India News Updates: Casteist, dynastic forces unable to tolerate UP's transformed image, says UP CM Adityanath

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said that Uttar Pradesh has now shed its old 'BIMARU' image and has emerged as a 'breakthrough' state with a new identity.

"Casteist ('jaativadi') and dynastic ('parivarvaadi') forces are unable to tolerate this transformed image of the state. These are the same forces that had earlier patronised rioters and lawlessness," he said.  -- PTI

Kolkata Police arrested a man from Pune in connection with an online hotel booking fraud in which unsuspecting customers were cheated by fake websites of reputed hotels across the country, an officer said on Tuesday.

The accused, identified as 41-year-old Huzaifa Shabbir Darbar, was arrested on January 27 from his office in Pune following a raid conducted jointly with the local police, he said. The accused and his associates allegedly created multiple fake hotel booking websites and induced people to make payments under the false pretext of room reservations, the officer said. -- PTI

A controversy erupted on X after Grok, the platform’s AI assistant, wrongly translated a diplomatic post by Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed to Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu. The original message, written in Dhivehi, simply conveyed Republic Day greetings and reaffirmed cooperation between India and the Maldives.

However, Grok’s “translation” inserted politically charged claims about alleged anti-India campaigns and even confused Republic Day with Independence Day. Screenshots of the AI-generated text went viral, raising concerns about misinformation and diplomatic sensitivity. The episode has renewed scrutiny of AI reliability, especially for political and diplomatic content shared on major social media platforms.

The University Grants Commission’s new Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026, has triggered protests and political debate, with students demonstrating outside the UGC office in Delhi. While the UGC says the rules aim to curb rising caste-based discrimination on campuses through mandatory equity committees, sections of general category students allege the framework is one-sided and open to misuse.

Government sources said the Education Ministry will soon issue a detailed clarification to counter “misinformation” and assure safeguards against misuse. The issue has reached the Supreme Court, where a petition challenging the regulations is expected to be heard soon, ahead of the Budget session of Parliament.

Himachal Pradesh’s higher reaches are set to receive heavy snowfall and rains, with the Met centre issuing an orange alert for Kullu, Chamba, Kinnaur, and Lahaul-Spiti. Gondla village recorded the highest snow at 22 cm, while Tabo registered the state’s lowest temperature at minus 8.9°C.

Operations across public sector banks, including State Bank of India, are likely to be affected on Tuesday after the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) called a nationwide strike demanding immediate implementation of a five-day workweek. While SBI said arrangements have been made to ensure services, it warned of possible disruptions. Private banks such as HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and IDBI Bank are expected to function normally. If fully observed, the strike would mean a third consecutive day of limited banking services following weekend and Republic Day closures.

Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu came to the defence of IIT-Madras director V Kamakoti after Congress Kerala took a swipe at Kamakoti’s Padma Shri award, mocking his earlier remarks on cow urine research. Vembu highlighted Kamakoti’s contributions in microprocessor design and deep tech, calling him deserving of the honour.

The Congress unit questioned the scientific value of cow dung and urine studies and challenged Vembu to fund proper research. Vembu responded, asserting that the microbiome in cow by-products could hold scientific potential and critiqued the “colonial mindset” dismissing such investigations. The online spat has reignited debate over traditional vs modern scientific research in India.

A 50-year-old man, Karsan Maheshwari, was burnt alive in Gandhidham, Kutch, following a dispute with neighbours over a veranda. Police said three people have been arrested, while one woman remains absconding. The victim succumbed to severe burn injuries at a hospital in Bhuj.

A woman employee was robbed inside an elevator at AIIMS Bhopal on Sunday, exposing serious security lapses at the hospital. CCTV footage shows a masked man snatching her mangalsutra and fleeing, with no guard present at the spot. The incident has intensified concerns over rising snatching cases in Bhopal, which have surged following legal changes that reduced punishment for such crimes.

The parents of foreign-based gangster Goldy Brar were arrested on Monday in connection with a 2024 extortion case in Punjab’s Muktsar district, police said. SSP Abhimanyu Rana identified the accused as Brar’s father, Shamsher Singh, and mother, Preetpal Kaur. The arrests come amid a statewide crackdown on gangsters and their networks, with Brar currently believed to be based in the US.

Top American political leaders and business executives congratulated India on its 77th Republic Day, calling the country a “critical bulwark” against global authoritarianism and an “indispensable” U.S. partner. Bill Gates praised India’s innovation-led growth and its impact across the Global South, highlighting advances in health, agriculture and digital infrastructure. Several U.S. lawmakers and governors also underscored shared democratic values, while four U.S. states officially proclaimed January 26, 2026, as Republic Day of India.

Bank employees’ unions under the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) have threatened a nationwide strike on January 27, demanding the implementation of a five-day work week. The strike could disrupt public sector banks for three consecutive days, as January 25 and 26 are holidays. UFBU said the move was agreed during the March 2024 wage settlement and argued there would be no loss of man-hours due to longer weekday working hours.