IndiGo paid Rs 22.68 crore in passenger compensation after December flight disruptions, with DGCA curtailing its winter schedule.
IndiGo disbursed Rs 22.68 crore for passenger compensation and facilitation relating to denied boarding, cancellations and delays, with payments proceeding subject to passenger confirmation and document verification. The regulator curtailed the carrier's winter schedule by 10 percent after 2,507 cancellations and 1,852 delays between December 3-5 affected over 3 lakh passengers, and official data on airline compensation payments was submitted to the legislature.

Siddaramaiah says he is not helpless, defends farmer support measures and orders investigation into recent violence.
The Chief Minister rejects claims his government is directionless, defends welfare and pro farmer measures including state negotiated sugarcane pricing above the FRP and an additional procurement bonus for maize, and defends fiscal choices and enhanced allocations under social justice and community development programmes. He asserts a firm enforcement response to Ballari violence with investigation underway and affirms refusal to house alleged non nationals in an illegal slum, committing removal if such persons are found.

DGCA shares airline route, market share and fare data with CCI as probe into IndiGo competition practices proceeds.
DGCA provided the Competition Commission on 13 January 2026 with passenger carriage figures, route information, market share metrics and average airfares for all scheduled airlines to support the CCI's prima facie assessment of whether the nation's largest carrier engaged in anti competitive conduct, including possible abuse of dominant position, with a detailed DG probe to follow if warranted.

Bihar economic disparities flagged; state prioritises infrastructure to address district-level income, consumption and rural quality-of-life gaps.
The 2025-26 Economic Survey documents sharp inter-district disparities in per capita GDDP and in petrol, diesel and LPG consumption, with Patna and a few districts showing substantially higher levels than several districts at the lower end. The Survey notes maintained fiscal discipline and prioritises strengthening essential infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, to support economic activity and address spatial inequalities in income, consumption and household energy access.

Aircraft accident investigations: AAIB probed 19 accidents/serious incidents last year; one report published, others under investigation.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau investigated 19 aircraft accidents and serious incidents from the last year, completing and publishing one serious incident report while the remaining investigations continue, all conducted under ICAO Annex 13 principles and the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2025.

Lucknow Metro Line-2 awarded detailed design consultancy to AYESA JV for 11.165 km East West corridor.
A Detailed Design Consultancy contract for the Lucknow Metro East-West Corridor (Line 2) has been recommended to AYESA JV for Rs 15.90 crore for 60 months; the consultant will prepare detailed designs for civil, architectural, electrical, mechanical and traction works for the elevated (about 4.286 km, five stations) and underground (about 6.879 km, seven stations) sections, including the Vasant Kunj depot of the 11.165 km, 12 station corridor.

Centre appeal over USD 3.8 billion recovery from Reliance Industries held maintainable for merits hearing.
The High Court held the Centre's appeal challenging dismissal of its 2019 enforcement petition for a USD 3.8 billion Final Partial Award maintainable, rejecting defendants' preliminary objection and directing the appeal to be heard on merits; the single judge had earlier deemed execution premature but granted liberty to seek execution at an appropriate stage arising from disputes under Production Sharing Contracts concerning profit sharing and royalties.

Japan retrieves rare-earth seabed sediment and moves to industrialise domestic supply to reduce foreign dependence.
Japan conducted a first test retrieval of rare earth-rich deep-sea sediment near Minamitorishima using the vessel Chikyu; officials frame the operation as an initial step toward domestic production of critical minerals to enhance economic security. Further work under the Strategic Innovation Promotion Programme will focus on demonstrating the complete mining-to-refining process, analysing rare earth concentrations, assessing economic viability, and advancing research and feasibility studies before industrialisation.

Air India pilot reports fuel control switch defect; plane grounded pending OEM and regulator checks.
A Boeing 787-8 fuel control switch failed to remain in RUN and moved toward CUT OFF, leading the airline to ground the aircraft, notify the regulator, and engage the OEM for prioritized checks because such switch behaviour can cause inadvertent engine shutdowns and raise airworthiness and safety-compliance concerns.

Deployment outside Banga Bhawan was security; Delhi Police says no entry or movement restrictions for residents.
Delhi Police stated deployment outside Banga Bhawan was a security measure under the prescribed protocol, with responsibility for the Chief Minister's protection resting with Delhi Police because she has Z+ security. CAPF personnel assisted in visible deployments at the Bhawan and at hotels/guest houses where VVIPs and supporters were staying. The police confirmed no personnel entered the Bhawan and no restrictions were imposed on residents' movement, and that heightened checks and coordination with the West Bengal Police were taken as precautionary law-and-order measures during the Budget session.

