Honestly, staying on top of today news in India feels like trying to drink from a firehose. One minute you're checking the cricket scores, and the next, you're reading about a massive diplomatic evacuation and local elections that have literally shut down the country’s financial lungs. It's a lot. If you’re living in Mumbai today, you’ve probably noticed the streets are a bit weirder than usual. If you’re a trader, you’ve realized your terminal is a ghost town.
Basically, today—January 15, 2026—is a collision of high-stakes politics, regional pride, and a very tense situation in West Asia that has the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) working overtime. Here is what is actually happening.
The Massive Logistics of the Iran Evacuation
One of the biggest stories in today news in India is something that’s mostly happening thousands of miles away but hits close to home for thousands of families. The Indian government is officially prepping for a large-scale evacuation of Indian nationals from Iran. If you’ve been following the global headlines, Iran has been hit by a wave of massive anti-government protests, and things have gotten, well, pretty scary.
The MEA sources are saying they’re already mapping out the logistics. We are talking about students in Qom, business folks in Tehran, and pilgrims in Esfahan. It’s not just a "hey, buy a ticket home" situation anymore. The Iranian airspace has been flickering on and off like a bad lightbulb. It was closed yesterday, opened briefly today, and now Air India and IndiGo are rerouting everything.
If you have family there, the advice from S. Jaishankar's office is basically: stay in touch with the Embassy and be ready to move. This isn't just "tension"; it’s a full-on logistical scramble.
🔗 Read more: When is the Next Hurricane Coming 2024: What Most People Get Wrong
Why the Stock Market is Quietly Sleeping
You might have woken up ready to check your portfolio, only to find the BSE and NSE are closed. No, it’s not a national holiday like Republic Day (that’s coming on the 26th). It’s because of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation elections.
Specifically, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and 28 other civic bodies are voting today. Because the major stock exchanges are physically located in Mumbai, the state government declared a public holiday.
- No Equity Trading: You can’t buy or sell shares today.
- F&O Expiry: If you’re an options trader, you probably noticed the weekly expiry was pushed back to yesterday (Wednesday).
- Banking: Most banks in Maharashtra are shut, which is why the clearing and settlement operations are on pause.
It’s kind of wild to think that a local city election can pause the entire country’s financial markets, but that’s how the plumbing of the Indian economy works. Over 3.48 crore people are expected to vote today. In Mumbai, the fight is basically a high-stakes brawl between the various factions of the Mahayuti and the MVA. It's messy, it's loud, and it's the reason your trading app is showing zero movement.
Indian Army Day and the "Digital" Shift
Today is also January 15, which means it’s Indian Army Day. Usually, this is about parades and tanks, and while that’s still happening, there’s a new vibe this year. The theme for 2026 is the "Year of Networking and Data Centricity."
💡 You might also like: What Really Happened With Trump Revoking Mayorkas Secret Service Protection
Basically, the Army is trying to move away from just "boots on the ground" to "data on the screen." They are talking about AI-driven battle management and cybersecurity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Army Chief have been emphasizing that while bravery is constant, the tools are changing. It’s the 78th anniversary of Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa taking over, marking the moment the Army became truly Indian.
The Kashmir Medical College Controversy
There's a story brewing in Jammu and Kashmir that is causing a lot of friction in today news in India. The National Medical Commission (NMC) has rescinded the authorization for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical Institute (SMVDMI).
Why does this matter? Well, it’s complicated.
Right-wing groups were protesting because a large number of Muslim students were admitted to the inaugural batch. They argued that because the college is funded by Hindu temple offerings, those students shouldn't be there. The NMC, however, officially says the closure is due to "critical deficiencies" in faculty and facilities.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is predictably furious, calling it a move that plays with students' futures. Regardless of which side of the political fence you sit on, the reality is that dozens of medical students are now in limbo, wondering where they’ll actually finish their degrees.
📖 Related: Franklin D Roosevelt Civil Rights Record: Why It Is Way More Complicated Than You Think
Sports: The U-19 World Cup Kicks Off
If you need a break from the heavy news, the ICC Under-19 Men's World Cup starts today in Zimbabwe and Namibia. India is the defending champion and, honestly, the heavy favorite.
- Captain: Ayush Mhatre is leading the squad.
- Player to Watch: Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The kid is 14 (or 15 depending on the record) and has been batting like a veteran. He’s already scored nearly 1,000 runs in Youth ODIs.
- Today's Match: India vs. USA in Bulawayo.
It’s the start of a long campaign to win a record-extending sixth title. Jay Shah has already been on X (formerly Twitter) wishing them luck, and the expectations are, as always, sky-high.
What You Should Actually Do Now
Sorting through the noise of today news in India requires a bit of a filter. Here is how you should handle the rest of your day:
- For Investors: Don't panic if your orders didn't go through. The markets reopen tomorrow, January 16, at 9:15 AM. Use today to review your long-term strategy rather than stressing about the lack of intraday action.
- For Travelers: If you have international flights, especially toward Europe or the US, check your status. Rerouting around Iranian airspace is adding 1-2 hours to flight times and causing some cancellations.
- For Students/Aspirants: If you were tracking the NEET-PG updates mentioned in passing today, note that qualifying percentiles have been slashed to zero for some categories to fill vacant seats. Check the NBEMS portal for the revised schedule.
- For Citizens in Maharashtra: If you haven't voted yet, the polls are open until 5:30 PM. Remember that most offices and schools are closed, so traffic might be weird near polling centers.
The news cycle in India moves fast, but the big takeaway today is a mix of local civic duties and a watchful eye on a very unstable situation in the Middle East. Keep your passport handy if you're traveling, and keep your remote handy if you're a cricket fan.