Tamil Nadu budget allocations criticised as politically withheld ahead of assembly polls, despite central transfer figures cited in reply.
M K Stalin alleged the Union government withheld targeted budgetary allocations for Tamil Nadu ahead of Assembly elections, portraying the omission as politically motivated and harmful to the state's infrastructure needs; the Press Information Bureau, however, cited substantial tax devolution and grants-in-aid figures for Tamil Nadu in response.

Uttar Pradesh streamlines industrial land allotment and creates plug-and-play clusters to boost MSME growth and approvals.
Uttar Pradesh simplifies industrial land allotment and approvals, rationalises lease rents, minimises litigation, and prioritises startups and existing units while institutionalising 100 acre district clusters under a plug-and-play model to accelerate MSME formation, infrastructure development, pollution control compliance, and technological upgradation through transparent, time bound processes and iterative digital reforms.

Teacher and peon held for accepting bribes to alter a student's birth date on a class 10 certificate; case registered.
Teacher and a school peon were detained for allegedly accepting staged payments (Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,200 by online transfer, plus a demanded Rs 400 via the peon) to retrospectively change a student's date of birth on a class 10 certificate; searches were conducted and mobile phones seized. A case was registered under anti corruption provisions for public servants accepting gratification, both accused are in custody pending formal arrest and investigators are examining electronic payment records and messages.

DHFL granted IBC immunity from corporate prosecution for pre CIRP offences; former officers remain prosecutable in a money laundering case.
The court held that DHFL, as a corporate debtor whose resolution plan was approved under the IBC, enjoys statutory immunity under section 32A that extinguishes corporate criminal liability for offences committed prior to CIRP, and that this IBC immunity overrides earlier PMLA provisions; however, immunity does not apply to former officers or directors who may still be prosecuted for pre CIRP conduct.

Kerala budget boosts welfare with wage hikes, pension increases, SMA medicine funding, and committee review of allocations.
Kerala's 2025-26 expenditure approached Rs 2 lakh crore; the government announced a five percent wage increase for contractual staff, a raise in the Viswakarma pension to Rs 2,000, a Rs 1,000 hike for pre primary teachers, and Rs 30 crore for SMA medicine under the KARE scheme, while directing budget requests to subject committees and noting a High Court constituted Special Investigation Team into the Sabarimala gold loss.

Critical minerals: India warns of excessive concentration and urges de risking supply chains via international cooperation.
Excessive concentration of critical minerals creates supply chain vulnerabilities necessitating structured international cooperation to de risk supply chains; the document records support for the FORGE initiative and highlights India's resilience measures, including the National Critical Minerals Mission, Rare Earth Corridors, and commitments to responsible commerce, alongside diplomatic engagements to promote diversification and governance frameworks.

US stocks mixed as tech wobbles; gold tops $5,000 amid safe-haven flows and mixed economic signals.
US equities traded mixed as tech stocks pressured indices despite some upside from companies beating earnings; gold rose above USD 5,000 and silver jumped after volatile swings, reflecting safe-haven demand amid macro concerns. Treasury yields were steady with the 10-year little changed after mixed economic reports-softer private hiring and steady services growth but rising prices paid-producing nuanced signals for inflation and interest-rate expectations.

India must boost economic share and strategic autonomy to convert growth into real international influence.
Economic strength determines diplomatic weight; India must expand its shares in global merchandise and services trade to gain geoeconomic influence. Pursuing strategic autonomy, reducing dependence on any single partner, building resilience to external pressure, and empowering the private sector are presented as necessary policy responses to translate economic growth into international leverage.

U.S. seeks allied critical minerals trading bloc using tariffs and stockpiles and financing to counter China.
The United States proposes a multilateral critical minerals trading bloc among allies to secure supply and stabilize prices by using tariffs to maintain price floors, preventing members from buying cheap Chinese materials, and providing access to financing. Complementary domestic measures include a USD 10 billion Export-Import Bank loan to create a Strategic Critical Minerals Reserve, direct investments in producers, and procurement controls for defense contractors to ensure reliable sourcing and to attract private investment in mining and downstream manufacturing.

Airlines reroute long haul flights to avoid Iranian airspace, increasing flight times and fuel use.
Airlines rerouted long haul flights to avoid Iranian airspace, increasing flight times and fuel burn. IndiGo suspended Copenhagen and reduced Delhi-London and Delhi-Manchester wide body services due to changing airspace constraints, congestion, and strain on its 787 9 schedule. Air India uses alternative westbound routes to the US, UK and Europe and conducts a risk assessment process supported by global aviation safety agencies and security advisors to plan operations.

