MP Evening Wrap:India climbs 5 places in Henley Passport Index, ranks 80th; Makar Sankranti celebrations see large crowds at Shipra, Narmada ghats more

Bhaskar English brings you the biggest news from Madhya Pradesh and around the world. Here are the top news headlines of the day: 1. India climbs 5 places in Henley Passport Index, ranks 80th India has climbed five places to reach the 80th position in the Henley Passport Index 2026, marking a modest improvement in global travel access for Indian passport holders. However, India continues to trail significantly behind countries with the world’s most powerful passports. Read More 2. Makar Sankranti celebrations see large crowds at Shipra, Narmada ghats; 3 injured by kite strings in Indore In Madhya Pradesh, devotees thronged the Narmada and Shipra ghats to perform rituals on Makar Sankranti. While people enjoyed flying kites during the festival, several accidents were reported in Indore and Ujjain due to sharp Chinese kite strings. Read more 3. Manikarnika Ghat demolition sparks backlash across Madhya Pradesh: Khasgi Trust demands probe, restoration as heritage law violations alleged, communities announce protests in Indore The Khasgi Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Charities Trust has strongly condemned the demolition of a section of the historic Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, calling the action deeply disrespectful to India’s cultural and spiritual heritage and to the legacy of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar. Read more 4. Iran may publicly hang protester Sultani today: India advises its citizens to ‘leave’ The Indian government on Wednesday issued a safety advisory for its citizens in Iran following escalating violence in the country. The Indian Embassy in Iran shared the advisory on social media, urging all Indians, students, pilgrims, traders, or tourists to leave Iran immediately. Read More 5. Man gets electrocuted through high-tension line in Jabalpur; was setting up connection to kill wild boars A young man in Jabalpur came in contact with a high-tension line and due to the impact of this, his body was torn apart. Villagers reached the spot after seeing the badly burnt man and informed the police. When police arrived and checked, the young man had already died. Read more 6. 4th increment pay scale approved for 1.22 lakh MP teachers; major decision for teachers ahead of Makar Sankranti In a cabinet meeting held on Tuesday, the state government approved the fourth promotion pay scale for assistant teachers (LDT) and upper division teachers (UDT) working in primary and middle schools. The decision will benefit around 1.22 lakh teachers across the state who have completed 35 years of service. Cabinet clears decision, monthly salary rises by ₹3,000–6,000; arrears of ₹1.80 lakh to be paid. Read more 7. Virat Kohli dethrones Rohit Sharma, becomes number-1 ranked ODI batter Fresh after hitting 93 runs in the first ODI against New Zealand, Virat Kohli has become the new number 1-ranked ODI batter on Wednesday. Virat moved to the top of the rankings, replacing Rohit Sharma, who slipped to third place. Read More 8. Father kills married daughter in Bhind, eloped with her lover after marriage A shocking incident has come to light in Bhind district, where a father shot and killed his 21-year-old married daughter. The accused fired a country-made pistol into her chest. The young woman had been married for just a month and had reportedly eloped with her lover a few days later. Enraged by this, the father allegedly committed the murder. Read more 9. 3rd death after consuming abandoned sweets in Chhindwara; deceased’s sister alleges dispute with in-laws A third person has died after consuming suspicious sweets left at a hotel in Junnardev, Chhindwara district. Khushbu, who was referred from Chhindwara to Nagpur late Tuesday night, died during treatment at around 6:30 am on Wednesday. Read more
10. Silver jumps ₹34,000 in three days, trades at ₹2.77 lakh/kg: Gold hits ₹1.42 lakh/10 gms Gold and silver prices touched fresh all-time highs for the third consecutive day on January 14, 2026. According to the India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA), silver prices surged sharply, while gold continued its strong upward momentum. Read More