The Times of India

Anuradha Roy is the author of five novels. Her first, An Atlas of Impossible Longing, was translated into 16 languages. Sleeping on Jupiter, her third novel, won the DSC Prize for Fiction 2016 and was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2015. All the Lives We Never Lived won the 2022 Sahitya Akademi Award and was shortlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award. 'Called by the Hills is her first work of nonfiction.

The Enforcement Directorate accused West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee of obstructing a money-laundering probe into a coal smuggling syndicate. The ED claims Banerjee, accompanied by police, entered a residence and I-PAC office, seizing documents and electronic devices. Banerjee rejected the allegations, calling the searches politically motivated and an attempt to seize TMC's election strategy.

ISRO's PSLV C62 mission, scheduled for January 12, 2026, will launch the advanced earth observation satellite EOS-N1, enhancing India's surveillance capabilities. The mission also carries a European demonstrator satellite and 17 other payloads, including India's first on-orbit satellite refuelling payload, AayulSAT. This launch marks a significant comeback for the PSLV program after a previous setback.

Parliamentary committee members debated inviting opposition parties to discuss a bill to remove PMs, CMs, and ministers arrested for over 30 days on serious charges. Concerns were raised about replacing removed leaders and whether the Leader of Opposition could be removed under the bill's provisions.

The Union home ministry has notified the timeline for the first phase of Census 2027, focusing on housing and houselisting operations. This phase will be conducted over 30 days between April 1 and September 30 this year, with an option for 15-day self-enumeration before the main operation.

New Delhi is set to host a major international conference from January 21-23, bringing together nearly 100 delegates from 42 election management bodies. The event, themed 'Democracy for an inclusive, resilient and sustainable world,' aims to foster global cooperation, share best practices, and address contemporary challenges in election management. India's Election Commission is organizing this significant gathering.

The Election Commission has announced that relatives of voters living outside Bengal can appear on their behalf for physical SIR hearings. This relief is for thousands of migrant workers, students, and NRIs summoned for hearings, which are crucial for electoral roll discrepancies. The EC aims to ease logistical burdens and ensure broader participation in the verification process.

The Delhi High Court has ordered Congress and AAP to remove social media posts within 24 hours that linked BJP's Dushyant Kumar Gautam to a 2022 Uttarakhand resort murder. The court also restrained the parties from posting further content targeting Gautam as the alleged VIP in the case, citing irreparable damage to his reputation.

A proposal to raise the Employees Provident Fund Organisation's monthly wage ceiling beyond Rs 15,000 is back on the table, with suggestions for an increase to Rs 25,000-30,000. This move aims to bring more low-wage and minimum-wage earners, especially in the unorganised sector, under the social security net.

A special CBI court in Guwahati has framed charges against six men for their alleged involvement in a brutal ethnic violence crime in Manipur. The case, involving the stripping and parading of three women, with two gang-raped, marks the first CBI investigation into the Manipur violence to proceed to trial.

Jewellery shops in Bihar will now prohibit customers with covered faces, citing security concerns due to rising gold and silver prices. The decision, aimed at preventing theft and aiding identification in case of incidents, will be gradually implemented nationwide. Shop owners will politely refuse service to those who refuse to reveal their faces.

At 97, Nagpur University alumnus Vinayak Pande is poised to become India's oldest Doctor of Literature recipient. He will be awarded the DLitt in economics for his thesis on 'Global Economic Recession' at the university's 113th convocation. Pande, unable to attend due to health advice, believes research has no retirement age.

Following India's military retaliation against a terror attack, Pakistan urgently sought US mediation to halt New Delhi's strikes. FARA filings reveal Islamabad's frantic lobbying efforts, involving over 60 contacts with US officials and media. Pakistan's hired firm, Squire Patton Boggs, aimed to secure American intervention to somehow halt India's operations, indicating significant behind-the-scenes panic.