Immigration enforcement presence reduced after local cooperation; larger pullout conditioned on ending interference and unified command implemented.
An immediate drawdown of 700 federal immigration officers was announced after increased local cooperation in turning over arrested noncitizens; roughly 2,000 officers remain. Further reductions are conditional on cessation of interference with federal arrests and operational impediments, and the operation emphasizes a unified chain of command, jail notification of eligible inmates, and adherence to operational rules as prerequisites for reduced federal presence.

ED seizes Indian immovable assets equivalent to alleged undisclosed Dubai properties for lack of authorised outward remittance.
Seizure orders under Section 37A of the Foreign Exchange Management Act were issued to attach Indian immovable properties equivalent to alleged undisclosed Dubai assets because the individuals purportedly acquired foreign properties without corresponding outward remittances through authorised banking channels, failed to provide documentary evidence of the source of overseas funds, and did not show RBI approvals.

Congress MLA Kawasi Lakhma released on interim bail in money laundering and corruption probe, with residency restrictions.
The Supreme Court granted interim bail to MLA Kawasi Lakhma in two parallel cases arising from an alleged multi crore liquor scam, imposing conditions including residence outside the state and restricted entry to attend court hearings and barring participation in assembly proceedings. The Enforcement Directorate and the state Anti Corruption Bureau/EOW allege extensive money laundering and large proceeds of crime diverted through a syndicate; a final prosecution complaint names numerous accused and expands the charges in the case.

Syria offshore oil deal with Chevron and Qatari investor establishes framework for joint exploration and foreign investment.
A memorandum of understanding between Syria's state-owned petroleum company, Chevron, and Power International Holding creates a framework for joint offshore exploration and development in Syria's territorial waters, focusing on attracting foreign investment, mobilising technical expertise, and enabling operational collaboration under Syrian oversight to expand hydrocarbon production.

Air India Express expects operating profit and plans USD 70M cabin refurbishment and fleet retrofits.
Air India Express projects an operating profit in the second half of FY2025-26 and will invest USD 70 million to standardise and refurbish aircraft cabin interiors, including retrofitting 26 Boeing 737 NGs and ongoing retrofit work on 50 Boeing 737 MAXs that includes converting business-class-configured MAXs to all-economy and upgrading interiors.

Rupee slips to 90.47 as trade deal uncertainty, weak services PMI and higher oil curb gains; range seen 90-90.60.
The rupee depreciated 15 paise to 90.47 against the US dollar amid suspected corporate and importer dollar buying and caution over unsigned India-US trade deal terms, while weaker services PMI and elevated crude oil prices limited gains; analysts cited a near-term USD-INR trading range of 90.00-90.60 with support near 90.05 and resistance around 91.10, and flagged the central bank's upcoming interest rate announcement as a key market influence.

IndiGo faces a CCI probe for allegedly abusing its dominant position by cancelling flights and creating artificial scarcity, limiting access.
CCI ordered a detailed DG investigation after prima facie finding that IndiGo abused its dominant position by cancelling thousands of flights, withholding services and creating artificial scarcity in the domestic air passenger transport market. The regulator noted IndiGo's sustained ~60-61% ASKM share, route exclusivity, larger fleet and financial strength as indicia of dominance, rejected jurisdictional objections, and observed that DGCA lacks competition-law analysis functions, thereby affirming CCI's authority to probe alleged abuse under the Competition Act.

Dalit MPs seek action over presiding officer being called 'yaar'; members suspended for rest of Budget Session.
Dalit MPs lodged a written complaint with the Lok Sabha Speaker alleging that a presiding officer from their community was insulted when opposition members addressed him as "yaar," that the conduct demeaned the Chair and targeted the officer's community, and that papers were thrown at the Chair; following the disorder, eight members were suspended for the remainder of the Budget Session.

India oil purchases remain diversified; replacing Russian crude faces technical blending and volume limits amid tariff tensions.
Kremlin spokespeople rejected assertions that India agreed to stop buying Russian oil, stating India may freely diversify suppliers; analysts warned U.S. light shale cannot directly replace Russia's heavier Urals without costly blending and that U.S. export volumes are insufficient to match Russian shipments. The report also highlights U.S. tariffs on India tied to Russian energy purchases and notes recent declines in India's Russian crude imports.

Telangana politics: BJP accuses the state government of appeasement, welfare failures and preferential land allocations.
The BJP accused the Telangana government of practising appeasement politics and suppressing Telugu language and culture, citing past remarks as evidence of vote bank politics. The party alleged that the Wakf Board's large landholdings indicate preferential allocation, that promised welfare schemes for women, farmers and disadvantaged groups remain unimplemented, and that temple vandalism and a continuing "commission raj and mafia raj" reflect governance failures; these claims underpin the BJP's electoral mobilisation strategy.