Startup funding framework expands with Fund of Funds 2.0, targeting deep tech, early-stage, and innovative manufacturing startups.
Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 is notified with a total corpus of Rs.10,000 crore to mobilize venture and growth capital for the startup ecosystem through commitments to eligible Alternative Investment Funds. Investments under the scheme are directed toward priority segments, including deep tech startups, early growth-stage startups, technology-driven and innovative manufacturing startups, and sector- or stage-agnostic startups. The scheme provides for structured selection, monitoring, co-investment safeguards, and implementation through SIDBI as the Implementation Agency.

Export growth slowdown reflects uncertainty from the Iran war and weaker global demand for Chinese goods.
China's export growth slowed sharply in March, with exports rising 2.5 per cent year-on-year after much faster growth in the previous two months. The weaker performance was reported alongside concerns that the Iran war may increase uncertainty for energy prices and global demand, potentially affecting Chinese exports. Imports rose strongly in March, and technology-related shipments, including semiconductors, remained a significant support to export performance in early 2026.

Rupee weakness amid West Asia tensions, higher crude prices, and dollar strength pressures near-term currency recovery.
The rupee weakened against the US dollar amid heightened global risk aversion following failed US-Iran peace talks, rising crude oil prices, concerns over the Strait of Hormuz, and a stronger greenback. Market participants linked the depreciation to foreign capital outflows from domestic equities and a weak near-term currency bias within a defined trading range. The report also records a sharp rise in foreign exchange reserves and notes that prolonged West Asia conflict could affect India through higher energy prices, trade disruptions, and weaker remittances.

Workplace harassment and coercion allegations trigger internal inquiry, employee suspensions, and a stated zero-tolerance policy.
Allegations of sexual harassment and forced religious conversion at a workplace prompted an internal investigation under a senior executive. The company said the matter is being treated with utmost seriousness, accused employees have already faced action, staff members have been suspended, and it is cooperating fully with the ongoing police inquiry under a zero-tolerance policy toward harassment and coercion.

Pan-vascular interventional robotics advances remote thrombectomy with haptic control, multi-device coordination and sub-millimeter precision.
PANVIS STAR is described as a next-generation pan-vascular interventional robotic system designed for neurovascular, cardiovascular, peripheral vascular and oncological procedures, with emphasis on mechanical thrombectomy for large vessel occlusion and ischemic stroke. The system combines remote operation, multi-device coordination, force detection, haptic feedback and sub-millimeter motion precision to support complex interventional workflows. It also includes fingertip control, dedicated device channels, tremor filtering, a compact catheter design and long-distance remote surgery capability over 5G networks.

Artificial intelligence in finance must stay human, accountable, and inclusive while improving efficiency, trust, and risk management.
Artificial intelligence in finance can improve customer service, credit delivery, fraud detection, risk management, and compliance, but its use must remain anchored in human accountability, fairness, explainability, strong data governance, institutional capacity, and inclusion. The text warns that bias, opacity, privacy misuse, model risk, and cyber risk can arise if safeguards are weak. It emphasises that financial institutions must not outsource responsibility to algorithms or vendors, and that AI should make finance more intelligent without making it less human or less accountable.

NBFC Upper Layer identification shifts to asset-size criteria, with government-owned NBFCs proposed for inclusion.
The Reserve Bank has proposed amendment directions to revise the methodology for identification of NBFCs in the Upper Layer under the Scale Based Regulatory framework and to align the framework with a more transparent asset-size based criterion. The existing two-pronged approach of top ten eligible NBFCs by asset size and parametric scoring is proposed to be replaced by a single threshold of asset size, presently indicated as Rs. 1,00,000 crore and above, for determining NBFC-UL status. The proposed changes also seek to bring eligible Government-owned NBFCs into consideration for inclusion in the NBFC-UL list on the basis of the revised criteria, reflecting an ownership-neutral regulatory approach.

Special Economic Zone exports rise despite tariff pressures and West Asia conflict, led by pharmaceuticals and overseas demand.
Exports from the Indore Special Economic Zone rose by nearly 10.50 per cent to Rs 14,302 crore in financial year 2025-26, despite concerns over US tariff policies and the West Asia conflict. Pharmaceuticals formed about 70 per cent of the export basket, with the US among the main markets. The zone contains units across pharmaceuticals, packaging materials, engineering, textiles and food processing in the Pithampur industrial area near Indore.

Rupee depreciation under global risk aversion as crude oil prices, dollar strength and capital outflows pressure the currency.
The rupee weakened sharply against the US dollar amid global risk aversion, higher crude oil prices, a stronger dollar and concerns over the blockade of Iranian ports and the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts linked the depreciation to foreign capital withdrawal from domestic equities and continued pressure from elevated oil prices and foreign institutional selling. India's forex reserves also rose in the latest reporting week, while the Asian Development Bank warned that prolonged conflict in West Asia could affect growth through higher energy costs, disrupted trade flows and weaker remittances.

Non-Banking Financial Company disclosure highlights RBI registration, deposit-taking activity, lending business, and credit ratings.
Bajaj Finance Ltd. is described as a deposit-taking Non-Banking Financial Company registered with the Reserve Bank of India and classified as an NBFC-Investment and Credit Company. Its stated business includes lending and acceptance of deposits, with a diversified portfolio across retail, SME and commercial customers, together with public and corporate deposit-taking and a range of financial services products. The text also refers to credit ratings assigned to the company and its fixed deposit programme.

