INDIA — Polity & Executive
- Union Budget Session 2026 (Day 2): Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to table the Economic Survey 2025-26 in both Houses of Parliament at 11:00 AM.
- Beating Retreat Ceremony: The grand finale of Republic Day festivities takes place at Vijay Chowk, New Delhi. President Droupadi Murmu and PM Narendra Modi will attend the performance by military bands.
- Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) Briefing: Dr. V. Anantha Nageswaran will address a post-survey Press Conference to detail India’s growth trajectory and economic outlook.
- Parliamentary Secrecy: The Ministry of Finance “lock-in” remains in effect until the Union Budget presentation on February 1.
INDIA — Law, Courts & Accountability
- Supreme Court (UGC Regulation Challenge): A Bench led by CJI Surya Kant is slated to hear pleas challenging the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026.
- Supreme Court (Sonam Wangchuk Detention): Hearing scheduled for the plea filed by Gitanjali J Angmoagainst the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA).
- Varanasi District Court: Resumption of hearings in the Gyanvapi complex matter.
- Lucknow MP-MLA Court: Expected order in the case concerning Rahul Gandhi’s British citizenship.
- Delhi High Court: NIA’s request for in-camera proceedings in the death penalty plea for JKLF chief Yasin Malik.
INDIA — Executive Events & Institutions
- Wings India 2026 (Day 2): Ongoing at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad. Union Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu overseeing the aviation showcase.
- Aadhaar App Launch: Follow-up on the full version launch of the new Aadhaar app by Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
- NSO/MoSPI Workshop: Trainers’ session in Chennai for the National Health and Annual Survey of Industries.
INDIA — Economy & Finance
- Growth Estimates: Market focus shifts to the Economic Survey’s real GDP forecast for the upcoming fiscal year.
- Pre-Budget Sentiment: Intense scrutiny of fiscal deficit targets and revenue buoyancy indicators.
INDIA — Society, Culture & Faith
- Medaram Maha Jathara: The biennial tribal festival in Telangana continues to draw millions of devotees.
- Jaya Ekadashi: Observed today with traditional rituals and fasting across the country.
- Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF): Ongoing literary dialogues and cultural showcases in Rajasthan.
INDIA — Sports & Entertainment
- Cricket: India vs. New Zealand post-match reviews and injury updates following the 4th T20I in Visakhapatnam.
- Film Festival: International Film Festival for Children and Youth continues at the PHD Chamber, New Delhi.
INDIA — Observances, Births, Deaths, Remembrance
- Recognised Day: Indian Newspaper Day (Commemorating the 1780 launch of Hickey’s Bengal Gazette).
- Birth Anniversary: Swami Pranabananda Maharaj (1896) – Founder of Bharat Sevashram Sangha (Maghi Purnima celebrations).
- Birth Anniversary: Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore (1970) – Olympic medalist and politician.
- Death Anniversary: Maharana Pratap (1597) – Celebrated as Smrutidin on Magh Shukla Ekadashi in 2026.
- Death Anniversary: Piloo Mody (1983) – Former Member of Lok Sabha and architect.
GLOBAL — Geopolitics & Diplomacy
- UK–China Diplomacy: PM Keir Starmer continues his official state visit to China; focus on bilateral trade and technology security.
- Azerbaijan FM in China: Jeyhun Bayramov scheduled for high-level meetings in Beijing.
- Syria–Russia Summit: President Ahmad al-Sharaa meets Vladimir Putin in Moscow (per diary).
GLOBAL — World Economy & Markets
- Euro Day: Recognition of the single currency; analysts monitor Eurozone inflation and ECB policy signals.
- Tech Earnings: Global market reaction to US tech giant quarterly results (Alphabet/Microsoft).
GLOBAL — Science, Tech & Cyber
- Automobile History: Anniversary of the first gasoline-driven car patent by Karl Benz (1886).
- Data Privacy Day (Follow-up): Continued global focus on privacy engineering and user consent frameworks.
GLOBAL — Sports & Entertainment
- Australian Open 2026: Semi-final matches in Melbourne enter the critical stage for Men’s and Women’s singles.
- Sundance Film Festival: Continuing premieres and distribution deals in Park City, Utah.
- Martyr’s Day (Nepal): Observed in Nepal to honor those who fought the autocratic Rana regime.
GLOBAL — Anniversaries & Remembrance
History: 40th Anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster (memorial events).
Birth: Oprah Winfrey (1954) – Global media mogul.
Birth: Anton Chekhov (1860) – Iconic Russian playwright.
Death: Robert Frost (1963) – American poet.