Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died after the aircraft carrying him crashed during an emergency landing attempt at Baramati airport on Wednesday, officials said. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation confirmed that five people on board, including Pawar, were killed. Visuals from the crash site showed the plane completely destroyed, with debris scattered across a field and thick smoke rising. Pawar was travelling to Baramati to attend a scheduled event when the incident occurred. Local residents rushed to the site soon after the crash and helped emergency teams. Authorities have started an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. 

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed profound grief over Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's death in the Baramati plane crash, stating he is "deeply shocked and pained" by the tragedy. Singh praised Pawar's lifelong commitment to Maharashtra's development and prosperity, highlighting his compassion for people and unwavering dedication to public service. The defence minister extended heartfelt condolences to Pawar's family, well-wishers, and admirers. The 66-year-old NCP leader died when his chartered Learjet crashed during landing at Baramati airport, killing all six aboard including security personnel and crew. Political leaders across India have mourned the loss of the prominent politician.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died Wednesday morning when his chartered aircraft crashed during landing at Baramati airport. The DGCA confirmed all six people aboard including Pawar, security personnel, personal assistant, pilot, and co-pilot were killed in the 8:45 AM crash. The 66-year-old NCP leader was traveling from Mumbai to Baramati to campaign for Zilla Parishad polls and attend four public rallies. The Learjet 45 (VT-SSK) slid off the runway threshold and exploded upon impact. Eyewitnesses reported hearing loud noise before the massive explosion. The Pawar family, including Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule, were in Delhi attending Parliament's budget session and immediately departed for Baramati. (PC: HT)

The Maharashtra government has approved a new metro line linking Mumbai and Navi Mumbai airports. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the decision on Tuesday. The metro will be 35 km long, with a 9 km underground stretch. It will have 20 stations and connect with other metro routes. The project cost is estimated at ₹22,862 crore. It will be built under a public-private partnership model. The state and centre will fund 40 per cent of the cost. The metro will reduce travel time between the two airports and improve connectivity for passengers and workers. (PC: ANI)

Rescue teams recovered the bodies of two cousins missing since January 22 in the Bharmour area of Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district. The teenagers were caught in heavy snowfall while heading toward the Bharmani Mata Temple. A pet dog was found alive beside the body of 13-year-old Piyush Kumar after nearly four days in sub-zero conditions. The dog belonged to the other victim, 19-year-old Viksit Rana. “The pet was keeping watch near Piyush’s body,” said Bharmour MLA Janak Raj. Search efforts were delayed by bad weather and terrain. The bodies and the dog were airlifted on Monday.

All flights to and from Srinagar have been cancelled after heavy snowfall and poor weather conditions affected Kashmir on Tuesday. Airport officials said flight operations were suspended due to low visibility and unsafe conditions. Fresh snowfall across the valley also forced the closure of the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, cutting the main road link with the region. Light to moderate snow was recorded in Srinagar and other low-lying areas, while higher reaches received moderate to heavy snowfall. The weather disturbance disrupted daily life and transport services across Kashmir. Authorities advised travellers to check weather updates and road conditions before planning journeys as further snowfall is expected in some areas. (PC: HT)

Public sector bank services across India are likely to be disrupted on January 27 due to a nationwide strike by bank employee unions. The United Forum of Bank Unions has called the strike to press for the implementation of a five-day workweek. Talks with the chief labour commissioner failed to resolve the issue. Private sector banks such as ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank are expected to operate normally. Customers of public sector banks may face a third consecutive day of limited services after Sunday and Republic Day holidays. State Bank of India said operations could be affected despite efforts to ensure normal functioning. (PC: HT)

The Goa government is studying a possible ban on social media for children under 16, Goa IT Minister Rohan Khaunte said. He said parents have complained that social media distracts children and causes social issues.   Khaunte said officials are reviewing an Australia-style law and related papers. A decision will be taken after talks with the chief minister, possibly before the next Assembly session.   He said the aim is to help children focus on education and learning technology. The move follows a similar proposal by Andhra Pradesh. Australia has already passed a law restricting social media use for those under 16.

The Indian Air Force released a video on Republic Day showing fighter jets carrying weapons used in the 2019 Balakot strike and Operation Sindoor. The footage was shown as India marked its 77th Republic Day. For the first time, the IAF displayed fully loaded aircraft with operational weapons. These included Meteor air-to-air missiles on Rafale and LCA Tejas jets, and the same missile configuration used by Mirage 2000 aircraft in 2019. The video also showed Astra missiles on Sukhoi-30MKI jets and upgraded Jaguars. BrahMos cruise missiles, Hammer bombs, and Rampage air-to-surface missiles were also seen. The IAF rarely releases such weapon footage. (PC: NDTV)

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi has been awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in the 2026 Republic Day honours for distinguished service. She became widely known during the 2025 media briefings of Operation Sindoor. Years earlier, in 2020, the Supreme Court had cited her service while ruling in favour of granting Permanent Commission to women officers. The court said her career showed women could serve in command roles alongside men. It noted her leadership of an Indian Army contingent at Exercise Force 18 in 2016 and her service in UN peacekeeping missions in Congo. Colonel Qureshi belongs to the Corps of Signals and has served in multiple operations and relief missions. (PC: X)