India

The Hindu | English | News | Jan. 23, 2026 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

India has withdrawn the dependents and family members of its officials from its missions in Bangladesh due to a deteriorating security situation. Indian diplomatic posts have faced sustained threats of mob attacks over the past few months, prompting the declaration of Dhaka as a “non-family” station as a precautionary measure ahead of Bangladesh’s February 12 election. Despite these steps, Indian officials stated that diplomatic and consular operations will continue unaffected.

Indian missions in Bangladesh have been targeted in recent months, including over two dozen protests near the Indian High Commission in Dhaka and a stone-pelting incident at the Assistant High Commission in Chittagong on December 18, 2025. The situation worsened following the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi, a radical Islamist youth leader, on December 12. Allegations that his killers fled to India fueled threats and protests against Indian missions in Bangladesh, with retaliatory demonstrations occurring outside the Bangladesh High Commission in India.

India has responded by maintaining heightened police security near the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi and tracking developments in Bangladesh closely. Tensions are expected to rise further as the banned Awami League, led by ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has resumed activities from Indian territory, including recent and upcoming media engagements in New Delhi by its leaders.

Livemint | English | News | Jan. 23, 2026 | UndeterminedTrade Issues and Numbers

US President Donald Trump expressed optimism about the prospects of the India–US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), stating that the two countries are “going to have a good deal.” He praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a close friend and respected leader while acknowledging ongoing tough negotiations, particularly over tariffs and geopolitical issues related to Russian oil imports. Trump highlighted India’s recent reduction of oil purchases from Russia in response to US pressure but noted that tariffs remain a point of contention.

The proposed BTA aims to more than double bilateral trade between India and the US, targeting USD 500 billion by 2030 from the current USD 191 billion. Talks first began during Modi’s Washington visit in February 2025, with multiple negotiation rounds since. Despite tensions, India’s Ministry of External Affairs affirmed that talks have not stalled, emphasizing ongoing commitment from both sides to reach a balanced and mutually beneficial trade agreement.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal rejected claims that Modi did not engage sufficiently with Trump, confirming frequent communications between the two leaders in 2025. This followed comments by US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who suggested Modi was reluctant to engage directly with Trump, which he said contributed to higher tariffs and delays in the trade deal.

Hindu Business Line | English | News | Jan. 23, 2026 | UndeterminedBizdev-Partnering

TATA Group Chairman N Chandrasekaran expressed strong interest in investing in Telangana during a meeting with Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy at the World Economic Forum summit in Davos. The group plans to set up new manufacturing plants in the state and support government initiatives such as the rejuvenation of the Musi river.

The Telangana delegation presented their “Telangana Rising 2047” vision, which includes upgrading major stadiums in Hyderabad, a project TATA has agreed to support. The group also plans to invest in the hospitality sector by establishing hotels in key temple towns like Medaram, Vemulawada, and Bhadrachalam.

Discussions included a world-class resort on the expanding Srisailam highway, leveraging local attractions and infrastructure suitable for business conferences. TATA is ready to partner on this resort initiative. Additionally, the group is optimistic about future investments in AI data centers, semiconductor production, and electric vehicle manufacturing in Telangana.