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.

Former Indian cricketer Jacob Martin was arrested by Vadodara police in Gujarat for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and causing a road accident. The incident occurred early Tuesday morning in the Akota area of Vadodara. According to police, around 2:30 a.m., Martin lost control of his MG Hector vehicle near the Puneet Nagar Society and hit several parked cars, causing severe damage. Police suspect the 53-year-old was intoxicated at the time of the crash.

Authorities said Martin was arrested under charges of drunk driving and rash driving, and his vehicle was seized. Police believe he had consumed alcohol with a friend before driving that night. The report did not mention any injuries resulting from the collision.

Jacob Martin represented India in 10 One Day Internationals between 1999 and 2001. He also captained the Baroda Ranji Trophy team and was known as a prominent domestic batsman during his playing career.

India’s Rajya Sabha has expressed condolences over the death of former Bangladesh Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. A condolence motion was introduced in the Indian Parliament on Wednesday to honor her long political career and contributions to South Asian politics.

According to parliamentary sources, both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will pay tribute to Khaleda Zia, with members observing a brief moment of silence in recognition of her influence as a prominent Bangladeshi political leader. Khaleda Zia served multiple terms as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister and played a significant role in shaping the country’s political structure over several decades.

The tribute in the Indian Parliament is described as part of a constitutional and cultural tradition of honoring influential leaders from neighboring countries whose political lives have had a meaningful impact on regional politics.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was killed on Wednesday morning in a plane crash while traveling from Mumbai to Baramati. The small aircraft carrying him went down near Baramati airport as it attempted to land, resulting in the deaths of five people, including Pawar. Preliminary reports suggest that the victims may include the pilot and members of his security team. The crash occurred around an hour after the plane took off from Mumbai at approximately 8 a.m.

Images and videos from the site showed wreckage scattered across the area, with fire and smoke visible as ambulances and rescue teams arrived quickly. Injured individuals were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine whether mechanical failure or weather conditions contributed to the crash.

Pawar had been en route to attend four major public meetings in Baramati ahead of local government elections. His sudden death has cast a shadow of grief over Maharashtra’s political community, with leaders and organizations expressing deep condolences.

Cricket Scotland has turned to the International Cricket Council (ICC) for assistance in securing an Indian visa for Pakistan-origin fast bowler Safyaan Sharif ahead of the T20 World Cup starting on February 7 in India. The ICC has assured Scotland that all players will receive their visas before the tournament begins, after Bangladesh was replaced by Scotland in the competition. However, Sharif’s visa process may face complications due to his Pakistani heritage.

The Scottish team is scheduled to depart for India later this week. Ongoing political and diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan have made it difficult for Pakistani citizens and those of Pakistani descent to obtain Indian visas. Several players from other teams have reportedly faced similar challenges ahead of the tournament.

Cricket Scotland’s chief executive, Trudy Lindblad, said the board is committed to working closely with the ICC, which is coordinating with local authorities and the BCCI to ensure necessary support. The team remains hopeful that Sharif will receive his visa before their opening match against the West Indies in Kolkata on February 7.

At least eight people have died and fourteen remain missing after a fire broke out early Monday at a momo manufacturing factory and an adjacent warehouse in southeastern Kolkata, West Bengal. The blaze, which began in a decorator’s warehouse in the Anandapur area, spread rapidly to the nearby factory containing large amounts of flammable materials. As of Tuesday afternoon, the fire had not been fully extinguished.

Relatives of the victims said the missing individuals were inside the warehouse and factory when the fire started, and many are feared dead. Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari posted a list of fourteen missing persons on social media, though officials have not confirmed the number. Witnesses described desperate phone calls from trapped workers as the fire intensified.

State Fire Minister Sujit Bose, who visited the site on Tuesday, said rescue operations were delayed due to extreme heat inside the warehouse and complex construction that made access difficult. Authorities will investigate whether proper fire safety measures were in place at the facility.

India and the European Union have finalized a landmark free trade agreement after almost twenty years of intermittent negotiations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Tuesday. The deal, reached amid global uncertainty surrounding the United States, aims to strengthen alternative economic and strategic ties between the two sides. It will open India’s large and relatively protected market to the 27 EU member states, while the EU remains India’s largest trading partner.

Modi described the agreement as a major breakthrough, calling it the “mother of all deals” that will create new opportunities for India’s 1.4 billion people and millions across Europe. He and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are expected to present the details at the India–EU summit in New Delhi. In the 2024–25 fiscal year, bilateral trade between India and the EU reached 136.5 billion dollars.

According to an Indian government official, the agreement is now undergoing legal review, expected to take five to six months. Once completed, it could come into effect within a year of formal signing.

A female staff member at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, was attacked and robbed inside a hospital lift on Sunday, January 15. The victim, identified as Varsha Soni, a ward attendant in the gynecology department, was alone in the lift when a masked man entered, asked for directions, and then suddenly tried to snatch her gold chain and mangalsutra. The assailant fled through the stairs after taking the mangalsutra, while the pearl necklace fell inside the lift. No security guard was present at the time.

The incident, captured on CCTV, has caused widespread concern across the city, raising questions about safety and law enforcement in sensitive public institutions. A written complaint was filed at Bagsewania Police Station, but a formal case has not yet been registered. Preliminary investigation suggests that security was relaxed on Sunday, allowing the attacker to escape through the IPD gate.

Authorities note that under India’s new criminal code, chain snatching now carries lighter penalties, which police say has led to a sharp rise in such crimes in Bhopal over the past year.

India has not yet responded to an invitation to join U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly formed Peace Board, which was launched in Davos, Switzerland. The country was notably absent from the charter signing ceremony, prompting speculation that New Delhi fears the board might intervene in the Kashmir dispute. The board was introduced by Trump as a global initiative extending beyond the Gaza ceasefire to address conflicts in other regions.

The Peace Board’s creation comes as the United States withdraws from several United Nations bodies, raising concerns that Trump aims to diminish the UN’s global relevance. Pakistan, India’s long-time rival, has already joined the board, which Indian media described as a warning signal for New Delhi. Analysts and former diplomats noted that if Trump includes Kashmir in his peace agenda, India could face difficulty opposing international peacekeeping involvement.

Former Indian envoys and UN officials cited in local media confirmed that Trump’s peace plan might be applied beyond Gaza, suggesting potential diplomatic challenges ahead for India.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has stated that only Bengali-speaking Muslim migrants are being evicted from the state. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, he said that any Muslim migrant living in the hills around Guwahati would receive an eviction notice. According to The Hindu, Sarma emphasized that the evictions target only those referred to locally as 'Miyas', a term often used pejoratively for Bengali-speaking Muslims.

Sarma accused sections of the media of spreading rumors about possible evictions in the Guwahati hills. He said that no eviction would take place until the election, and residents would then realize that the media had unnecessarily alarmed them. The Chief Minister added that the government is working to grant land rights to hill residents but maintained that Muslim migrants in those areas would still face eviction notices.

He also accused the Congress party of appeasing Muslim voters, claiming that out of 750 applications for party tickets, 600 were from 'Miyas' and only 120 to 130 from Hindus.