Viksit Bharat criticized for prioritising statistics over jobs, justice, MSME distress, GST burdens and shrinking democratic space.
The address is rejected for prioritising statistical claims over substantive constitutional accountability; policymakers must focus on jobs, justice, equality, sustainability and trust. Key operational critiques include stagnant real wages and youth unemployment, an export heavy manufacturing model with low value addition, MSME credit stress and GST compliance burdens, and infrastructure policies that raise fares and safety concerns for ordinary users rather than delivering inclusive development.

Silver and gold prices plunged sharply amid a firmer dollar, weak global cues and investor profit taking.
Silver and gold plunged sharply after rapid earlier gains, with silver down nearly 36% from its recent peak and gold about 17% off its record, driven by a firmer US dollar, weak global sentiment and investor profit booking; the Union Budget 2026-27 left import duties unchanged and near term price direction will hinge on US economic data and central bank developments.

Gyan Bharatam initiative advances large-scale manuscript digitisation with designated centres, technical partners and central funding.
Gyan Bharatam is a centrally sponsored initiative to digitise and disseminate India's manuscript heritage through 45 implementation centres (28 cluster centres, 17 independent centres) and 20 state/UT nodal coordinating authorities; it includes a preservation manual, a survey app, a national digital repository portal, and technical partnerships for metadata integration, scanners, and an AI-integrated platform, backed by Rs 491.66 crore for 2025-2031 and reporting over 7.5 lakh manuscripts digitised, with 1.29 lakh available on the portal.

Northeast rail funding increased to Rs 11,486 crore with expanded connectivity, station upgrades, electrification, and environmental safeguards.
Rs 11,486 crore has been allocated for Northeast rail projects in 2026-27, adding to Rs 72,468 crore already underway, to expand intra regional and international connectivity (including a Bhutan link), resume and complete state projects, and conduct surveys for new bridges over the Brahmaputra. Implementation focuses on extending high-speed corridors, near-complete track electrification, station redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat Scheme, hundreds of flyovers and under-bridges, improved passenger amenities and tourism coaches, and integrated environmental and wildlife mitigation using detection technology and AI-based thermal cameras.

Travel companies' MoU to co-develop travel products and run campaigns to boost domestic tourism and destination branding.
A strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishes a long term public private collaboration whereby private travel firms will jointly develop and market travel products across leisure, MICE, business and B Leisure segments, while the public tourism department provides destination access, stakeholder coordination, and alignment with the state's destination branding strategy through coordinated online and offline promotional campaigns aimed at sustainable visitation.

Rayagada development projects reserve 80% of industry jobs for local youth, launched as Rs600 crore investment package.
Chief Minister launched roughly Rs 600 crore of development initiatives in Rayagada-roads, bridges, healthcare, schools, women empowerment schemes and a Rs 37 crore temple beautification-while directing that 80 per cent of jobs in forthcoming industrial projects be reserved for local youth; the announcement noted major private investment commitments and detailed financial support to self-help groups through loans, revolving funds and community investment funds to advance livelihoods and entrepreneurship.

Animal fair in Haryana will showcase livestock technologies and provide free transport and meals for farmers.
A three-day state-level livestock exhibition in Kurukshetra will showcase advanced animal husbandry technologies and around 1,500 superior-breed animals to promote scientific rearing and breed improvement. The event includes technology and product displays by private companies and government stalls highlighting public welfare schemes, and provides logistical support-free transport (200 buses daily) and complimentary meals-to facilitate farmer participation, with awards for livestock farmers and ministerial participation.

Air India pilot reports possible fuel control switch defect; aircraft grounded and regulator notified for inspection.
A pilot reported a possible defect in the fuel control switch of an Air India Boeing 787-8; the airline grounded the aircraft, involved the OEM for priority inspection, and notified the aviation regulator, noting prior fleet inspections following a regulator directive found no issues.

Rahul Gandhi accused of defying the Speaker by citing an unpublished army memoir, triggering a prolonged Lok Sabha uproar.
BJP officials said a Lok Sabha opposition leader undermined parliamentary dignity and military morale by citing an unpublished former Army chief's memoir on the India-China border despite the Speaker's ruling that such material was not admissible; the Speaker insisted documents unrelated to proceedings cannot be quoted, while the leader maintained the document was authenticated.

Underground railway tracks planned along 40-km strategic corridor to strengthen connectivity and security, including conversion to six-track corridor.
Plans propose constructing underground railway tracks along a 40-km strategic corridor between Tin Mile Haat and Rangapani, laid about 20-24 metres underground, to address security and air-defence connectivity needs. Simultaneously the existing double line on the stretch will be converted to a four-line surface configuration, resulting in a six-line corridor composed of four overground and two underground tracks.