Good morning. In a significant shift for India's heritage conservation, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is set to embrace a public-private partnership (PPP) model. Starting in less than two weeks, corporate donors will be permitted to fund the preservation of the country's monuments. Private entities can select their own conservation architects to work on one of 250 monuments listed by the Ministry of Culture. The government is currently in the process of empanelling these architects and vetting applications from experienced private agencies.
High Drama as ED Raids Political Consultancy I-PAC
High drama unfolded on Thursday, January 8, 2026, as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at 10 premises linked to I-PAC, the election management firm founded by Prashant Kishor, in Kolkata and Delhi. I-PAC is currently managing the election campaign for the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress for the upcoming West Bengal polls.
The searches at the residence of I-PAC director Pratik Jain were reportedly "met with resistance." According to a senior ED officer, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived at the premises with the state Director General of Police (DGP) and a local police contingent. She proceeded to carry away files, a laptop, and a mobile phone belonging to Jain. The ED has stated it will approach the High Court over what it terms state government interference.
In a dramatic turn, Mamata Banerjee travelled from Jain's Loudon Street residence to the I-PAC office in Salt Lake, carrying a green plastic folder and a laptop which she claimed contained crucial party information. She accused the ED and the BJP of "hijacking" her party's political strategy. The raids mark the first such action against a private political consultancy firm directly involved in an ongoing election campaign, causing unease among opposition parties who have long accused the central government of weaponising agencies.
The Coal Smuggling Link
The ED's actions are linked to a 2020 CBI case involving alleged coal smuggling kingpin Anup Majee, also known as Lala. The agency alleges that Majee illegally excavated coal from Eastern Coalfields Ltd and sold it to factories using hawala operators. Investigations suggest that one such operator facilitated transactions worth tens of crores of rupees to I-PAC.
Other Major Developments: US Tariffs, Gig Workers, and AI in Courts
In international news, a significant economic threat looms for India. US President Donald Trump has greenlit a "Russia sanctions Bill" that proposes staggering 500% tariffs on all goods and services from countries that knowingly engage in the exchange of Russian-origin uranium and petroleum products. This could severely impact India, which already faces a 50% charge on its purchase of Russian oil, and potentially end its exports to the US.
Concurrently, the US announced its exit from over 60 international treaties and organisations, including key climate entities like the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This move marks a complete US disengagement from the international climate architecture, a decision that could jeopardise global efforts and impact India's climate diplomacy.
Domestically, a recent strike by gig workers has reignited the debate on their rights and the responsibilities of platform companies. Experts point to a regulatory gap, as platforms refuse to be identified as "employers," making it difficult to apply existing labour laws. The debate centres on how to protect workers in a rapidly digitised informal economy.
Technology Transforms the Judiciary
Indian courtrooms are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to solve a perennial bottleneck: the accurate and timely recording and transcription of hearings. Systems like TERES (Technology Enabled ReSolution), used in Constitution Bench hearings, and Adalat AI, employed in courtrooms across nine states, are leading this change. Law firms are also adopting AI for legal research and document review, signalling a tech-driven transformation in the legal field.
In other news, the Faridabad police have lodged an FIR against national shooting coach Ankush Bhardwaj for the alleged sexual assault of a minor shooter, invoking the POCSO Act. Furthermore, Madhya Pradesh's Indore is facing a fresh political row after top officials attended a meeting at an RSS office to discuss a recent water contamination crisis that claimed eight lives, raising questions about administrative impartiality.
The nation also mourns the passing of renowned ecologist Madhav Gadgil, aged 83, remembered as a pioneering voice for the protection of the Western Ghats and forest communities.
