English-language national news, explainers and fact checks.
A report says West Bengal has confirmed Nipah virus cases, with close contacts quarantined and travel screening measures being reinforced at airports and border points to limit spread.
India and the European Union have reached a long-awaited free-trade agreement, a deal expected to reshape tariff lines and market access after negotiations that began in 2007 and were relaunched in 2022.
Bank employee and officer unions have called a one-day nationwide strike for 27 January, citing delays in implementing a five-day work week and making all Saturdays holidays, according to a report summarising union demands.
India’s weather turns more active from 27 January as a western disturbance brings rain and snow to the western Himalayas, while parts of the plains brace for cold-wave conditions, dense fog and gusty winds, according to the IMD.
India’s technology sector started 2026 on a weak hiring footing, with active job openings falling 24% year-on-year to about 103,000 roles, according to staffing firm Xpheno’s January outlook cited in an Economic Times report.
A new research paper examining decades of Indian data argues for sharper increases in public healthcare spending, warning that rising costs and uneven access are deepening inequality. The study highlights how India’s heavy dependence on out-of-pocket payments exposes poorer and rural households to financial distress and delayed treatment.
Chinese President Xi Jinping sent greetings to President Droupadi Murmu for India’s 77th Republic Day, urging China and India to act as good neighbours and partners. He repeated the symbolic line about the ‘dragon and the elephant dancing together’, pitching cooperation as the right strategic choice for both sides.
India’s men’s futsal team defeated Sri Lanka 4-1 at the SAFF Futsal Championship in Thailand, riding on a first-half burst that included a brace by Seaon Dsouza. The win kept India in the race for a strong finish as the inaugural tournament drew toward its final fixtures.
Indian equities stayed under pressure through January as benchmark indices fell more than 4% for the month, driven by persistent foreign portfolio selling, a weaker rupee, muted earnings and global uncertainty. Investors are now watching whether the traditional pre-Budget volatility gives way to a late-month rebound.
ISRO’s PSLV-C62 mission, scheduled for 12 January 2026, is set to carry a primary Earth observation satellite and a cluster of co-passengers. Among them is a small satellite featuring an AI-enabled imaging payload designed to process data in orbit, highlighting India’s growing role in practical space tech and edge computing.
In Maharashtra’s civic elections, the BJP and its ally Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) together crossed the majority mark in the 227-member Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, ending decades of dominance by the undivided Shiv Sena legacy. The wider municipal results signalled a major realignment of urban political control and organisational strength.
India marked its 77th Republic Day in New Delhi with a full ceremonial parade on Kartavya Path, led by President Droupadi Murmu. The presence of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Luís Santos da Costa as chief guests added strong diplomatic messaging around India–EU ties and a shared strategic agenda.