Punjab government denies jailed MP Amritpal Singh's request to attend Parliament's budget session under the National Security Act.
The Punjab government refused temporary release under Section 15 of the National Security Act, citing security and public order, official objections, and the absence of any legally enforceable right for a detained member to attend Parliament; it considered the full detention record, gravity of grounds and conduct, and deemed continuous detention for the statutory maximum necessary in the interest of state security and maintenance of public order.

Air India grounded a Boeing 787-8 after a pilot reported the left engine fuel control switch slipping from RUN to CUT OFF.
A Boeing 787-8 was grounded after a pilot reported the left engine fuel control switch slipped from RUN to CUT OFF and would not lock; Air India involved the Original Equipment Manufacturer and notified the regulator, noting earlier fleet checks had shown no issues, while pilot and safety groups urged further electrical and fuel-switch inspections in light of a prior 787-8 crash where fuel supply was cut off.

Stocks, gold and silver steadied after volatile swings driven by Fed chair nomination and metals liquidations.
Markets steadied after extreme volatility: U.S. equities rose on sector-specific profit beats and lower oil, while gold and silver swung sharply. Metals' collapse reflected changing expectations about the Fed chair nomination and leveraged traders' liquidations rather than a wholesale drop in demand. Monetary-policy signals and geopolitical developments influenced oil prices and Treasury yields, affecting travel and broader market sentiment.

India-US relations strain over doubled tariffs and immigration policy amid trade talks and ministerial supply-chain consultations.
Diplomatic contact between US and Indian leaders occurred amid efforts to address strained relations caused by US tariff increases-raising import duties on Indian goods to a 50 per cent combined rate, including a 25 per cent additional duty tied to Russian crude purchases-and by changes in US immigration policy. Simultaneously, ministerial-level consultations aim to progress a proposed bilateral trade deal and collaborate on critical minerals supply chains as part of negotiations to reduce regulatory friction.

Meghalaya tax devolution of Rs 9,631 crore for 2026 27 increases untied resources for capital and infrastructure.
Union Budget 2026-27 allocates Rs 9,631 crore to Meghalaya as tax devolution to increase untied fiscal resources for capital expenditure and infrastructure; central transfers and grants have risen over 2014-2024, and capital investment is further supported by SASCI interest free loans (50 year tenure) of Rs 6,523 crore to Meghalaya for 2020-21 to 2025-26, facilitating highways and welfare scheme implementation.

Vedanta Aluminium land allotment enables 3 MTPA smelter and 4,900 MW captive power project in Odisha.
Vedanta Aluminium received government land allotment of about 1,447 acres in Dhenkanal, Odisha, handed over at a state summit with senior officials present, enabling site authorisation for its planned 3 MTPA aluminium smelter and 4,900 MW captive power plant; the project, estimated at Rs 1.28 lakh crore, had earlier obtained high-level clearance authority approval and is presented as proceeding from regulatory clearances toward implementation.

Union Budget emphasizes growth and jobs, boosting Goa via tax devolution, tourism upgrades, fisheries and MSME support.
The Budget prioritises growth and jobs while maintaining fiscal discipline, providing Goa a devolved tax share and preserving 41% vertical devolution with Finance Commission grants. It advances tourism and hospitality through an upgraded National Institute of Hospitality, a 12 week guide upskilling programme with IIM collaboration, and a National Destination Digital Knowledge Grid; supports the blue economy via fisheries value chain strengthening, Fish Farmer Producer Organisations and coastal cargo promotion; and improves financing and infrastructure participation through higher public capital expenditure, an Infrastructure Risk Guarantee Fund, SME Growth Fund, Self Reliant India Fund top up and measures to deepen TReDS.

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.

Indian rupee gains as crude eases and central bank defends exchange-rate level amid Budget-driven borrowing and tax changes.
The rupee strengthened to 91.49 against the dollar amid retreating crude prices and apparent central bank intervention defending the 92 level; the Union Budget's large borrowing to fund a 4.3 percent of GDP fiscal deficit and tax changes on derivatives and buybacks weighed on investor sentiment and prompted equity market reactions and foreign institutional selling.

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.

India's budget directs major funding to MSMEs, infrastructure, biopharma, data centres and rural market linkages.
The Union Budget allocates Rs 10,000 crore for MSME support linked to the One District One Product initiative, a Rs 12.20 lakh crore infrastructure fund to accelerate development and logistics where freight corridors intersect, sectoral financing for biopharma, medical devices and semiconductor parks to scale manufacturing, and measures to expand high speed rail, inland waterways, data centre capacity, district hospital enhancements and rural market linkages under schemes including the Mahatma Gandhi Gram Swaraj Yojana, Bharat Vistar AI platform and She Mart.

Assam receives Rs 49,725 crore in tax devolution, supplemented by SASCI interest-free loans and flagship scheme support.
The Union Budget 2026-27 budgets Rs 49,725 crore to Assam as tax devolution, complements ongoing grants-in-aid and capital investment support, and continues 50-year interest-free SASCI loans beyond Finance Commission recommendations (Rs 17,104 crore to Assam in FY 2020-26), while aligning fiscal transfers with flagship welfare schemes and infrastructure creation to accelerate development.