The Times of India News

An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 on the Richter Scale jolted Morigaon district in Assam early Monday morning. The tremor, with its epicentre at a depth of 50 km, was felt across central Assam. Authorities are monitoring the situation, with no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

A 7-km twin-tube tunnel is planned to connect Chaumasi to Sonprayag, improving connectivity and safety for Kedarnath pilgrims. This project aims to reduce travel time and provide an emergency escape route, complementing the upcoming Sonprayag-Kedarnath ropeway. The government is prioritizing detailed geological studies for the tunnel construction.

A Bihar youth, duped by cybercriminals, arrived at the prestigious LBSNAA in Mussoorie for IAS training, only to be stopped at the gate. He had paid Rs 30,000 after receiving forged UPSC results and a fake selection letter. Police are investigating this elaborate scam targeting aspiring civil servants.

Official audits for years warned of public health risks from contaminated drinking water in Madhya Pradesh, citing over 5.45 lakh water-borne disease cases in Bhopal and Indore between 2013-2018. Despite these alerts, systemic lapses in monitoring and testing by urban local bodies persisted, leading to faecal coliform detection in water supplies and potential health impacts for lakhs of residents.

Indore health officials declared a waterborne disease outbreak in Bhagirathpura an epidemic after 10 deaths. Specialized national and state teams are investigating the contamination source. Narmada water supply remains suspended, with residents instructed on borewell and tank chlorination. Clean water is being supplied via tankers, and affected patients receive free treatment.

NHAI has identified 424 elecom black spots totaling 1,750 km on highways and expressways, urging TRAI to direct operators to improve mobile network coverage. This lack of connectivity hinders emergency communication and highway operations. NHAI also proposed free, proactive SMS alerts for accident-prone zones, including those with stray cattle, to enhance road user safety.

Around 30,000 Goans surrendered Indian passports in a decade for foreign nationality, primarily Portuguese. Now, their parents, who registered births in Portugal, face scrutiny from the Election Commission. This action aims to verify electoral roll entries of individuals who acquired foreign passports and citizenship.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan unveiled 184 new crop varieties, including 122 cereals and 22 Bt cotton, aimed at boosting productivity and climate resilience. These advancements, developed by ICAR, universities, and private firms, will be available to farmers within three years. Chouhan highlighted India's significant rice production, surpassing China, solidifying its global food supplier status.

Congress plans a long-term sensitization campaign for MGNREGA workers, drawing inspiration from the farm laws stir. Unlike the farmer protests, the current agitation faces challenges mobilizing the poor working class for prolonged struggle. The party aims to educate workers about potential impacts of new policies, acknowledging the battle will be prolonged.

Two months into Bengal's electoral roll revision, citizens face confusion and difficulties regaining their voting rights due to document discrepancies and unclear directives. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has criticized the unplanned, arbitrary process, highlighting instances of elderly and infirm voters being summoned for hearings, leading to widespread public outcry.

A Class 10 student, investigated for rape of a pregnant minor, was found dead in a field in UP's Kaushambi district. The boy's family claims he was distressed after an FIR was filed against him. Police are investigating the circumstances of his death.

An accused student in a Himachal Pradesh college ragging and sexual harassment case, where a classmate died, denied all charges in a social media video. She claimed innocence for herself and two other accused students, asserting they were all classmates and belonged to the same Scheduled Caste community.

A 47-year-old GRP constable, Dinesh Kumar, sustained a shoulder injury from an accidental discharge of his service weapon while on duty at Kathua railway station Saturday night. He has been admitted to the Government Medical College and Hospital in Jammu for treatment following the incident.

Jammu and Kashmir's legislative assembly will convene on February 2nd in Jammu, with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha delivering the inaugural address. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, also finance minister, is slated to present the budget for 2026-27 later in the session. This marks Sinha's third address and Abdullah's second budget presentation.

Police in Jammu and Reasi districts have booked multiple property owners for renting to unverified tenants, intensifying checks ahead of Republic Day. In Reasi's Katra, a group of unverified tenants from outside the state were found residing in jhuggis after a violent quarrel.

North India's dense winter fog has led to a viral video showcasing an ingenious solution for navigating zero visibility. A man perched on a car's bonnet guides the driver with hand signals, turning a perilous drive into an improvised navigation exercise. This creative approach, dubbed 'ADAS Level 4,' has amused netizens and highlighted the resourcefulness of Indian youth.

