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Karnataka realises Rs 4.71 lakh crore investment in 11 months: Patil

Karnataka has realised investments worth Rs 4.71 lakh crore within 11 months of its Global Investors' Meet held in February 2025, accounting for 46 per cent of the Rs 10.27 lakh crore commitments secured at the event, Minister for Large and Medium Industries MB Patil said on Friday.

Sharing details ahead of his participation in the World Economic Forum at Davos from January 19 to 23, Patil said the state has seen rapid conversion of investment commitments into on-ground projects, driven by faster clearances and a fully digital single-window system.

Of the Rs 5.66 lakh crore in manufacturing investment commitments, Rs 3.22 lakh crore has already materialised, reflecting a success rate of 58 per cent. In the renewable energy sector, investments of Rs 1.41 lakh crore have been realised against commitments of Rs 4.25 lakh crore, while the infrastructure development sector has seen Rs 8,500 crore realised out of Rs 45,000 crore committed, he said.

Patil said the state has moved beyond the memorandum-of-understanding stage by streamlining land allotment, statutory approvals and application processing through a digital single-window platform integrating over 150 services across more than 30 departments.

Odisha govt orders early retirement for non-performing teachers

The Government of Odisha has requested that the authorities of state-run universities and colleges identify non-performing teachers for mandatory early retirement and submit compliance reports by January 31, an official confirmed on Friday.

In a letter to the registrars of universities dated January 13, principals of degree colleges and higher secondary schools, the state higher education department has directed them to identify the non-performing teachers for action as decided by the state government to initiate action against inefficient and corrupt employees, the official said.

It said that the authorities need to review the efficiency of the teachers and find out inefficient and non-performing staff. The letter said the step is being taken to maintain higher academic standards and administrative efficiency.

“All concerned authorities are requested to carefully examine the service records, performance appraisal reports, integrity status, and overall conduct of college teachers working under the administrative control of higher education department and identify such cases which may warrant consideration for compulsory premature retirement, strictly in accordance with the provisions of the relevant service rules and government guidelines in force,” the document read.

New sports culture in country due to Modi govt's efforts, says Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said a new sports culture has developed in the country under the Modi government.

He made the remarks at the inaugural programme of the Eastern Zone Inter-University Women's Basketball Tournament at the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University.

"Over the past 11 years, we have witnessed the birth of a new sports culture. Before 2014, sports and sporting competitions were not part of the government's agenda. People believed it was not a priority area. It was often neglected," Adityanath said.

He said before athletes were forced to move to other states as the infrastructure did not meet international standards. "But now, after 2014, the kind of sports culture that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has developed is truly remarkable to witness," the chief minister said. 

RS privileges panel to examine contempt of House complaint against Thakur, Noor

The Rajya Sabha's privileges committee will examine a complaint against the TMC's Mamata Thakur and former MP Mausam Noor for alleged breach of privilege and contempt of the House during the debate on the VB- G RAM Bill, the Rajya Sabha secretariat said on Friday. According to a bulletin of the secretariat, a complaint against the two was submitted by the BJP's Laxmikant Bajpai.

The MP alleged that the two made "unparliamentary utterances, created obstructions in the smooth functioning of the House, entered into the Well and reached the Table, thereby obstructing officers assisting the House during the debate on the VB-G Ram G Bill, 2025 on December 18 and 19".

"On consideration of facts, the Hon'ble Chairman, Rajya Sabha, has referred the matter under Rule 203 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha), to the Committee of Privileges for examination, investigation and report," the bulletin stated.

Noor resigned from the Rajya Sabha on January 5, after she quit the Trinamool Congress to join the Congress.

The VB- G RAM G bill, replacing the UPA-era rural employment law MGNREGA, was passed in the Rajya Sabha on December 19 amid vociferous protest by opposition MPs. TMC MPs had staged an overnight sit-in in the Parliament complex against the passage of the Bill. 

SC asks Telangana speaker for status of BRS MLA disqualification pleas

The Supreme Court on Friday asked the speaker of the Telangana Assembly to provide it with an update within two weeks regarding the status of the adjudication of disqualification petitions against Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLAs who have defected to the state’s ruling Congress.

A bench consisting of Justices Sanjay Karol and AG Masih granted the speaker the deadline to submit a status report detailing the actions taken regarding the adjudication of the disqualification petitions. The speaker had requested eight weeks to finalize the proceedings.

A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and AG Masih gave two weeks to the speaker to file a status report indicating the steps taken on the adjudication of the disqualification pleas. The speaker had sought eight weeks for the conclusion of the proceedings.

Senior advocates Abhishek Singhvi and Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the speaker, submitted that in seven cases, the order has been pronounced, while in one case, it has been reserved.

“The speaker could not decide all the disqualification pleas as he had to undergo eye surgery,” Singhvi added, and sought eight weeks.

Senior advocate Dama Seshadri Naidu, who appeared for the BRS legislators, said the speaker cannot be given time repeatedly as he has not complied with the court’s directions.

Justice Sujoy Paul sworn in as chief justice of Calcutta High Court

Justice Sujoy Paul was sworn in as the chief justice of Calcutta High Court on Friday.

C V Ananda Bose, the governor of West Bengal, administered the oath of office to the judge at a function in court No.1, the chief justice's court room.

Justice Paul, 61, was appointed as a judge of the high court on July 18 last year.

He was officiating as the high court’s acting chief justice since the retirement of former Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam last September.

Justice Paul has served in the high courts of Madhya Pradesh and Telangana before his stint at the Calcutta High Court.

His name was recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium for elevation last Friday (January 9).

World chess championship may happen in Chennai: Viswanathan Anand

International Chess Federation (FIDE) vice president Viswanathan Anand believes that this year's world championship can happen in Chennai if R Praggnanandhaa wins the Candidates Tournament to challenge defending champion and compatriot D Gukesh in what could be an "emotionally charged" showdown.

PM Modi to visit Assam from January 17, unveil trains and Kaziranga project

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two-day visit to Assam from January 17, during which he will flag off two Amrit Bharat Express trains and lay the foundation stone for the ₹6,957 crore Kaziranga elevated corridor. The prime minister will also attend a large Bodo folk dance performance in Guwahati and address a public meeting at Kaliabor. This will be his second visit to the state in less than a month, ahead of the 2026 Assam assembly elections.

Man arrested for abusing daughters for years, police add POCSO charges

A man was arrested on Friday for sexually abusing his two daughters, one of them for over 12 years, police said. The man, a daily wage labourer, was found hiding in the Collectorate premises following a complaint on the matter.

The alleged abuse came to light when the man molested his 15-year-old younger daughter, who told her elder sister about it, and found that she had been abused for over 12 years. 

The younger sister then convinced her elder sister to reveal everything to their mother. When she heard about it, the mother confronted the father. This led to a heated argument between the two, and the matter spread within the family. Fearing legal action, the accused went into hiding three days ago, police said. An FIR was registered against the father on Thursday based on a complaint. The charges include rape by intimidation and physical assault, continuous sexual exploitation for 12 years, and the molestation of his younger daughter, an official said.

Arunachal CM Khandu hails 10 years of Startup India

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Friday (January 16) said that Startup India has completed a decade of empowering dreamers, building job creators, and transforming ideas into impact, calling it a transformational journey that has reshaped India's innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.