Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Nitin Nabin as the new BJP national president on January 20, 2026, humorously calling him "my boss" while emphasizing the party's worker-centric culture. Nabin, the youngest chief at 45, brings millennial energy and organizational experience. Modi highlighted BJP as a family driven by process, not position, supporting regional aspirations for national goals. Nabin visited temples before taking charge amid traditional ceremony at party headquarters.

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi walked out of the assembly session on January 20, 2026, refusing to deliver the government-prepared address citing numerous inaccuracies and misleading statements. He alleged the speech ignored key issues like declining FDI rankings, rising crimes against women and Dalits, education mismanagement, and constitutional duties. The session began with the Tamil anthem, which the Governor's office called an insult to the national anthem. Chief Minister MK Stalin condemned the walkout as unacceptable and against traditions.

A 27-year-old software engineer Yuvraj Mehta drowned after his car plunged into a water-filled construction pit in Greater Noida's Sector 150 amid dense fog. He survived nearly two hours calling for help, but father alleges bystanders recorded videos instead of assisting and administration ignored safety requests for barricades. Police used cranes and ladders for recovery; FIR filed against developers amid protests demanding justice and better safety norms.

India is withdrawing from Iran's Chabahar port development project due to reimposed US sanctions under President Donald Trump, as per reports. India already liquidated its $120 million investment. The country received a six-month tariff waiver for operations until April 2026 from US. The strategic port provided a Pakistan-bypass route to Afghanistan and Central Asia via the INSTC corridor. Experts view the move as a setback benefiting China-Pakistan's Gwadar, while India seeks waiver extensions in talks with the US.

Congress high command met Tamil Nadu leaders for nearly five hours on January 17, 2026, to address internal frictions over alliance with DMK for 2026 Assembly polls, reprimanding Praveen Chakravarty for statements straining ties. MPs and MLAs raised concerns about being sidelined and demanded clarity on power-sharing. Instructions issued to avoid media statements until Kharge decides, emphasizing effective coordination with allies.

Suspected Pakistani drones were spotted near the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba sector on January 15, 2026—the third incident in a week—prompting BSF troops to fire small arms and force retreat. A drone-like object was also sighted in Poonch's Degwar village. Security forces remain on high alert with advanced countermeasures amid concerns of reconnaissance or infiltration attempts during winter months.

Axis My India exit poll projects a strong performance for the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in BMC elections, forecasting 131-151 wards out of the total, indicating a potential clean sweep for the ruling coalition in Mumbai's civic body. The prediction comes amid fierce competition from opposition parties including Congress, MNS, and various NCP factions in this high-stakes local governance battle controlling a massive annual budget.

West Bengal confirmed two Nipah virus cases in healthcare workers from Malda district who treated the index patient, triggering immediate isolation and comprehensive contact tracing to prevent further spread. Nipah is highly fatal with mortality rates of 40-75%, transmitted via fruit bats or human fluids, and has no vaccine or specific treatment beyond supportive care. Authorities are monitoring contacts and issuing precautions based on successful past containment in Kerala.

Germany has announced visa-free airport transit for Indian passport holders, allowing seamless connections through German airports without a separate visa when travelling to other destinations. The facility was revealed during PM Narendra Modi and Chancellor Friedrich Merz's talks on January 12-13, 2026, as part of strengthening people-to-people ties. The joint statement also emphasised education, research, vocational training, culture, and youth exchanges, with rising Indian students and invitations for German universities to open campuses in India under NEP.

Actor-turned-politician Thalapathy Vijay was questioned for over six hours by the CBI in the Karur stampede case and denied any responsibility on part of his party TVK, stating he left the venue early to prevent potential ruckus. The September 27, 2025 rally saw around 50,000 attendees against a permitted 10,000, leading to panic and 41 deaths. CBI took over the case on Supreme Court orders with a supervisory committee monitoring impartiality.