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar will be on a six-day official visit to France and Luxembourg, during which he will hold high-level meetings aimed at strengthening India's bilateral ties with both countries.

Senior Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor and Abhishek Manu Singhvi condemned the US airstrikes on Venezuela, calling it law of the jungle and 19th-century imperialism. Meanwhile, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi drew a parallel to India, prompting sharp retorts from BJP and Shiv Sena leaders. India's Ministry of External Affairs expressed deep concern and urged peaceful resolution.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his condolence message on the passing of former PM Khaleda Zia. The BNP acknowledged Zia's contributions to India-Bangladesh relations. India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar represented the country at Zia's funeral.

The white-collar terror module began to unravel on the intervening night of October 18-19, 2025, when posters of the banned Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) appeared on walls outside Srinagar city, warning of attacks on police and security forces in the Valley. A large cache of arms and ammunition, including 2,900 kg of ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate and sulphur, was seized during the operation, officials said.

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2026 marks a pivotal year for space exploration, with India's Gaganyaan and Samudrayaan missions, NASA's Artemis II lunar journey, and China's Chang'e-7 targeting the Moon's south pole. New telescopes like PLATO and Xuntian, alongside India's Aditya-L1 observing the Sun, promise groundbreaking discoveries, pushing humanity's reach further into the cosmos and oceans.

At a time when the Centre is pushing for restructuring the defence forces, the Indian Army has carried out one of the biggest ever transformations to meet modern warfare challenges as it has created a pool of over one lakh drone operatives across the force.

Former actress Sana Khan is preparing for her fourth Haj, opting for a modern multi-storey tower in Mina instead of traditional tents. This shift reflects a growing trend among Indian pilgrims seeking enhanced amenities during the sacred journey. Saudi authorities have introduced these towers, offering a more comfortable experience, though some traditionalists express reservations.

Tech co-developed with IIT-M is now under development trial

J&K government convened a workshop with over 100 mosque imams to combat rising heroin addiction. Religious leaders were urged to destigmatize patients and raise awareness about substance abuse's harmful impacts. This initiative is part of a three-stage strategy focusing on awareness, identification, and rehabilitation to address the growing drug menace in the region.

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) warns that the EU's new carbon border tax will shift decarbonisation costs onto developing nations like India. This measure, set to generate significant revenue for the EU, imposes tariffs on emission-intensive goods, potentially impacting India's steel and aluminium exports by around 25% and creating trade disadvantages.

The BJP has sharply criticized Rahul Gandhi, labeling him India's most foreign travelled Leader of Opposition. Party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi questioned who is frequently inviting Gandhi abroad to engage with anti-India forces and shape his domestic criticism.

A Meitei civil society group has alerted PM Modi about a Chin Kuki Zo organization's appeals to foreign governments and UN bodies, warning of threats to India's sovereignty and security. The group urged a review of security policies and Suspension of Operations agreements to ensure a lawful resolution for Manipur.

A key Hindu candidate, Gobindadeb Pramanik, had his nomination rejected for the Gopalganj-3 seat in Bangladesh polls due to alleged invalid signatures. Pramanik, general secretary of Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mahajote, claims political intimidation led to the rejection, despite having the required 1% voter support. He plans to appeal the decision.

India has prohibited charging power banks inflight and using them with in-seat power systems due to the risk of lithium batteries catching fire. Power banks and batteries are now only permitted in hand luggage, not overhead bins, following DGCA directives to enhance flight safety. Airlines must report all lithium battery-related incidents to the DGCA.

A Punjabi pop song by Toronto-based artist Babbulicious became the unlikely soundtrack to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani's inauguration, creating a viral moment celebrating diasporic culture. The artist, Babbu Singh, expressed his surreal experience seeing US Senator Bernie Sanders vibing to the track, highlighting the growing mainstream acceptance of Punjabi music.

Gangster Haji Firoz Khan staged a dramatic protest, chaining himself and rigging a noose at his home, claiming an immediate threat from Uttar Pradesh police. He posted live videos, which police dismissed as heatrics to obstruct their work.

A horrific incident unfolded in Bulandshahr where a five-year-old girl was allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted by two men. The perpetrators, reportedly intoxicated, then threw the child from a third-floor building to stage an accident. However, crucial evidence, including the girl's slippers found in their room, led to their swift arrest after a brief police encounter.