Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked on the first budgetary session since 2014 without foreign interference attempts. Emphasizing 'Viksit Bharat', he highlighted the focus on innovation, inclusion, and investment for a developed India, expecting young MPs to contribute significantly. Key decisions on women's upliftment and anti-discrimination are anticipated.

The parents of the victim in Kolkata's RG Kar rape and murder have met West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose, requesting the governor to take up their grievances with President Droupadi Murmu and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

BJP's Harpreet Kaur Babla was elected as the new mayor of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, thanks to cross-voting by three councillors. She won by a margin of two votes against AAP's Prem Lata. Congress and AAP leaders called for strict action against the cross-voters involved.

Consumption inequality in rural and urban areas of India decreased in 2023-24 compared to the previous year, as shown by the HCES. Average monthly per capita consumption expenditure also rose across the 18 major states, with the highest increases in rural Odisha and urban Punjab.

Good Glamm Group, a Mumbai-based unicorn, saw investor exits from its board amid financial issues like fund constraints, delayed salaries, and layoffs. Representatives from Accel Partners, Bessemer, and Prosus Ventures resigned in December. The company is restructuring and planning a new fundraise. These exits highlight corporate governance concerns, reminiscent of similar issues at Byju's.

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will become the first Indian astronaut on the International Space Station with the Axiom Mission 4 in 2025. As an Indian Air Force pilot, he will join a diverse international crew for a 14-day mission conducting experiments and outreach programs. Shukla aims to showcase Indian culture in space, including performing yoga onboard.

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Airforce has been named the pilot for Axiom Mission 4 to the ISS, planned for later this year. Shukla, selected for ISRO's Gaganyaan mission, will join a team led by Peggy Whitson on this private spaceflight aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.

The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) initially announced a hike in the honorarium for special police officers (SPOs) via social media, but later clarified it hadn't happened and dismissed the responsible adviser. This reversal drew criticism and raised questions about government pressure.

The Election Commission may order a criminal FIR against former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal for failing to substantiate claims that Haryana's BJP government poisoned Yamuna waters. The EC emphasized that his allegations could incite public disorder and disharmony between states, raising possibilities of legal action for violating the model code of conduct.

Telangana HC revealed a probe report indicating some cops unlawfully tapped phones of several HC judges. Justice K Sujana granted bail to two key cops, suspended ACP N Bhujanga Rao and retired DCP P Radhakishan Rao, as the investigation would prolong the trial. The conspiracy involved profiling multiple judges' phones.

Election officials and police investigated a complaint about money distribution at Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann's residence in Delhi. They faced resistance and were delayed for 90 minutes by security personnel. AAP leaders accused the Election Commission of bias, while BJP claimed the officials were obstructed from retrieving evidence.

Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari highlighted the impact of social media in exposing government shortcomings, emphasizing the need for quick resolution of road quality issues. He advocated for the mandatory adoption of Automated and Intelligent Machine-Aided Construction technology in highway projects to enhance efficiency and transparency.

An international study has cautioned that the growing number of hydroelectric projects near glacier lakes in the Himalayas increases risks of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF). The 2023 flood that destroyed Sikkim's Teesta III project underscores the vulnerability of Himalayan hydropower infrastructure to extreme natural events exacerbated by climate change.

Rahul Gandhi criticized Congress for not effectively protecting the interests of Dalits and backward classes since the 1990s, resulting in loss of support. He believed this allowed the rise of RSS and BJP. Gandhi emphasized the need for internal reforms to regain the confidence of marginalized communities.

Maharashtra has decided to remove eggs and sugar from the midday meal menu for classes 1 to 8, following the pattern of other BJP-governed states. This move has been criticized by opposition members, who believe that the government's revised menu, which includes 'egg pulao' and nachni sattu, is not in the best interest of schoolchildren.

