NEWS & VIEWS|||SARASIJ||| 08-01-2026

 

NEWS & VIEWS|||SARASIJ||| 08-01-2026

THURSDAY|| VOL—V/2026/JANUARY

OPINIONATED, FOR FREE CIRCULATION.

सत्यं ब्रूयात् प्रियं ब्रूयात् , न ब्रूयात् सत्यम् अप्रियम् ।

प्रियं च नानृतम् ब्रूयात् , एष धर्मः सनातन: ॥

TRANSLATION:  “Speak the truth, and speak that which is pleasant. Do not speak an unpleasant truth, and do not speak a pleasant untruth. This is the age-old dharma.”

INDIA: (GOI, SWARAJYA, VISHWAMITRA, HINDU POST, INDIA TODAY).

New Bill to replace the Insecticides Act, 1968 and the Insecticides Rules, 1971.  This Bill aims to ensure supply of quality pesticides for farmers and to decriminalize petty offences, thereby promoting Ease of Living as well as Ease of Doing Business.

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is poised for its inaugural launch of 2026 with the PSLV C-62 mission, scheduled for Monday, 12 January, at 10:17 am from the first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has indeed embarked on a preliminary study assessing the feasibility of establishing in-orbit Artificial Intelligence data centers, as confirmed by the Department of Space in response to a query in the Rajya Sabha.  This initiative reflects a strategic push towards edge computing in space.

ISRO’s adoption of an industry-centric model for the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), informally referred to as “Soorya”, represents a structural shift in India’s space ecosystem. Instead of relying primarily on government-owned facilities, the program is being conceived from the outset with deep private sector participation, similar in philosophy to the AMCA fighter aircraft program.

Parliament’s passage of the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy in India (SHANTI) Bill dismantles the monopoly of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) over nuclear plant operations. For the first time, private Indian companies can apply for licenses to build, own and operate nuclear power plants, either independently or through joint ventures.

Haryana is set to launch India’s first hydrogen-powered train on the Jind–Sonipat route.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Somnath in Gujarat on Sunday and attend  ‘Somnath Swabhiman Parv’ as year-long activities have been planned at Somnath.  The year 2026 marks one thousand years since the first attack on Somnath took place in 1026.

The Centre has issued the notification for the first phase of the Census of India 2027. House listing operations will be conducted between 1st April and 30 September this year across all States and Union Territories, during a 30-day period specified by each State/UT.

 German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will visit India on January 12–13, 2026, to strengthen bilateral ties. The visit is expected to focus on strategic partnership, trade, climate cooperation, and global geopolitical developments between India and Germany.

WORLD: (REUTER, AP, AFP, BLOOMBERG, CNN, WP)

France and the United Kingdom (UK) pledged to deploy troops to postwar Ukraine as U.S. envoys discussed plans for ceasefire monitoring at a Paris meeting yesterday.

Russia has deployed naval assets, including a submarine, to escort an empty oil tanker formerly known as Bella 1, which is evading a US blockade near Venezuela. The vessel has been pursued by the US Coast Guard for over a fortnight as part of efforts to curb a fleet of tankers ferrying illicit oil worldwide.

Venezuela’s interim authorities will transfer thirty to fifty million barrels of sanctioned oil to the United States, where Trump will use money from its sale “to benefit the people” of both countries, he wrote on social media yesterday. He did not offer a timeline or other details. Venezuela’s interim government did not immediately respond to Trump's announcement. Meanwhile, U.S. authorities moved today to seize a Russian-flagged oil tanker that attempted to evade the U.S. blockade on Venezuelan oil. IT IS BROADDAY ROBBERY BY USA.

Venezuela’s constitution mandates an election occur within thirty days if a president is “permanently unavailable” to serve, but the interim authorities have announced no such plans. Trump earlier this week dismissed the possibility of Venezuelan elections within the next month.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers during a closed briefing Monday that the United States aims to buy Greenland rather than invade it militarily, unnamed sources told The Wall Street Journal. However, other administration officials, including White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, have refused to rule out military intervention. The White House press secretary said yesterday that “acquiring Greenland is a national security priority” and that the administration was considering various options, including military action.

Japan today denounced China’s new export curbs on dual-use technologies, with its top government spokesperson saying the measures—which target only Japan—stray from international practice and are “absolutely unacceptable.” China escalated trade tensions with Japan on another front today, announcing a new anti-dumping probe into a material used for making semiconductor chips. 

Rwanda-backed M23 rebels are establishing administrative, tax, and legal structures in parts of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to an interim UN expert report seen by Bloomberg. 

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar visited Somaliland yesterday after Israel became the first country in the world to officially recognize the breakaway territory’s independence last month. Saar said that Israel would soon open an embassy in Somaliland.

Saudi Arabia will end restrictions on foreign investors operating in its capital market starting February 1, authorities said.

Israel-Syria channel. The two countries agreed to establish an intelligence sharing and military de-escalation channel during U.S.-mediated talks in Paris yesterday, the U.S. State Department said.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY:

Nitin Gadkari has said that India has become the first country in the world to commercially produce bio-bitumen in the road construction.

CRIME & PUNISHMENT:

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) seized over 1 lakh 33 thousand kilograms of narcotic drugs worth around 1 thousand 980 crore rupees in the year 2025. The NCB said it arrested 994 drug traffickers, including 25 foreign nationals, in 447 cases during the year. Meanwhile, 265 drug offenders were convicted in 131 cases in 2025.

In Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district, 26 Naxalites surrendered, including 13 who were carrying a collective bounty of 65 lakh rupees.

IMD:

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange colour warning for dense to very dense fog in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

GAMES & SPORTS: -

In Under-19 Cricket, India defeated hosts South Africa by 233 runs in the third and final Youth ODI of the three-match series at the Willow Moore Park in Benoni. With this win, India inflicted a 3-0 whitewash on the hosts. Chasing a target of 394 runs set by India, South Africa were all out for 160 in 35 overs.

Badminton star PV Sindhu has advanced to the second round of the Malaysia Open Super 1000 badminton tournament with a straight-games victory over Chinese Taipei’s Sung Shuo Yun, winning by 21-13, 22-20 in the women’s singles opening round.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) plea to shift their T20 World Cup 2026 matches out of India to another country. The Bangladesh Cricket Board had refused to travel to India for the T20 World Cup, citing security concerns.

DAS KAPITAL:

The real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been estimated to grow by 7.4 per cent in 2025-26 against the growth rate of 6.5 per cent during the last fiscal year. As per the first advance estimates of GDP for the current financial year, the real GDP is estimated to attain a level of over 201 lakh crore rupees in the current financial year, against the provisional estimates of GDP for 2024-25 of over 187 lakh crore rupees.

BULLIONS:-

 *GOLD* : ₹ 13,800/ 01gm (24 krt)

 *SILVER* : ₹ 240,000/KG

Indian Share Market: -

*BSE SENSEX* 84,961.14 −102.20 (0.12%)🔻

 *NIFTY* 26,140.75 −37.95 (0.14%)🔻

Currency Exchange Rates:

*Euro* : ₹ 106 /-*USD*  ₹ 91/- * China ¥* : ₹ 13/-

WHAT IS NEXT:

Today, Pope Leo begins hosting a two-day meeting of cardinals at the Vatican.

Today, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim continues a visit to Turkey.

Today, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi begins a tour of Africa in Ethiopia.

Tomorrow, the European Union and Jordan hold a summit in Amman.

 

THE END.