The executive council of the Prime Ministers Museum and Library has been reconstituted, with Nripendra Mishra continuing as chairperson. New members include former minister Smriti Irani, ex-Army General Syed Ata Hasnain, and filmmaker Shekhar Kapur. The council expanded to 34 members, including multiple Union ministers and other prominent figures.

Haryana BJP chief Mohanlal Badoli and a singer were booked for allegedly gang-raping a woman in a Kasauli hotel. The accused filmed the act and threatened the victim. An FIR was filed naming Badoli and Rocky, leading to charges under sections 376 D and 506 of the IPC.

The parliamentary standing committee on education, women, children, youth, and sports was requested to delay its study tour to Manipur due to the current situation as stated by the state government. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh highlighted the issue and noted PM Modi's absence in visiting the distressed region.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva raised concerns over voter list irregularities, pointing to over five lakh new voter applications, including many from elderly individuals. He also accused AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal of being anti-Dalit, claiming Kejriwal sought to delete 44 voters' names associated with a Valmiki temple. Both parties have exchanged similar allegations ahead of the February 5 Assembly polls.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the commissioning of two warships, INS Surat and INS Nilgiri, along with the submarine INS Vaghsheer, on January 15. This move aims to enhance India’s naval capabilities and self-reliance in defense. The vessels, featuring advanced technology, are set to strengthen India's strategic presence in the Indian Ocean Region.

An elderly passenger lost his life when a private bus carrying 50 pilgrims from Telangana to Prayagraj caught fire at a tourist center in Vrindavan. The blaze, speculated to be caused by a lit beedi, engulfed the bus before emergency services arrived.

The home ministry has approved raising two additional battalions of the Central Industrial Security Force, comprising a total of 2,050 personnel, to enhance national security and rapid response capabilities. This move addresses increasing internal security demands and provides new employment opportunities while reducing stress on existing CISF personnel.

A Delhi court criticized the investigating officer for implicating an accused using a «manipulated video» in a February 2020 riots case. The officer was faulted for unprofessional conduct, clubbing six complaints without proper investigation, and failing to trace the video source. The court urged the police commissioner to assess and address the officer's conduct.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha shared a video criticizing Arvind Kejriwal's unfulfilled promise to make Delhi as clean as Paris. The Congress leader compared the current situation of Delhi with piles of garbage to Kejriwal's 2019 promise. Rahul Gandhi also accused both Kejriwal and PM Modi of making false promises. Delhi assembly elections are scheduled for February 5.

Jeet Thayil, a multifaceted poet, novelist, discusses his latest collection of poetry, 'I'll Have It Here', and shares insights into his creative process. Thayil's journey as a writer reflects his deep engagement with the literary world. His work, known for its experimental techniques and thoughtful commentary on society, bridges the sacred and the secular, offering readers a rich tapestry of contemporary poetry that challenges, delights, and provokes thought

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut affirms the INDIA alliance's survival is essential for democracy and urges Congress to lead efforts to maintain unity amid tensions with AAP. Despite criticisms and internal discord, local alliance formation challenges don’t overshadow the bloc's importance and upcoming election focus.

Arvind Kejriwal accuses BJP and Congress of a secret alliance after BJP's Amit Malviya reacts to Kejriwal's comments on Rahul Gandhi. Kejriwal alleges both parties are working together behind the scenes, especially with the upcoming Delhi elections where AAP and Congress will contest separately.

Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal has been on an indefinite hunger strike for 50 days seeking a legal guarantee for minimum support price on crops. The Supreme Court will hear his plea on January 15, addressing his demand and considering contempt action against Punjab authorities for not moving him to a hospital despite prior orders.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar highlights strong growth in India-US relations under leaders Modi and Trump, expressing confidence in future ties. During his visit to Spain, he emphasizes India’s substantial interests in the Mediterranean region and the importance of India-Spain and India-EU cooperation for global stability.

