Undersea telecom cable damage prompts arrests and investigation into aggravated criminal damage and possible EU sanctions.
Authorities arrested two people and imposed travel bans on two others after damage to a Finnish telecommunications undersea cable prompted an investigation into aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage and aggravated interference with telecommunications. The ship Fitburg was detained; Finnish Customs found structural steel of Russian origin in its cargo and is investigating potential applicability of EU sanctions.

Global markets rose on AI demand hopes, corporate spin offs pending regulatory approval, and steady monetary and trade signals.
Global equity gains at the start of 2026 were driven by AI related demand expectations and sector concentration in tech and precious metals miners; corporate actions such as a proposed AI chip unit spin off depend on regulatory approvals, while trade policy pauses and prior interest rate cuts, alongside strong corporate profits, underpinned investor sentiment and influenced regional export oriented manufacturing.

Electricity tariffs in Jammu and Kashmir: no general increase for 2025-26; Time of Day surcharge remains unchanged.
No general increase in electricity tariffs will apply in Jammu and Kashmir for 2025-26 and the Time of Day (ToD) tariff remains unchanged; the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited has petitioned the regional regulator to increase the existing 20 per cent surcharge on consumption during morning and evening peak hours.

Natural gas prices fall after tariff reform, prompting CNG and household gas price cuts nationwide.
PNGRB's tariff reform collapses three distance based transportation zones into two and applies a uniform Zone 1 tariff of about Rs 54 per million British thermal unit for CNG and domestic PNG nationwide, effective January 1, 2026, leading city gas distributors to cut retail CNG and piped gas prices by varying regional amounts.

Andhra Pradesh absorbs Rs 4,497.89 crore power true-up today to protect consumers from retrospective tariff increases.
The State formally committed to absorb a Rs 4,497.89 crore true-up liability for FY 2019 20 to FY 2023 24 across three distribution companies, with APERC recording this payment commitment to avoid burdening end consumers and to preserve tariff stability instead of incorporating retrospective charges into retail tariffs.

India-UK trade pact to grant 99% duty free access and expand services mobility, including a dedicated women and gender chapter.
The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement is expected to enter into force in the first half of 2026, providing duty free market access for 99% of Indian products by trade value across 26 sectors and aiming to double bilateral trade to USD 112 billion. The pact covers labour intensive and high growth goods, includes tariff rationalisation for some UK exports, liberalises services trade with mobility provisions for IT professionals, and introduces a first of its kind chapter on women and gender to promote women led enterprises and artisan employment.

India manufacturing PMI falls to 55 as new orders soften; firms curb purchases and hiring amid weak export growth.
The HSBC India Manufacturing PMI fell to 55.0 in December, the weakest two-year improvement, as softer new domestic and export orders led firms to limit input purchases and restrict hiring; input cost inflation was negligible and charge inflation eased, while business sentiment weakened despite expected higher output in 2026.

Asian markets rise as Alibaba plans a Hong Kong spin-off subject to regulatory approvals and trade pauses affect imports.
Alibaba's planned spin-off and Hong Kong listing of its artificial intelligence chip unit is expressly subject to regulatory approvals, while a pause in tariff actions and ongoing trade negotiations operate as regulatory measures affecting imports, export-oriented sectors, and market conditions across the region.

Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters offers 100% government backed collateral free loans to exporters for liquidity and market diversification.
The Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters provides a 100% government guarantee for additional collateral free credit of up to Rs.20,000 crore through eligible Member Lending Institutions to support exporters and MSMEs, permitting working capital loans tied to existing export credit limits; the scheme runs until 31 March 2026 or until the guarantee corpus is exhausted.

Steel prices hit five-year low amid global protectionist measures and export duties disrupting trade flows and exports.
Protectionist trade measures and export duties in 2025 restricted international steel flows and, together with a surge in Chinese exports, produced global oversupply that depressed prices; as a result, Indian steel prices fell to a five-year low despite strong domestic demand and supply. Tata Steel reported limited scope for further capacity expansion at Jamshedpur, emphasised investments in value-added facilities, and highlighted corporate planning adjustments in response to trade disruptions and duties affecting export access.

Freshara Agro Exports secures full equity in two Spanish SPVs to establish processing and production operations in Europe.
Freshara approved acquisition of full equity in two Spanish SPVs, using a turnaround approach to buy insolvency-origin assets and separately secure processing operations and production facilities; the deal is disclosed under stock exchange disclosure obligations, funded through allocated acquisition, inventory and working capital commitments, and aimed for completion within the stated timeline.

EU carbon tax raises export costs for Indian steel and aluminium; India EU FTA must address this non-tariff barrier.
The EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism subjects Indian steel and aluminium exports to a carbon tax and detailed emissions reporting, raising export costs; cited estimates indicate exporters may cut prices by 15-22% to accommodate the levy while documentation requirements add administrative burdens. The document urges that the India EU Free Trade Agreement account for this non-tariff barrier and its effects on exporters.

