Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flagged off India’s first Vande Bharat sleeper train from Malda Town in West Bengal. The train will connect Howrah with Kamakhya in Guwahati.   “This train will make long journeys faster, safer, and more comfortable,” the Prime Minister’s Office said. The sleeper train is fully air-conditioned and offers modern berths, clean linen, and advanced safety systems. It can reach 180 kmph but will run at 120–130 kmph.   The service is expected to cut travel time by 2.5 hours and boost tourism in eastern India.

The first commercial flights carrying Indian nationals from Iran arrived in Delhi late Friday amid recent unrest. The flights were regular services and not part of an evacuation operation. Several returnees described disrupted daily life due to internet shutdowns and street protests. “There was no internet and protests were dangerous,” one national said, adding that families could not be contacted. Another said protesters blocked roads and caused brief trouble. The Indian government had earlier advised against non-essential travel. The Indian Embassy in Tehran issued advisories and stayed in contact with citizens as the situation gradually stabilised. (PC: NDTV)

The Enforcement Directorate filed a charge sheet against Al-Falah University chairman Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui and the family-run Al-Falah Charitable Trust, attaching assets worth ₹139 crore including 54 acres of campus land. The probe links to the November 10 Red Fort terror attack where Al-Falah Medical College doctor Umar-un-Nabi conducted a suicide bombing killing 11 people. ED alleges the university generated ₹415 crore through fraudulent accreditation claims. Investigations revealed family-controlled firms received university contracts, undisclosed related-party transactions, and fund diversion for land acquisition. Siddiqui's children allegedly hold British nationality, with overseas entities established in the UK. The case connects to a wider white-collar terror module investigation. (PC: ANI)

A Mumbai to Krabi IndiGo flight (6E 1085) descended into chaos after the pilot refused to operate the plane, citing that his duty hours had expired, leading to a delay of over three hours before departure. Passengers, already aboard, engaged in heated arguments with cabin crew and were seen kicking the aircraft exit door in frustration over the long wait and lack of clear communication. IndiGo said the delay stemmed from the late arrival of the incoming aircraft, air traffic congestion, and crew duty-time limits. Two passengers were declared unruly and deboarded by security, causing further delay before the flight ultimately took off. 

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused BJP-ruled states of mistreating migrant workers from Bengal, claiming they face violence and torture for speaking Bengali outside the state. She highlighted incidents where workers were allegedly attacked, harassed, or even killed after being labeled “illegal immigrants,” sparking protests in Murshidabad and other areas. Banerjee condemned these acts as “inhuman treatment” and vowed support and compensation for affected families. The chief minister’s comments come amid rising tensions ahead of assembly elections, with the migrant issue becoming a politically charged topic in West Bengal’s discourse. (PC: ANI)

Suspected Pakistani drones were sighted hovering over the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch and the Ramgarh sector of Samba district in Jammu and Kashmir, prompting Indian security forces to activate anti-drone systems and remain on high alert. The sightings occurred Thursday night as troops monitored aerial movements along the sensitive border, deploying counter-unmanned aerial systems in response. Earlier this week, similar drone occurrences were reported in the region, underlining ongoing border security challenges and concerns over possible surveillance or infiltration attempts. Forces continue vigilance to protect against further incursions. 

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has served a legal notice to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) after it summoned Captain Varun Anand, nephew of the late Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, in connection with the Air India Flight AI-171 crash investigation. FIP argues Anand has no professional or factual link to the flight, its planning, or the accident and was not at the crash site, calling the summons unwarranted and legally baseless. The pilots’ body cited international norms that prohibit involving family members without relevance, though Anand is willing to cooperate via video. The AI-171 probe continues. (PC: ANI)

The Election Commission Thursday rejected West Bengal's proposal to include Madhyamik (Class X) admit cards issued by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education as valid documents for special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. An under-secretary wrote to Bengal's chief electoral officer stating the admit card isn't listed among admissible verification documents per the commission's October 27, 2025 instructions. The commission permits 13 documents for SIR verification, including central/state government employee ID cards, post office/bank/LIC documents issued before 1987, birth certificates, passports, residential certificates, caste certificates, forest rights certificates, family registers, and land/house allotment certificates. Aadhaar is allowed as identity/residence proof but not as a standalone document. (PC: X)

Voting commenced on January 15, 2026, across 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including the high-profile Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), after years of delay. Around 3.48 crore voters are eligible to decide the fate of 15,931 candidates contesting 2,869 seats in urban local bodies statewide. Polling, held from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., will see results declared on January 16. Tight security has been deployed, and the contest in Mumbai has drawn particular attention given its wealth and political significance. Exit polls suggest a strong showing for the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance. (PC: The Hindu)

An Air India Airbus A350 operating Flight AI101 from Delhi to New York suffered engine damage on Jan 15, 2026, when a baggage container was sucked into its right engine while taxiing at Indira Gandhi International Airport in dense fog, the airline said. The flight had returned to Delhi shortly after takeoff due to an unexpected closure of Iranian airspace, and the incident occurred after landing. All passengers and crew were safe, and the aircraft has since been grounded for investigation and repairs, with possible disruptions to some A350 routes. India’s aviation regulator DGCA has launched a probe into the cause of the unusual foreign‐object ingestion.