Eight elephants tragically died after being struck by the Sairang New Delhi Rajdhani Express in Assam's Hojai district early Saturday. The collision caused five coaches and the engine of the train to derail, though no passengers were injured. The incident occurred in a forested area known for elephant movement.

A violent gang war erupted at a Rohtak liquor vend, resulting in one death and four injuries after over 30 rounds were fired. Shooters from the Himanshu Bhau gang allegedly initiated the conflict, leading to a retaliation that critically injured a friend of gangster Sunny Ritoliya. One injured individual later died at a private hospital.

The Supreme Court has fined 10 private dental colleges in Rajasthan Rs 10 crore each for admitting students without meeting NEET 2016-17 cutoffs. The court regularized degrees for affected students, who must now provide pro bono services during state emergencies. The fines will fund welfare institutions.

An FIR has been registered against BJP leader and National In-Charge of the party's IT Cell, Amit Malviya, at the Narendrapur Police Station under the Baruipur Police Station, alleging that his social media post threatened communal harmony and the sovereignty of India.

The Supreme Court denied anticipatory bail to a chartered accountancy student for posts on a parody X account, stating free speech is not unfettered. The court emphasized that those abusing their right to free speech cannot receive discretionary relief, suggesting the student approach the Gujarat high court.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth Rs 8 crore belonging to cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Robin Uthappa, and actors Urvashi Rautela, Sonu Sood, Mimi Chakraborty, Ankush Hazra, and Neha Sharma in an illegal online betting case. This action follows previous attachments of Rs 11 crore from Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina.

Security forces launched extensive cordon and search operations in Rajouri district's villages after reports of suspicious movement. Troops from Rashtriya Rifles, J&K Police, and Special Operations Group conducted aggressive searches from midnight Thursday to Friday evening. A similar operation occurred in Samba district's Mansar area on December 17.

PDP member Iltija Mufti filed a police complaint in Srinagar against Bihar CM Nitish Kumar for allegedly gesturing to an AYUSH graduate in a hijab to show her face. The complaint follows similar action by a Samajwadi Party spokesperson, with critics arguing the act undermines women's dignity and emboldens attackers.

Adventure tourism leaders have declared Jammu and Kashmir safe, urging the reopening of all tourist spots closed after the Pahalgam terror attack. The Adventure Tour Operators Association of India successfully held its convention in Srinagar, with members visiting popular destinations without incident. They emphasize J&K's potential as a premier adventure hub, promoting safe and sustainable tourism.

A special Pocso court sentenced a former headmaster and retired teacher of a school for the deaf to two years' rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting three students. The judge emphasized the betrayal of trust by those in positions of authority.

The Supreme Court quashed an FIR against a husband, stating that asking his wife to maintain an Excel sheet for household expenses does not constitute cruelty. The court emphasized that such domestic disputes often stem from the 'daily wear and tear' of marriage and should not be used to initiate criminal proceedings without specific evidence of harm.

Parliament has passed the SHANTI Bill, 2025, opening India's civil nuclear sector to private and foreign investment for the first time. This landmark law aims to boost clean energy, enabling a significant increase in nuclear capacity and attracting substantial investment. The bill overhauls governance, redefining liability and establishing the AERB as an independent safety regulator.

The Enforcement Directorate has appealed to the Delhi High Court after a trial court refused to take cognisance of its prosecution complaint against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald money laundering case.

The government informed Parliament that no conclusive data directly links higher air quality index (AQI) levels to lung diseases, though air pollution is acknowledged as a triggering factor for respiratory ailments. This response aligns with previous statements on the complex interplay of factors affecting health, including lifestyle and genetics.

Tamil Nadu's draft electoral roll after the SIR has 5.43 crore voters. The SIR exercise removed over 97 lakh names. The exercise, opposed by chief minister MK Stalin, aimed to ensure accuracy but drew criticism for potentially deleting legitimate voters. Similar revisions are under way in West Bengal, which lakhs of voters were deleted.

Gujarat has removed nearly 74 lakh names from its electoral rolls, reducing the total voter count from 5.08 crore to 4.34 crore. This extensive clean-up, part of the Special Intensive Revision exercise, targeted deceased, absent, and duplicate voters. The updated draft rolls are now public, with a deadline of January 18 for objections and claims.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has dismissed claims of a two-and-a-half-year power-sharing arrangement within the state government. He asserted that he will remain CM until the party high command decides otherwise, refuting opposition questions about a potential leadership change. Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar also denied rumors of a dinner meeting, emphasizing party unity.

Enforcement Directorate's probe into the 'donkey' route uncovered a Haryana-based operator collecting property papers as security from aspirants for illegal US travel via Mexico. Searches across Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi yielded incriminating evidence, including documents and mobile phones, related to the syndicate's operations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has solidified his position as India's most influential political voice on X, dominating engagement with eight of the top 10 most-liked tweets. Globally, he ranks as the fourth most-followed person, surpassing entertainment icons and becoming the most-followed world leader in office.

Congress criticizes Prime Minister Modi for 'acronym-itis' following the passage of the VB-G RAM G Bill, which replaces the MGNREGA. The opposition protested the removal of Mahatma Gandhi's name and the financial burden on states, staging a dharna after the bill's approval.