Partial US government shutdown risks unpaid federal workers and disruptions to Pentagon, FEMA, and transportation services.
A partial lapse in appropriations temporarily halts funding for the Pentagon, DHS, and the Department of Transportation while essential functions continue; affected workers may work without pay or be furloughed if the gap endures. FEMA retains multibillion-dollar disaster funds to respond to storms but nonemergency activities like National Flood Insurance policy issuance could pause during an extended lapse. Air traffic controllers will staff the system without pay until funding is restored. SNAP and WIC remain fully funded for the fiscal year and continue benefit delivery.

IDFC FIRST Bank Q3 FY26: PAT up 48%, strong loan and deposit growth, improved CASA and asset quality.
IDFC FIRST Bank posted Q3 FY26 PAT of Rs. 503 crore (up 48% YoY) with customer business at Rs. 5,62,090 crore; loans grew 20.9% YoY, deposits 24.3% YoY, CASA rose to 51.64%, NIM was 5.76%, cost of funds 6.11%, GNPA 1.69% and Net NPA 0.53%, and capital adequacy was 16.22%, with provisions slightly reduced and growth concentrated in mortgages, vehicle, consumer, business banking and wholesale loans.

Cybersecurity awareness campaign 'Twice is Wise' reached over 9 crore Indians to strengthen fraud vigilance.
Federal Bank partnered with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to run the Twice is Wise cybersecurity awareness campaign, combining on ground outreach, workshops in schools and colleges, roadshows, radio programming, print and digital media to reach over nine crore Indians and strengthen public vigilance against cyber and financial fraud through coordinated institutional and media engagement.

Regional Rural Banks urged to expand rural social security coverage, diversify lending, boost digital services and strengthen grievance redressal.
The Secretary directed RRBs, NABARD and sponsor banks to sustain and improve performance by expanding social security scheme coverage in rural areas, diversifying loan portfolios, strengthening IT infrastructure and digital delivery of financial services, and enhancing grievance redressal mechanisms for rural and remote customers, while proactively identifying and preparing for forthcoming challenges.

Indian rupee hit a record low then recovered as dollar strength and reserve gains shaped capital flow dynamics.
The rupee hit an intraday record low of 92.02 before closing at 91.93 against the US dollar, influenced by a stronger dollar index, geopolitical uncertainty, and weak domestic equities. RBI data showed forex reserves rose to USD 709.413 billion for the week ended January 23, while FIIs were net buyers of equities worth Rs 2,251.37 crore, highlighting interactions between reserve accumulation and capital flows in shaping currency movements.

Foreign direct investment: stronger domestic private investment and removal of high trade tariffs needed to boost inflows.
Strong domestic private sector investment is necessary to attract sustained net foreign direct investment into India; addressing domestic corporate underinvestment and policy uncertainty will enable greater FDI inflows and participation in global supply chains. Concurrently, high tariffs imposed by a major trading partner on labour intensive exports impede market access and risk long term damage to affected industries, while reserve diversification trends reflect uncertainty about traditional reserve assets.

NABARD projects Rs 3.75 lakh crore priority sector credit for Madhya Pradesh, with major allocations to agriculture and MSMEs.
NABARD's State Focus Paper projects Madhya Pradesh's priority sector credit potential at Rs 3,75,384.29 crore for FY 2026 27, allocating Rs 2,08,743.78 crore to agriculture (including Rs 1,79,589.97 crore farm credit, Rs 6,461.67 crore agriculture infrastructure, Rs 22,692.14 crore ancillary activities), Rs 1,46,269.36 crore to MSMEs, and Rs 20,371.15 crore to export credit, education, housing, social infrastructure, renewable energy and other priority areas.

India's forex reserves rose to USD 709.413 billion, led by gains in foreign currency assets and gold.
India's foreign exchange reserves reached USD 709.413 billion for the week ended January 23, with foreign currency assets at USD 562.885 billion, gold reserves at USD 123.088 billion, SDRs at USD 18.737 billion, and the IMF reserve position at USD 4.703 billion; movements reflect valuation effects from non US currencies and recent deployment of reserves to address rupee volatility.

Wibmo named among Chartis Top 50 for retail banking analytics, highlighting payments security and advanced fraud prevention solutions.
Wibmo, a PayU company, is ranked 41st in the Chartis Retail Banking Analytics 50 for 2025, reflecting strength in analytical breadth, market impact, computational infrastructure, strategic alignment, and innovation; the company provides integrated analytics and payment-security solutions for retail credit analytics, fraud and risk management, AI-driven decisioning, and financial optimisation.

Nizam's jewels remain in high-security custodial arrangement under existing MoU; no decision to relocate them for exhibition.
The Nizam's jewellery collection is maintained under a high-security custodial arrangement with the Reserve Bank of India pursuant to an existing Memorandum of Understanding covering security, insurance and conservation; the Ministry of Culture recognises the collection's cultural and heritage significance, and no decision has been taken to relocate the collection for a permanent public exhibition in Hyderabad.

slice launches UPI-first banking: savings tied to RBI repo rate, UPI credit card, and insured digital fixed deposits.
slice offers a UPI-first savings account linked to 100% of the RBI repo rate with daily interest crediting, no minimum balance, instant liquidity and digital UPI access; a UPI credit card embedding approved credit limits into merchant UPI payments with cashback and EMI features to broaden formal credit access; and fully digital fixed deposits paying up to 7.25% per annum insured up to Rs. 5 lakh by DICGC insurance.

