Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reaffirmed that India’s support for Palestine will continue. He made the statement on Saturday in New Delhi during a meeting with Palestinian Deputy Foreign Minister Varsen Agabekian Shahin, held on the sidelines of the second India-Arab foreign ministers’ meeting. According to The Hindu, Modi reiterated India’s solidarity with the Palestinian people and welcomed ongoing peace efforts, including the Gaza peace plan.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said Modi highlighted the deep and historical ties between India and the Arab world, which have long inspired and strengthened bilateral relations. He also outlined a roadmap for future India-Arab partnerships, emphasizing commitments to enhance cooperation in trade and investment, energy, technology, healthcare, and other priority sectors for the mutual benefit of both sides.

The meeting underscored India’s intention to maintain balanced engagement with Arab nations while supporting peace initiatives in the Middle East.

The U.S. Department of Justice has released a new batch of documents related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The newly disclosed materials reportedly include a reference to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, prompting political and diplomatic debate in India. The Indian government has strongly denied the claim, calling it baseless and defamatory. According to NDTV, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the so-called 'Epstein files' mention an email referring to Modi and his 2017 visit to Israel, but all other assertions are completely rejectable.

The release comes as part of the ongoing U.S. investigation into Epstein’s crimes and connections with influential figures. The documents were made public under the 'Epstein Files Transparency Act,' which mandates disclosure of government-held information about Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the latest batch includes over three million documents, more than two thousand videos, and 180,000 photos.

Congress leader Pawan Khera has demanded Modi’s explanation, claiming the files contain statements suggesting Modi’s consultation and participation in a cultural event in Israel. He warned that such issues could affect India’s national reputation.

India’s Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would complete border fencing within 45 days if it forms the government in West Bengal after the 2026 state assembly election. Speaking at a workers’ conference in Bagdogra, Siliguri, on Saturday, Shah predicted a BJP victory and called 2026 a “year of change.” He pledged to build a “Sonar Bangla” under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

Shah accused the current Trinamool Congress government, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, of obstructing land allocation for border fencing despite a High Court directive. He said that after the election results in April, the BJP’s nominated chief minister would take charge and expedite pending projects. Shah also claimed that a BJP government would stop illegal infiltration and identify and expel infiltrators.

He further criticized Trinamool officials for not cooperating with the Election Commission’s voter list revision and promised BJP’s full support for a clean voter roll. Shah also pledged land rights for tea workers in North Bengal, similar to measures taken in Assam.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has expressed serious concern over India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games following Bangladesh’s decision to withdraw from the upcoming T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. According to a report by The Guardian, the IOC views the growing political tension between India and Bangladesh over cricket as a potential threat to the Olympic movement’s principle of political neutrality. The controversy began after Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman was allegedly unfairly excluded from the IPL, prompting the Bangladesh Cricket Board to request venue changes for its World Cup matches, which the ICC rejected.

The ICC’s decision and its perceived alignment with Indian interests have drawn scrutiny, especially given the close ties between ICC leadership and Indian cricket authorities. The IOC, which maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward political interference in sports, has reportedly warned that continued boycotts or political disputes could jeopardize India’s Olympic hosting ambitions. India’s confirmed hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games contrasts with the uncertainty surrounding its 2036 Olympic bid, where Qatar remains a strong competitor.

The IOC has also reminded India that visible efforts to improve relations with Bangladesh and Pakistan will be essential to sustain its Olympic aspirations.

India concluded their five-match T20 series against New Zealand with a 46-run victory in the final match. The game, played on February 1, 2026, saw Ishan Kishan score a century and Arshdeep Singh claim five wickets, helping India secure the series 4-1. Batting first, India posted a strong total of 271 for five, with Kishan making 103, Suryakumar Yadav contributing 63, and Hardik Pandya adding 42 runs.

In reply, New Zealand’s Finn Allen led the chase with an impressive 80 but fell short of a century as his team was bowled out for 225. Arshdeep Singh’s five-wicket haul proved decisive in restricting New Zealand’s batting lineup. The result capped a dominant series performance by India, who had already clinched the series before the final match.

The win reinforced India’s strong form in T20 cricket, ending the series on a high note and demonstrating depth in both batting and bowling departments.

