UP Cabinet Reshuffle: Many Ministers to go while old Ministers make a comeback?

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expresses dissatisfaction with several underperforming ministers' work. Sources indicate these ministers face exclusion from the upcoming cabinet reshuffle. Meanwhile, benched veteran ministers may stage a comeback to strengthen the team. Recent Delhi meetings with PM Modi, Amit Shah, and BJP leaders fueled speculation about expansion post-Makar Sankranti. The current 54-member cabinet could grow to 60, prioritizing regional balance and OBC representation. Names like Bhupendra Chaudhary circulate for re-induction after organizational roles. This pre-2027 poll move aims to address 2024 Lok Sabha setbacks and boost governance efficiency ahead of assembly elections. Political circles buzz with potential replacements to align with Yogi's vision.

iPAC's control over West Bengal government in focus again?

Political circles in Kolkata are abuzz with speculation that a clutch of iPAC functionaries now enjoy outsized access to the top tiers of Mamata Banerjee’s administration, well beyond routine consultancy briefings. Their informal say in candidate selection, messaging and even bureaucratic posting feedback is rumoured to have blurred the line between an external agency and an in-house political nerve centre. The latest Enforcement Directorate scrutiny of financial transactions linked to iPAC associates has only deepened murmurs that parts of the consultancy–government ecosystem may have overlapped in ways the Trinamool can no longer easily firewall. With central agencies probing money trails and opposition leaders alleging a “parallel power structure”, the swirl in West Bengal’s political bazaar is set to intensify in the weeks ahead.

India-Germany $8 billion submarine deal expected soon!

India and Germany stand on the brink of an $8 billion submarine deal, marking New Delhi's largest-ever defense procurement. Under Project 75-I, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) will partner with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) to build six Type 214 conventional submarines featuring air-independent propulsion (AIP) for extended underwater endurance. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Ministry of Defence (MoD) are accelerating negotiations ahead of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's January 12-13 visit to Ahmedabad and Bengaluru, where talks with PM Modi will prioritize technology transfer—a first for submarine production in India. This addresses the Indian Navy's aging fleet amid Chinese naval expansion, potentially sidelining additional French Scorpene buys.