CREST accreditation and cybersecurity compliance standards shape DigiFortex's regulated enterprise testing, privacy, and governance services.
Cybersecurity and digital risk assurance services are framed around independent accreditation and certification standards for regulated markets. DigiFortex states that it achieved CREST accreditation for penetration testing, alongside CERT-In empanelment and ISO 27001:2022 certification, with CREST requiring independent audit of technical methodology, governance, information security management, and staff competence. The release links these standards to regulated enterprises and financial regulators across multiple jurisdictions and describes services spanning penetration testing, red teaming, virtual CISO support, privacy advisory, governance, risk and compliance, managed security, and cloud-native application protection.

Supply chain continuity takes centre stage as India and Saudi Arabia push bilateral trade and India-GCC FTA progress.
India and Saudi Arabia reaffirmed the primacy of supply chain continuity and coordinated efforts to address disruptions caused by conflict in West Asia. The two sides noted the strain on regional trade flows and emphasised early recovery through joint measures. The discussion also reaffirmed commitment to strengthening bilateral trade and expressed optimism for early progress in the India-GCC free trade agreement negotiations.

Crop diversification and nutritional security guide advisory on state bonus policies for pulses, oilseeds and millets.
The Department of Expenditure issued a D.O. letter advising States, and not directing them, to align bonus policy so as to promote pulses, oilseeds and millets in line with nutritional security, Aatmanirbharta and sustainable agriculture. The communication links state bonuses over and above Minimum Support Price for wheat and paddy with crop concentration, reduced acreage under pulses, oilseeds and millets, and higher import dependence, and states that the policy objective is crop diversification, reduced monoculture, and strengthened long-term food and crop security.

Fiscal deficit reporting shows Telangana's budget gap widening, with receipts and own revenues lagging behind estimates.
Telangana's fiscal position was reported to show a fiscal deficit of over Rs 77,000 crore at the end of February in the last financial year, exceeding the revised estimate of Rs 56,000 crore and amounting to 143 per cent of the budgeted estimate of Rs 54,000 crore. Total receipts up to February were placed at Rs 2.32 lakh crore against revised estimates of Rs 2.82 lakh crore, while the State's own revenues from tax and non-tax sources stood at Rs 1.39 lakh crore against revised estimates of Rs 2.04 lakh crore.

Rupee depreciation amid higher crude prices and geopolitical tensions pressures the foreign exchange market and equities.
The rupee depreciated in early trade against the US dollar amid higher crude oil prices, a stronger dollar, geopolitical tension in West Asia, and foreign fund outflows from domestic equities. The report also noted movement in domestic equity indices, an increase in India's forex reserves, and the Asian Development Bank's view that prolonged Middle East conflict could affect India through higher energy costs, trade disruption, and weaker remittances.

LPG and PNG supply measures expand domestic fuel access as India responds to West Asia disruption.
India has increased supply of smaller 5-kg LPG cylinders and accelerated PNG connections to manage fuel availability amid West Asia disruption. The response prioritises domestic household LPG, expands market-priced cylinders for users without subsidised connections, restores commercial LPG availability through targeted allocations, and directs natural gas toward household PNG, CNG transport and fertiliser plants. The broader supply strategy also includes higher domestic production, strong refinery utilisation, excise duty cuts on petrol and diesel, and higher export levies on diesel and aviation turbine fuel.

Export disruptions from the West Asia crisis are raising freight, input and gas costs for Ludhiana manufacturing units.
Export-oriented manufacturing units in Ludhiana are facing labour shortages, inadequate gas supply, rising input costs and logistics bottlenecks from the West Asia crisis, affecting production and exports. Handtool, basmati rice, ecotech and garment units report higher freight, insurance and raw material costs, shipment delays and reduced access to Middle Eastern markets, while some are using alternate fuels and seeking government support for worker housing.

Forged identities and interstate logistics exposed a Lashkar-e-Taiba network aiding terrorist movement and concealment across multiple states.
Inter-state logistical support to a Lashkar-e-Taiba module was uncovered through the use of forged identities, including Aadhaar, PAN cards, voter cards and passports, to facilitate terrorist movement and concealment across several states. The investigation led to arrests of local associates and foreign terrorists, along with the seizure of weapons, ammunition, electronic devices and other incriminating material from hideouts in and around Srinagar and other locations.

Windfall tax on diesel and aviation fuel rises to curb export gains and support domestic supply.
Export duty, described as a windfall tax, was increased immediately on diesel and aviation turbine fuel to raise domestic availability of these fuels and prevent exporters from benefiting from widened global price differences during the West Asia conflict. The duty on petrol remained nil. The revised duty structure replaced earlier lower rates imposed on diesel and ATF, with the new rates taking effect at once under the finance ministry notification.

Fisheries exports grow through market diversification after tariff pressure, with new overseas demand supporting a higher export target.
Fisheries exports increased after US tariff measures as exporters and officials expanded sales into new overseas markets. The growth is linked to diversification into Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia, with prawns, tuna and other fish varieties among the principal exports. The government has also set a higher medium-term export target and is supporting the sector through ministry-level market outreach and other initiatives to strengthen fisheries, animal husbandry and dairy development.