Jan 16 News Live |TVK forms 10-member election panel ahead of TN polls
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Here is the top, trending news of Friday, January 16, 2026, including Indian politics, states' politics, geopolitics, federal issues, economics, development issues, sports, entertainment, and so on.
Read updates below.
Live Updates
- 16 Jan 2026 11:32 AM IST
Biting cold persists in Haryana, Punjab
North India continued to reel Biting cold persisted in Haryana and Punjab on Friday (January 16), with many places recording minimum temperatures close to the freezing point. Bhiwani in Haryana was the coldest place in the state with a low of 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Narnaul and Hisar also reeled under intense chill, recording minimum temperatures of 2 degrees Celsius and 2.2 degrees Celsius, respectively.
According to the meteorological department, among other places in Haryana, Ambala recorded a low of 5.8 degrees Celsius, Karnal 6.2 degrees Celsius, Gurugram 4.9 degrees Celsius, Rohtak 5.2 degrees Celsius, while Faridabad registered a low of 4.9 degrees Celsius. Ludhiana recorded 5.2 degrees Celsius and in Patiala the mercury settled at 6 degrees Celsius.
Fog reduced visibility during the morning hours at many places in the two states, including their common capital, Chandigarh, which recorded a low of 5.3 degrees Celsius.
- 16 Jan 2026 11:20 AM IST
Maharashtra civic poll indelible ink mark wiped off: Rahul Gandhi attacks EC
"Election commission gaslighting citizens is how trust has collapsed in our democracy. Vote Chori is an anti-national act," Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote on his X account over videos of indelible ink mark being wiped off in Maharashtra civic polls held on Thursday.
- 16 Jan 2026 11:19 AM IST
Silver, gold prices fall in India
Silver futures ended their five-day record-breaking rally and declined by Rs 4,027 to Rs 2,87,550 per kg on Friday (January 16), while gold prices slipped to Rs 1,42,601 per 10 grams as investors booked profits tracking weak global trends and a stronger US dollar.
On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), silver futures for March delivery declined by Rs 4,027, or 1.38 per cent, to Rs 2,87,550 per kilogram in a business turnover of 9,890 lots. The white metal had touched an all-time high of Rs 2,92,960 per kilogram on Thursday.
"Gold and silver witnessed sharp volatility on Friday. Weaker than expected US weekly jobless claims strengthened the US dollar, while President Donald Trump's softer stance on Iran reduced safe-haven demand for precious metals," Rahul Kalantri, Vice-President of Commodities, Mehta Equities Ltd, said.
Commodities trading on the MCX remained shut during the morning session on Thursday due to civic elections in Maharashtra and later resumed trading in the evening session. - 16 Jan 2026 11:13 AM IST
TN celebrates 'Mattu Pongal' to honour cattle
Tamil Nadu celebrated 'Mattu Pongal' on Friday (January 16), the third day of the harvest festival, thanking cows and bulls for their indispensable role in agriculture and for their contribution in rural prosperity.
The iconic Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur hosted its famous Mattu Pongal celebrations, where over 100 cows were lined up for special ‘Go Pooja’ (cow worship).
In villages and towns alike, cows and bulls -- considered symbols of wealth -- were given ceremonial baths and adorned with flower garlands, bells, and beads. As part of Pongal traditions, women observed the traditional ‘kanupidi’ ritual, placing coloured rice on turmeric leaves for birds and crows, while offering prayers for the longevity and well-being of their brothers.
Governor R N Ravi too highlighted the "sacred place" of cattle in Indian culture in his ‘Pongal’ message issued on January 14. He called the celebration as a manifestation of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat', linking local Tamil traditions to a broader national spiritual heritage.
- 16 Jan 2026 10:59 AM IST
BJP-led alliance ahead in Mumbai, Shiv Sena leads in Thane civic polls
The BJP and ally Shiv Sena were ahead in high-stakes Mumbai municipal corporation elections as per early trends, after counting of votes began Friday morning.
While there was no official confirmation from the State Election Commission, TV channels said BJP was leading in 31 of the 227 wards in Mumbai, while Shiv Sena, led by Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, was ahead in 10 wards.
The counting of votes began at 10 am.
The Thackeray cousins, who reunited after two decades ahed of Thursday’s poll, were behind the ruling alliance in Mumbai, with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena-UBT ahead in 10 and Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) ahead in 6 seats.
In Thane, Shinde’s stronghold, his party was leading in nine of the 131 wards, ahead of ally BJP which was ahead in six wards, TV channels reported.
In Pune, the BJP appeared to dominate ally NCP. The saffron party was leading in 32 of the 165 wards, whereas the NCP, led by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar was leading in 14 seats.
- 16 Jan 2026 10:47 AM IST
PM Modi, Stalin pay rich tributes to Thiruvalluvar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister M K Stalin and Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran paid rich tributes to Tamil saint-poet Thiruvalluvar on Thiruvalluvar Day on Friday.
