PFRDA constituted SAARG to review NPS investment guidelines and recommend reforms for asset allocation, risk and governance.
PFRDA constituted the Committee for Strategic Asset Allocation and Risk Governance (SAARG) to comprehensively review and modernize NPS investment guidelines, benchmark them with global pension systems, and recommend reforms to strengthen strategic asset allocation, risk management, diversification, performance measurement, ALM principles, valuation standards for alternative investments, portfolio stability and liquidity measures, governance and intermediary architecture, sustainability integration, and subscriber choice; SAARG, chaired by Shri Narayan Ramachandran, has nine months to submit its report.

DRI busts mobile mephedrone lab, seizes 21.912 kg finished drug and 71.5 kg precursors; five arrested.
Enforcement Operation codenamed Operation Sahyadri Checkmate dismantled a mobile clandestine mephedrone manufacturing unit disguised as a poultry farm, seizing 21.912 kg finished mephedrone in liquid, semi-liquid and crystalline forms and 71.5 kg raw material; five persons were arrested, four of whom are repeat offenders, following surveillance, a coordinated raid, and subsequent interception of individuals collecting the product.

PLI White Goods Scheme selects five AC-component manufacturers committing Rs.863 crore, targeting higher domestic value addition and output.
Provisional selection in the fourth round of the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for White Goods commits Rs.863 crore by five AC-component manufacturers, projecting Rs.8,337.24 crore production and 1,799 direct jobs by FY 2027-28; eight applicants were referred to a Committee of Experts. The Scheme, with a Rs.6,238 crore outlay for FY 2021-22 to FY 2028-29, provides reducing incremental-sales incentives (approximately 6% to 4%) over five years after a base year and one-year gestation, aiming to raise domestic value addition to 75-80% and strengthen the component ecosystem for Air Conditioners and LED Lights.

International trade and global energy transition conference examined aligning trade rules with climate and sustainable energy goals.
The Centre for Trade and Investment Law and National Law University Odisha convened an international conference under the WTO Chairs Programme on the role of the multilateral trading system in supporting the global energy transition, focusing on aligning trade rules with clean energy deployment and sustainability objectives and examining green industrial policy, sustainable trade frameworks, carbon governance, regulatory practices and challenges for developing economies.

India-Myanmar trade: both sides commit to boost connectivity, AITIGA review, and expand bilateral commerce to USD 5 billion.
India and Myanmar agreed to improve cross border connectivity and trade facilitation by reopening and upgrading key land border posts, promoting the Rupee Kyat trade settlement mechanism, streamlining financial and customs processes, and pursuing an expeditious, balanced review of AITIGA to make the agreement more trade facilitative, with coordinated follow up among relevant agencies.

Law and economics conference highlights WIPO TKGR Treaty TRIPS interface, India's health services trade and regulatory challenges.
The conference examined the interface between the WIPO TKGR Treaty and the TRIPS Agreement, highlighting risks of fraudulent disclosures and wrongful patent grants based on traditional knowledge, the robustness of India's patent regime, and compliance challenges. It also analysed trade in health services-temporary movement of natural persons, cross-border delivery modes, visa and insurance barriers, Mutual Recognition Arrangements, digital health and AI-stressing institutional, regulatory and fiscal measures to align commercial growth with access objectives.

Atal Pension Yojana extended to 2030-31 with funding for outreach and gap support to sustain the scheme.
Cabinet approved continuation of Atal Pension Yojana (APY) to FY 2030-31 with government funding for (i) promotional and developmental activities to expand outreach among unorganised workers, and (ii) gap funding to meet viability requirements and ensure the scheme's sustainability.

Equity support to SIDBI will fund Rs5000 crore infusion to bolster MSME credit and maintain bank capital ratios.
The Cabinet approved Rs.5,000 crore equity infusion into SIDBI in three tranches (Rs.3,000 crore in FY 2025 26 and Rs.1,000 crore each in FY 2026 27 and FY 2027 28 at relevant book values) to enable SIDBI to raise resources at competitive rates, expand MSME credit, and maintain a healthy CRAR in light of rising risk weighted assets from directed credit, digital collateral free products and venture debt.

Apollo Hospitals to increase stake in Apollo Health and Lifestyle to 99.42% following regulatory approval.
Approval granted for the Proposed Combination in which Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited will acquire an additional 30.58% equity stake in Apollo Health and Lifestyle Limited, increasing its shareholding from 68.84% to 99.42%, effecting near-complete consolidation of the Target by its listed parent that operates across healthcare services, diagnostics and telemedicine; a detailed Commission order will follow.

Steel business transfer via slump sale and 50% JFE stake will create a 50:50 joint venture with JSW Steel.
The Commission approved the transfer of Bhushan Power and Steel Limited's steel business to JSW Sambalpur by way of a slump sale, and JFE Steel Corporation's acquisition of 50% of JSW Kalinga, producing an indirect 50% holding in JSW Sambalpur; JSW Kalinga and JSW Sambalpur will be operated as a 50:50 joint venture between JFE and JSW Steel Ltd.

Tata Steel acquisition of 50.01% stake in Thriveni Pellets approved, affecting iron ore pellet production and sales.
The Commission approved Tata Steel Limited's acquisition of 50.01% equity in Thriveni Pellets Private Limited from Thriveni Earthmovers Private Limited, giving Tata Steel majority control of a company engaged in production and sale of iron ore pellets; TPPL's subsidiary Brahmani River Pellets Limited also produces and sells iron ore pellets in India.

