The Ideas Page: Let’s recover lost meanings of ganarajya to face political challenge of our times 9 TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2026 Journalism of Courage NEW DELHI, LATE CITY, 14 PAGES ₹7.00 (₹8 RAIPUR, ₹15 SRINAGAR) l www.indianexpress.com DA I LY F R O M : A H M E DA B A D , C H A N D I GA R H , D E L H I , J A I P U R , kO L k ATA , LU C k N O W , M U M B A I , N AG P U R , PAT N A , P U N E , VA D O DA R A Happening today lTHe GOVeRNMeNT wIll hold an all-party meeting to discuss legislative and other agenda ahead of the Budget Session of Parliament, which begins Wednesday. l INdIA eNeRGY weeK 2026 begins in Goa. The fourth edition of India’s premier annual international energy event will go on until January 30. TRACk THESE AND MORE ON www.INDIANExPrEss.cOm Business as Usual By EP UNNY INsIDE NATION SIx IEd ExPLOSIONS INjURE 11 SECURITy PERSONNEL IN CHHATTISgARH P 7 THe wORld U.S. gUARANTEES dOCUmENT REAdy TO BE SIgNEd, SAyS ZELENSkyy P 10 eU CeNTReSTAGe ON 77TH RePUBlIC dAY CeleBRATIONS Europe & India to work together to shape a new global order: EU chief Key outcomes include 5-year comprehensive strategic agenda, mobility pact Shubhajit Roy »CONTINUed ON PAGe 2 Rishika Singh New Delhi, January 26 ADAYaftertopChinesemilitary general Zhang Youxia was reportedtobeunderofficialinvestigation, The Wall Street JournalreportedSundaythathewas accusedof“leakinginformation about the country’s nuclear weapons program to the US”, among other allegations. The extraordinary charge marks a milestone in China’s ongoing purge of allegedly corrupt military officials, which has expanded in scope and depth over the past three years. Zhang,75,isthemostsenior New Delhi, January 26 AS NEW Delhi hosted leaders from the European Union on the occasion of India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said a “successful India makes the world more stable, prosperous and secure”. European Council President Antonio Luis Santos da Costa and von der Leyen were the chief guests at the Republic Day function on Monday. Thanking President Droupadi Murmu for hosting them, von der Leyen said, “Europe and India are the world’s largest democracies, committed to working together to shape a new global order. This is why we are here to take our partnership to new heights.” AsthetwoEuropeanleaders co-chair the EU-India Summit along with Prime Minister NarendraModionTuesday,thekey outcomes include announcements about a ‘comprehensive strategicagendafor2026-2030’, conclusion of a Free Trade Top China general removed for ‘leaking’ n-plan to US: Report President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Republic Day parade on Monday. TASHI TOBGYAL FULL COVERAGE, PAGES 4, 5 Conclusion of talks on FTA set to be announced today; pact later this year Ravi dutta Mishra The US and India share a historic bond as the world’s oldest and largest democracies.” U.S. PReSIdeNT dONAld TRUMP, IN HIS R-DAY GREETINGS TO INDIA CRUz SAYS NAVARRO, VANCe ANd TRUMP ReSISTING INdIA deAl, P 6 New Delhi, January 26 COMMERCE SECRETARY Rajesh Agarwal said on Monday that official-level negotiations are being wrapped up and both sides are set to announce the successful conclusion of talks on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on Tuesday. This assumes significance as the trade deal has been dec- ades in the making — the talks first started in 2007 but were abandoned in 2013 due to differences in market access for automobiles. While the two sides are expected to announce the conclusion of negotiations at the India-EU Summit here on Tuesday, the formal signing would take place later this year after legal scrubbing of the agreement is completed. “After subsuming a few chapters,IndiaandtheEUhave completed talks on 21 chapters. While the legal scrubbing of the deal would take four to five months,thetradedealwillcome intoeffectbyearlynextyearafter being ratified by the European Parliament,” an official said. The trade agreement is expected to be among the most comprehensivedealsthatIndia »CONTINUed ON PAGe 2 General Zhang Youxia, 75, was joint vice-chairperson of the Central Military Commission E. Turbulence at the top PAGE 12 leader targeted so far and is known to have enjoyed the »CONTINUed ON PAGe 2 Age rating to list of don’ts: Draft rules on obscenity online Amrita Nayak dutta New Delhi, January 26 THE CENTRE is looking at introducing draft rules to address obscenityinonlinecontent,The Indian Express has learnt. Besides drawing some red lines — attacks on religions or communities,incitingpeople,falseand suggestive innuendos, among others — the draft IT (Digital Code)Rules,2026,proposesthe classification of all digital content by age suitability. Last March, the Supreme New Delhi Court had asked the Solicitor General to draft proposals safeguarding free speech under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution while ensuring the constitutionally permissible “reasonable restrictions” under Article 19(2). This came in the backdrop of public backlash against social media influencers Ranveer Allahbadia and Samay Raina over their comments. The case is scheduled to be heard on January 29. According to sources, the »CONTINUed ON PAGe 2