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External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met European Union ambassadors ahead of the India-EU summit scheduled for 27 January 2026, calling for deeper cooperation to “derisk” the world economy. The summit is expected to formally announce the conclusion of India-EU free trade agreement negotiations.
Punjab declared 27 January 2026 a holiday for all schools across the state, covering government, aided and private institutions. The closure follows Republic Day events on 26 January, with authorities directing institutions to comply with the order.
Health experts have urged the Centre to move towards tax-funded universal healthcare and increase funding for government hospitals ahead of Union Budget 2026. They also called for expanding PMJAY to cover outpatient care and for better resourcing of public health institutions.
A nationwide bank strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions disrupted branch services at many public sector lenders. Unions want a five-day work week with all Saturdays declared holidays, saying the proposal has awaited government notification despite prior understandings and settlements.
Vedanta Kalinga Lancers lifted the Men’s Hockey India League title in Bhubaneswar after edging Ranchi Royals 3-2, led by Alexander Hendrickx’s penalty-corner double. The final featured late drama as the Royals pushed hard but fell short.
India’s tech sector opened 2026 with weaker hiring demand, with active job openings down 24% year-on-year to around 103,000 roles, according to staffing firm Xpheno. The report points to continued softness after sluggish hiring through 2025, with larger declines in mid-senior and senior hiring.
The Indian Army has assumed responsibility for monitoring aerial activity in a 35-km belt along the borders with China and Pakistan and up to three kilometres in altitude. It is also working to significantly scale up its drone fleet and set up command-and-control centres to detect and neutralise hostile platforms.
India began their Super Six campaign at the Under-19 World Cup with a commanding 204-run win over Zimbabwe. Vihaan Malhotra hit an unbeaten century as India posted 352/8, before the bowlers bundled Zimbabwe out for 148 to go top of their group in the phase.
IndiGo launched direct flights between India and Greece in January 2026, introducing non-stop services from Mumbai and Delhi to Athens. The airline said the new routes reduce travel time and remove the need for stopovers via Middle East or European hubs.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurated Bharat Parv 2026 at Delhi’s Red Fort. The six-day festival aims to showcase cultural diversity, promote tourism and underline constitutional ideals such as justice, liberty, equality and fraternity.
A report by staffing firm Xpheno says India’s active tech job openings fell 24% year-on-year to around 1.03 lakh in January 2026, with demand close to the second-lowest level since 2021. The downturn reflects prolonged softness in hiring through 2025, even as some pockets such as GCCs show relative resilience.
The India Meteorological Department says a fresh western disturbance will drive widespread rain and snowfall over the western Himalayas from 27 January, with thunderstorms, gusty winds and dense fog affecting several plains states. Cold wave and cold-day conditions are also likely in pockets, and another system may approach around 30 January.