Security forces launched a combing operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district after a drone reportedly dropped an IED and weapons. Searches by the Army, special operations group, and local police recovered a bag with ammunition rounds and a suspected IED in a tiffin box.

Jammu and Kashmir Police have attached agricultural land worth Rs 10 lakh belonging to Pakistan-based terror handler Rafiq Nai. Nai, a launch commander for Tahreek-ul-Mujahideen / Jammu Kashmir Ghaznavi Force, is accused of supervising narcotics and weapons smuggling and facilitating terrorist infiltration. This action is part of a strategy to dismantle terror support networks.

New Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra prioritizes addressing people's aspirations and preserving the Union territory's civilisational history of peace. He also voiced concerns over Ladakh's fragile ecology, cautioning against reckless development amid heightened demands for statehood and Sixth Schedule status.

National Conference expresses concern over alleged assaults on Kashmiri shawl sellers nationwide, with J&K government to address the issue with concerned state governments. The Union Home Ministry has taken note of the attacks, and the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association has urged the Home Minister for intervention.

A 19-year-old Bangladeshi national, Shariful Islam Bhuiyan, was apprehended by BSF near the international border in Jammu. He arrived in India on December 1, 2025, and claimed to be a tourist seeking a Portugal visa. Authorities are verifying his travel documents and digital devices.

Union Fertilizers Minister J P Nadda launched an integrated e-bill system to digitally process fertilizer subsidies worth approximately Rs 2 lakh crore. This move replaces manual procedures with a fully digital workflow, enhancing transparency, efficiency, and accountability through a centralized, tamper-proof digital audit trail. The system accelerates payment timelines and strengthens financial controls.

Two notorious criminals, Vikas Gulia and Dhirpal, have been handed life imprisonment under the stringent MCOCA law in Delhi. The court found them guilty of sustained organized criminal activity, including murder and extortion, despite previous bail. This conviction highlights the police's success in curbing dangerous crime syndicates.

Haryana Congress president Rao Narendra Singh visited a gangrape victim in Faridabad, condemning the 'inhumane and heinous crime' and criticizing the BJP government's claims on women's safety. The 25-year-old mother of three was allegedly gangraped in a moving van and thrown out, suffering severe injuries. Singh demanded strict punishment for the arrested accused and called for a fast-track trial.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut alleged the BJP's agenda is to prevent a 'Marathi manoos' from becoming the mayor of BMC, claiming it's a conspiracy to hurt Marathi people. He stated this strategy aims to create an atmosphere against Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS among outsiders, with UP and Bihar leaders expected to campaign for the BJP.

After Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of facilitating «vote theft,» BJP leader Priyanka Tibrewal alleged that Bangladeshi infiltrators had been given voter ID card, Aadhaar card and were made voters of the TMC.

Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested two terror associates in Ganderbal, seizing a pistol, grenades, ammunition, and Rs 8.40 lakh cash. The operation, based on specific intelligence, also led to the recovery of an SLR rifle and ammunition in Doda district. Investigations are ongoing to uncover wider links and intent.

Congress leaders Rashid Alvi and V Hanumantha Rao on Thursday launched a sharp attack on RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat over his recent remarks, accusing him and the BJP of pushing divisive agendas, imposing Hindi, and attempting to undermine India's secular character.

The Home Minister's remarks come amid an alleged ongoing power tussle within the Karnataka Congress, with the Chief Ministership emerging as a contentious issue after the government reached its halfway mark. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, and Home Minister G Parameshwara are seen as key figures in the unfolding political churn.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday extended greetings for the DRDO Day to scientists, personnel, and their families, lauding their «commitment and scientific excellence.»

India and China have resumed high-level engagements and reopened trade channels after years of frosty relations, a move driven by mutual necessity rather than trust. While diplomatic and commercial ties see a surface thaw, deep-seated rivalries and unresolved border disputes persist, raising questions about the sustainability of this fragile detente.

A sessions court in North Goa sentenced Sandeep Verlekar to 6 years and 6 months in prison for culpable homicide not amounting to murder after he assaulted his bed-ridden mother. The court considered his alcoholism and lack of intent to kill, ordering his release after accounting for time already served.

India has firmly rejected China's claim of mediating its conflict with Pakistan. New Delhi reiterated that military action ceased after a request from the Pakistani DGMO to his Indian counterpart.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu conveyed New Year wishes for 2026. They prayed for peace, good health, and happiness across society. The nation welcomed the year with vibrant celebrations. Fireworks lit up cities as people gathered to mark the fresh beginnings of 2026 with enthusiasm and cheer.

The Election Commission has issued a stern warning against the intimidation of electoral staff by political workers, vowing stringent action. Following a meeting with a TMC delegation, the poll panel urged parties to prevent their representatives from threatening election duty personnel. The EC also pressed the West Bengal government to release enhanced honorariums for Booth Level Officers (BLOs).

Dilip Ghosh's return to party meetings during Amit Shah's Kolkata visit signals a potential larger role for the former Bengal BJP chief. However, the absence of key Matua and Rajbangshi leaders from a recent BJP meeting highlights underlying unease within the party ahead of the 2026 polls.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has recovered over Rs 5 crore in unaccounted cash, Rs 8 crore in gold and diamond jewellery, and property documents worth Rs 35 crore during searches on alleged gangster Inderjit Singh Yadav's premises. The investigation into money laundering stems from Yadav's alleged illegal extortion and coercive loan settlements.

A Kolkata businessman orchestrated a massive Rs 6,200 crore bank fraud using 60 shell companies, with bank chiefs allegedly complicit. Fictitious iron and steel transactions, involving fake sales and purchases, were conducted through book entries. The scam was exposed after the arrest of a former bank CMD, leading to the attachment of properties worth over Rs 106 crore.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached properties worth Rs 150 crore near Buckingham Palace in the UK, belonging to former S Kumars CMD Nitin Kasliwal. Kasliwal is accused of laundering Rs 1,400 crore of bank loans by establishing an offshore network of trusts and companies to acquire foreign assets.

A pan-India kidney trafficking syndicate with alleged international links has been exposed in Maharashtra. The illicit market saw transplants priced up to Rs 80 lakh, while impoverished donors reportedly received as little as Rs 5 lakh. Police have named two specialists as key players in the network, which allegedly conducted surgeries in Trichy.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged BJP workers in Bengal to aim for victory in the 2026 assembly elections, setting a target of winning 22 out of 28 seats in and around Kolkata. He also expressed concerns about infiltration and a «changing demography» in the region, while dismissing perceptions of organizational weakness.