West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee accused the Election Commission of unilaterally deleting 54 lakh names from draft electoral rolls, alleging a BJP-EC nexus. She claimed genuine voters, including women who changed surnames, were removed without notice, possibly using AI tools. Banerjee further alleged plans to remove another crore names and accused the EC of restricting booth-level agents.

Security forces engaged in a search operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district after spotting suspected terrorist movement. Gunshots were heard in the Najote forest area as militants fired upon noticing the advancing troops. The operation has been intensified to track down the ultras, with heightened anti-terrorist activities across the region ahead of Republic Day.

The Supreme Court delivered a split verdict on Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which requires prior approval to probe government officials. Justice Nagarathna deemed it unconstitutional, arguing it protects the corrupt, while Justice Viswanathan upheld its validity, provided Lokpal/Lokayukta grants sanction, to prevent policy paralysis.

India has launched its logo and official website for the Brics Presidency 2026, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar outlining key priorities. The nation aims to foster global welfare through resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability across Brics' political, economic, and cultural pillars. The logo, inspired by the lotus, symbolizes unity among member nations

The Supreme Court warned states of heavy compensation for inaction on stray dog bites, particularly affecting children and the elderly. The bench also demanded accountability from dog feeders, suggesting they house the animals. The court emphasized its focus on Animal Birth Control rules and flagged non-compliance by civic bodies, leading to deaths from bites and accidents.

Congress MP Manish Tewari urged a thorough study of recent Gen-Z protests in South Asia, questioning if they were organic or manipulated. He highlighted the fall of governments in Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh, suggesting a need to differentiate genuine grievances from weaponized narratives. Tewari also expressed optimism about India's relationship with Bangladesh despite current tensions.