Mumbai civic life, transport, business, culture and sport.
India celebrated its 77th Republic Day on January 26, 2026, with the main parade on Kartavya Path in New Delhi. The event showcased military capabilities, cultural tableaux and national themes, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa attended as chief guests ahead of the India–EU summit.
India and the European Union have concluded negotiations on a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement after almost 20 years, according to Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal. The pact is undergoing legal review and is expected to be formally signed later in 2026, with tariff cuts and sectoral openings aimed at boosting trade and investment.
A seating arrangement at the Republic Day parade became a fresh flashpoint between the Congress and the BJP on January 26, 2026. The Congress questioned why Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge were seated in the third row, calling it a protocol issue, while the BJP rejected the charge and defended the arrangements.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said a successful India makes the world “more stable, prosperous and secure” after attending India’s Republic Day parade in New Delhi with European Council President Antonio Costa. The remarks came a day before the India–EU summit, signalling an intent to deepen strategic and economic engagement.
An academic study released ahead of the Union Budget 2026-27 calls for a significant increase in India’s public healthcare expenditure, arguing that rising medical costs and unequal access are widening gaps. The research says stronger public investment is critical to improve infrastructure and make healthcare more affordable.
The Madhya Pradesh cabinet has approved implementation of SpaceTech Policy-2026, aimed at promoting innovation in satellite manufacturing, geospatial analysis and downstream applications. The policy is expected to attract investment and create jobs over the next five years, according to reporting carried by The Economic Times.
India marked its 77th Republic Day on Monday with a packed Kartavya Path parade in New Delhi, blending a show of domestic defence capability with state tableaux, folk performances and a closing air force flypast. European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attended as chief guests alongside India’s top leadership.
India clinched an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand after restricting the visitors to 153/9 and then chasing it in just 10 overs. Abhishek Sharma’s 68* off 20 and Suryakumar Yadav’s 57* off 26 turned the match into a sprint and put India into the record books.
Google published a Republic Day Doodle that salutes India’s space journey, using rocket and satellite motifs to spotlight ISRO and the country’s recent missions. The illustration links national pride with innovation, reflecting how space achievements have become part of India’s modern identity story.
As Budget 2026-27 approaches, stakeholders are pressing for measures that deepen digital payments adoption, strengthen cybersecurity and build resilient financial infrastructure. Executives also want policy support for new credit assessment models that use transaction and cash-flow data to widen access responsibly.
Delhi security agencies moved to a high-alert posture after intelligence inputs warned of possible coordinated attacks around Republic Day, with the alleged codename ‘26-26’. Authorities intensified monitoring, placed posters of wanted individuals at entry points, and focused on guarding religious sites and crowded public areas.
An academic study released ahead of Budget 2026-27 calls for a sharper increase in public healthcare expenditure, arguing that structural economic and social shifts are pushing costs up and widening access gaps. The research analyses long-run drivers of health spending and flags the burden of out-of-pocket payments for households.