Top news of the day: January 30, 2025

Supreme Court says right to menstrual health a fundamental right; orders free sanitary pads for school girls

The Supreme Court on Friday (January 30, 2026) declared that the right to menstrual health and access to menstrual hygiene management (MHM) measures in educational institutions is part of the fundamental right to life and dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution. “Dignity cannot be reduced to an abstract ideal; it must find expression in conditions that enable individuals to live without humiliation, exclusion, or avoidable suffering.

No opposition to Sunetra Pawar becoming NCP legislature party leader: Praful Patel

Nationalist Congress Party working president Praful Patel on Friday (January 30, 2026) said there is no opposition to late Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra becoming the new leader of the NCP legislature wing, but the family consent will be taken before filling the key post. He said right now the priority is to fill the vacant posts of Deputy Chief Minister and NCP legislature party leader, both held by Ajit Pawar at the time of his death, and added that making appointment at the top organisational position (late leader was also party president) was not an issue currently.

TVK challenges two provisions of T.N. government’s SOP for political rallies before Madras High Court

Actor-politician C. Joseph Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has filed a writ petition in the Madras High Court challenging two provisions of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) notified by the Tamil Nadu government on January 5, 2026, for permitting the conduct of public meetings, processions, roadshows, demonstrations, protests, cultural/religious events, and other public gatherings attended by over 5,000 people.

Rupee hits lowest-ever level of 92.02 against U.S. dollar; ends with marginal gain

The rupee on Friday (January 30, 2026) hit its record low of 92.02 before ending a tad higher at 91.97 against the U.S. dollar, amid a firm American currency and volatile geopolitical cues. Forex traders said sustained withdrawal of foreign funds and a negative trend in domestic equities weighed on investor sentiment.

Shashi Tharoor praises Rahul Gandhi as a ‘sincere’ person and ‘strong voice’ against communalism

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Friday (January 30, 2026) lauded party leader Rahul Gandhi as a “sincere” person who is a “strong voice” on various issues such as communalism in the country. Mr. Tharoor said that “everyone likes Rahul as he constantly speaks against the politics of communalism, hatred and divisiveness in the country.”

Why indefinite relaxation of norm on weekly rest, leaves for pilots: HC asks DGCA

The Delhi High Court on Friday (January 30, 2026) questioned the DGCA on the “indefinite” relaxation given to airlines with respect to the implementation of new norms on weekly rest and leaves for pilots. Issuing notice on a public interest litigation (PIL) on the issue, a Bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia asked the aviation regulator to explain the “rationale” behind its decision to immediately withdraw the new flight-duty norm which said that “no leave shall be substituted by weekly rest”.

Government imposes import curbs on three pharma ingredients for one year

The government has imposed a minimum import price on three components used in the production of penicillin-class antibiotics — Penicillin G-potassium, 6-APA, and Amoxicillin Trihydrate, according to a notification. These three ingredients have been kept under the restricted category for one year. “The import of Penicillin G-potassium… 6-APA… and Amoxicilline Trihydrate… having CIF (cost, insurance, freight) value of less than ₹2,216 per kilogram, ₹3,405 per kilogram, and ₹2,733 per kilogram respectively, are restricted for a period of one year from the date of publication of this notification,” Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification dated January 29.

SC order on UGC regulations: Government will ensure justice to everybody, says BJP

The Union government is committed to ensuring justice for all on the issue of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations, which have been stayed by the Supreme Court, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said on Friday (January 30, 2026), adding that it would not allow injustice to be done to anyone. “Since the matter is under consideration in the Supreme Court and the court has issued a stay order, it is not appropriate to comment on it. However, one thing is very clear — the party’s view is that we will not allow injustice to be done to anyone, and our government is committed to ensuring justice for all,” BJP MP and spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi told media persons.

As SC stays UGC equity rules, protection to marginalised castes came from a Constitutional promise to end ‘historical oppression’

Petitioners criticise that the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026 is based on an “unfounded presumption” that caste discrimination is “uni-directional”. They argue that the 2026 Regulations wrongly imagine that only members of Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) are affected by caste bigotry. The stimulus behind the 2026 Regulations was a petition filed jointly by the mothers of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi in the Supreme Court against “rampant” caste discrimination in higher education institutions. 

‘Why northeast politically orphaned’: Congress poses 10 questions to BJP on Assam

With Home Minister Amit Shah visiting Assam, the Congress on Friday (January 30, 2026) posed 10 questions to the BJP and asked why have the people of state and the entire Northeast been “politically orphaned”. Taking a swipe at the BJP, Congress’ media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said Mr. Shah’s visit was a “welcome step” from a party that is known to ignore the sufferings of northeast.

Gaza’s Rafah crossing with Egypt to reopen on February 1, Israel says

Israel will reopen the Rafah ​border crossing on Sunday (February 1, 2026) for people ‌to travel between ​Gaza and Egypt, the Israeli Government agency that coordinates civilian policy in Gaza, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), said on Friday (January 30, 2026).

Trump names former Federal Reserve Governor Warsh as the next Fed chair, replacing Powell

U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday (January 30, 2026) that he will nominate former Federal Reserve official Kevin Warsh to be the next chair of the Fed, a pick likely to result in sharp changes to the powerful agency that could bring it closer to the White House and reduce its longtime independence from day-to-day politics.

Published – January 30, 2026 06:31 pm IST