Money laundering notices issued after chargesheet alleging diversion of foreign loan proceeds into non-oil uses.
A special PMLA proceeding alleges systematic diversion of foreign currency loan facilities sanctioned for Mozambique oil and gas assets; loan proceeds were routed via Videocon Hydrocarbon Holdings Ltd and multiple overseas group companies, layered through a complex web of entities, and remitted back to India for non-sanctioned uses including non-oil business expenses, investments and creation of personal and corporate assets, with the ED quantifying the proceeds of crime and a PMLA court issuing notices to thirteen accused following the chargesheet.

Interim trade agreement: delegation to finalise legal text ahead of expected signing following framework agreement.
An interim trade agreement framework will be converted into operative legal text through bilateral drafting: an Indian negotiating delegation will travel to the United States to finalise the legal agreement while virtual talks continue, moving from a joint statement of contours to definitive treaty language and preparing the instrument for signature.

FD-backed secured credit: card links credit limit to fixed deposit, with tiered cashback, fee waivers, and FD access.
Introduction of a fixed deposit-backed secured credit card linking credit limit to 100% of an underlying fixed deposit, permitting FD access via ATM withdrawals subject to a withdrawal fee and an interest free window. The card applies a tiered cashback structure with category and monthly caps, includes joining and annual fees with time limited waivers and conditional reversals tied to annual spends, and provides consumer protections such as insurance, purchase protection, lost card liability cover, and surcharge waivers.

Deposit-taking NBFC registration enables instant digital personal loans with streamlined KYC, quick disbursal, and flexible repayment options.
Bajaj Finance offers an instant digital personal loan delivered via a personal loan app that uses analytics and electronic verification to provide quick eligibility decisions, minimal documentation, OTP mobile verification, online KYC completion, and rapid electronic disbursal to the customer's registered bank account, with flexible tenures, repayment management tools, and features designed to meet diverse consumer financing needs.

Trade balance worsens as imports outpace exports, prompting elevated trade deficit and revised export projections for the fiscal year.
Merchandise exports rose 0.61% to USD 36.56 billion in January while imports grew 19.2% to USD 71.24 billion, producing a January trade deficit of USD 34.68 billion; April-January exports increased 2.22% to USD 366.63 billion. The Commerce Secretary stated exports in goods and services remain on an upward trend and projected combined fiscal year exports of goods and services are likely to exceed USD 860 billion.

Incentive Scheme for digital payments increased UPI adoption and expanded payment infrastructure, recommending targeted measures for RuPay uptake.
The report assesses the design, implementation and socio-economic effects of the Incentive Scheme for promotion of RuPay debit cards and low-value BHIM-UPI P2M transactions, noting that structured budgetary support reduced cost barriers, accelerated merchant onboarding, expanded acceptance infrastructure and strengthened the payments ecosystem. Based on primary and secondary research, it finds marked increases in UPI adoption, merchant QR deployment and bank participation, increased user confidence and reduced cash reliance, and recommends targeted measures to deepen RuPay usage, rural penetration, connectivity, digital literacy and fraud mitigation.

Market rebound as banking and power stocks lead recovery amid global rate-cut expectations and stable currency support.
Equity benchmarks rebounded nearly one percent led by renewed buying in banking and power stocks, reversing a recent decline as large-cap financials and utilities outperformed. The rally was supported by expectations of sustained power demand, improving loan growth and stable bank asset quality. Macro cues-falling US long-term yields, a stable rupee and steady crude oil-added support, while foreign institutional investors were net sellers and domestic institutional investors were net buyers.

Inflation trends show rising wholesale prices, prompting continued RBI focus on retail inflation for monetary policy.
Wholesale price inflation rose to 1.81% in January due to increases in food articles, non-food articles, textiles and manufacturing subgroups, while fuel and power remained in deflation. Manufactured products and non-food articles recorded higher inflation compared with the prior month. The Reserve Bank of India continues to emphasise retail inflation as the primary indicator for benchmark interest-rate decisions, having reduced policy rates earlier in the fiscal year and subsequently retained key rates.

Trade mission to India leverages the UK India Free Trade Agreement to boost West Midlands investment, exports and academic ties.
A West Midlands mayoral trade mission to Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Bengaluru (23-27 February 2026) aims to operationalise the UK India Free Trade Agreement by promoting exports, attracting inward investment to the West Midlands Investment Zone, and deepening academic and cultural ties. Led by regional political, business and university figures and coordinated by the West Midlands Growth Company with Indian partners, the programme features sectoral roundtables and events on the Commonwealth legacy, visitor economy, technology, urban transformation, and AI skilling to foster commercial, research and skills partnerships between West Midlands entities and Indian corporations and institutions.

Highway upgradation provides an alternate freight corridor, reducing urban congestion and enhancing regional connectivity and employment.
Approval is granted for rehabilitation and upgradation of the Ghoti-Trimbak-Jawhar-Manor-Palghar section of NH-160A in Maharashtra on Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode, covering 154.635 km with a Total Capital Cost of Rs.3320.38 crore. The project provides 2-lane or 4-lane configurations with paved shoulders according to traffic projections to relieve congestion, integrate with expressways and highways, connect multiple economic and logistics nodes under PM GatiShakti, and generate substantial direct and indirect employment.

