Top news of the day: PSLV-C61 Mission encounters anomaly; Lok Sabha Speaker won’t rule out punishment on smoking e-cigarette, and more

PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 Mission encounters anomaly during end of PS3 stage

The PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 Mission encountered an anomaly during the end of the PS3 stage, following lift-off on Monday (January 12, 2026). A detailed analysis has been initiated, ISRO said. After a 22.5-hour countdown, the PSLV-C62 with the EOS-N1 satellite and 15 co-passenger satellites developed by startups and academia from India and abroad lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 10.18 a.m.

Speaker does not rule out ‘exemplary punishment’ on use of e-cigarette in Lok Sabha

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday (January 12, 2025) did not rule out “exemplary punishment” over the alleged use of an e-cigarette in the House, asserting that maintaining the dignity of Parliament was non-negotiable. BJP member Anurag Thakur had sent a complaint to the Speaker alleging that a Trinamool Congress member was “openly using” an e-cigarette in the House during the proceedings despite such devices being banned across the country.

Retail inflation rises to 1.33% in December 2025, still lower than RBI’s lower comfort level

Retail inflation quickened to a three-month high of 1.33% in December 2025, which is still significantly lower than the Reserve Bank of India’s lower comfort level of 2%, official data released on Monday (January 12, 2026) showed. Data on the Consumer Price Index for December 2025, released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, shows that the low levels of retail inflation are a result of a broad-based decline in price levels across sectors.

Iran draws thousands of pro-government protesters in Tehran

Thousands of Iranians filled a major square in central Tehran on Monday (January 12, 2026) to support the Islamic Republic and mourn security forces killed during protests, state television pictures showed. People brandishing the Islamic Republic’s flag packed the capital’s Enghelab (Revolution) Square as prayers were read for victims of what the government has termed “riots”.

World Court opens landmark Myanmar Rohingya genocide case

A landmark ​case accusing Myanmar of committing genocide against minority Muslim Rohingya opened at ‌the United Nations’ top court on Monday (January 12, 2026). It is the ​first genocide case the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will hear in full in more than a decade. The outcome will have repercussions beyond Myanmar, likely affecting South Africa’s genocide case at the ICJ against Israel over the war in Gaza. Myanmar has denied accusations of genocide.

Ex-VP Dhankhar admitted to AIIMS after two bouts of unconsciousness

Former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar was admitted to the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi on Monday (January 12, 2026) after he fell unconscious twice on January 10, officials said. Mr. Dhankhar, 74, will undergo an MRI, the officials said. On January 10, he had “two bouts of unconsciousness” when he went to the washroom, they said.

Pope Leo meets Venezuelan opposition leader Machado at Vatican

Pope Leo met Venezuelan ​opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize ‌winner Maria Corina Machado ​on Monday (January 12, 2026), the Vatican said, but did not provide any further details. The meeting, listed among the Pope’s appointments for Monday in a daily Vatican statement, ​had not been included in ⁠an earlier advisory to the press about Pope Leo’s planned schedule for the day.

Ladki Bahin aid before civic polls, claims Minister; SEC seeks report as Opposition protests

Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan has claimed that financial aid for December and January under the Ladki Bahin Yojana would be disbursed before Makar Sankranti, even as the Opposition alleged the move violates the Model Code of Conduct.

Goa SIR: ECI clarifies on notice to former Navy chief; cites missing details in enumeration form

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday (January 12, 2025) issued a clarification on the notice issued as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Goa to former Navy chief Admiral Arun Prakash (retd.), stating that his enumeration form did not contain mandatory particulars related to the previous SIR.

Country shocked by JNU-like incidents: Delhi CM on sloganeering at university protest

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday (January 12, 2026) said the entire country was shocked by incidents like the recent protest at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where bail was demanded for riot-accused and “terrorists” were supported. It is unfortunate that the students raised “undignified” slogans and spoke against the country, the Chief Minister told reporters.

Ahead of T20 World Cup, Supreme Court to examine plea concerning DDCA secretary

The Supreme Court on Monday (January 12, 2026) agreed to look into a plea questioning the continuation of the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) secretary in office, even as the national capital gets ready to host six key T20 World Cup cricket matches to be held in by India by the end of January.

Sabarimala gold case: Kerala HC raps TDB, asks why gold plating was entrusted to single individual

Coming down heavily on the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), the Kerala High Court on Monday asked what role the board played, if all major responsibilities were entrusted to businessman Unnikrishnan Potti, the prime accused in the alleged misappropriation of gold from the Sabarimala temple.