DGCA issued 352 show cause notices to airlines; penalties, warnings and compliance monitoring were reported.
DGCA issued 352 show cause notices to scheduled commercial airlines over two years, with penalties imposed in 139 cases, warnings in 113, and satisfactory replies in seven; airline specific enforcement details were not provided. The regulator reported mechanisms to monitor aircraft induction, On Time Performance and route rationalisation, and noted eight aircraft had been inducted this year to date.

India-US trade deal alleged to be one-sided, with tariff concessions threatening domestic manufacturers and farmers.
Allegations assert the India-US trade agreement contains asymmetric market access commitments-reportedly requiring large-scale US exports to India while US tariffs on certain Indian goods persist-amounting to tariff "weaponisation" that will harm domestic manufacturers and farmers, especially textiles. The legislative demand is for full disclosure of the pact's specific terms to Parliament and the public so stakeholders can assess and plan for the economic impact.

Digital frauds prompt RBI SoP adoption, bank alert duties and a framework for compensation to digital arrest victims.
Large-scale digital frauds requiring prevention, identification and redress necessitate that banks fulfil a bank fiduciary responsibility by issuing alerts for atypical transactions, using AI monitoring and placing temporary debit holds; regulators should adopt and implement a Standard Operating Procedure, coordinate RBI, telecommunications and other stakeholders to freeze and trace illicit transfers and identify mule accounts, and establish a framework for compensation while enabling unified investigations by a federal probe agency.

Japan election result prompts China to defend diplomatic pressure and urge Japan to avoid a return to militarism.
China framed Takaichi's electoral victory as reflecting ideological shifts and defended its diplomatic offensive and restrictive measures taken after her Taiwan related remarks, urging Japan to honour existing political understandings and its pacifist constitution and warning against a return to militarism.

Union Budget cuts allocations for rural, agricultural and social welfare sectors and raises concerns over trade deal clarity.
The Union Budget is criticised for reducing allocations and failing to fund announced rural and agricultural initiatives, with several missions receiving zero allocations and large sums of agri spending unutilised or surrendered; allocations for SC/STs, rural development, education and health are reported cut. The India US trade deal is said to open Indian markets to US agricultural produce without clarity on additional products, raising uncertainty over staples such as milk, cheese and foodgrains.

Gross NPAs of Scheduled Commercial Banks fell to 2.15% after reforms strengthening recognition, resolution and recovery.
Gross NPAs of Scheduled Commercial Banks fell to 2.15% as of September 30, 2025, driven by the Asset Quality Review, the Government's 4Rs strategy and reforms strengthening recognition, resolution and recovery. Public Sector Banks show larger declines (2.50% gross NPA) and improved slippage ratios (0.8% for PSBs versus 1.8% for PVBs). Measures cited include Early Warning Systems, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, SARFAESI amendments, increased DRT jurisdiction, specialised stressed asset verticals, and the Prudential Framework for resolution of stressed assets.

Fake income tax officer arrested after extortion and forgery allegations; forged ID and notices recovered, case registered.
Allegations that an individual posed as an income tax officer to demand payment to avoid tax proceedings gave rise to criminal charges for extortion, forgery and criminal intimidation; police registered a case on complaint, arrested the suspect and recovered a forged ID, a forged departmental letter and a forged notice used to induce payment.

Income tax rules: PAN thresholds for cash, property, vehicles, hotels and insurance updated and crypto reporting added.
The draft rules implement the new Income Tax Act and streamline compliance through consolidated rules and pre-filled digital forms, while setting revised PAN thresholds: PAN mandatory for annual cash deposits/withdrawals above Rs 10 lakh, not required for hotel bills under Rs 1 lakh, required for vehicle purchases above Rs 5 lakh and for immovable property transactions above Rs 20 lakh; PAN also compulsory for account-based insurance relationships. The draft requires crypto exchanges to share information with tax authorities and accepts Central Bank Digital Currency as an electronic payment mode.

Mahaveer Awards announce 29th recipients across Non-Violence, Education, Medicine and Community service; nominations now nationally open.
The Foundation announced the 29th Mahaveer Awards in four categories-Non-Violence & Vegetarianism, Education, Medicine, and Community & Social Service-naming five awardees. Each award carries a cash prize of Rs. 10 lakh, a citation and a memento. The recipients were selected from 267 nominations by an eminent Selection Jury chaired by a former Chief Justice; the Foundation invited nominations for the 30th edition via its website.

Doctor 365's 5th Bollywood Maha Arogya Shivir provided free medical care, screenings and assistive devices to thousands of attendees.
Doctor 365 and R.K. HIV AIDS Research and Care Centre organized the 5th Bollywood Maha Arogya Shivir on January 18, 2026, delivering free general and specialist medical services, diagnostic tests, eye care and assistive devices. The organization reports extensive nationwide charitable activity-tens of thousands of camps, millions of beneficiaries, large-scale distribution of medicines, spectacles and wheelchairs, mass TB and sickle cell screening and treatment-and operation of mobile medical units and ambulance hubs in partnership with state governments.

