Parliament introduces seat-based electronic attendance for MPs; devices record presence for allowance eligibility and ministers are exempt.
The Lok Sabha will require MPs to mark attendance at their allotted seats via multimedia devices-smart ID tap, thumbprint scan, or personal identification number-with attendance determining daily allowance entitlement; ministers and the Leader of the Opposition are exempt. The House is replacing lobby-based digital pen/tablet sign-in to reduce queuing and absentee marking. The Secretariat is piloting AI transcription for real-time translation, currently at ~80% accuracy with manual reconfirmation, and aims to upload proceedings rapidly once accuracy improves.

Real estate investment surged, projects and completions rose, and regulator timelines set four- to 30-day registration targets.
Investment in the real estate sector rose 53% to Rs 69,000 crore in 2025, accompanied by increased project approvals and unit completions; developer interest has expanded into multiple regional markets and land values have risen in certain localities. RERA registration timelines operate with a four-day minimum (when all details are provided) and a 30-day maximum to expedite project registration.

Nvidia chip sales to China prompt warnings about national-security risks from advanced AI hardware transfers.
Approval of a powerful Nvidia AI chip sale to China is portrayed as a national-security and technology-transfer risk, with an AI company CEO likening the decision to selling weaponizable technology and framing it as a trade-off between profit and potentially dangerous proliferation of advanced capabilities; this concern is presented alongside international tensions involving tariff threats and sovereignty claims that contextualize export-control and trade-policy considerations.

Andhra Pradesh and RMZ Group announce $10 billion partnership to develop GCC park, hyperscale data centres and industrial parks.
Andhra Pradesh and RMZ Group announced a strategic USD 10 billion partnership to develop a Kapuluppada GCC Park (up to 10 million sq ft on ~50 acres), a phased hyperscale data centre cluster in Visakhapatnam (targeting up to 1 GW across 500-700 acres) with sustainability and green power integration, and a Tekulodu Industrial and Logistics Park (~1,000 acres). The state emphasised single-point facilitation, timely land allotment and time-bound clearances to support delivery, with projected employment of about one lakh across IT, data centres, manufacturing and logistics.

Eight core infrastructure sectors grew 3.7% in December, led by cement and fertiliser, affecting IIP performance.
Eight core infrastructure sectors recorded 3.7% growth in December 2025 led by cement (13.5%) and fertiliser (4.1%), while crude oil, natural gas, and refinery products contracted; coal, steel, and electricity showed moderated gains. For April-December 2025 the sectors grew 2.6% versus 4.5% a year earlier. These eight industries represent 40.27% of the Index of Industrial Production and materially affect headline IIP performance.

EU Anti-Coercion Instrument urged for use against US tariff threats over Greenland to counter economic coercion.
Authorise and be prepared to deploy the Anti-Coercion Instrument in response to unilateral tariff threats such as those affecting Greenland, using the mechanism as a defensive tool to counter economic coercion and protect EU trade policy leverage.

Odisha secures Rs 1.67 lakh crore in investment intents, focusing on new-age industries and creating about 1.46 lakh jobs.
Odisha received investment proposals totalling Rs 1.67 lakh crore from investor meets in Hyderabad and Kolkata, covering traditional and new-age sectors and projected to create about 1.46 lakh jobs. Focused sectors include pharmaceuticals, aerospace and defence, IT and ITES, technical textiles, metal ancillary and engineering goods, plastics, chemicals, packaging and recycling, and medical devices and biotechnology. The state emphasises enabling infrastructure-ports, airports, roads-dedicated industrial and MSME parks, SEZs, and planned skill centres to facilitate implementation and region-balanced workforce development.

Barrier-free tolling: NOC, fitness renewal and permits withheld until all unpaid toll dues are cleared.
Clearance of unpaid user fee recorded by Electronic Toll Collection is required before issuance of a No Objection Certificate, vehicle transfer, fitness renewal or permits; Form 28 must disclose any pending unpaid user fee demands and may be issued electronically; non payment attracts e notices and penalties including FASTag suspension and VAHAN related sanctions.

Bitcoin-linked money laundering probe: two arrests over alleged extortion, concealed wallets, KYC misuse and transfers.
Enforcement action alleges a 2018 cryptocurrency extortion and subsequent conversion of proceeds; custodial interrogation is sought because an arrested relative of the principal suspect is said to possess wallet credentials, private keys and exchange account control needed to trace transfers of hundreds of Bitcoins, some moved via an exchange account opened with another person's KYC. Authorities allege receipt, onward transfers, concealment of beneficial ownership, misuse of identity documents, nondisclosure of foreign links, and acquisition of property with allegedly arranged funds.

Digital arrest scams: CBI conducts searches in Kerala and Faridabad in connection with extortion probe.
Coordinated searches were conducted in northern Kerala and Faridabad as part of an investigation into a digital arrest case; the agency did not disclose accused identities. The case involves cyber extortion where perpetrators impersonate law enforcement on video calls, falsely allege serious crimes, and threaten immediate "virtual arrest" to extort victims, guiding the evidence-gathering focus of the searches.

