Stay updated with the biggest headlines for Thursday, 29 January- politics, crime, sports, and more – all summarized for quick reading. Get instant access to breaking news, major developments, and trending stories in just one click. Perfect for busy readers who want news on the go.
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The Bihar government has significantly enhanced financial assistance under the Chief Minister’s Women Employment Scheme, increasing the support amount from Rs 10,000 to up to Rs 2 lakh. The revised structure links higher assistance to the performance and sustainability of enterprises set up by women beneficiaries.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced the decision following a cabinet meeting and shared details on social media, stating that the enhanced aid will be released in phases after evaluating how effectively beneficiaries utilise the initial support.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the Economic Survey 2025-26 presents a comprehensive picture of India’s steady reform-driven progress despite a challenging global environment. The survey was tabled in Parliament by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister said the document captures the spirit of India’s “Reform Express” and highlights strong macroeconomic fundamentals, sustained growth momentum, and the expanding role of innovation, entrepreneurship, and infrastructure in nation-building.
The recent University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines have reignited debates over caste representation in Indian higher education, with critics alleging the rules disproportionately affect General category students. Questions around the social composition of colleges and universities have resurfaced, highlighting the growing presence of reserved categories in higher education.
According to the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2020-21, students from Other Backward Classes (OBCs) make up 35.8% of total enrolments, Scheduled Castes (SCs) 14.2%, and Scheduled Tribes (STs) 5.8%. General and other categories, including upper castes and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), constitute 44.2%.
A 27-year-old Delhi Police constable, posted in the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, was brutally killed by her husband after a domestic dispute, shocking colleagues and the law enforcement community. The woman, identified as Kajal, succumbed to severe head injuries on Tuesday at a private hospital in Ghaziabad, days after the alleged assault.
Kajal was allegedly attacked with a metal dumbbell by her husband, Ankur Chaudhary (28), who reportedly also smashed her head against a door frame at their residence in Dwarka Mor, southwest Delhi.
Amid uncertainty surrounding Pakistan’s participation in the T20 World Cup, Iceland Cricket has once again captured the internet’s attention with a humorous post on X, announcing its “unavailability” to replace Pakistan in the tournament due to a lack of preparation time.
The tongue-in-cheek post quickly went viral, adding comic relief to an already chaotic build-up to the global cricket event.
The traditional Beating Retreat ceremony, marking the formal conclusion of India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations, was held on Thursday evening at Vijay Chowk in New Delhi. The ceremonial event was attended by President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C P Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and several other Union Ministers.
The presence of the Chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force added to the solemnity of the occasion, which showcased India’s military traditions, discipline and national pride.
Former Indian cricket star Yuvraj Singh has revealed why he chose to retire from international cricket in June 2019, almost seven years after his last match for India. The left-handed all-rounder, celebrated for his contributions to India’s T20 World Cup win in 2007 and 2011 ODI World Cup triumph, said a lack of respect and support from the team management played a key role in his decision.
The Economic Survey 2025–26 highlights India’s continued position as the fastest-growing major economy, driven by strong domestic demand, resilient agriculture, robust manufacturing, controlled inflation, and stable external finances, supporting the vision of achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047.
The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to publicly display names of people listed under the ‘logical discrepancy’ category in Tamil Nadu, following pleas challenging the state’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The move comes as part of broader efforts to ensure transparency and accuracy in voter lists ahead of elections.
Indian stock markets saw a volatile session on 29th January, with Sensex and Nifty recovering strongly from intraday lows. Metals and private banks led gains, supported by FII-DII buying and optimism over global trade deals.
Apple and Google are facing renewed scrutiny after a new investigation revealed that dozens of AI-powered “nudify” apps capable of digitally undressing women remain available on their app stores, despite explicit bans on such content.
The findings have reignited concerns about the misuse of artificial intelligence to create non-consensual sexualised images and the failure of big tech platforms to enforce their own safety policies.
The Economic Survey 2025–26 highlights major health gains in India while warning of rising obesity, digital addiction, and mental health challenges. It calls for a holistic, technology-driven approach to healthcare to strengthen human capital and ensure sustainable economic growth.