Indian state police in Odisha have deported three elderly siblings to Bangladesh after detaining them in late November 2025. The family of 63-year-old Muntaz Khan, his 59-year-old brother Insan Khan, and their 70-year-old sister Amina Bibi were informed on 24 December that the trio had been sent across the border. Police said the siblings were identified as Bangladeshi nationals following verification and were handed over to Bangladesh authorities through West Bengal’s Nadia district border post.

The deportation came weeks after the family alleged that the three had gone missing following their detention from Garapur village in Kendrapara district. Odisha police had earlier detained 12 family members on suspicion of being Bangladeshi citizens, releasing nine after nine days. Officials claimed the three deported individuals admitted to being Bangladeshi, while West Bengal police denied receiving any verification request from Odisha. The Ministry of Home Affairs’ May directive requires a 30-day period for citizenship verification before deportation.

Odisha police justified the action by citing allegations that Muntaz Khan’s father migrated from Bangladesh in the 1970s, though the family’s citizenship status remains disputed.

An ally of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s coalition government, Member of Parliament L. S. K. Devarayalu, on Friday proposed a bill to ban social media use for children under 16. The proposal, titled the Social Media (Age Limit and Online Safety) Bill, seeks to prohibit minors from creating, using, or maintaining social media accounts, with platforms required to deactivate such accounts and verify user ages. The initiative comes amid global discussions on youth safety and mental health, particularly in major markets for platforms like Meta, YouTube, and X.

Devarayalu argued that Indian children are not only addicted to social media but that Indian user data is being exploited by foreign platforms to develop advanced artificial intelligence systems, with strategic and economic benefits flowing abroad. India, the world’s second-largest smartphone market with 750 million devices and one billion internet users, currently has no minimum age limit for social media use.

The bill, introduced as a private member’s bill, is not government-sponsored but could influence parliamentary debate. Similar restrictions have been adopted or studied in countries such as Australia, France, Britain, Denmark, and Greece.

India has conferred its 2026 Padma Awards on 133 distinguished individuals in the fields of art, literature, and social service. Among them, only five recipients are from the Muslim community, whose contributions have been described as remarkable yet numerically limited. The list includes South Indian film icon Mammootty, who received the Padma Bhushan, and artists such as Rajasthan’s Gaffaruddin Mewati Yogi and Gujarat’s Haji Bhai Kasam Bhai, who were honored with the Padma Shri for preserving regional art and culture.

The report highlights that despite Muslims comprising around 15 percent of India’s population, their representation among awardees remains minimal. This imbalance raises questions about inclusivity in national recognition, especially amid broader social tensions and reports of violence against minorities. The article argues that national honors should reflect the country’s diversity and inclusive spirit.

It further suggests that the limited Muslim representation may indicate institutional indifference and calls for a more equitable approach to recognizing talent across communities to strengthen social cohesion and public trust in state institutions.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that 'Miya Muslims' should vote in Bangladesh instead of Assam, adding that Muslims should be harassed so they leave the state. He stated that his government is openly against the 'Miya Muslims' and instructed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers to file large numbers of Form 7 objections against suspected foreign nationals during the ongoing voter list revision. According to Sarma, BJP workers have already submitted around 500,000 such forms.

The remarks have triggered strong criticism from opposition parties. Assam Congress leaders have written to India’s Chief Justice protesting the directive to file mass objections, calling it an attempt to target a specific community and interfere in the electoral process. A public interest litigation has also been filed in the Gauhati High Court seeking judicial intervention. Opposition groups including Congress, Raijor Dal, Assam Jatiya Parishad, and CPI(M) have jointly submitted a memorandum to the state’s Chief Electoral Officer.

The controversy comes ahead of Assam’s upcoming assembly elections, with voter list revisions underway as part of pre-election procedures.

India’s policy of strategic autonomy—maintaining independent foreign and defense decisions without external pressure—is under growing strain as global polarization deepens. Once rooted in the Non-Aligned Movement and symbolizing postcolonial independence, the approach now faces rising economic, military, and diplomatic costs. India’s balancing act among the United States, Russia, and China has become increasingly difficult, with each relationship presenting new constraints and limited reciprocal benefits.

The article notes that India’s refusal to support Western sanctions on Russia while importing discounted energy has drawn scrutiny and trade pressure from Washington. Simultaneously, India’s dependence on Chinese intermediate goods persists despite recurring border tensions, widening its trade deficit. Russia’s supply limitations due to the Ukraine conflict have also burdened India’s defense operations. Although India has deepened cooperation with Western partners, its access to advanced technology remains restricted.