In a social media post, Modi said, "Today, on Thiruvalluvar Day, paying homage to the versatile Thiruvalluvar, whose works and ideals inspire innumerable people. He believed in a society that is harmonious and compassionate. He personifies the best of Tamil culture." Modi urged the people to read the "Thirukkural", which gives a glimpse of the "outstanding intellect" of Thiruvalluvar.
The Prime Minister also shared videos of his visit to the Thiruvalluvar statue in Kanyakumari and offering his prayers to the saint poet.
CM Stalin said the four virtues as told by Thiruvalluvar -- courage, generosity, wisdom and drive -- are the foundation of his regime.
On this day, Stalin said he took a pledge that his government would function on the four virtues -- 'courage' - the bravery to fight against social injustice and communal forces, 'generosity' in offering human centric welfare schemes to aid the poor, 'wisdom' - in nurturing the intellectual growth of the younger generation and an 'energy' for an constructive work toward industrial development and 'women empowerment.' "On this Thiruvalluvar Day, I pledge that these four virtues (as told by Thiruvalluvar) courage, generosity, wisdom and energy, will continue to prevail in Tamil Nadu," he wrote in a social media post.
- 16 Jan 2026 10:20 AM IST
Delhi's minimum temperature rises to 4.3 degrees Celsius as cold snap subsides
People in Delhi got a slight respite from bone-chilling temperatures after a five-day cold wave spell, with the city recording a minimum temperature of 4.3 degrees Celsius on Thursday, around two notches up from a day earlier.
However, temperatures remained well below normal.
Safdarjung station's 4.3 degrees Celsius was 3.3 notches below the normal. Palam recorded a minimum of 4.7 degrees Celsius, 2.8 notches below normal, while Lodhi Road logged 4.7 degrees Celsius, 1.3 notches below normal.
The Ridge station recorded a relatively higher minimum of 6 degrees Celsius, though it was still 3.5 notches below normal, and Ayanagar reported 4.3 degrees Celsius.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the maximum temperature is expected to settle around 22 degrees Celsius.
- 16 Jan 2026 10:18 AM IST
Stock markets rally in early trade driven by surge in Infosys shares
Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty rallied in early trade on Friday, driven by a sharp jump in Infosys after the company raised its revenue growth guidance for FY26.
The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 343.44 points to 83,726.15 in early trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty went up by 77.65 points to 25,743.25.
From the 30-Sensex firms, Infosys jumped nearly 5 per cent after the Bengaluru-headquartered firm saw its revenue from operations grow by 8.9 per cent to Rs 45,479 crore in the third quarter of the current fiscal, from Rs 41,764 crore in the year-ago period.
The company has raised its revenue growth guidance for FY26 to 3-3.5 per cent in constant currency, from 2-3 per cent earlier.
Tech Mahindra, Mahindra & Mahindra, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Larsen & Toubro and HCL Tech were also among the gainers.
However, Eternal, Bharti Airtel, Bharat Electronics and UltraTech Cement were among the laggards.
- 16 Jan 2026 10:09 AM IST
Counting of votes for civic polls in Maharashtra begins; all eyes on Mumbai
Counting of votes polled in elections to 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra began on Friday morning with the spotlight on Mumbai, where the BJP-led Mahayuti bloc is locked in a prestige battle with the reunited Thackeray cousins for control of India's richest civic body.
Polling for 2,869 seats spread across 893 wards in these municipal corporations, including 227 in Mumbai, took place on Thursday. As many as 15,931 candidates are in the fray in the 29 civic corporations, which had 3.48 crore eligible voters.
Around 50 per cent polling was recorded in the 29 municipal corporations, State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare said after the end of voting.
A voter turnout of 52.94 per cent was recorded in the Mumbai civic polls, down from 55.53 per cent in the last elections in 2017, officials said on Friday.
In the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), whose annual budget is over Rs 74, 400 crore, 1,700 candidates are vying for 227 seats in elections being held after a four-year delay. Except for Mumbai, the other urban bodies have multi-member wards.
- 16 Jan 2026 9:54 AM IST
Rupee declines 10 paise to 90.44 against US dollar in early trade
The rupee extended its weakening momentum for the third straight session, losing 10 paise to 90.44 against the US dollar in early trade on Friday, weighed down by relentless outflow of foreign funds and a firm greenback.
Lower crude oil prices and positive equity market sentiment prevented a steep fall in the domestic currency, forex traders said.
At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 90.37 and slipped further to trade at 90.44 against the greenback, 10 paise lower than the closing level of the previous session.
The rupee declined 11 paise to close at 90.34 against the US dollar on Wednesday, a day after falling 6 paise.
The foreign exchange markets were closed on Thursday due to a holiday for the Mumbai municipal corporation elections.
