The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain a petition challenging the practice of ‘VIP darshan’ and selective entry into the 'Garbhagriha' (innermost sanctum) of the Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain.

A bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, observed that it was not a matter for judicial interference.

Sensing the court's disinclination to entertain the plea, the petitioner’s counsel chose to withdraw the matter with liberty to make a representation before the authorities concerned.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has moved the hands of the Doomsday Clock to 85 seconds to midnight, the closest the world has ever been to global catastrophe in its estimation. The announcement, on January 27 in Washington DC, reflects a darkening security landscape marked by eroding nuclear norms, escalating conflicts in Europe and Asia, climate and biological risks, and a fracturing international order.

The new setting moves the clock forward from its previous position of 89 seconds to midnight from a year ago.

“Last year, we warned that the world was perilously close to catastrophe and that countries needed to change course towards international cooperation and actions on the most critical existential risks,” SSB Chair and University of Chicago professor Daniel Holz said. “Unfortunately, the opposite has happened. Rather than heed this warning, major countries became even more aggressive, adversarial, and nationalistic.”

Madhya Pradesh will observe 2026 as the 'year of agriculture', Governor Mangu Bhai Patel said on Monday (January 26, 2026), citing that the budget for the sector has been increased to ₹27,000 crore over the years.

Mr. Patel was addressing a function to mark the 77th Republic Day in the State capital.

"India's economy is based on agriculture, and the state government is making multifaceted efforts for the welfare of farmers. 2026 will be celebrated as the 'year of agriculture in Madhya Pradesh, and preparations are already underway," the Governor said.

A team of researchers from Nagaland University has recorded a new plant species in the high-altitude forests of Nagaland, cementing the northeastern region of India as a biodiversity hotspot and reaffirming the vital role of community-protected forests in conservation.

The hitherto undocumented species, Hoya nagaensis, was found during botanical surveys in remote forest areas that have remained largely unexplored by science.

Nagaland’s forests are unusual in that many are protected and managed by local communities rather than the State. While this traditional stewardship has preserved vast tracts of forest, limited scientific documentation has left much of the region’s biodiversity unrecorded.

NITI Aayog today launched Sampoornata Abhiyan 2.0, a three-month campaign aimed at achieving saturation of critical development indicators in Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Blocks across the country. Launched by the Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog, B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, in New Delhi today, the campaign will run till 14th of April, this year. The abhiyan seeks to build on the successful outcomes of the 2024 campaign and focuses on saturating five key performance indicators in 112 Aspirational Districts and six indicators in 513 Aspirational Blocks. These indicators cover priority areas such as health and nutrition, sanitation, education, maternal and child health, tuberculosis case detection and animal vaccination.

The state of Goa is considering a ban on social media for children under the age of 16, following the introduction of similar legislation in Australia.

As per reports by Reuters, Goa’s Minister for Information Technology, Rohan Khaunte, said on January 26 that the state government is currently studying the Australian model. The move aims to protect the mental health and well-being of the younger generation, who are increasingly occupied by digital platforms.

"If possible, (we will) implement a similar ban on children below 16 for usage of social media," Khaunte told reporters. "Details will follow." He added.

The proposed ban would target popular social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter). Under the Australian law being used as a reference, social media companies are required to take "reasonable steps" to prevent minors from holding accounts, with the threat of significant fines for non-compliance.

France's National Assembly has backed a bill that would ban social media access for under-15s, a proposal supported by President Emmanuel Macron.

Lawmakers in the lower house on Monday agreed key elements of the bill, before voting 116-23 in its favour. Next, the bill will go to the upper house, the Senate, for approval.

If it is passed, young teenagers would not be able to use networks such as Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok.

The French move is part of a growing trend of restricting social networks for children, triggered by increasing evidence of the damage they can cause to mental health. A similar law was passed in Australia late last year.

Chandrakant Lahariya, former staff member of the World Health Organisation, has won the prestigious Wiley Research Heroes Prize 2025.

He is credited to be the first and only Indian so far to have won this International Wiley Prize, which had received over 2,000 nominations. These awards highlight individuals who ensure that research is inclusive, innovative and impactful.

Lahariya is India’s leading health policy researcher, academician and medical practitioner. He is a leading public health physician, who has done primary research in the area of vaccination, conditional cash transfers for mother and child health services and on primary healthcare.

International Data Privacy Day, observed annually on 28 January, underscores the importance of safeguarding personal data in an increasingly digital world. Also known as Data Protection Day, it commemorates the signing of Convention 108 in 2006 by the Council of Europe, the world’s first legally binding international treaty on data protection. The day serves as a reminder of the shared responsibility of governments, digital platforms, and citizens in building a secure, trusted, and inclusive digital ecosystem.

Data privacy remains a foundational pillar of responsible digital governance. It safeguards citizens’ personal information across large-scale digital platforms, builds trust in government-led digital services, and enables the ethical and secure adoption of emerging technologies. Robust data protection frameworks also reduce cyber risks by preventing misuse, mitigating threats, and improving accountability through transparency and effective institutional oversight.

India’s expanding digital footprint and the privacy imperative

The Ministry of Jal Shakti organized a ‘Samvad Samaroh’ and recognition programme for WaSH Warriors at the PSOI, New Delhi today. The event honoured individuals who have demonstrated leadership in water conservation and sanitation at the grassroots level. These WaSH Warriors have worked closely with local communities to address water and sanitation challenges by promoting inclusive and equitable solutions. Their efforts reflect the spirit of Jan Bhagidari and community ownership that underpins the flagship initiatives of the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

As part of this national recognition, 58 WaSH Warriors nominated by States and Union Territories under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) participated in the programme today and attended the Republic Day Parade at Kartavya Path on 26 January 2026 as Special Guests.

The selected WaSH Warriors were drawn from Swachh Sujal Gaon villages, including rural households, poor and marginalised communities, Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) majority villages, and vulnerable tribal groups. A Swachh Sujal Gaon is a village that is Har Ghar Jal certified under the Jal Jeevan Mission and ODF Plus Model verified under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen). The representatives showcased community-led progress in drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene across rural India.