Piped natural gas prices cut in Delhi NCR as regulator simplifies pipeline tariffs, reducing distance-based zones nationwide.
A city gas distributor reduced domestic piped natural gas prices by Rs 0.70 per standard cubic metre for Delhi and nearby areas, specifying new consumer rates effective January 1. The reduction follows a regulator's tariff restructuring that reduces distance based tariff zones from three to two and applies a single lower Zone 1 rate for CNG and domestic PNG customers nationwide, intended to simplify and lower transportation costs.

Market Access Support launched with Rs 4,531 crore to subsidise exporters' participation in global trade events and MSME access.
The government launched Market Access Support (MAS) with Rs 4,531 crore for 2025-31 to subsidise exporter participation in Buyer Seller Meets, trade fairs, Mega Reverse BSMs and trade delegations, with per event caps (Rs 5 crore for BSMs and delegations; Rs 10 crore for RBSMs). Government shares 60% of event costs, up to 80% for priority areas, and reserves 35% participation support for MSMEs. MAS adds proofs of concept demonstrations for technology intensive sectors, mandatory online exporter feedback, and a three to five year events calendar as part of a wider Rs 25,060 crore export promotion mission that includes credit support measures.

Tea industry posts higher output and exports but faces pesticide rules, enforcement over blending, labour cost and climate risks.
The tea sector saw higher overall output and export growth in 2025 driven by small-grower production, causing CTC price pressure while orthodox tea remained firm. Exporters face potential disruption from impending pesticide legislation in the EU/UK, and the Tea Board has issued show cause notices over alleged blending and mislabelling of imported inferior tea. Anticipated labour cost increases and elevated inventory pose margin and price risks, while climate-driven crop losses have prompted research into resilient varieties and climate-smart practices.

Gold and silver surged as monetary easing, trade uncertainty and central bank buying tightened supply and boosted safe haven demand.
Easing monetary policy-three 25 basis point Fed cuts-weakened the dollar and acted as an initial inflection supporting bullion, while tariff rhetoric and trade uncertainty increased safe haven demand. Sustained central bank purchases and reserve diversification materially underpinned gold, and silver's rally was amplified by multi year mine shutdowns, China led supply constraints and rising production costs that produced structural deficits. Elevated domestic prices shifted consumption toward investment bars and coins, and analysts expect episodic consolidation but a constructive medium term outlook driven by monetary easing, central bank accumulation and constrained supply.

Market Access Support Intervention strengthens exporter access with financial support, MSME prioritisation and digital monitoring.
The Market Access Support Intervention under the Export Promotion Mission provides structured financial and institutional support for Buyer Seller Meets, trade fairs, Mega Reverse Buyer Seller Meets and trade delegations, with rationalised event level support ceilings and preferential assistance for priority sectors and small exporters. It mandates at least 35% MSME participation, benchmarks delegation sizes, enables end to end digital processes for proposals, approvals and fund release via the portal, requires mandatory online feedback on buyer quality and leads, and phases in Proofs of Concept, product demonstrations and digital lead tracking tools to strengthen outcome measurement.

India's economy enters a 'goldilocks' phase as fiscal reforms, GST cuts and a potential India-US trade deal aim to sustain growth.
India's 2025-26 macroeconomic position combines strong growth and low inflation, with policy emphasis on sustaining momentum through fiscal support for capital expenditure, Union Budget reforms to attract private and foreign investment, and Reserve Bank accommodation. Key regulatory measures include updating the national accounts base year to 2022-23, late-2025 GST rate reductions, implementation of new labour codes, and an anticipated India-US trade agreement to boost exports and industry.

India-Russia partnership diversifies trade beyond defence and energy via a five-year roadmap, joint ventures, and localisation.
India and Russia adopted a five-year roadmap and signed 30 documents to diversify bilateral trade beyond defence and energy, focusing on joint ventures, localisation, technology transfer, non-nuclear shipbuilding, and a proposed joint-investment fund to address the trade deficit and reduce reliance on discounted crude; implementation will proceed through intergovernmental coordination, ministerial engagements, localisation of aerospace technology, and exploration of an FTA framework with the Eurasian Economic Union to expand market access.

Celebrities and politicians seek protection of personality and contest disputes over wills, privacy, regulatory and commercial claims.
Public figures and corporations brought litigation over protection from unauthorised use of name, image, likeness and voice, contested wills and succession claims, and challenged regulatory and administrative orders including customs duty refunds, consumer protection guidelines and competition authority directions. The year's docket also included disputes over disclosure of personal records of officeholders, challenges to organisational bans and pandemic era prosecutions, alongside judicial scrutiny of educational attendance norms and anti ragging measures.