A measured English daily covering India and the wider world.
In his Mann Ki Baat address on 25 January, PM Narendra Modi urged young Indians to register as voters the moment they turn 18, calling it a constitutional responsibility and a key step in strengthening democracy ahead of Republic Day celebrations.
Indian stock and commodity markets will be closed on Monday, 26 January 2026, for Republic Day. Trading across NSE and BSE (all segments) and MCX will pause for the day, with normal operations set to resume on Tuesday, 27 January.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi used National Voters’ Day to press a simple message: if you are 18, register; if you are registered, vote. In messages and remarks shared on Sunday, he highlighted voting as a constitutional duty and asked young Indians to treat their first vote as a milestone in democracy.
In his Mann Ki Baat address on January 25, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked eligible young Indians to register as voters as soon as they turn 18, linking National Voters’ Day and the Republic Day week to constitutional values and civic duty.
The Union government has announced the Padma Awards 2026 list on the eve of Republic Day, with President Droupadi Murmu approving 131 awards across Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The honours span public affairs, arts, sports, industry, medicine and more, continuing the focus on recognising both prominent achievers and ‘unsung heroes’.
In the 130th Mann Ki Baat, PM Narendra Modi urged eligible citizens—especially first-time voters—to register as soon as they turn 18 and to vote consistently, calling participation a core democratic duty.
In the 130th episode of Mann Ki Baat on 25 January 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked young Indians to register as voters the moment they turn 18, saying it strengthens democracy and fulfils a constitutional duty. He linked the message to National Voters’ Day and the Republic Day week, urging families and communities to treat becoming a voter as a milestone worth celebrating.
On National Voters’ Day (25 January), Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to young Indians turning 18 to enrol as voters quickly and treat voting as a constitutional responsibility. He underlined that higher participation—especially by first-time voters and young women—strengthens Indian democracy and helps shape the country’s future.
The government has released the Padma Awards 2026 list on the eve of Republic Day, approving 131 civilian honours across Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The recipients span arts, public affairs, industry, medicine, sports and social work, with several awards granted posthumously and a mix of Indian and overseas awardees.
India marks its 77th Republic Day on Monday, 26 January 2026. The day commemorates the Constitution coming into effect on 26 January 1950 and is observed nationally with ceremonies across states and a major parade in New Delhi that blends military display, cultural pageantry and government tableaux.
After rain and gusty winds, Delhi recorded its cleanest air in more than three months, with the AQI slipping into the ‘moderate’ bracket. Forecasts, however, suggest the respite may be short-lived, with conditions expected to worsen again as fog, colder nights and another spell of rain approach.
On National Voters’ Day (January 25), Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on eligible young Indians to register as voters and treat voting as a key civic duty. In messages and remarks linked to the day, he underlined that participation—especially by first-time voters and young women—strengthens democracy and helps shape India’s future.