Mumbai civic life, transport, business, culture and sport.
Indian stock exchanges will remain closed on Monday, 26 January 2026 for Republic Day, with no trading across equity, derivatives and other segments. Commodity trading on MCX will also be suspended for the day, and normal operations are set to resume on Tuesday, 27 January.
India’s IT ministry is working toward requirements for watermarking and labelling AI-generated content, citing misuse ranging from cybercrime to deepfakes and abusive imagery. The move would place a compliance burden on platforms and aims to make synthetic media easier to identify in everyday online sharing.
India’s Padma Awards list for 2026 was announced on the eve of Republic Day, with 131 honours approved across Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The list includes posthumous recognitions and a mix of awardees from arts, public affairs, business and sport, signalling both continuity and breadth in the civilian honours roster.
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Health authorities in India confirmed two Nipah virus cases in West Bengal involving nurses at a private hospital near Kolkata. Officials said an initial investigation suggests exposure linked to a patient treated earlier, and contacts have been tested and quarantined as surveillance expands, including bat sampling in the region.
Delhi Capitals beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru by seven wickets in Vadodara, snapping RCB’s five-match winning run in the Women’s Premier League. RCB were bowled out for 109 and, despite early wickets, couldn’t defend the total as Laura Wolvaardt anchored the chase.
A Hindu man in Bangladesh died after a fire broke out while he was asleep inside a garage in Narsingdi. Police said CCTV footage shows suspicious activity near the site, prompting an investigation into whether the blaze was accidental or externally triggered, amid renewed focus on minority safety in the country.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has arrived in New Delhi for a multi-day visit aimed at strengthening India–EU ties. The discussions are expected to cover a range of proposed agreements, including progress on trade engagement, defence cooperation and mobility arrangements. Officials are also expected to touch on technology and green partnership priorities as both sides work to deepen strategic collaboration.
RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra has welcomed the government’s move to revise the base year for major macro indicators—GDP, inflation (CPI) and industrial output (IIP)—saying updated series can improve the quality of economic signals used in policymaking. The overhaul is expected to refresh baskets, weights, data sources and methods, with new releases slated from February 2026 onward.
West Bengal health authorities have reported two Nipah-positive cases involving healthcare workers, prompting intensified containment measures, contact tracing and monitoring. The cases have drawn in central and expert teams, with protocols focusing on isolation, testing of high-risk contacts and hospital preparedness. Officials have urged calm while stressing vigilance, given Nipah’s high fatality rate and the need to prevent any hospital-linked spread.
Elon Musk has said Grok should have a ‘moral constitution’ after global backlash over the misuse of AI tools to generate obscene or non-consensual images. The controversy has intensified debate on AI safety, guardrails and regulation—especially for image manipulation systems that can be used for harassment, deepfakes and sexualised content. The episode is also drawing attention in India and elsewhere to how quickly platforms must respond when abuse scales.
Indian cricket captains Rohit Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur are set to receive the Padma Shri, one of India’s top civilian honours, recognising their contributions to the sport. The announcement highlights their impact across formats and their role in shaping modern Indian cricket, reflecting a wider push to celebrate sporting excellence through national awards.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the Jan 25 episode of Mann Ki Baat to call on young Indians to register as voters as soon as they turn 18. Linking the appeal to civic duty and democratic participation, he emphasised that voting strengthens the country’s institutions. The message came as India marked National Voters’ Day ahead of Republic Day celebrations.