Delhi High Court criticized the AAP government for not promptly forwarding key CAG reports to the assembly for discussion on the scrapped liquor policy, raising doubts about their motives. The court noted that calling an assembly session is the Speaker's prerogative and scheduled the next hearing for January 16.

Amid the push for gender-neutrality in the armed forces, General Upendra Dwivedi supports women officers, countering a Lt General's criticism. The number of women officers is set to increase, with plans to induct more into various ranks by 2032. Women are already serving successfully in multiple non-combat roles.

IT and I&B minister Ashwini Vaishnaw rebutted Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg's claim that incumbents, including those in India, lost elections post-Covid. Vaishnaw highlighted Modi's third-term win in 2024 amid pandemic policies, criticizing the misinformation and emphasizing the significance of accurate information dissemination.

One of two youths from Thrissur, trapped in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, is believed to have been killed by Ukrainian forces as per information from the Indian embassy. Although confirmed verbally, official communication is still pending. His cousin, also trapped, was injured and underwent surgery in Moscow.

Kerala Police have arrested 14 more people, aged 18 to 25, in connection with the rape and abuse of a Dalit girl in Pathanamthitta district, bringing the total number of accused in custody to 42. The survivor, aged 18, alleges abuse by nearly 60 people since age 13.

India's market capitalization dropped below $5 trillion for the first time in over seven months due to a sliding market and a weakening rupee. Investor sentiment waned due to strong US jobs data, rising crude oil prices, and global market sell-offs, leading to heavy losses in midcap and smallcap stocks.

Banks are offering better deposit rates to attract customers amid liquidity shortages. IDBI Bank launched a scheme for individuals aged 80 and above, with higher interest rates. Similarly, Bank of Baroda introduced a liquid fixed deposit scheme allowing withdrawals in units of Rs 1,000, with extra benefits for seniors.

In December 2024, SBI Life Insurance overtook LIC in regular premium policies with Rs 3,416 crore, a 16.7% increase from last year, while LIC's premiums fell 15% to Rs 2,628 crore. Despite a significant decline in group single premium policies, LIC remained the largest player by total new business premiums.

Prime Minister Modi and J&K CM Omar Abdullah praised each other during the opening of the Sonamarg tunnel. Omar acknowledged Modi's commitment to free and fair elections. Modi promised statehood for J&K would be restored at an appropriate time, focusing on development and peace in the region.

The UGC's draft guidelines on faculty recruitment and promotions have sparked political conflict between states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala, who claim increased control for governors in Vice Chancellor appointments undermines state power in higher education. The Centre counters this by stating the process remains unchanged from prior regulations.

V Narayanan, who led India's advancements in cryogenic engine technology, has taken charge as ISRO's new chairman, replacing Somanath. Narayanan played essential roles in the Chandrayaan missions, Aditya-L1, and the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme, and will oversee critical upcoming missions including the Venus Orbiter and Bharatiya Antariksha Station.

The Supreme Court has highlighted the difficulty faced by high courts and subordinate courts in determining whether its judgments are meant for decision-making or precedent-making. It stressed the need for clarity in its verdicts to indicate if they should be treated as binding precedents.

An Ahmedabad sessions court upheld an interim order requiring a man to pay maintenance to his wife and their two adult, studying sons under the Domestic Violence Act. Despite the husband's arguments about his wife's property and son's ability to support themselves, the court maintained the financial support order.

From April, automobile manufacturers must recycle at least 8% of steel from vehicles sold in 2005-06, increasing to 18% by 2035-36 per new EPR norms. Compliance includes obtaining EPR certificates from authorized scrapping facilities, promoting consumer awareness, and tracking activities on a centralized portal managed by CPCB.

PM Narendra Modi and senior BJP leaders, including Amit Shah and Yogi Adityanath, hailed the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj as the 'Maha Kumbh of Unity.' The event saw significant social media engagement under the hashtag 'Ekta_Ka_Mahakumbh,' emphasizing the spiritual and cultural significance of the gathering.