemen and a civilian driver. Security forces seized weapons and explosives, and further search operations are ongoing in the region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the importance of the youth in transforming India into a developed nation, highlighting Swami Vivekananda's faith in the younger generation. Speaking on National Youth Day, Modi underscored ambitious goals, including achieving 20% ethanol blending by 2030 and hosting the Olympics. He called for active citizen involvement in realizing the vision of 'Viksit Bharat.'

Arvind Kejriwal's claim that Ramesh Bidhuri is the BJP's chief ministerial candidate for Delhi has been denied by Bidhuri, who called it baseless. Bidhuri accused Kejriwal of misleading propaganda and reiterated his commitment to serving the people and the Bharatiya Janata Party without seeking any post.

India and Bangladesh addressed escalating border tensions, emphasizing a cooperative approach to crime prevention. Disputes stem from «unequal agreements» of a previous government. The efforts to install barbed wire fencing along the border were halted amid objections from the Border Guard Bangladesh.

Union home minister Amit Shah attributed BJP's victory in the Maharashtra assembly polls to ending the 'politics of betrayal' started by Sharad Pawar. He also criticized Uddhav Thackeray and claimed that Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena represents Balasaheb’s ideology, while Ajit Pawar’s faction is the real NCP.

Tamil Nadu's governor criticized chief minister MK Stalin for calling his walkout 'childish,' after Ravi protested the omission of the National Anthem at the assembly's opening session. Stalin defended the state's tradition of playing the Tamil Anthem at the start and the National Anthem at the end.

Amid speculation of internal discord within INDIA alliance, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav denies any rift, asserting the alliance's unity. Contrasting opinions emerge from within, with some leaders blaming Congress for failing to maintain unity post-elections, while others prioritize direct contests against BJP.