THE HEADLINES:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, India’s trade deals with US and EU instill confidence towards global stability; Asserts, future-ready pacts with several nations aimed at empowering youth of the country.
- Prime Minister to interact with students across the country in ninth edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha this morning.
- Home Minister Amit Shah to visit border posts in Jammu and review security situation in Union Territory.
- RBI to announce its bi-monthly monetary policy review today.
- US and Iran to hold direct nuclear talks in Oman today.
- In Cricket, Royal Challengers Bengaluru clinch their second Women’s Premier League title, defeating Delhi Capitals by six-wickets in Vadodara.
- India to lock horns with England in final of Under-19 ODI World Cup at Harare this afternoon.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said India’s trade deals with the European Union and the United States have instilled confidence in the world that it is moving towards global stability. Mr Modi was replying to the discussion on Motion of Thanks to the President’s address in the Rajya Sabha yesterday. The Prime Minister said, the country is entering into future-ready trade deals with major countries that are drawing global approval and expanding opportunities for India’s youth. He noted that nine significant trade agreements have been sealed recently, including the ‘Mother of all Deals’ with the European Union involving 27 countries. Mr Modi said, the country’s youth will be the biggest beneficiaries of these trade agreements.
Mr Modi observed that in the post-COVID world, as global instability grows, a new world order is emerging, and impartial analysis shows a clear tilt towards India. .
The Prime Minister said, during her address to the joint sitting of Parliament, President Droupadi Murmu highlighted the rapid progress made over the past year in India’s journey towards a Viksit Bharat.
The Opposition staged a walkout during the Prime Minister’s speech.
President Droupadi Murmu had addressed the joint sitting of both the Houses on the 28th of last month on the commencement of the Budget session.
After the speech of the Prime Minister, the Rajya Sabha adopted the Motion of Thanks on President’s address with voice vote. The Lok Sabha also adopted the motion of thanks earlier in the day.
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The Lok Sabha is scheduled to take up discussion on the Union Budget 2026-27 today. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had presented the Union Budget in Parliament on the 1st of this month. Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha is slated to take up Private Member’s Bills today.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with students across the country in the 9th edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha this morning. The annual event will be telecast at 10 AM across multiple platforms. The 2026 edition will focus on helping students remain stress-free during examinations and promoting a stronger focus on learning. We have more from our correspondent:
Pariksha Pe Charcha has evolved into a nationwide Jan Andolan, witnessing participation of more than 4.5 crore students, teachers, and parents registering through the MyGov portal. Besides Delhi, this edition will cover Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, Raipur in Chhattisgarh, Dev Mogra in Gujarat and Guwahati in Assam. It will be telecast on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s YouTube channel, Doordarshan, and the Ministry of Education’s social media platforms. The programme will also be live on WAVES OTT, Amazon Prime Video, Jio, ZEE5, Sony LIV, and Spotify. The Pariksha Pe Charcha initiative has been conceptualized by the Prime Minister and is in alignment with National Education Policy 2020. It aims at reshaping the examination experience of students by fostering confidence, positivity, and holistic well-being, and celebrating the exam season as a Utsav. With Rishu Jaiswal, Pallavi Parmar, Akashvani News, Delhi.
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah will review border security and hold a high-level meeting in Jammu today on the security situation in the Union Territory. Mr Shah reached Jammu last night on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha received the Home Minister on his arrival at the Jammu airport. More from our correspondent:
“The Home Minister will visit the International Border at Hiranagar in Kathua district to inspect new gadgetry installed by the Border Security Force for plugging infiltration from across the border. In the afternoon, he will hold a high-level review of the security situation at the Lok Bhawan Jammu. This will be Shah’s second high-level review of the security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir in less than a month. He assessed the situation at a meeting in New Delhi on January 8. Tomorrow, the Home Minister will leave for Srinagar where he will launch various development projects. This is N. Gulshan Raina For Akashvani News FROM Jammu”
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The Centre, Nagaland Government and Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) signed an agreement for the formation of Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA). ENPO is an apex body representing eight recognised Naga tribes of the six eastern districts of Nagaland. The agreement will pave the way for creation of Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) for six districts of Nagaland including Tuensang, Mon, Kiphire, Longleng, Noklak and Shamator, and devolution of powers in respect of 46 Subjects to the FNTA. The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi yesterday. Nagaland Chief Minister Nephiu Rio was also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Shah highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed North East free from insurgency, violence, and disputes.
