Sets Up Lab For Testing And Calibration

Bangladesh's interim government has temporarily suspended visa services at its key diplomatic missions in India, including New Delhi, citing «security concerns.» This move follows similar restrictions by India on Bangladeshi nationals. Dhaka is also seeking a reversal of United States visa bond requirement, deeming it «certainly unfortunate and painful for them.»

The Enforcement Directorate accused West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee of obstructing a money-laundering probe into a coal smuggling syndicate. The ED claims Banerjee, accompanied by police, entered a residence and I-PAC office, seizing documents and electronic devices. Banerjee rejected the allegations, calling the searches politically motivated and an attempt to seize TMC's election strategy.

China's arms exports faced a significant setback as its weapons, including air defence systems like the HQ-9 and JY-27A radar, proved ineffective during India's Operation Sindoor and a recent Venezuelan operation. These incidents highlighted a technological gap, with Russian-supplied missiles also failing to perform. The failures have damaged China's reputation as a reliable arms supplier.

Lok Sabha MPs elected for three consecutive terms between 2014 and 2024 have seen their assets grow by an average of 110%. A report highlights significant increases, with some MPs' wealth soaring by over Rs 100 crore. Notably, one MP's assets saw a staggering 14,851% rise, while only one saw a decline.

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the bail plea of the father of the 17-year-old accused in the fatal Pune Porsche crash. He is accused of manipulating his son's blood sample test. The court also issued notice on a similar plea from another father whose son was in the car.

Parliamentary committee members debated inviting opposition parties to discuss a bill to remove PMs, CMs, and ministers arrested for over 30 days on serious charges. Concerns were raised about replacing removed leaders and whether the Leader of Opposition could be removed under the bill's provisions.

ISRO's PSLV C62 mission, scheduled for January 12, 2026, will launch the advanced earth observation satellite EOS-N1, enhancing India's surveillance capabilities. The mission also carries a European demonstrator satellite and 17 other payloads, including India's first on-orbit satellite refuelling payload, AayulSAT. This launch marks a significant comeback for the PSLV program after a previous setback.

The National Medical Commission has introduced a Rs 2 lakh registration fee plus GST for new MBBS college applications and seat increases from 2026-27. The commission also cleared around 450 additional postgraduate medical seats for 2025-26 through appeals, removing the previous 100-seat cap on MBBS expansion applications.

The Delhi High Court has ordered Congress and AAP to remove social media posts within 24 hours that linked BJP's Dushyant Kumar Gautam to a 2022 Uttarakhand resort murder. The court also restrained the parties from posting further content targeting Gautam as the alleged «VIP» in the case, citing irreparable damage to his reputation.

A husband who attacked his wife and child received a second chance. The Supreme Court quashed criminal charges against him. This decision allows the couple to reconcile and rebuild their family life. The court emphasized the couple's wishes to stay together. The husband provided a written undertaking to ensure his wife and child's safety and well-being.

Nobel laureate Amartya Sen received an election notice alleging an age difference of less than 15 years with his late mother, a claim his representatives call harassment. The Election Commission stated the discrepancy was flagged by a portal, and officials visited Sen's residence to resolve it, despite the actual age gap being over 19 years.

The Election Commission has announced that relatives of voters living outside Bengal can appear on their behalf for physical SIR hearings. This relief is for thousands of migrant workers, students, and NRIs summoned for hearings, which are crucial for electoral roll discrepancies. The EC aims to ease logistical burdens and ensure broader participation in the verification process.

New Delhi is set to host a major international conference from January 21-23, bringing together nearly 100 delegates from 42 election management bodies. The event, themed 'Democracy for an inclusive, resilient and sustainable world,' aims to foster global cooperation, share best practices, and address contemporary challenges in election management. India's Election Commission is organizing this significant gathering.