On the eve of the first budget session in the 18th Lok Sabha, BJP allies JD(U), LJP, and TDP presented their demands at an all-party meeting. JD(U) sought an extension for the Joint Parliamentary Committee on simultaneous elections, while LJP requested a special industrial package for Bihar.

The political rivalry between AAP and Congress in Delhi has intensified as Arvind Kejriwal and Rahul Gandhi engage in direct attacks. Accusations of corruption and alliances with the BJP are central to their dispute. This conflict could influence the cohesion and future of the opposition's INDIA bloc.

Domestic flights in India were the most packed globally in 2024, with an 86.4% passenger load factor. Despite supply chain constraints and grounded aircraft due to engine issues, India recorded its highest ever domestic air travellers at 163 million. Globally, overall air travel demand and efficiency reached record levels.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav campaigned for AAP in the upcoming Delhi elections. He urged voters to support Arvind Kejriwal's party to defeat BJP. Akhilesh's support highlights a strategy within the INDIA bloc to consolidate votes. Congress faces criticism and struggles to regain footing in Delhi, casting doubts on alliance unity.

Aam Aadmi Party accuses Bharatiya Janata Party of misusing the Election Commission and Delhi Police to defame Punjabis by conducting an unwarranted raid at Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann's Delhi residence. AAP calls out BJP for allegedly distributing money openly without repercussions.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut claims some BJP leaders desire an alliance with Uddhav Thackeray's party, a notion CM Devendra Fadnavis dismisses. Raut mentions no discussions within Sena (UBT) on this yet. Tensions follow Shiv Sena's 2022 split, where Eknath Shinde and 39 MLAs joined BJP, causing MVA government's collapse and leading to Shinde-Fadnavis government formation.

The political rivalry between AAP and Congress in Delhi has intensified as Arvind Kejriwal and Rahul Gandhi engage in direct attacks. Accusations of corruption and alliances with the BJP are central to their dispute. This conflict could influence the cohesion and future of the opposition's INDIA bloc.

Aam Aadmi Party accused the Election Commission of targeting Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann by searching his Delhi residence, while ignoring BJP's alleged code of conduct violations. This came after BJP claimed AAP personnel brought in campaign material and potentially threatening elements from Punjab, leading to a controversial vehicle seizure near Punjab Bhavan.

Harpreet Kaur Babla of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been elected as the new Mayor of Chandigarh, securing 19 out of 36 votes, including three from cross-voting. Her victory comes despite the alliance between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress, marking a crucial political shift.

Amit Shah accused Arvind Kejriwal of lying about the BJP poisoning the Yamuna, challenging him to provide evidence. Shah criticized AAP for broken promises and alleged scams. Meanwhile, Kejriwal must clarify his claims to the Election Commission. The political exchange intensifies as Delhi's elections approach, with accusations from both sides.

Punjab minister Harpal Singh Cheema accused Congress of «backstabbing» AAP in Chandigarh mayoral polls by secretly aligning with BJP, leading to BJP's victory. Cheema alleged that this alliance also helped Congress secure deputy and senior deputy mayor posts. He warned Delhi voters against supporting Congress, claiming any vote for them benefits BJP.

Jammu and Kashmir Congress leader Tariq Hameed Karra criticized the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and Waqf amendment bill, calling them tools to spread hatred and divide the nation. He also expressed doubts about the upcoming union budget, fearing it won’t address issues like unemployment and inflation. Karra emphasized the importance of Gandhian values and accused the BJP of fostering division to maintain power, citing failures in economic and foreign policies.

The Supreme Court directs the Union government to form an expert committee for drafting a law to protect househelps, citing rampant abuse and a lack of legal safeguards. Past attempts to legislate these protections have failed over the last 66 years.

Arvind Kejriwal responded to the Election Commission's notice by stating that Haryana's water supplied to Delhi was highly contaminated with toxic ammonia levels. Kejriwal emphasized the severe health hazards posed by this contamination and urged for immediate institutional and government intervention.