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New Tobacco and Pan Masala Levies to Take Effect from February 1

January 03, 2026

Shift in Taxation Regime for Sin Goods

The Union government has notified 1 February as the date from which a new set of fiscal levies on tobacco products and pan masala will come into force. The move marks a structural shift in the taxation of so-called sin goods, as the existing GST compensation cess framework is withdrawn and replaced with product-specific levies imposed outside the Goods and Services Tax (GST) system.

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44th Junior National Kho Kho Championship Begins in Bengaluru

January 03, 2026

National Platform for Emerging Kho Kho Talent

The 44th Junior National Kho Kho Championship commenced at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium in Gunjur, Bengaluru, bringing together nearly 1,000 junior athletes from states and union territories across India. The championship, organised under the aegis of the Kho Kho Federation of India, features separate boys’ and girls’ categories and serves as a crucial national platform for identifying and nurturing grassroots talent in one of India’s oldest indigenous sports.

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India and Pakistan Exchange Nuclear Installations Lists on January 1

January 03, 2026

Annual Exchange Under a Long-Standing Agreement

Continuing a decades-old confidence-building mechanism, India and Pakistan exchanged lists of their nuclear installations on January 1, 2026. The exchange was carried out in accordance with a bilateral agreement that prohibits attacks on each other’s nuclear facilities. The move assumes importance as it took place despite strained bilateral relations following military hostilities between the two countries in May 2025.

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Puri Upgraded to Municipal Corporation, Becomes Odisha’s Sixth

January 03, 2026

Historic Upgrade for a Pilgrimage City

Ending a long wait, the Odisha government has officially upgraded Puri from a municipality to a Municipal Corporation, marking a major administrative milestone for the state’s iconic coastal and pilgrimage city. The formal notification was issued by the Housing and Urban Development Department, following an announcement by Chief Minister Mohan Majhi earlier in July.

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India–UAE Joint Military Exercise DESERT CYCLONE–II Concludes in Abu Dhabi

January 03, 2026

Successful Conclusion of DESERT CYCLONE–II

The second edition of the India–UAE Joint Military Exercise DESERT CYCLONE–II concluded with a formal closing ceremony at Al-Hamra Training City in Abu Dhabi. Conducted from December 18 to 30, the exercise brought together contingents of the Indian Army and the UAE Land Forces, reinforcing the deepening defence partnership between India and the United Arab Emirates.

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