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In Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram district, the state capital, is approaching 100 per cent completion of hearings under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. Authorities said, the process is progressing smoothly, with active participation from the public. More from our Thiruvananthapuram correspondent:
“Only 2,512 people are left to be heard under the SIR process in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala. According to the Chief Electoral Officer, Kerala, a total of 4,77,546 people were served notices for hearing, out of which 4,75,034 hearings have already been completed. Ernakulam, Kasaragod and Palakkad districts are also registering very good performance in the hearing of voters. Meanwhile, seven Assembly constituencies in the state achieved 100 percent completion of hearings on Thursday.So far, 21,130 names have been removed from the voters list in Kerala as part of the SIR process. Smithy M Palluruthy, Akashvani News, Thiruvananthapuram.”
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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will announce its bi-monthly monetary policy decision today. The central bank’s six-member Monetary Policy Committee, led by Governor Sanjay Malhotra, began its meeting on Wednesday to discuss the Indian economy, inflation and other economic factors. This will be the last policy review for the financial year 2025-2026.
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The United States and Iran will hold direct nuclear negotiations in Oman’s capital Muscat today, marking a critical diplomatic engagement amid heightened regional tensions. The talks, scheduled to begin at 11:30 AM Indian Standard Time, come after days of uncertainty over the venue, format, and agenda. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced the meeting on a social media platform, expressing gratitude to Omani authorities for facilitating the arrangements. Our West Asia Correspondent has the details:
“Oman, long regarded as a neutral mediator in West Asian diplomacy, has hosted previous rounds of US-Iran talks. The venue shift to Muscat followed Iran’s insistence on a bilateral format focused strictly on its nuclear program and the lifting of US sanctions. Initial plans reportedly called for talks in Istanbul, Turkey, potentially involving regional actors, but Tehran pushed for the change to limit the scope.Key participants include Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, while the US delegation is expected to feature West Asia envoy Steve Witkoff and possibly Jared Kushner. The negotiations occur against a backdrop of severe strain in US-Iran relations. Tensions escalated following a 12-day conflict involving Israel in June 2025, during which US forces bombed and severely damaged key Iranian nuclear facilities, effectively halting Tehran’s program at the time. Recent months have also seen Iran carry out a crackdown on nationwide protests, further complicating the diplomatic landscape. This is Vinod kumar for Akashvani News from Dubai.”
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In Cricket, Royal Challengers Bengaluru have clinched their second Women’s Premier League title, defeating Delhi Capitals by six wickets in Vadodara last night. Royal Challengers Bengaluru achieved the target of 204 runs for the loss of four wickets in 19.4 overs.
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India will lock horns with England in the Summit Clash of Under-19 ODI Cricket World Cup at Harare in Zimbabwe this afternoon. The match will start at 1 PM Indian Standard Time.
India reached the final defeating Afghanistan by seven wickets in second semifinal at Harare. England booked their spot with a 27-run win over defending champions Australia in the first semifinal at Bulawayo.
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TODAY’S NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES
- In its top story, The Times of India quotes Prime Minister Modi as saying in the Rajya Sabha that India’s deals with European Union and the United States are a good sign for world stability.
- Financial Express has quoted Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal as saying that the United States will cut tariffs on India in four to five days.
- In a box item The Asian Age has highlighted the tragic death of 18 labourers after a blast at an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya.
- No mobile phones will be allowed in Himachal Pradesh schools from March, reports The Tribune; violators will face 500 rupees fine and confiscation, adds the paper.
- Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has directed that deaths caused by the banned Chinese manjha can be charged as murder, writes Hindustan Times.
- “US shuts down 200 ‘illegal’ online pharmacies tied to an India-based criminal organisation”, headlines The Hindu.
- The Indian Express editorial spotlights the rising loneliness among adolescents, calling it an epidemic. Referring to the recent suicide of three sisters in Ghaziabad, the paper comments that unsupervised digital immersion is amplifying into a serious public health crisis.
- Finally, women in Maharashtra’s Beed district are quietly driving a food and social revolution by cultivating vegetables on a small patch of land, substantially improving family health, and turning subsistence farming into an extraordinary act of self-empowerment, writes The Times of India.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, India’s trade deals with US and EU instill confidence towards global stability; Asserts, future-ready pacts with several nations aimed at empowering youth of the country.
- Prime Minister to interact with students across the country in ninth edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha this morning.
- Home Minister Amit Shah to visit border posts in Jammu and review security situation in Union Territory.
- RBI to announce its bi-monthly monetary policy review today.
- US and Iran to hold direct nuclear talks in Oman today.
- In Cricket, Royal Challengers Bengaluru clinch their second Women’s Premier League title, defeating Delhi Capitals by six-wickets in Vadodara.
- India to lock horns with England in final of Under-19 ODI World Cup at Harare this afternoon.
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