Direct tax collections rose 9.4% to Rs 19.44 lakh crore till Feb 10 on higher corporate receipts and lower refunds.
Net direct tax collections increased 9.4% to Rs 19.44 lakh crore through February 10, supported by a 14.51% rise in corporate tax to Rs 8.90 lakh crore and a 5.91% increase in non corporate taxes to Rs 10.03 lakh crore. Securities Transaction Tax receipts were nearly flat at Rs 50,279 crore, while tax refunds fell 18.82% to Rs 3.34 lakh crore. Gross direct tax receipts rose 4.09% to Rs 22.78 lakh crore, with gross corporate and non corporate mop ups of Rs 10.88 lakh crore and Rs 11.39 lakh crore respectively, against a Revised Estimate of Rs 24.84 lakh crore.

Trade unions call a nationwide strike to oppose privatisation measures, demand pension restoration and oppose 100% FDI in insurance.
A joint forum of central trade unions has called a nationwide one-day strike affecting multiple public services to oppose policies seen as enabling privatisation and corporate access, demand withdrawal of the Electricity Amendment and related policy proposals, restore the Old Pension Scheme for power employees, oppose 100% FDI in insurance, roll back recent labour code measures and related bills, and press for stopping outsourcing and regular recruitment and regularisation of outsourced workers.

National Productivity Week 2026 spotlights cluster-based growth for MSMEs to boost productivity and global value chain integration.
The National Productivity Council will observe the 68th National Productivity Week (12-18 February 2026) under the theme Clusters as Growth Engine: Maximizing Productivity in MSMEs, promoting cluster-led development to accelerate productivity and global value chain integration. NPC will run nationwide events through its 12 Regional Directorates and 24 Local Productivity Councils, working with central and state ministries, industry associations and academia. As an autonomous society under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, NPC provides consultancy, training and research across multiple technical and management domains to support MSME competitiveness and sustainable industrialisation.

India's organic regulation strengthens export readiness at BIOFACH, urging India EU mutual recognition to expand organic trade.
India emphasised amendments to the National Programme for Organic Production enhancing credibility and international alignment, and urged early conclusion of a Mutual Recognition Agreement on organics with the European Union to enable reciprocal certification acceptance and expand bilateral organic trade, supported by APEDA-led market promotion and capacity-building measures for exporters, certification bodies and farmer organisations.

SBI becomes fourth most valuable listed firm as strong quarterly results lift market capitalisation and profits.
SBI overtook TCS as the fourth most valuable listed company after its shares rose and market capitalisation increased. The bank disclosed record standalone profit of Rs 21,028 crore and consolidated profit of Rs 21,317 crore for the December quarter; standalone core net interest income grew 9.04% to Rs 45,190 crore on about 15.14% loan growth and a domestic net interest margin of 3.12%. Non interest income rose 15.65% to Rs 8,404 crore while total expenses rose to Rs 1,08,052 crore, as reported in a regulatory filing.

RBI draft amendments target advertising, marketing and sales practices by banks and NBFCs to curb dark patterns and mis selling.
RBI has issued draft Amendment Directions to expand regulatory requirements on advertising, marketing and sales of financial products and services by all banks and NBFCs, covering Direct Sales/Marketing Agents, dark patterns and prevention of mis selling, and proposes corresponding amendments to Responsible Business Conduct and Undertaking of Financial Services Directions for various categories of regulated entities.

IN-SPACe selects three firms to develop modular small satellite buses with grants and infrastructure support for hosted payloads.
IN-SPACe selected three private firms under the SBaaS initiative to develop modular, scalable small satellite bus platforms, awarding milestone linked grants and facilitating access to ISRO/DoS and IN-SPACe infrastructure, testing facilities, and technical expertise to support development, demonstration, and subsequent hosted payload missions.

Union Budget should prioritise employment over investment figures, ensuring dignified jobs for youth and taxpayer safeguards.
Employment must be central to policy, with success measured by dignified jobs for youth rather than investment announcements; manufacturing and MSME growth requires skilling, local ecosystems, affordable credit and predictable regulation to generate jobs. Tax simplification should include safeguards to protect honest taxpayers from cashflow harm and compliance anxiety, and wider policy must address urban governance, water security, climate resilience and regional balance while prioritising farmers, informal workers and backward regions.

Nationwide strike to disrupt electricity, banking, transport, health and utilities; unions demand withdrawal of privatisation bills.
A nationwide strike by a joint trade union forum is expected to disrupt electricity, banking, insurance, transport, health, education and utility services, with large-scale participation and partial bank-union involvement. Power-sector employees demand withdrawal of the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the proposed National Electricity Policy 2026, restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, an end to outsourcing and regularisation of outsourced staff. Unions also oppose up to 100% FDI in insurance and seek repeal of recent labour codes and other statutory measures.

IIM Lucknow Chief Strategy Officers Programme: 10-month executive course on strategy, AI integration, ESG and a capstone project.
IIM Lucknow and TimesPro offer a 10-month Chief Strategy Officers Programme for senior professionals (generally 10+ years' experience) structured into three modules-Sensing Opportunity; Crafting Competitive Advantage; Execution & Realising Competitive Advantage-covering strategy, disruption, M&A, digital and AI integration, ESG, change management and design thinking, delivered via live online sessions, a three-day on-campus immersion and a capstone project; successful participants receive an IIM Lucknow certificate and alumni credentials.

