India-EU free trade agreement concluded; legal scrubbing underway to cut tariffs, liberalise services and boost trade and investment.
India and the EU have concluded negotiations on a comprehensive free trade agreement covering 24 chapters including trade in goods, services and investment. Legal scrubbing is underway with signature sought this year and entry into force contingent on European Parliament approval and India's executive approval. The pact envisages tariff reduction or elimination on over 90% of goods, services liberalisation in key sectors, and parallel talks on investment protection and Geographical Indications, with specific benefits signalled for labour intensive Indian exports.

Minnesota immigration enforcement surge faces legal challenge seeking halt to operations and reduction of federal agents.
A legal challenge seeks to halt Operation Metro Surge, restore federal officer levels and limit enforcement scope by ordering a reduction of deployed federal personnel to pre-surge levels, alleging constitutional violations from aggressive federal immigration operations that resulted in fatal shootings; the Justice Department opposes the request as legally frivolous and seeks rejection or a stay pending appeal.

India-UK AI partnership aims to advance AI development, safety commitments, and inclusive access across sectors.
India and the United Kingdom emphasised cooperative AI development and AI safety commitments, mobilising joint investment, training, university fellowships, and ministerial engagement to scale capabilities, while coupling the technology agenda with FTA implementation, inclusive access objectives, and sectoral policy roundtables to operationalise collaboration.

Davos should advance strategic global engagement, not secure routine permissions from builders or serve image-driven MoU publicity.
A senior opposition leader argued that Davos should be used for substantive global engagement on innovation, investment and geopolitics, not for meeting local builders or arranging routine permissions; he urged moving beyond headline MoU announcements toward strategic dialogue that advances state and national interests while calling for transparency about official travel and use of contacts abroad.

Bangladesh tribunal hands death sentences; US imposes 25% tariffs on India over Russian oil purchases.
Bangladesh's special tribunal imposed death sentences on a former Dhaka police commissioner and two officers for actions during the 2024 protests, while the United States imposed 25% tariffs on India over purchases of Russian oil products; contemporaneous items include India-Russia USD 100 billion trade ambitions, regional diplomatic engagements, and Pakistan's central bank holding its interest rate at 10.5%.

India-EU free trade agreement concluded; legal scrubbing underway and signature expected this year with broad tariff and services liberalisation.
India and the European Union have concluded negotiations on a comprehensive free trade agreement covering 24 chapters-including trade in goods, trade in services, and investment-with legal scrubbing underway and signatory processes anticipated this year; the FTA contemplates tariff reduction or elimination on over 90% of traded goods, liberalisation of services sectors, and parallel talks on investment protection and Geographical Indications, and requires European Parliament approval and Union Cabinet consent for implementation.

VB GRAMG funding cut may reduce poorer areas' spending and undermine rural poverty reduction efforts, warns economist.
Reduction in the federal funding share of the VB GRAMG shifts fiscal responsibility to less able jurisdictions, likely causing poorer jurisdictions to spend less on the program and thereby weakening the scheme's poverty reduction objective. The bill's funding architecture may require revision to avoid replicating the predecessor scheme's distributional shortfall.

Delhi slum development: government allocates Rs 700 crore and approves projects for sanitation, roads, and amenities.
Delhi announced and inaugurated JJ-cluster projects totaling Rs 327 crore and allocated Rs 144 crore for further initiatives. Administrative approvals include Rs 225 crore for 476 public convenience complex works (awards of Rs 81 crore for 214 works) and Rs 102 crore for 254 cement concrete works (awards of Rs 63 crore for 172 projects). A dedicated Rs 700 crore JJ development budget is intended to fast-track improvements to drains, roads, toilets, parks, settlement development centres, housing, health, sanitation, and social welfare, supplemented by Atal Canteens and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.

Ladakh development vision emphasizes inclusive governance, public-health upgrades, infrastructure projects and opportunities for youth and border communities.
The Lieutenant Governor prioritises inclusive, grassroots governance for Ladakh, directing outreach to remote areas and administrative secretaries to address local needs. Key operational measures include a public-health budget allocation of 8.76% with hospital upgrades, 322 Health and Wellness Centres, mobile medical units and e-Sanjeevani telemedicine to improve vaccination and maternal-child health. Infrastructure and livelihood initiatives comprise major tunnels and roads, helipads, 4G connectivity, digital governance and a sustainable tourism model aimed at cultural preservation and local employment, with a focus on youth, women and border communities.

