The Times of India

Top stock market recommendations: Aakash K Hindocha of Nuvama Professional Clients Group recommends buying Swiggy, Godrej Consumer Products, while GAIL is a sell call.

How to avoid jumbos? And how does one obtain proof of residence from someone who doesnt have any? During Bengals SIR, involving more than 7 crore voters, election officials came up with novel solutions to solve problems faced by, among others, monks, tea garden labourers and sex workers

Rani Kapur has filed a plea in the Delhi High Court seeking the cancellation of the Rani Kapur Family Trust. She alleges the trust, which holds a stake in Sona Comstar, was created and operated without her knowledge or consent while she was medically unwell.

Following a Supreme Court directive, the Election Commission has instructed the Bengal CEO to display names of electors with 'logical discrepancies' and 'unmapped' status by January 24. People in these categories can submit documents via authorized representatives, with authorities ensuring smooth proceedings and no law and order issues.

India and Spain have pledged to strengthen international cooperation against terrorism, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasizing a zero tolerance approach. The two nations reviewed bilateral ties, including trade, defense, and culture, and discussed regional developments. Spain also acceded to India's Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.

India's IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw challenged the notion of India being a secondary AI power, asserting its front-rank status by emphasizing large-scale deployment over massive models. He highlighted the country's focus on practical AI applications and a shared compute facility to drive economic value and ROI, rather than solely on building frontier models.

The Supreme Court has directed the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to decide the fate of Haryana's proposed mega Aravali Zoo Safari Project. The court will await the CEC's report on the project's environmental and ecological feasibility, continuing the interim stay on work.

The Supreme Court has summoned responses from the Haryana government and Mahira Buildwell concerning allegations of cheating homebuyers in an affordable housing project under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Homebuyers claim the developer used fraudulent means, including forged bank guarantees, and has completed minimal construction, siphoning off funds.

The Supreme Court will order an expedited hearing for lawyer-activist Surendra Gadling in the 2016 Surajgarh arson case, acknowledging his seven-year incarceration without trial. The court will also address the appointment of a judge to the special court and the transfer of evidence from the NIA court.

The Supreme Court has ordered Delhi, Haryana, and Rajasthan to halt illegal mining in the Aravali hills, citing irreversible ecological damage. A new expert body will be formed to conduct a scientific examination of the ranges to ensure their structural and ecological integrity, with states tasked to stop all illicit mining until then.

The draft National Electricity Policy 2026 proposes annual tariff resets, including automatic index-linked revisions, to ensure the financial health of power utilities. It aims to limit cross-subsidies for manufacturing and railways, while promoting competition in distribution and phasing out monopolies. The policy also emphasizes renewable energy, storage, and cybersecurity.

Habitual traffic offenders face a new penalty as the road transport ministry has amended rules to disqualify driving licenses for five or more offenses in a year. This provision, effective January 1, aims to curb errant drivers, though experts raise concerns about enforcement and potential challenges to recorded offenses.

A recent IIT-Kanpur student suicide highlights a disturbing mental health crisis across premier Indian technical institutes, with over a dozen student deaths annually for five years. Alumni and student bodies point to intense academic pressure, isolation, and exclusion as key factors.

Outward remittances by resident Indians under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme saw a significant drop in November 2025, reaching a two-year low. This decline was attributed to a decrease in education-related travel and seasonal factors. Total outflows fell by approximately 18% from October, with travel expenses easing considerably.

Gold and silver prices are surging to all-time highs, driven by geopolitical uncertainties, trade disruptions, and a global supply-demand imbalance for silver. The weakening rupee further fuels these gains in the domestic market, with gold exceeding Rs 1.5 lakh/10gm and silver surpassing Rs 3.2 lakh/kg.

India's Tax Collected at Source (TCS) has evolved from an anti-evasion measure to a real-time monitoring tool, now impacting everyday taxpayers. Recent changes aim to ease cash flow for salaried individuals by allowing TCS adjustment against monthly deductions, while others await refunds or adjust against advance tax.

Beauty giant L'Oreal is establishing its inaugural AI-powered global beauty tech innovation hub in Hyderabad, investing 350 million euros by 2030. This first-of-its-kind facility will focus on next-generation AI beauty innovations, creating approximately 2,000 advanced tech jobs and integrating with L'Oreal's global tech network.