Four-lane upgradation of NH-56 sections approved to improve regional connectivity and reduce travel time substantially.
Cabinet approval authorises upgradation of two NH-56 sections in Gujarat to four-lane standard under the HAM Mode, totaling 107.67 km at a Total Capital Cost of Rs.4583.64 crore. Designed for 100 km/h (70 km/h average), the works aim to cut travel time by about 40%. The alignment passes through aspirational and tribal districts, enhances access to the Statue of Unity, links to major highways and the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, began partial construction in November 2025 with a two-year completion target, and is projected to generate significant direct and indirect employment.

Highway widening approval advances NH 167 to four lanes under Hybrid Annuity Mode, enhancing regional connectivity and employment.
The Cabinet approved widening NH 167 from Gudebellur to Mahabubnagar to a four lane access controlled standard over 80.01 km on Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) under the NH (O) scheme, covering bypasses, realignments and utility shifting. The alignment connects with NH 150 and NH 167N and links multiple economic, social and logistic nodes, aiming to reduce congestion and travel time, enhance freight efficiency and multimodal integration, and generate substantial direct and indirect construction period employment.

Project approval for underwater road rail tunnel enabling 4 lane greenfield connectivity between Gohpur and Numaligarh under EPC.
Cabinet approved a 33.7 km 4 lane access controlled greenfield corridor between Gohpur (NH 15) and Numaligarh (NH 715) including a 15.79 km twin tube TBM underwater Road cum Rail tunnel with rail provision in one tube, implemented on an EPC basis. The scope covers civil works, land acquisition, short road and rail cut and cover sections, and integration with existing highways and railway sections to deliver multimodal connectivity to airports, inland waterways, railway stations and economic, social and tourist nodes, with estimated traffic and employment implications.

Currency depreciation driven by FII outflows and a stronger dollar, pressured further by declining forex reserves.
The rupee weakened to 90.67 against the US dollar amid FII outflows and a stronger dollar, with rising crude prices and a notable weekly decline in forex reserves cited as contributing factors; market commentary noted narrow intraday trading and flagged impending trade balance data as potentially influential.

Rail network expansion approved to add multitrack capacity, boost freight movement and reduce emissions while improving regional connectivity.
Cabinet approved three multitracking projects (Kasara-Manmad, Delhi-Ambala, Ballari-Hosapete) under PM Gati Shakti to add third and fourth lines across 12 districts, increasing the rail network by about 389 km at an estimated combined cost of Rs 18,509 crore through 2030-31. The works are projected to generate about 265 lakh human days of construction employment, augment freight capacity by 96 MTPA, improve connectivity to roughly 3,902 villages (population ~97 lakh), reduce logistics costs and oil imports, and lower CO2 emissions for more sustainable rail operations.

Venture capital mobilisation for startups to prioritise deep tech, early growth support, and regional investment across the country.
The Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 establishes a government-backed corpus to mobilize long-term domestic venture capital, strengthen the domestic venture capital base by supporting smaller funds and AIFs, and address capital gaps. The Scheme prioritises deep tech and tech-driven innovative manufacturing, supports early-growth stage founders to reduce funding shortfalls, and promotes national reach to crowd in private investment beyond major metropolitan centres.

Credit to G.D.P. ratio reform to expand financing and make financial institutions more agile for national development.
The Department of Financial Services convened a policy shivir to solicit strategic reforms to align banking and financial services with Viksit Bharat@2047, focusing on enhancing the Credit to G.D.P. ratio, increasing agility of public financial institutions, deploying new large scale financing mechanisms, deepening the bond market, reducing intermediation costs, strengthening banks' role in MSME financing, and promoting insurance and pension product innovation alongside financial inclusion and cyber security to build a more resilient financial system.

Tax accountability: Allegations of fundraising and money laundering prompt calls to apply law and constitutional obligations to unregistered organisations.
Allegations focus on tax accountability and potential money laundering by an unregistered organisation receiving funds via a broad domestic and international network; the commentator demands that law and the Constitution apply equally, questions the source and treatment of donations described as "guru dakshina," and urges registration, disclosure and tax compliance along with scrutiny of cross border fundraising.

Customs enforcement underscores trade facilitation, regulatory compliance and protection of taxpayers' rights amid vigilance-driven awards and recognition.
Customs enforcement in Kerala was emphasised as combining trade facilitation with statutory compliance, transparency, and protection of taxpayers' rights, with priorities including anti-smuggling vigilance, modernisation, export promotion, and international cooperation to support lawful cross-border trade.

Trade deal transparency: interim agreement may expose agricultural sovereignty and pressure policy on imports, GM crops, and procurement.
The India-US interim trade deal is criticised for risks to agricultural sovereignty through import liberalisation of DDGs and potential GM soy oil, which may increase feed dependence and expose soy and pulse producers to price shocks; concerns also target non-trade barrier concessions and quota-based duty relief as mechanisms that could pressure relaxation of GM regulations, procurement policies, and MSPs, while alleged tariff asymmetries may harm cotton farmers and the textile export sector.