Fengdu oranges gain national geographical indication and cooperative standardization to scale production and domestic exports.
Fengdu's orange sector relies on cooperative-led standardized production and training supported by the county Agriculture and Rural Affairs Commission, with certified technical practices (including drone operation) forming the operational compliance and quality-control framework. The product holds a National Geographical Indication Trademark and National Geographical Indication for Agricultural Products designation, and the village is a national specialty product demonstration, enabling regulated market access, traceability, and export opportunities.

Parliamentary Budget debate: government accuses opposition of vitriol; parties clash over banks, MSMEs and fiscal transfers.
Parliamentary debate on the Union Budget saw government members accuse the Leader of the Opposition of vitriolic rhetoric and hostility toward constitutional institutions, while defending the Budget and the government's economic record-citing bank recoveries, support for MSMEs and criticisms of the Opposition's trade and economic positions-and opposition and regional MPs demanded unpaid fiscal transfers and targeted employment measures.

Bisleri's Bottles for Change promotes circular economy through recycled products, collection banks, and educational outreach.
The Bottles for Change initiative demonstrated circular economy measures by converting post-consumer plastic into functional products, installing 17 recycled-plastic benches and 25 collection banks, and exhibiting recycled goods. It distributed educational materials on responsible plastic use and waste segregation developed with environmental and publishing partners, and emphasised awareness, infrastructure, stakeholder collaboration, and policy alignment to scale recycling and build a sustainable plastic ecosystem.

Merck Foundation expands scholarships and awards to advance women in STEM and girls' education across Africa.
Merck Foundation's Scholarship Program has delivered over 2,500 specialized medical scholarships across 44 underserved specialties in 52 countries, with nearly 1,200 awarded to women medical graduates and approximately half of all scholarships going to women, as part of efforts to reduce the gender gap and strengthen women's leadership in STEM. The foundation also operates the MARS Awards to recognize African women and young researchers and the Educating Linda program providing annual scholarships and awareness initiatives for underprivileged schoolgirls across 19 countries.

Mumbai Climate Week launches a Global South hub-and-spoke climate platform focusing on food systems, energy transition and urban resilience.
Mumbai Climate Week (17-19 February 2026) employs a hub-and-spoke model to convene governments, business, philanthropy, civil society, youth and citizens around three pillars-food systems, energy transition and urban resilience-through leadership dialogues, an Exhibition Arena, spoke events, a citizen speakers' corner, and innovation challenges to surface, mentor and scale practical climate solutions from India and the Global South.

MSRTC to require NCMC cards for concession passengers, mandating Aadhaar/UDID-linked cashless cards and defined recharge rules.
Implementation of National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) as mandatory for concession passengers, with identity-linked issuance (Saral for students, Aadhaar for senior citizens and women, UDID for disabled), specific issuance channels for selected categories, set card fees, a minimum wallet balance and recharge rules, multiple recharge channels, a statewide registration drive including authorised agents and bus-stand facilities, and engagement of private implementation partners to operationalise payments and registration.

The Leela concludes fourth season of PoloInThePinkCity with a gala, exhibition win and a 7-5 tournament finale.
The Leela concluded the fourth season of #PoloInThePinkCity with a season-opening gala at the Amber Terrace and a final at the Rajasthan Polo Club; The Leela Polo Team won an exhibition 4-3, and Team Optiemus Achievers won the four-chukker final 7-5. The event featured luxury brand partnerships with BMW Excellence Club and Hibiki Whisky, underscoring the tournament's emphasis on heritage, craftsmanship and contemporary luxury hospitality.

IndoStar Capital Finance reports Q3 disbursements growth, Wage Code impact on expenses, and warrant conversions changing control stakes.
IndoStar Capital Finance, an RBI-registered middle-layered NBFC now focused on Vehicle Finance and Micro-LAP, reported Q3 results showing INR 1,117 crore disbursements, AUM of INR 7,692 crore, improved yields and lower cost of funds, PPOP growth and standalone PAT including a one-time employee expense due to the Wage Code. The company disclosed warrant conversions with allotments to Florintree and BCP V, resulting in BCP V holding 55.98% and Florintree 6.73%, alongside disclosures on asset quality, capital adequacy and operational initiatives.

Canara HSBC Life Insurance re-designates Soly Thomas as Deputy CEO and Chief Distribution Officer for bancassurance.
Canara HSBC Life Insurance has re-designated Soly Thomas as Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Distribution Officer - Bancassurance; he will continue to lead the bancassurance business and report to the Managing Director & CEO, with no other organisational changes.

Raychem RPG supplies cable accessories and dry-type terminations enabling reliable power transmission for rail, airports, and renewables.
Raychem RPG, a 50:50 joint venture between TE Connectivity and RPG Enterprises, supplies medium- and extra-high-voltage cable accessories, dry-type outdoor terminations, and jointing kits that support reliable power distribution for high-speed rail, airports, and renewable energy projects, emphasising domestically manufactured 145 kV dry-type terminations that advance electrical safety, sustainability, and supply-chain localisation.