Bitcoin adoption by major banks heightens demand for institutional crypto security solutions like DeepSnitch AI presale offerings.
The article asserts that major banks' adoption of bitcoin will drive institutional capital into crypto, creating urgent demand for institutional-grade security; it promotes DeepSnitch AI as an operational solution with live AI agents that scan contracts, track whale movements, aggregate news, and provide trading support, and details presale terms and hypothetical returns while contrasting DeepSnitch with Axie Infinity and Mango Network. A risk and editorial disclaimer stresses high trading risk, recommends independent advice, and disclaims editorial responsibility and liability.

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code reforms and international coordination aim to strengthen recoveries, expedite resolutions, and improve credit discipline.
The decade-long implementation of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code has promoted credit discipline, reduced non-performing assets, and improved post-resolution corporate performance; stakeholders urged targeted amendments and enhanced implementation measures. Panels addressed asset tracing, enforcement and recovery, out-of-court workouts and pre-pack solutions, and financing for distressed acquisitions to accelerate resolutions and improve recoveries. Adoption of the UNCITRAL Model Law and international cooperation were discussed to strengthen cross-border insolvency coordination and practical enforcement tools.

MoU enabling formal recognition of CCIL by ESMA and cooperation on CCP compliance and information exchange.
The MoU establishes a framework to enable formal recognition by ESMA of CCIL and other RBI regulated CCPs, providing for consultation, cooperation and exchange of information on the covered CCPs and monitoring their compliance with recognition conditions, while ESMA may rely on RBI supervision and the RBI remains accountable for CCP resilience in India; the MoU is non binding and effective from signing for an unlimited period.

Natural calamity relief measures allow banks discretion to restructure short-default standard exposures with reduced provisioning.
A principle-based resolution regime allows Regulated Entities discretion to design and implement resolution plans for exposures affected by natural calamities. Eligible exposures are those classified as Standard but in default up to 30 days (SMA-0) at the time of the calamity. A dedicated invocation window and a separate implementation window are prescribed. Restructured exposures remain Standard with accrual income recognition and reduced additional specific provisioning. REs must arrange alternate banking services in affected areas. The draft harmonises prudential norms across RE categories and invites stakeholder comments.

Veefin Solutions posts strong Q3 and nine month profitability with high standalone margins and a diversified enterprise pipeline.
Veefin Solutions reported strong standalone Q3 and nine month FY26 results-Q3 revenue Rs. 20.19 crore, nine month revenue Rs. 46.57 crore; Q3 EBITDA Rs. 11.76 crore (58.25% margin) and nine month EBITDA Rs. 24.33 crore (52.45% margin); Q3 PAT Rs. 6.00 crore and nine month PAT Rs. 12.45 crore with diluted nine month EPS Rs. 4.99. Consolidated nine month revenue was Rs. 213.78 crore with EBITDA Rs. 40.84 crore (19.10% margin) and PAT Rs. 15.98 crore. The company reported a ~50 deal enterprise pipeline (~USD 61 million), 78% non SCF, and ongoing platform deployments across multiple transaction banking solution areas.

Banking operations disrupted by nationwide bank unions' strike demanding implementation of a five day work week.
Nationwide strike by the United Forum of Bank Unions disrupted branch banking operations as unions demanded immediate implementation of a five-day work week; roughly eight lakh public sector bank employees participated, affecting cheque clearance, cash transactions, bill trading and treasury functions while digital channels remained operational. The action followed a failed conciliation meeting and reflects union claims that a prior agreement to extend weekday hours and declare remaining Saturdays as holidays has been pending government approval, and that declaration of all Saturdays as holidays was agreed in the 12th Bipartite Settlement.

Rupee rebounds to 91.80 amid dollar weakness but remains vulnerable to geopolitical risk and tariff tensions.
The rupee edged to 91.80 per US dollar as dollar weakness and short covering pushed gains, while ongoing pressures from geopolitical uncertainty, weak domestic equities, persistent dollar demand and capital outflows keep the currency vulnerable; higher foreign exchange reserves provide some buffer. Pending trade negotiations with the US and recent US tariff measures tied to imports, including purchases of Russian oil, are flagged as material external factors affecting market sentiment.

Pakistan central bank keeps policy rate at 10.5%, citing elevated core inflation and external balance risks while growth improves.
The central bank maintained the policy rate at 10.5 per cent because headline inflation matched expectations but core inflation remained elevated, the real policy rate was assessed as adequately positive to stabilise inflation within the medium term inflation target, and external risks from a widening trade deficit and unchanged current account outlook counseled caution despite an improved growth outlook.

Banking operations face disruption as unions strike for a five-day work week, affecting public sector branch services.
Public sector banking operations face disruption from a nationwide UFBU strike seeking immediate implementation of a five-day work week, following failed conciliation. Unions demand all Saturdays be declared holidays per the 12th Bipartite Settlement pending government notification; they propose extending weekday hours to offset lost time. Branch services such as cash transactions and cheque clearances are likely to be hit, while private banks not party to the strike and digital banking channels are expected to remain largely functional; some PSBs have issued regulatory filings warning of operational impact.