Laurene Powell Jobs, philanthropist and widow of late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, experienced health challenges during her visit to the Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Despite developing allergies, she is determined to partake in the sacred ritual of taking a dip at the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers.

Jobs, who arrived on Monday after visiting the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, is staying in a camp hosted by spiritual leader Swami Kailashanand Giri at the Niranjini Akhara. Speaking to ANI, Swami Giri revealed, “She is quite simple and has never been to such a crowded place before. She stayed with us during the pooja and will participate in the holy dip.” Swami Giri has given her the spiritual name ‘Kamala’ during her visit.

The Maha Kumbh 2025, marking a rare celestial event occurring once every 144 years, is one of the world’s largest religious gatherings. It attracts millions of devotees, including sadhus, pilgrims, and international visitors, to Prayagraj. Ms. Jobs’ visit underscores the global draw of this ancient tradition.

On Tuesday, the first Amrit Snan (sacred dip) saw the participation of 3-4 crore devotees, including members of the 13 Akhadas of Sanatan Dharma. These akhadas, representing Shaivite, Vaishnav, and Udaseen traditions, took turns performing their rituals at the Triveni Sangam.

She plans to stay in Prayagraj until January 15 before returning to the United States to attend the January 20 swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Donald Trump. Her brief yet spiritually enriching experience at the Maha Kumbh is a testament to the event’s universal appeal.

The Maha Kumbh, a grand congregation held every 12 years at one of four sacred sites in India, will continue until February 26. Key dates for holy dips include January 14 (Makar Sankranti), January 29 (Mauni Amavasya), February 3 (Basant Panchami), February 12 (Maghi Purnima), and February 26 (Maha Shivaratri).

Social media giant Meta will soon be summoned by India’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communication and Information Technology over CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s comments regarding the 2024 Indian general election. Nishikant Dubey, BJP MP and chairman of the panel, stated that Meta would be held accountable for allegedly spreading misinformation.

“Misinformation in a democratic country damages its image. The organization must apologize to the Parliament and the people for this mistake,” Dubey said in a post on X.

Zuckerberg, during a January 10 podcast, referred to the global erosion of trust in governments post-Covid. He claimed that in 2024, major elections worldwide, including India’s, saw incumbents losing power, linking this trend to factors such as inflation, economic policies, and pandemic handling.

The statement was swiftly fact-checked by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who clarified that India’s 2024 general elections reaffirmed public trust in the NDA led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“As the world’s largest democracy, India conducted its 2024 elections with over 640 million voters. People reaffirmed their trust in the NDA under PM Modi’s leadership. Zuckerberg’s claim is factually incorrect,” Vaishnaw posted on X.

He also highlighted Modi’s governance during Covid, emphasizing free food for 800 million citizens, 2.2 billion free vaccines, and economic recovery efforts that positioned India as a fast-growing economy. Vaishnaw expressed disappointment in Meta for allowing such misinformation, urging the platform to prioritize factual reporting.

While the BJP saw a slight dip in seats during the 2024 elections, the NDA comfortably retained power with its allies’ support. This marked Modi’s historic third consecutive term as Prime Minister, making him only the second Indian leader after Jawaharlal Nehru to achieve this milestone.

The controversy surrounding Zuckerberg’s remarks underscores the growing scrutiny of social media platforms in influencing political discourse and the need for accountability in the digital space.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra, who assumed office in December, is signaling a willingness to allow the Indian rupee to move more freely. Sources familiar with the central bank’s operations revealed that Malhotra has been engaging extensively with RBI departments ahead of his first monetary policy meeting in February.

The new governor has shown openness to permitting the rupee to align more with regional currencies while intervening selectively in the foreign-exchange market to curb excessive volatility. This approach contrasts with his predecessor, Shaktikanta Das, who maintained tight control over the rupee during his six-year tenure.

Under Das, the RBI built a robust foreign exchange reserve of over $700 billion, using it to shield the currency. However, Malhotra appears inclined toward a strategy that allows the rupee greater freedom to find its market-driven level, though interventions will continue to manage speculative attacks and sharp movements.

The rupee, which recently touched a record low of 86.7025 per dollar, has faced heightened volatility since Das’s departure. The currency has declined by 2% against the dollar this year, accompanied by a surge in implied volatility to its highest level in over a year.

India’s export competitiveness and trade dynamics are key factors in the evolving policy. Exporters have previously expressed concerns over the rupee’s stability, which they claim undermines their ability to compete globally. The currency’s overvaluation, reflected in the 40-country trade-weighted real effective exchange rate (REER) of 108.14 in November, has also been under scrutiny.

While the RBI is allowing some depreciation to address these imbalances, the central bank remains wary of the impact on India’s import-dependent economy, particularly in energy. As Asia’s third-largest economy imports nearly 90% of its oil, a weaker rupee drives up energy costs, impacting the broader trade deficit.

The RBI has emphasized its readiness to intervene decisively to manage speculative activity and ensure market stability. The central bank expects improved currency stability in the coming months, supported by macroeconomic adjustments and policy measures.

Malhotra’s approach marks a nuanced shift in the RBI’s currency management strategy, balancing market dynamics with the broader economic and trade imperatives of the nation.