Maharashtra forms panel to design a venture capital fund for the textile sector to support startups and MSMEs.
A nine member committee chaired by the state textile minister will frame proposals for a dedicated venture capital fund for the textile sector to provide targeted risk capital to startups and MSMEs, supporting innovation, modernisation, value addition, manufacturing growth, exports and employment. The committee will study the fund's structure, size, governance and operational framework; assess funding needs across the value chain; identify best practices and leverage private investment, financial institutions and central schemes; and recommend safeguards, incentives and timelines before submitting its report to the government.

JBCN International Schools secured eight Outstanding Learner Awards, including five Top in the World recognitions in IGCSE and AS/A Level subjects.
JBCN International Schools announced eight learners received Outstanding Learner Awards-five Top in the World and three Top in India-across IGCSE and International AS & A Level examinations, with a strong showing in Mathematics and top scores in Global Perspectives, AS Level Sociology, and Digital Media and Design, attributed to student discipline and mentoring by experienced teachers including trained examiners.

Convocation: problem-solving skills highlighted as key to career success amid AI-driven workplace shifts and graduates honoured with awards.
Problem-solving ability is presented as the decisive factor for career success amid AI-driven reduction of traditional entry-level jobs; education should develop innovative thinking and resilience rather than only intellectual training. The convocation highlighted the PGDM program's alignment with the National Education Policy 2020, industry collaboration and research emphasis, included an interactive career-focused Q&A, and conferred degrees alongside merit and extracurricular awards.

Silver and gold rose on global trends and a weaker dollar, aided by China buying and focus on US macro data.
Silver and gold prices rose sharply on firm global cues and a softer US dollar, with silver up c.6.7% to Rs 2,72,000/kg and 99.9% gold up c.0.8% to Rs 1,58,500/10g. Price gains were driven by international spot increases, domestic buying and speculative flows in silver, while profit-taking limited peaks. Dollar weakness, sustained Chinese central bank gold purchases and anticipation of key US jobs and inflation data were identified as principal market drivers.

Unlisted shares in India: private-equity style investments requiring Demat accounts, off-market transfers, and longer holding periods.
Unlisted shares trade outside recognised exchanges via off-market transfers requiring a Demat account, KYC and depository documentation; pricing is negotiated based on company fundamentals rather than exchange price discovery, liquidity is constrained with longer holding periods, and capital gains taxation depends on holding-period tests-market participants are moving from informal channels to structured platforms and specialist intermediaries.

PAN quoting thresholds raised: mandatory PAN for large cash transactions, vehicle, hotel and property purchases and insurance onboarding.
Draft Income Tax Rules 2026 require PAN for cash deposits/withdrawals aggregating Rs 10 lakh in a year, motor vehicle purchases over Rs 5 lakh (including motorcycles), hotel/event payments over Rs 1 lakh, and immovable property transactions over Rs 20 lakh; PAN will also be required to open account-based relationships with insurance companies.

AuthBridge and Vibrium AI partner to build AI driven conversational verification and cognitive models for faster, more accurate digital trust solutions.
AuthBridge and Vibrium AI will co develop AI powered conversational interfaces and cognitive verification models that integrate generative and cognitive AI into verification infrastructure to improve automation, verification accuracy, real time intelligence, and scalability for secure, enterprise grade digital verification and due diligence.

Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority enables local decision-making through administrative autonomy and devolved subjects for development.
The Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority agreement grants administrative autonomy to six eastern districts by devolving 46 subjects to the Authority, establishing a dedicated secretariat, and providing a separate Centre-funded annual budget to enable local decision-making and faster execution of development programmes, aimed at fostering peace, stability, infrastructure, investment, tourism, and employment.

Satellite internet partnership to provide high-speed connectivity to remote and underserved areas under a pilot public-private LoI.
A government entity and a private satellite operator executed a Letter of Intent to run a pilot providing high speed satellite internet to remote, border and underserved areas, connecting CSCs, e governance facilities, schools, PHCs, disaster management rooms, police outposts, ports and industrial parks. A Joint Working Group of both parties will coordinate implementation, capacity building and training, with sectoral focus on education, healthcare, security, maritime operations, highway safety and industrial connectivity to support digital inclusion where terrestrial infrastructure is limited.

Union budget cuts to capital expenditure and rural allocations worsen investment shortfalls and hinder growth momentum.
The budget reduces capital expenditure for both Centre and state-advance-funded projects during a period of weak public, private and foreign investment, contributing to lower gross fixed capital formation and slower nominal growth. The budget's fiscal consolidation path is criticised as slow under the FRBM framework and dependent on one-off central bank transfers and expenditure cuts. The document further identifies notable sectoral reductions-agriculture, rural development, state grants and targeted scheme outlays-that are said to undermine rural infrastructure, manufacturing capacity and employment initiatives.