PM Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu paid floral tributes to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his 101st birth anniversary at the 'Sadaiv Atal' memorial in Delhi on Thursday. Several other BJP leaders, including Om Birla, JP Nadda, Nitin Nabin and Rekha Gupta, also paid tribute. "Vajpayee dedicated his entire life to good governance and nation-building," PM Modi said.

The Andhra Pradesh government has approved 58 surgical procedures covering general surgery, ENT and ophthalmology that can be independently performed by Ayurveda practitioners who meet specified qualifications. The Indian Medical Association has opposed the decision, warning that could compromise patient safety and blur the line between traditional medicine and modern medical practice.

The Kerala government received a twin blow as the high court stayed the proposed Elapully brewery in Palakkad and the ambitious Sabarimala Greenfield Airport in Kottayam. The court’s decision striking down permission for the Elappully brewery project in Palakkad triggered sharp and immediate responses across the political spectrum.

The rape survivor met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, a day after convict and ex-BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar's sentence was suspended. Earlier, the survivor and her mother were manhandled by forces during a protest at India Gate. "I also want to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I want justice," she said.

Uttar Pradesh minister Om Prakash Rajbhar sparked outrage with a laughing remark about the Unnao rape survivor being removed from an India Gate protest. Journalists had asked why police picked up the survivor and those accompanying her from India Gate. In response, Rajbhar said their home was in Unnao and then burst into laughter.

Kerala's Palakkad witnessed a fresh political row after senior BJP leader C Krishnakumar’s remarks justifying the alleged attack on a Christmas carol group drew sharp reactions from Opposition. DYFI, the youth wing of CPI(M), likened Krishnakumar to 'Praveen Togadia', accusing him of openly backing those involved in the assault and of failing to condemn what it termed a RSS-led violence.

After Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi criticised IAS officer Tina Dabi for intolerance amid reports that students were detained for calling the latter "reel star", the MP has now slammed Dabi's fan clubs. She said she pointed out the arrogance of bureaucrats and wasn't criticising any community or caste. Chaturvedi added that Dabi's fan clubs were proving her right.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has mocked the reunion of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray. "The hype is being created in such a way as if Russia and Ukraine have come together...and Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy are talking," Fadnavis told reporters. The cousins have formed alliance ahead of Municipal Corporation elections.

Humayun Kabir, who recently launched his own outfit Janata Unnayan Party before 2026 West Bengal elections, dropped social media influencer Nisha Chatterjee from list of provisional candidates. Kabir stated he saw Nisha's photos and reels on social media and having her in party will "send wrong message to people". Nisha said she has been dropped because she is a Hindu.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and his cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray announced alliance on Wednesday ahead of Municipal Corporation elections. Uddhav and Raj paid tribute to Bal Thackeray at Shivaji Park memorial before announcing alliance. Notably, polls for 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including BMC, will take place on January 15, 2026.