Kolkata domicile certificate applications surge amid electoral roll revision; centralized processing, police verification, and WBCS approvals expedited.
Kolkata Municipal Corporation centralised domicile certificate intake and established dedicated counters to process 19,167 SIR linked applications; borough offices route requests to headquarters and the Kolkata Police for field verification, after which a WBCS rank officer grants final approval. Applications are accepted chiefly for SIR requirements and must be supported by documentary proof; many certificates were issued following police enquiry reports, while others were rejected after adverse verification.

Luxury car crashes causing injuries and deaths highlight overspeeding, drunk driving, and charges from rash driving to culpable homicide.
A pattern of high speed luxury car collisions in India has produced injuries and deaths, prompting police arrests, FIRs, vehicle seizures and charges ranging from rash and negligent driving to culpable homicide; contributory factors cited include overspeeding, drunk driving, seat belt noncompliance and incidents involving drivers linked to affluent families, with at least one case raising juvenile trial issues and widespread public outrage over perceived impunity.

LTCG tax abolition proposed for individual investors and a statutory inflation-linked wage adjustment urged.
Demand to abolish Long-Term Capital Gains tax for individual equity investors, arguing that pairing an elevated Securities Transaction Tax with LTCG disincentivises retail investment and that LTCG should be nil when STT is raised; also urging a statutory, inflation-linked wage adjustment formula for corporate, factory and gig workers, alongside proposals to address foreign portfolio investor outflows, increase public healthcare spending, and implement a blockchain-based land and property registry.

Himachal Pradesh finances face cuts: rollback of subsidies, staff reductions, and pension migration to plug a major revenue shortfall.
Discontinuation of the Revenue Deficit Grant would create a fiscal shortfall-eliminating a funding source equal to 12.7% of the budget-and compel measures such as rolling back subsidies, abolishing long vacant posts, downsizing institutions, halting pay revisions, and migrating from the Old Pension Scheme to the Unified Pension Scheme to unlock borrowing, while causing inability to meet pay/pension arrears, DA/DR installments, and other liabilities.

Ukrainian actor in Torres investment fraud case denied bail due to alleged large scale scheme and flight risk.
The accused is alleged to have participated in a criminal conspiracy under Platinum Hern Pvt Ltd's Torres scheme, a combination of Ponzi and MLM operations that collected Rs 148.89 crore from 14,964 investors by promising immediate and weekly returns on investments in moissanite, gold and diamonds. The court denied bail citing the nature, gravity and magnitude of the offence, ongoing related investigations with other registered crimes, absconding principal accused, and a real risk of the accused fleeing or tampering with prosecution evidence.

Lamborghini crash in Kanpur: medical exam to assess fitness to drive; FIR filed, vehicle seized and investigation ongoing.
Police registered an FIR against an unidentified driver for rash and negligent driving after a Lamborghini crash that injured six; the car was seized and sent for mechanical inspection, CCTV is being analysed to determine speed, and the suspected driver will undergo medical tests to assess whether epilepsy or another condition contributed, with subsequent scrutiny of driving licence issuance and RTO procedures if medical unfitness is found.

EPS-95 pensioners: 47.04 lakh receive under Rs 9,000 monthly; minimum pension remains Rs 1,000 via budget support.
EPS-95 is a Defined Contribution-Defined Benefit scheme funded by employer contributions of 8.33% of wages and a central government contribution of 1.16% on wages up to Rs 15,000; all benefits are paid from the Employees' Pension Fund. Currently 47.04 lakh of 82.11 lakh active pensioners receive less than Rs 9,000 monthly, and the government provides a minimum pension of Rs 1,000 per month through budgetary support in addition to the 1.16% contribution. The fund is valued annually under paragraph 32 to determine long term viability and account for future liabilities.

Digital fraud, electoral roll revisions, and restrictions on animal sacrifice were addressed with directives and procedural orders.
Procedural and supervisory actions include directing courtroom assault allegations to senior judicial administration, deferring appellate review of a competition law penalty, setting aside an interim stay on relocating an administrative commission, ordering expedited out of turn hearing of a conviction challenge, refusing to cancel bail in a medical negligence prosecution, upholding prohibition on animal sacrifice with limited prayer rights at a religious site, protecting electoral roll revision from impediments, and directing the central administration to draft a multi stakeholder SOP to tackle large scale digital financial fraud.

Lok Sabha Speaker removal notice proposed over disallowing opposition speeches, suspension of MPs, and alleged unaddressed allegations.
Opposition parties are preparing a notice under Article 94-C to move a resolution for the removal of the Lok Sabha Speaker for disallowing the Leader of the Opposition and others from speaking on the Motion of Thanks and for the suspension of eight opposition MPs; over 100 MPs have signed the draft notice, and opposition leaders have sought revocation of the suspensions and permission to debate, while the Speaker said he would consult the government before responding.

