A Major Reform in Public Financial Management

The Union government has launched an integrated e-bill platform to digitally process fertiliser subsidies worth nearly ₹2 lakh crore annually, marking a significant reform in India’s public financial management architecture. The platform was inaugurated in New Delhi by Union Fertilisers Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda and aims to replace manual, paper-based processes with a seamless digital workflow, improving transparency, efficiency and speed in subsidy disbursement.

Republic Day Parade 2026: Tradition, Terrain and the Silent Strength of India’s Armed Forces

The Republic Day Parade on January 26, 2026, is set to add a distinctive chapter to India’s ceremonial and military history. For the first time since Independence, the parade along Kartavya Path will feature a dedicated animal contingent of the Indian Army. This symbolic yet operationally significant inclusion highlights an often-overlooked reality of modern warfare: even in an age of drones, satellites and artificial intelligence, animals remain indispensable to military effectiveness in some of the world’s harshest terrains.

Official Nod Opens the 2026 Season

The Tamil Nadu government has granted permission for the first Jallikattu event of 2026 to be held on 3 January at Thatchankurichi village in Pudukkottai district. The approval, issued via a government gazette, formally marks the start of the annual bull-taming season—an event of deep cultural resonance in the state.

Ceremonial Observance at Agartala

The Albert Ekka Brigade, a distinguished formation of the Indian Army, observed its 56th Raising Day at the Agartala Military Station with full military solemnity. The occasion commemorated the brigade’s formation, its operational achievements, and its enduring contribution to national security, particularly during the 1971 India–Pakistan War from the Tripura sector.

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marks a structural shift in the taxation of so-called sin goods, as the existing GST compensation cess framework is withdrawn and replaced with product-specific levies imposed outside the Goods and Services Tax (GST) system.