Election Commission SIR of electoral rolls is legislative, prescribing principles and documentary requirements for voter registration.
The Election Commission's SIR order is legislative in character, prescribing nationwide principles and 11 specified documents (including Aadhaar) required only where linkage to earlier electoral entries up to June 2025 cannot be established. Enumeration forms and pre-filled house-to-house procedures by Booth Level Officers confer probative value, and the EC may determine citizenship solely for registration purposes under its constitutional role, constrained by Articles 324-326 and Section 62 of the Representation of the People Act.

J&K Bank posts stronger Q3 results, improved asset quality, and a board-approved Rs 1,250 crore capital raise.
Jammu and Kashmir Bank reported Q3 net profit of Rs 586.73 crore (10.4% YoY) and Rs 1,565.68 crore for nine months (4.5% YoY). Operating metrics improved with NIM at 3.62%, NII at Rs 1,488.88 crore, other income at Rs 279.46 crore, cost-to-income at 55.88%, and cost of deposits at 4.69%. Asset quality strengthened: gross NPA 3.00%, net NPA 0.68%, and PCR 90.46%. Gross advances grew 17.3% YoY to Rs 1,16,248 crore and deposits rose 10.6% to Rs 1,55,861 crore. The board approved results and a Rs 1,250 crore capital raise; CAR stood at 15%.

Jammu and Kashmir pre-budget consultations prioritize people-centric initiatives and departmental alignment ahead of the 2026-27 budget.
Pre-budget consultations led by the Chief Minister, who also holds the finance portfolio, convened key departments (Power Development, Housing and Urban Development, Finance, Revenue, General Administration, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Tourism, Information and IT) from January 20-22 to align departmental proposals with development goals and fiscal priorities ahead of the Budget Session beginning February 2 and the budget presentation on February 6, 2026.

Tamil Nadu minister linked to alleged bribery ring in transfers and postings; ED seeks police FIR to enable PMLA action.
The ED reported recovered photos, chats and documents allegedly showing bribes of Rs 7 lakh to Rs 1 crore across about 340 transfer and posting instances and traced Rs 365.87 crore of proceeds to real estate, foreign assets, bullion and luxury spending. Relying on its PMLA information sharing power, the ED requested the state and vigilance agency to register a police FIR to create a criminal predicate for PMLA action, while noting prior communications alleging recruitment and tender irregularities in the department.

EU India free trade agreement, plus a Security and Defence Partnership and talks on a Security of Information Agreement.
India and the European Union are set to finalise a negotiated free trade agreement creating an integrated market of about two billion people and deepening bilateral trade beyond the existing USD 135 billion. Alongside the FTA, the parties will establish a Security and Defence Partnership to enhance interoperability and allow Indian participation in the EU's SAFE defence finance programme, and will initiate negotiations on a Security of Information Agreement to boost industrial defence cooperation and adopt a joint strategic agenda for 2026-2030.

Film 'Jana Nayagan' censorship appeal reserved; dispute over CBFC referral and single-judge certificate order and producer's reliance claim
An appeal contests a single-judge direction to grant a censor certificate despite the Chairperson's decision to put the examining-committee recommendation on hold and refer the film to the revising committee; the board says it was denied an opportunity to be heard, while the producer asserts the Chairperson had accepted the earlier recommendation, requisite cuts were made, and the producer relied on that acceptance to fix a release date.

RAK Ceramics and Birla Pivot partnership expands tiles and bathware distribution across India through Birla Pivot's digital channels.
A strategic commercial partnership appoints Birla Pivot as pan India distributor and digital channel for RAK Ceramics' tiles and bathware, including KLUDI, onboarding the full product range across retail, project, gallery and digital marketplace channels to broaden access in residential, commercial and institutional construction segments while aligning manufacturing and design capabilities with distribution, supply chain services and financing solutions to streamline procurement, inventory management and geographic reach.

Tanu Sinha joins ISDI Advisory Board, strengthening industry-academia collaboration in design education and curriculum development.
Appointment of Tanu Sinha to the ATLAS ISDI Advisory Board brings PepsiCo design leadership and consumer-centric brand strategy experience to inform ISDI's curriculum, strengthen industry integration, and guide the practical application of design thinking for students.

Axis Max Life extends term life cover to students, allowing up to INR 2 Crore with student friendly underwriting.
Axis Max Life's Smart Term Plan Plus extends term coverage to students, permitting up to INR 2 Crore with optional Accidental Death & Dismemberment and Critical Illness and Disability riders. The product shifts entry age toward 18 to address protection gaps for non earning graduates by allowing parental income tax returns and Video Medical Examination in underwriting, enabling issuance without conventional income proof and locking in lower premiums to reduce the cost of delayed coverage.

Camel milk processing plant procured 4,754 litres daily in 2024-25 and paid Rs 8.72 crore to farming families.
Sarhad Dairy's camel milk plant procured an average 4,754 litres daily in 2024-25, paying Rs 8.72 crore to over 350 camel farming families. The cooperative integrates camel milk collection across four district centres, operates India's first deodorising camel milk processing line, holds primary organic certification for camel milk, and produces camel milk Rajbhog ice cream alongside broader dairy processing, feed mill and ice cream production capacities.