Diplomatically, India’s cautious stance on global conflicts has led to perceptions of isolation, as it struggles to secure meaningful concessions from allies. The analysis concludes that strategic autonomy, once a shield of sovereignty, now risks becoming a liability unless India redefines its priorities and diversifies its partnerships.

New Zealand defeated India by 50 runs in the fourth T20 match of the series held in Visakhapatnam. Despite a powerful batting display from Shivam Dube, who scored 65 runs off 23 balls with seven sixes and three fours, India were bowled out for 165 runs while chasing a target of 216. Dube’s 15-ball fifty and an over yielding 28 runs off Ish Sodhi were not enough to secure victory. Rinku Singh added 39 runs and Sanju Samson contributed 24 for India.

Earlier, New Zealand’s openers Devon Conway and Tim Seifert gave their team a strong start with a 100-run partnership, scoring 44 and 62 respectively. Daryl Mitchell remained unbeaten on 39 off 18 balls, helping New Zealand post 215 for 7 in 20 overs. Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav took two wickets each for India. Mitchell Santner claimed three wickets for 26 runs, while Jacob Duffy took two for 33.

Despite the defeat, India lead the series 3–1. Tim Seifert was named Player of the Match for his match-winning innings.

India’s upper house of Parliament, the Rajya Sabha, adopted a condolence motion on Wednesday mourning the death of former Bangladesh Prime Minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia. The motion was presented in the presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and members stood in silence to pay tribute to Zia. The session also included condolence motions for former Rajya Sabha members L. Ganesan and Suresh Kalnadi.

Before the submission of official documents, Rajya Sabha Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan read out the condolence messages for the deceased, followed by a one-minute silence observed by all members. The session began with the President’s address, attended by Modi, cabinet ministers, and other members of the upper house.

Khaleda Zia passed away on December 30 at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had earlier visited Dhaka to pay his last respects.

Bangladeshi fact-checking organization Rumor Scanner has identified at least 126 incidents in 2025 where Indian users spread false information about Bangladesh on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. The organization reported that these efforts aimed to create confusion and misinformation regarding Bangladesh.

According to Rumor Scanner, Indian-origin misinformation about Bangladesh was also found on other platforms, including 54 cases on Facebook, 30 on Instagram, 25 on YouTube, one on TikTok, and 38 in Indian media outlets. The group noted that since 2024, there has been a rise in false narratives from Indian media and social media accounts, both from India and within Bangladesh, targeting topics such as the interim government, Khagrachhari issues, and groups involved in the 2024 movement.

Rumor Scanner stated that it has identified hundreds of false claims circulating online, indicating a growing trend of misinformation campaigns involving Bangladesh across multiple digital platforms.

The Calcutta High Court has issued a strict directive to the West Bengal government to expedite the construction of barbed wire fencing along the unprotected portions of the India–Bangladesh border. Emphasizing national security, the court set March 31 as the deadline for the state to hand over the required land to the Border Security Force (BSF). The bench, led by Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Parthasarathi Sen, delivered the order on January 27.

The court noted that the central government had already provided funds for land acquisition covering about 180 kilometers of the border but accused the state of unnecessary delay in transferring the land. It rejected the state’s justification of prolonged “social impact assessment” procedures and described such inaction as concerning given the sensitivity of the international boundary. The court also directed both the central and state governments to file affidavits on whether emergency land acquisition could proceed in areas still awaiting cabinet approval.

The next hearing in the case has been scheduled for April 2.

V Kamakoti, Director of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras since 2022, has been awarded the Padma Shri for his contributions to education and research in India. Following the announcement, Kerala Congress made sarcastic remarks on social media platform X about Kamakoti’s past research related to cow dung and cow urine, sparking widespread debate and verbal exchanges online.

In response to the criticism, Zoho Corporation founder Sridhar Vembu publicly defended Kamakoti, leading to an open exchange between the two sides on X. Kamakoti later issued a statement describing the Padma Shri as an inspiration toward the national goal of “Viksit Bharat 2047,” emphasizing that the honor represents collective effort rather than individual achievement.

The controversy highlights differing perspectives on traditional and cultural aspects of research in India, while Kamakoti expressed motivation to continue contributing to the country’s development and innovation.