Rashtrapati Bhavan condemned Sonia Gandhi's comments about President Murmu's address, describing them as in poor taste and avoidable. PM Modi and BJP leaders criticized Sonia for disrespecting the first tribal President, with Priyanka Gandhi coming to her mother's defense.

A Delhi court directed the registration of an FIR against the former SHO of Jyoti Nagar police station for allegedly committing hate crimes during the 2020 Delhi riots. The court also advised the complainant to seek action against BJP's Kapil Mishra for his involvement in the incident.

Witnesses cited by various media outlets reported several injuries following a supposed rerun of Wednesday's Akhara Marg stampede at 6am, as pilgrims moved en masse towards the ghats. Some accounts suggested 'six to seven casualties.' DIG (Maha Kumbh) Vaishnav Krishna stated Mela police will investigate, reviewing CCTV footage despite no initial information about the incident.

Ten pilgrims returning from the Maha Kumbh were killed in two separate road accidents in Uttar Pradesh on Friday. Eight were crushed under a truck in Ghazipur and two died after a car crash in Sitapur. Several others were injured, and UP's chief minister expressed condolences and called for optimal treatment for the injured.

The Supreme Court has agreed with a PIL petitioner that VIP darshan facilities at temples and religious places should be eliminated to ensure equal access for all devotees. Despite acknowledging the issue, the court stated it couldn't direct states to create a standard procedure under Article 32 of the Constitution, leaving policy decisions to the states.

Despite summons, Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna have not appeared in court for misleading advertisements. Multiple cases were filed against them, with bailable warrants issued, yet they remained absent. The Supreme Court warns states of contempt for not acting against such ads under the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act, 1956.

The Election Commission of India held a special meeting with Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal regarding his allegations of water poisoning by the BJP-led Haryana government. Kejriwal was asked to provide evidence to support his claims about the deliberate contamination of the Yamuna River, which could lead to mass casualties in Delhi.

Sonia Gandhi expressed concern over President Droupadi Murmu's apparent fatigue during her Budget session address. President Murmu highlighted India's economic progress, paid tribute to former PM Manmohan Singh, and discussed various government initiatives, including housing, healthcare, and financial empowerment for women.

India’s economic survey 2025 highlights the need to leverage global trade shifts, including rising protectionism, to boost growth and competitiveness. It suggests reducing trade costs and enhancing export facilitation. India’s forex reserves stood at $640.3 billion, covering 90 per cent of external debt. Exports grew 6 per cent to $602.6 billion, while imports rose 6.9 per cent to $682.2 billion. Despite global uncertainties, FDI inflows showed revival, and FPIs remained positive overall.

Akhilesh Yadav accuses the Uttar Pradesh government of hiding the true death toll from the Maha Kumbh stampede to avoid compensation payouts. The tragic incident resulted in 30 deaths and 60 injuries, as identified by officials and eyewitnesses.

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.

Excited fans gathered at Arun Jaitley Stadium early in the morning for Virat Kohli's first Ranji match in over 12 years. Over 13,000 people, including those who traveled long distances, eagerly filled the stands to see Kohli, showing unbridled enthusiasm even though he did not get to bat on Day 1.

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.