The Union cabinet has approved Rs 5,000 crore in equity support for Sidbi to boost credit flow to small businesses. This infusion, spread over three years, aims to enable Sidbi to offer competitive loans to MSMEs. The initiative is projected to create 1.1 crore jobs and add 25.7 lakh new MSME beneficiaries by 2027-28.

A census to count the elusive Kashmir Markhor, the world's largest wild mountain goat, will commence in early February. The Wildlife Trust of India, in collaboration with the J&K wildlife department, will conduct the survey in Kazinag National Park and other sanctuaries. This initiative aims to gather crucial data for conservation efforts of the 'near threatened' species.

Peoples Conference chief Sajad Gani Lone advocated for the separation of Jammu and Kashmir, arguing it would not lead to animosity. He questioned Kashmir's disproportionate burden in safeguarding secularism and highlighted alleged hatred from Jammu, suggesting an 'amicable divorce' amid ongoing discrimination claims.

A delegation from Zanskar, Kargil, met with Union Minister Nityanand Rai to oppose Ladakh's statehood demand, seeking instead a separate autonomous council for their region. They also requested the formal operationalization of Zanskar as a new district. This comes ahead of crucial talks between the home ministry and Ladakhi representatives focused on statehood and the Sixth Schedule.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah accused BJP MLAs of promoting Muhammad Ali Jinnahs two-nation theory by demanding a separate Jammu state. He argued their ambition would lead to a religiously divided region. BJP leader Sunil Sharma denied these claims, stating his focus is on public service, not personal ambition.

Operation Trashi-I continues for the fourth day in Kishtwar's dense forests, with security forces intensifying their search for fleeing terrorists. Following an ambush that wounded eight soldiers and claimed one life, additional forces have been deployed. Meanwhile, enhanced security checks are underway across several districts ahead of Republic Day, focusing on foreign nationals.

A committee has been formed to investigate the alleged suicide of a 20-year-old student in Doda after she was barred from her semester exam. The student reportedly jumped into the Chenab River after her mobile phone was confiscated and she was warned of disciplinary action. An assistant professor has been suspended pending the inquiry.

India's top auditor has urged strengthening local government audit bodies to boost transparency and quality at the grassroots. A national workshop highlighted challenges and best practices, focusing on improving audit frameworks, technology adoption, and capacity building for local fund audit directors. The aim is to ensure better oversight and public fund utilization.

The European Union is considering using its powerful 'trade bazooka' against the US following President Trump's remarks on Greenland. This economic tool, the Anti-Coercion Instrument, allows for retaliation against undue economic pressure. While a significant deterrent, its activation is slow, and EU members are wary of sparking a transatlantic trade war given the massive $2 trillion trade volume.

US stocks steadied after a sharp decline, as investors assessed easing US-Europe tensions over Greenland. While equities saw modest gains, gold prices surged, signaling ongoing risk aversion amid trade uncertainties. Corporate news included Netflix's subscriber slowdown and Kraft Heinz's potential stake sale.

Uttarakhand's Uniform Civil Code services are now accessible in all 22 constitutionally recognized Indian languages, alongside English. Applicants can leverage AI assistance for guidance and registration, ensuring a smooth process. This multilingual platform, developed by ITDA, aims to simplify access to UCC rules and documentation, reflecting the government's commitment to ease of use and technological advancement.

The European Parliament has referred the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement to the bloc's top court, casting legal uncertainty over the recently signed pact. This move, celebrated by some farming groups, follows concerns about agricultural imports and environmental standards.

Parents can invest in mutual funds for minors, with the child as the sole holder, managed by a guardian. Upon turning 18, control fully transfers to the child. While beneficial for disciplined long-term savings, parents lose control post-majority. Tax implications differ before and after the child becomes an adult.

Recycling industry leaders urged policymakers to prioritize open markets and ease cross-border scrap movement in the Union Budget 2026, deeming it critical for a resilient circular economy. Global market access for recycled materials is seen as the biggest enabler for investment and sustainability amidst rising protectionism.

Budget 2026 income tax expectations: Will FM Nirmala Sitharaman reduce the number of tax slabs under the new income tax regime to ease compliance and reduce confusion for taxpayers? Times of India Online asks tax experts:

Gold futures reached a new all-time high on Wednesday, driven by a sharp rally in global prices as investors sought safe-haven assets amidst escalating trade war tensions and geopolitical uncertainty. Silver also continued its upward trend, scaling fresh record highs on the MCX. International gold prices breached the USD 4,800-per-ounce mark.