The BCCI announced annual player contracts for Team India have been announced, with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja retaining A+ status. Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan received Grade B and Grade C contracts, respectively, after prior exclusion due to Ranji Trophy absence. Rishabh Pant was promoted to Grade A, while several new players secured Grade C contracts.
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Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited Badhaal village in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district after 17 people died from a mystery illness since December. Eight people died after a memorial ceremony, and nine more died earlier in December. Authorities are investigating the cause, and the CM assured government assistance to the affected families and urged restraint in political interference.
Pranshu Chauhan initially drove the car but later switched seats with Rakshit Chaurasiya, who took over the driver's seat. They left from a friend's residence, with Chaurasiya ultimately driving the car that caused an accident in Karelibaug, killing a woman and injuring seven others. CCTV footage helped reveal these details.
ISRO's EOS-04 satellite captured detailed images of the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj. The images reveal extensive infrastructure like tent cities and pontoon bridges. Using radar technology to overcome cloud cover, ISRO's visuals assist in managing crowd control and disaster mitigation. Over 450 million devotees are expected during the event, which runs until February 26.
Virat Kohli returns to domestic cricket, marking his first appearance in the Ranji Trophy after a decade. His practice session showcased sharp footwork in football and impressive strokes against spinners and pacers, raising anticipation for the upcoming clash on January 30. This match marks his return to the Ranji Trophy after more than a decade, with his last appearance for Delhi against Uttar Pradesh dating back to 2012. For Kohli, it was more than a comeback—it was a homecoming.
Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her eighth consecutive budget, highlighting key initiatives for education, healthcare, and national growth. The budget includes the establishment of Atal Tinkering Labs, broadband connectivity in government schools, multilingual education schemes, and Centres of Excellence in AI and skilling.
In a joint operation, the Indian Coast Guard and Gujarat ATS seized over 300kg of narcotics worth approximately Rs 1,800 crore. The ICG ship intercepted a transshipment attempt near the International Maritime Boundary Line based on intelligence from Gujarat ATS. While the suspects fled across the IMBL, the ICG recovered the jettisoned narcotics.
TMC leader Saket Gokhale accuses the Election Commission of India of covering up alleged voter list frauds, highlighting duplication in Voter IDs. He questions the ECI's claims about EPIC numbers and asserts that such duplications could lead to voter suppression. The TMC demands the EC accept the error and rectify the rolls within 100 days to avoid further exposure.
Gyanesh Kumar has been appointed as the new chief election commissioner, succeeding Rajiv Kumar. Haryana chief secretary Vivek Joshi has been named election commissioner. The appointments follow a meeting of the PM-led selection committee, despite objections from leader of opposition, Rahul Gandhi.
Microsoft is back at the negotiation table to acquire the US operations of TikTok, according to President Donald Trump. This comes after previous acquisition attempts of the social media company failed in 2020. Trump has set a 75-day deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok’s US operations.
A man who accused BRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao of corruption in a major irrigation project was murdered in Telangana. The victim was due to appear in court following his complaint about the misappropriation of public funds. Police suspect a land dispute as the motive for the killing.