Unpublished military memoir circulated online prompts FIR and Special Cell probe into unauthorized pre-release distribution.
An FIR alleges unauthorized circulation of a pre-print copy of an unpublished book by the former Chief of Army Staff after a PDF and finished cover image surfaced online without required clearance; the case has been registered with the Special Cell to investigate the purported leak or breach, identify the source, and examine distribution via social media and online platforms.

Pakistan will invest USD 1 billion in AI by 2030 to build an AI ecosystem and scale education and workforce training.
The government committed USD 1 billion to build a national AI ecosystem by 2030, to be supported by an AI curriculum rollout in federally run schools and in Pakistan occupied Kashmir and remote Balochistan, 1,000 fully funded PhD scholarships in AI by 2030, and a nationwide program to train one million non IT professionals in AI skills to expand research capacity and workforce upskilling.

India's energy procurement will be guided by national interest, keeping multiple and diversified crude oil supply sources.
National interest will be the determinative principle for India's energy procurement, with policy emphasising the maintenance of multiple suppliers and diversification of crude oil sourcing to ensure stability and security; sourcing decisions will be taken based on assessed national interests.

Haryana civil aviation forms technical committee to frame SOPs and directs departments to upgrade and maintain state aerodromes.
A high-level technical committee, chaired by the Accountable Manager of the Civil Aviation Department, will prepare a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) strictly in accordance with DGCA guidelines and examine technical staffing needs. The Public Works Department must prepare cost estimates and execute runway and allied safety works and conduct monthly inspections with reports to the Civil Aviation Department and Deputy Commissioners. The Horticulture Branch must ensure vegetation clearance and obstacle management, while Deputy Commissioners are designated nodal officers for inter-departmental coordination and timeline monitoring.

SASCI financing in Jammu and Kashmir accused of creating a debt trap amid allegations of budget under spend and governance failures.
The assembly debate challenged the SASCI financing mechanism as a potential debt trap, alleging market borrowings with extended repayment risk mortgaging public assets; members also raised substantive budgetary concerns including low capital expenditure, many projects with zero spending, possible administrative paralysis or dual power structures impeding implementation, and broader governance issues such as under prioritisation of public health, substance abuse, youth unemployment, and school closures. The government defended SASCI as long term infrastructure financing with up to 50 years' repayment.

DGCA issued 352 show cause notices to airlines; penalties, warnings and compliance monitoring were reported.
DGCA issued 352 show cause notices to scheduled commercial airlines over two years, with penalties imposed in 139 cases, warnings in 113, and satisfactory replies in seven; airline specific enforcement details were not provided. The regulator reported mechanisms to monitor aircraft induction, On Time Performance and route rationalisation, and noted eight aircraft had been inducted this year to date.

Japan election result prompts China to defend diplomatic pressure and urge Japan to avoid a return to militarism.
China framed Takaichi's electoral victory as reflecting ideological shifts and defended its diplomatic offensive and restrictive measures taken after her Taiwan related remarks, urging Japan to honour existing political understandings and its pacifist constitution and warning against a return to militarism.

Union Budget cuts allocations for rural, agricultural and social welfare sectors and raises concerns over trade deal clarity.
The Union Budget is criticised for reducing allocations and failing to fund announced rural and agricultural initiatives, with several missions receiving zero allocations and large sums of agri spending unutilised or surrendered; allocations for SC/STs, rural development, education and health are reported cut. The India US trade deal is said to open Indian markets to US agricultural produce without clarity on additional products, raising uncertainty over staples such as milk, cheese and foodgrains.

Mahaveer Awards announce 29th recipients across Non-Violence, Education, Medicine and Community service; nominations now nationally open.
The Foundation announced the 29th Mahaveer Awards in four categories-Non-Violence & Vegetarianism, Education, Medicine, and Community & Social Service-naming five awardees. Each award carries a cash prize of Rs. 10 lakh, a citation and a memento. The recipients were selected from 267 nominations by an eminent Selection Jury chaired by a former Chief Justice; the Foundation invited nominations for the 30th edition via its website.

Doctor 365's 5th Bollywood Maha Arogya Shivir provided free medical care, screenings and assistive devices to thousands of attendees.
Doctor 365 and R.K. HIV AIDS Research and Care Centre organized the 5th Bollywood Maha Arogya Shivir on January 18, 2026, delivering free general and specialist medical services, diagnostic tests, eye care and assistive devices. The organization reports extensive nationwide charitable activity-tens of thousands of camps, millions of beneficiaries, large-scale distribution of medicines, spectacles and wheelchairs, mass TB and sickle cell screening and treatment-and operation of mobile medical units and ambulance hubs in partnership with state governments.

Maharashtra forms panel to design a venture capital fund for the textile sector to support startups and MSMEs.
A nine member committee chaired by the state textile minister will frame proposals for a dedicated venture capital fund for the textile sector to provide targeted risk capital to startups and MSMEs, supporting innovation, modernisation, value addition, manufacturing growth, exports and employment. The committee will study the fund's structure, size, governance and operational framework; assess funding needs across the value chain; identify best practices and leverage private investment, financial institutions and central schemes; and recommend safeguards, incentives and timelines before submitting its report to the government.