The Economic Survey 2025–26 highlights agriculture as the backbone of Viksit Bharat, with strong growth driven by allied sectors, record food grain output, and rapid expansion in horticulture, boosting farm incomes and strengthening rural livelihoods.
The Economic Survey 2025-26, tabled in Parliament by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman paints a picture of a resilient Indian economy navigating global uncertainty while strengthening its domestic fundamentals. The Survey projects steady growth, improving fiscal health, robust manufacturing recovery, and notable social sector gains.
India’s real GDP growth for FY26 is projected at 7.4 per cent, with Gross Value Added (GVA) growth estimated at 7.3 per cent, according to the First Advance Estimates. Looking ahead, real GDP growth for FY27 is expected to moderate slightly to a range of 6.8–7.2 per cent, while India’s long-term potential growth is pegged at around 7 per cent.
The Supreme Court has stayed UGC’s new regulations, citing concerns over discrimination and equality. The Court questioned whether the rules promote social division, ordered continuation of 2012 norms, and sought the Centre’s response by March 19, 2026.
Maharashtra mourns the tragic death of NCP leader Ajit Pawar in a plane crash. His funeral in Baramati drew thousands of supporters and political leaders, highlighting his immense influence and leaving the state in deep sorrow.
The black box of the ill-fated plane that crashed in Baramati on 28 January which claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others, has been recovered.
The chartered flight that going to Baramati from Mumbai, crashed at 8:45 am on Wednesday, killing all five people on board. The victims included Dy CM Ajit Pawar, his personal security officer, an air hostess, and two crew members.
Following the tragic Baramati plane crash involving Ajit Pawar, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, MoCA promptly deployed AAIB and DGCA teams, recovered the black box, and initiated a thorough, transparent investigation under SOPs and AAIB Rules, 2025.
In a fresh war of words, Donald Trump has again threatened Iran with a devastating attack if it refuses to negotiate a deal. Without naming the US, China has berated Washington for its “military adventurism.” Meanwhile, Hezbollah has issued an “Axis of Resistance” warning to the US, threatening retaliation in case of any strike against Iran.
The Indian stock market witnessed a sharp decline on January 29. The BSE Sensex opened at 82,094.23, down 250.45 points in morning trading, while the NSE Nifty fell 60.80 points to 25,281.95. Global cues had a mixed impact on the market, while the rupee's weakness against the US dollar also dampened investor sentiment.
In early trading today, the rupee touched a new record low of 91.99 against the dollar and traded above 92. Previously, the rupee had closed at 91.79. This weakening rupee impacted foreign investor sentiment and increased selling pressure in the market.
Amid global geopolitical tensions, a weak dollar, and rising demand for safe havens, both gold and silver hit new records on Thursday. The sharp surge in the international market also reflected the domestic market, where gold rose above ₹1.75 lakh per 10 grams, while silver crossed ₹4 lakh per kg for the first time.
A devastating plane crash occurred in northeastern Colombia on Wednesday. A plane belonging to the state-owned airline SATENA crashed in a rural area of the Norte de Santander province, killing all 15 people on board. The accident occurred in a mountainous region near the Venezuelan border, significantly hampering rescue and relief operations.
According to reports, the plane departed from Cucuta Airport at 11:42 a.m. for the city of Ocanaya. Ocanaya is a mountainous region, and the typical flight time is about 40 minutes. However, the plane lost contact with air traffic control just minutes after takeoff. Locals subsequently informed authorities that the plane had crashed near an area called Cucanaya.
The last rites of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar will be performed with full state honours in Baramati, Pune district, on Thursday. The funeral ceremony will take place at 11 am at the Vidya Pratishthan grounds. A large number of people and party workers have arrived in the city, not only from Baramati but also from various parts of the state, to pay their last respects. An atmosphere of grief and condolences prevails in Baramati, the stronghold of the politically influential Pawar family.
The weather in northwest India has deteriorated steadily due to the activation of a western disturbance. Heavy snowfall and avalanches have disrupted normal life in the hilly states, while rain and hailstorms have caused a sharp drop in temperatures in the plains. The impact of cold winds from the mountains is also being felt in Delhi-NCR, where the chill has increased.national/read-the-top-news-headlines-for-thursday-29-january-in-one-click
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