India-EU free trade agreement negotiations concluded; legal scrubbing underway and signing expected this year.
India and the European Union have concluded negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement described as balanced and forward-looking; the agreement aims to enhance economic integration and promote trade and investment. Legal scrubbing of the FTA text is in progress to finalise drafting, after which completion of processes and signing of the pact are anticipated this year, with entry into effect potentially early next year.

Europe financing war by buying refined Russian oil via India, despite US tariffs penalising those purchases.
Scott Bessent criticised Europe's trade deal with India as undercutting US tariffs on India for buying Russian oil, noting the US imposed a 25 percent tariff linked to India's Russian oil purchases (within a broader 50 percent tariff posture) while India imports Russian crude, refines it, and European buyers purchase the resulting refined products, creating trade diversion that weakens the effect of US tariff measures.

Republic Day celebrations call to defend constitutional values, federalism and institutional autonomy across states.
Republic Day events saw leaders call for defending constitutional values, warning that centralisation and politicisation threaten institutional autonomy, state financial powers and programmes protecting marginalised groups; they urged collective vigilance and accountability to preserve justice, liberty, equality and fraternity.

Pakistan central bank keeps policy rate at 10.5%, citing elevated core inflation and external balance risks while growth improves.
The central bank maintained the policy rate at 10.5 per cent because headline inflation matched expectations but core inflation remained elevated, the real policy rate was assessed as adequately positive to stabilise inflation within the medium term inflation target, and external risks from a widening trade deficit and unchanged current account outlook counseled caution despite an improved growth outlook.

India-UK partnership highlighted through royal message, emphasizing climate cooperation and an imminent free trade agreement.
King Charles III reaffirmed the India UK partnership, highlighting cooperation on climate and sustainability (clean energy, climate finance, clean tech) and multilateral engagement via the Commonwealth; officials noted the India UK Free Trade Agreement is nearing implementation and India's growing international role, including hosting an AI Summit.

India-EU partnership to culminate in a Security and Defence Partnership, signalled by joint summit talks and military symbol display.
European leaders announced that their visit will culminate in the signature of a Security and Defence Partnership, reflecting expanded defence cooperation and shared security interests, while an EU military contingent and the display of EU and mission flags at India's Republic Day parade were presented as symbolic manifestations of intensifying operational and maritime collaboration.

Banking operations face disruption as unions strike for a five-day work week, affecting public sector branch services.
Public sector banking operations face disruption from a nationwide UFBU strike seeking immediate implementation of a five-day work week, following failed conciliation. Unions demand all Saturdays be declared holidays per the 12th Bipartite Settlement pending government notification; they propose extending weekday hours to offset lost time. Branch services such as cash transactions and cheque clearances are likely to be hit, while private banks not party to the strike and digital banking channels are expected to remain largely functional; some PSBs have issued regulatory filings warning of operational impact.

India-Russia trade aims for USD 100 billion by 2030, using a free trade agreement and national currency settlement.
India and Russia are targeting USD 100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030 through trade diversification (fertilisers, agriculture, engineering, energy), promotion of investment and manufacturing partnerships, a proposed free trade agreement to facilitate transactions, and increased use of national currency settlement; FY 2024-25 bilateral trade reached approximately USD 68.7 billion driven largely by crude imports.

IED attack injures security personnel; minister hauled up by courts; actor arrested for decade-long rape.
An anti insurgency operation in Chhattisgarh saw Maoist planted improvised explosive devices explode, injuring eleven security personnel. A political officeholder previously hauled up by the courts for derogatory remarks against a military officer is reported in connection with a Republic Day event, highlighting judicial scrutiny of officials. An actor has been arrested in Mumbai for allegedly raping his domestic help over an extended period on the promise of marriage, indicating ongoing criminal prosecution for sexual offences.

Live-in relationships: Allahabad High Court set aside life term after finding a consensual adult relationship affected culpability.
The High Court set aside a life imprisonment sentence after finding the complainant was an adult who had entered into a consensual live in relationship, treating the consensual nature of that relationship as material to criminal culpability and sentencing.

Alleged Rs 400 crore cash heist in demonetised notes prompts probe, arrests and legal questions on FIR and enforcement.
Alleged hijacking of two trucks carrying Rs 400 crore in demonetised Rs 2,000 notes at Chorla Ghat led Maharashtra police to arrest six persons and constitute a Special Investigation Team to verify claims, while Karnataka police report no FIR locally due to lack of formal complaint or concrete evidence; political leaders question the legality, possible tax evasion or counterfeit currency, and the role of the Income Tax Department and Enforcement Directorate in probing the matter.