President Murmu’s Odisha Visit

President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Bhubaneswar on a six-day visit to Odisha. She will attend official, academic, and cultural programmes across Khordha, Jajpur, Balasore, Puri, and Mayurbhanj districts.

Odisha Railway Boost

The Union Budget 2026–27 has allocated Rs10,928 crore for Odisha’s railway infrastructure. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, saying this historic grant under the Purvodaya Mission will accelerate Odisha’s development and strengthen connectivity.

Subhadra Shakti Mela

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 109 development projects valued at over Rs 600 crore during Subhadra Shakti Mela in Rayagada district. These projects include roads, bridges, healthcare, education, and women’s empowerment infrastructure.

Pennaiyar River Tribunal

The Supreme Court directed the Centre to set up a tribunal within one month to resolve the long-pending Pennaiyar river water dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The bench emphasized timely adjudication to ensure equitable sharing of resources between the two states.

Tigers Electrocuted in MP

Two tigers, one male and one female, were found electrocuted in Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh under suspicious circumstances. Forest officials have launched an immediate search operation, raising concerns about wildlife safety and human-animal conflict in the region.

Union Budget Gains Praise

The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum hailed the Union Budget 2026–27 as progressive, boosting competitiveness, investment, and ease of doing business. SBI Chairman Challa Sreenivasulu Setty said the budget strengthens India’s position as a global hub for innovation and advanced manufacturing.

Jaishankar’s US Visit

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar begins a three-day visit to the United States. He will participate in the Critical Minerals Ministerial meeting convened by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, underscoring India’s growing role in global resource partnerships.

 World Wetlands Day

World Wetlands Day is observed today with the theme “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future.” The campaign highlights the importance of conserving these ecosystems to ensure future generations benefit from their biodiversity, water security, and climate resilience.

 Dalai Lama Wins Grammy

The Dalai Lama, aged 90, won his first Grammy Award for Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording. The Nobel Peace Laureate triumphed over notable competitors at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

India Beat Pakistan

India defeated Pakistan by 58 runs in the ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup at Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Chasing 253, Pakistan were bowled out for 194. With this win, India advanced to the semifinal and will face Afghanistan on February 4.