Bangladesh has temporarily suspended consular and visa services at its High Commission in New Delhi, a day after India halted visa operations in Chattogram. The Bangladesh High Commission said services were stopped “due to unavoidable circumstances” until further notice. India had earlier suspended services at the Indian Visa Application Centre in Chattogram following security concerns after protests linked to the death of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi. Indian officials cited threats near diplomatic premises as the reason. The move comes amid strained ties, with both sides reviewing security around missions and visa centres. (PC: India Today)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Maharashtra’s civic poll result shows clear support for development. He said people voted for work, growth, and stable rule. The Mahayuti alliance won big across many city and local bodies. PM Modi thanked voters for their trust. He said the result reflects faith in better roads, water supply, and housing. Leaders of the alliance called it a strong mandate. They said the focus will stay on public services and jobs. The win strengthens the alliance before future elections. (PC: India Today)

President Droupadi Murmu has approved the VB-G RAM G Bill, 2025. The law replaces the MGNREGA scheme.   The new law raises guaranteed work from 100 to 125 days for rural families. It changes funding to a 60:40 Centre-state share. Earlier, the Centre paid most of the cost. Work can be paused for 60 days during farm seasons. Jobs will focus on water, roads, livelihoods, and climate needs. The government says the law fits the Viksit Bharat vision. The Opposition says it weakens workers’ rights. (PC: NDTV)

At a public rally in Assam’s Dibrugarh and Guwahati, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a fierce political attack on the Congress party, accusing it of engaging in anti-national activities by allegedly helping illegal Bangladeshi immigrants settle in the state and opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls aimed at keeping infiltrators out of elections. Modi claimed Congress neglected Assam and the Northeast for decades and prioritised vote-bank politics over security and development. He also highlighted BJP government’s development initiatives in the region and vowed to protect Assamese identity and interests ahead of upcoming elections. (PC: X)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused the Trinamool Congress of pushing West Bengal into what he called “Maha Jungle Raj.” Modi addressed a BJP rally in Ranaghat virtually after fog stopped his helicopter from landing. He said TMC politics is anti-development and blocks welfare schemes. Modi also accused the party of protecting illegal infiltrators. “Infiltrators go back,” he said, promising strict action if BJP forms the government. He highlighted new road projects and urged voters to support a “double-engine” BJP government ahead of elections. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is meant to ensure that “infiltrators are kept out of the electoral process.” Addressing a rally in Assam’s Guwahati, Modi accused the Congress of protecting infiltrators and ignoring the Northeast for decades. “The Centre is taking strict steps to stop infiltration,” he said. Modi added that past Congress governments harmed Assam’s security and unity. He claimed violence has reduced in the last 10–11 years and affected districts are now developing. (PC: File/PMO)

Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi launched a sharp attack on the Modi government over changes to the rural employment scheme, vowing to fight the "black" G RAM G Bill. Gandhi recalled passing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) nearly 20 years ago under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, calling it revolutionary for crores of rural families. She accused the government of weakening MGNREGA over 11 years by removing Mahatma Gandhi's name and changing the law's structure without consultation. Gandhi alleged decisions on employment would now be made by Delhi, removed from ground realities. She vowed resistance, stating Congress fought for employment rights earlier and would fight again for farmers, laborers, and landless rural poor.

The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the G RAM G Bill, which will replace the MNREGA scheme. The bill guarantees 125 days of rural employment per household every year. Opposition MPs protested strongly, accusing the Centre of insulting Mahatma Gandhi by removing his name from the law. They shouted slogans and tore copies of the bill in the House. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan defended the move and blamed Congress for politicising Gandhi’s name. He said the government follows Gandhi’s ideals through welfare schemes. The House was adjourned after continued protests by Opposition members. (PC: India Today)

The Election Commission of India has flagged over 1.36 crore voters in West Bengal during the first phase of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The issues were found through progeny mapping and other data checks. Officials said many cases involve simple errors like father’s name mismatch or age gaps. The total discrepancy cases stand at 1.62 crore, as some voters have more than one issue. The Chief Electoral Officer said genuine voters will not face problems. Booth Level Officers will verify records. Voters can file claims or objections till January 15 with district officials or the CEO. (PC: The Hindu)

A political battle erupted over the proposed Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (G RAM G) Bill, 2025, replacing the two-decade-old MGNREGA. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacked the Centre, calling it an attempt to erase Mahatma Gandhi's legacy, alleging PM Modi harbors hatred for Gandhi's ideas and poor people's rights. Two major contentions emerged: the 60:40 Centre-state funding split versus MGNREGA's full central funding, and a 60-day work pause during agricultural seasons. BJP defended the changes as necessary modernization, increasing guaranteed work from 100 to 125 days, incorporating AI fraud detection and GPS monitoring. Congress promised nationwide protests with Gandhi's portraits, while BJP called allegations "misleading," positioning the bill as aligning with Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.