Uttar Pradesh’s draft electoral roll saw a massive cleanup with 2.89 crore names deleted, about 18.7% of the earlier list after a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise by the Election Commission. Of those removed, 46.23 lakh were deceased, 2.17 crore had shifted or were absent, and 25+ lakh were duplicate entries. The capital Lucknow recorded the highest deletions.The draft roll now lists 12.55 crore voters from a previous 15.44 crore. A claims and objections period (Jan 6–Feb 6) allows affected citizens to appeal before the final list is published on March 6. (PC: NDTV)

An intense cold wave is set to hit the northern plains from January 7, bringing biting cold and dense fog, weather experts said. Day temperatures may fall 4–8°C below normal between January 8 and 16 across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi. Dense to very dense fog is expected in parts of Jammu and Kashmir and many districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Lucknow, Kanpur and Prayagraj. Visibility may stay poor even during daytime hours. Madhya Pradesh may see a further drop in night temperatures with fog in several cities. Southern states may get light rain but will avoid severe cold for now. (PC: India Today)

Jawaharlal Nehru University filed an FIR after students raised "provocative and inflammatory" slogans against PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah during a Monday night protest titled "A Night of Resistance with Guerrilla Dhaba" at Sabarmati premises. The administration warned of strict action including immediate suspension, expulsion, and permanent debarment, stating "universities cannot be converted into laboratories of hate." The gathering, initially 30-35 students commemorating 2020 campus violence, escalated after Supreme Court rejected Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam's bail pleas. BJP leaders demanded severe punishment while Union Minister Giriraj Singh accused opposition parties of turning JNU into a hub for "breaking the country."

Controversy erupted at Jawaharlal Nehru University after students allegedly raised provocative slogans against PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah during a January 5 event marking six years of the 2020 campus attack. The gathering, titled "A night of resistance with Guerrilla Dhaba," occurred after the Supreme Court denied bail to former JNU students Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case. JNU's security department requested an FIR for "objectionable" and "inflammatory" slogans, calling it contempt of court. JNUSU president Aditi Mishra defended the slogans as "ideological," not personal attacks. The incident triggered political reactions, with BJP alleging treason while Congress suggested RSS-BJP involvement.

Punjab Police have detained a 15-year-old boy from Samba district in Jammu and Kashmir for alleged contact with Pakistan’s ISI and terror handlers. He was held in the Madhopur area after intelligence inputs. Police said they found phone numbers of suspected anti-national elements during a scan of his mobile phone. Initial checks suggest he shared photos and videos of Army locations and security sites. SSP Pathankot Diljinder Singh Dhillon said the boy had been in contact with handlers for over a year and data was taken through phone cloning. A case has been filed under the Official Secrets Act as the probe continues. (PC: NDTV)

The Central Bureau of Investigation has summoned actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam founder Vijay to appear on January 12 in the Karur stampede case, officials said. The incident took place on September 27, 2025, during a TVK rally at Veluswamypuram in Karur district. A sudden crowd surge killed 41 people and injured many others. The agency has already questioned senior TVK leaders and recorded their statements. The Tamil Nadu government had first set up a state team to probe the case. The Supreme Court later transferred the matter to the CBI, saying the tragedy needed an independent inquiry. The agency is now checking event permits, police planning, and safety steps. (PC: India Today)

The Supreme Court on Monday denied bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the Delhi riots conspiracy case. The court said personal liberty is not absolute and must be balanced with society’s security. It found that allegations against both accused are prima facie true. The bench said their roles were central and directive, not minor. The court noted they were involved in planning and coordinating the alleged conspiracy behind the 2020 riots. Five other accused were granted bail, as their roles were seen as subsidiary. The court said delay in trial alone cannot justify bail in serious cases under UAPA.

A gas leak and fire broke out at an ONGC oil well in Irusumanda village of Andhra Pradesh’s Konaseema district on Monday. Officials said the incident happened during repair work using a workover rig after the well had stopped production. A sudden blowout released large volumes of gas mixed with crude oil, which soon caught fire. Thick smoke and gas spread across the area. Authorities used loudspeakers to warn residents in three nearby villages to avoid using power or lighting stoves. Many people moved out with their cattle. ONGC teams and district officials reached the spot to control the leak and secure the area. (PC: NDTV)

After the Supreme Court refused bail to Umar Khalid in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case, his partner Banojyotsna Lahiri shared a brief exchange with him on social media. She quoted Khalid saying he felt relief for other accused who were granted bail. “I am really happy for the others who got bail,” he told her. Lahiri replied that she would visit him the next day. Khalid responded, “Good, good, aa jana. Ab yahi zindagi hai.” The court also denied bail to Sharjeel Imam but allowed five other accused to be released. The bench said there was material to show a criminal conspiracy at this stage of the case. (PC: India Today)

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh walked out of Sunaria jail in Haryana on Monday after being given a 40-day parole. Singh is serving a 20-year sentence for raping two followers. This is the 15th time he has been released since his conviction in 2017. A Dera spokesperson said Singh will stay at the sect’s Sirsa base during the parole period. He was last freed on a 40-day parole in August 2025. Singh was also convicted in 2019 for the murder of a journalist. Past paroles were often granted close to state and national elections. (PC: HT)