MSME digital lending via Jan Samarth enables instant in-principle sanctions using digital footprints and automated credit assessment.
Public Sector Banks adopted a Credit Assessment Model using digitally verifiable footprints to automate MSME loan appraisal and model-based limit assessment for ETB and NTB borrowers. The system ingests GST, ITR, bank statements via account aggregators, CIC reports and other API-fetched data for KYC, fraud checks and due diligence, enables instant in-principle sanctions through the Jan Samarth Portal for loans within defined thresholds, supports end-to-end Straight Through Processing, and integrates with credit guarantee mechanisms such as CGTMSE.

LIC urged to align its capital and digital strategy with national growth priorities while expanding insurance coverage.
LIC's designation as a Domestic Systemically Important Insurer (D-SII) carries responsibility for financial stability; the Secretary urged using LIC's consolidated AUM and strong solvency to align investments with national priorities such as green energy, infrastructure, startups and alternate investment funds, while improving persistency. Operational measures include Project DIVE for end-to-end digital transformation, a strategic product shift to high-growth non-participating and customizable products to attract younger customers, and strengthening distribution via Jeevan Samarth and the Bima Sakhis programme to expand rural coverage.

India's financial reforms advance investor protection, market deepening, KYC simplification, digital payments, CBDC rollout and infrastructure financing.
Policy and regulatory reforms strengthened market integrity, investor protection, and digital finance infrastructure. Under an FSDC mechanism, regulatory adjustments tightened SME public-issue norms, improved derivatives monitoring, mandated direct client payouts, and regulated algorithmic trading. Market-deepening steps included MF Lite, shorter debt listing timelines, CCN adoption, and single-window onboarding for foreign investors. Investor measures introduced a unified mobile app, SEBI Check for UPI verification, revised nomination norms, and small-ticket SIPs. Digital initiatives scaled the Account Aggregator SRO, internationalised UPI, mandated standardized intermediary UPI IDs, and expanded retail and wholesale CBDC pilots, while KYC interoperability and sector cybersecurity were advanced.

Womaniya initiative empowers women led MSEs to secure public procurement orders and expand access to government markets.
The Womaniya initiative on the Government e Marketplace provides a digital interface to increase women led MSE participation in public procurement; over two lakh women led MSEs are registered and have secured orders exceeding Rs.80,000 crore (4.7% of GeM orders), surpassing the three percent procurement target. The initiative removes intermediaries, lowers entry barriers, promotes price discovery and GFR awareness, and pairs capability building with stakeholder convergence. A Memorandum of Understanding with the Women's Collective Forum formalises support for onboarding, documentation, compliance, training and visibility to enhance women entrepreneurs' access to government markets.

FDDI Foundation Day launches Vision 2030 and an Industry Membership Programme to boost skills, innovation and sustainability.
FDDI, an Institution of National Importance, unveiled Vision 2030 focused on innovation-led education, sustainability, entrepreneurship and global competitiveness, and launched an Industry Membership Programme alongside Memoranda of Understanding to institutionalise collaboration in education, research, skilling and technology transfer, aligning workforce development and industry-academia engagement.

NFRA launches AI challenge for financial reporting compliance, offering prizes, startup participation, and a potential deployment contract.
NFRA, with IndiaAI, launched the IndiaAI Financial Reporting Compliance Challenge to solicit AI solutions that extract data from multi-format documents and validate it against frameworks, offering a Rs.1.5 Crore prize pool, interim awards to up to ten teams, and a potential two-year national deployment contract; required deliverables include explainable compliance validation reports, automated risk analytics, and an AI insight bot, with applications closing February 22, 2026.

Paripoorna Mediclaim Ayush Bima expands CGHS beneficiaries' coverage with indemnity inpatient insurance and co-payment options.
Department of Financial Services launched Paripoorna Mediclaim Ayush Bima for CGHS beneficiaries, an optional indemnity in patient hospitalization product for up to six members per policy with Rs.10 Lakh and Rs.20 Lakh sum insured options and selectable 70:30 or 50:50 co payment. Key features include room rent caps (1% normal, 2% ICU), 30 day pre and 60 day post hospitalization cover, AYUSH coverage up to 100% of sum insured, modern treatment cover up to 25% with an optional full cover rider, a cumulative 10% no claim bonus per year up to 100%, discounted premiums by co payment, and no GST; distribution via insurer offices and online platform.

Government security holders must provide bank details for electronic maturity payment or tender discharged securities 20 days before repayment.
Maturity proceeds of the government security must be paid to the registered holder by electronic credit or by pay order where bank account particulars are provided; interest ceases from the repayment date and, if no electronic mandate is on file, holders must tender duly discharged securities at designated paying offices at least 20 days before maturity to receive repayment.

Adoption of chain-based IIP methodology proposed, inviting stakeholder comments on annual weight updating and methodology.
The Ministry proposes adopting a chain-based method for compiling the Index of Industrial Production to allow annual updating of sector and industry weights, improving accuracy as production structures change; MoSPI invites comments from stakeholders on Discussion Paper 2.0 setting out the proposed chain-linking methodology and data source revisions.