CM Fadnavis Warns Of Action Against Office-Bearers

A young hippopotamus at Alipore Zoo has been unable to move for two weeks, likely due to a neurological disease or leg injury. A medical team is monitoring the animal, which has shown some signs of improvement and is slowly responding to treatment. The zoo is seeking expert advice for a definitive diagnosis and treatment plan.

Madras HC has prohibited the publication, sale, and circulation of a Tamil book containing derogatory remarks against Justice G R Swaminathan. The court initiated suo motu contempt proceedings against the publisher, Keezhaikaatru Publishers, for content deemed highly abusive and scandalous.

Indian tax authorities have highlighted significant risks associated with virtual digital assets like crypto, echoing the Reserve Bank of India's concerns. The anonymous and borderless nature of these assets, coupled with offshore platforms, makes tracking taxable income and beneficial owners extremely difficult. Jurisdictional challenges further complicate tax recovery, prompting authorities to implement safeguards like TDS and mandatory registration.

The Omar Abdullah government rejected the demand for a separate statehood for Jammu, deeming it unviable. Instead, the government suggested it was time for Ladakh to be reunited with Jammu and Kashmir. BJP legislators renewed calls for a separate Jammu state, alleging discrimination and seeking a Hindu chief minister.

Security forces engaged terrorists in a fierce gun battle in Kathua's Billawar forests on Wednesday. Following a tip-off about suspicious movement, a joint operation led to a firefight with a group of two to three ultras. The encounter continued despite challenging conditions, with the area cordoned off. This incident is part of ongoing counter-terror operations across the region.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti criticized the Omar Abdullah government for its indifference to public concerns, particularly regarding the proposed railway line between Kakapora and Kunsoo. She argued the project threatens livelihoods by encroaching on productive apple orchards. Mufti accused the administration of ignoring protests and focusing on political rivals instead of addressing the people's issues.

India's first space mission of 2026, PSLV-C62, is set to launch on January 12, carrying DRDO's advanced defense satellite Anvesha (EOS-N1) for enhanced surveillance. The mission will also test on-orbit refuelling technology with OrbitAID's AyulSAT and deploy Nepal's Earth observation satellite Munal, alongside 13 other satellites from India and international partners.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to launch thirteen new trains next week, including India's inaugural Vande Bharat sleeper service. Ten of these trains will depart from West Bengal, with three originating from Assam, both states heading for elections. This significant rollout highlights the Centre's commitment to enhancing transport infrastructure in West Bengal.

Punjab has launched the second phase of its anti-drug campaign, 'Yudh Nashian Virudh'. Over 1.5 lakh volunteers, known as 'Pind De Pehredar', will assist the police. An app will allow anonymous reporting of drug peddlers. Padyatras will be held across the state. The campaign aims to dismantle drug networks and ensure a drug-free Punjab.

Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta held a Jan Sunwai, directly addressing residents' concerns and complaints. She instructed officials to resolve issues within fixed timelines and ensure follow-up actions, emphasizing the importance of public feedback in shaping administrative decisions and effective implementation.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar criticised western nations for offering unsolicited advice urging them to look at their own region for levels of violence. He emphasised India's independent approach to international relations, dealing with partners and adversaries differently. Jaishankar also highlighted India's concern for safety of the people of Venezuela amidst crisis.

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The National Medical Commission has withdrawn the Letter of Permission for Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence to run an MBBS course due to serious violations of minimum standards found during a surprise inspection. Students admitted for the 2025-26 academic year will be shifted to other medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir as supernumerary seats.

A salon worker received a 10-year sentence for abducting and raping a woman with intellectual disability. The court, citing Supreme Court observations, deemed her testimony credible despite her challenges. This conviction under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act highlights a rare legal victory, emphasizing sensitivity towards victims with disabilities.

Despite the Supreme Court's Vishaka judgment mandating mechanisms against workplace sexual harassment, many high courts and district courts remain non-compliant. This lack of a gender-sensitized redressal structure violates women's constitutional rights and discourages their participation in the justice delivery process. The Supreme Court has now sought status reports from defaulting high courts and bar associations.