Union Budget 2026 direct tax reforms: MACT interest exemption, TDS rationalisation, FAST DS disclosure and MAT reform.
Budget 2026 direct tax reforms introduce exemptions for interest awarded by Motor Vehicle tribunals to individuals with no TDS; broaden the definition of work to include supply of manpower for TDS; simplify electronic applications for lower or nil TDS certificates and depository filing of no deduction declarations; create FAST DS for limited value foreign asset disclosures with immunity on payment; expand updated return rules; convert certain penalties into automatic fees and partially decriminalise prosecution offences; and reform MAT and buy back tax treatment, alongside multiple sectoral and timing adjustments, largely effective from 1 April 2026.

Indo US trade deal cuts reciprocal tariffs to 18%, easing uncertainty and potentially boosting India's growth outlook.
The Indo US trade agreement lowers the reciprocal tariff on Indian goods from 25% to 18%, removing significant economic uncertainty. The government will review deal details to determine effects on the FY27 Budget prepared under prior tariff assumptions, while remaining confident about meeting fiscal commitments and noting potential upside to receipts and divestment. Separately, insufficient banking sector credit growth prompted announcement of a high level expert committee to recommend measures to improve credit and support long term development goals.

India-US trade deal cuts reciprocal tariffs to 18%, expanding market access and opportunities for MSMEs and farmers.
A bilateral agreement reduces the reciprocal tariff on Indian goods to 18 per cent, lowering the tariff threshold and expanding market access to strengthen the Make In India Initiative. The tariff adjustment is presented as creating export and business opportunities for MSMEs, farmers and youth, and follows prior US imposition of additional punitive duties that had increased the tariff burden on Indian exports.

Lexington Healthcare Hospitals expands limb-salvage care with advanced HBOT and vascular interventions in Bengaluru to prevent amputations.
Lexington Healthcare Hospitals expanded limb-salvage and vascular services in Bengaluru by adding advanced Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), complex vascular interventions, and structured wound-care protocols focused on early-intervention, coordinated multidisciplinary care to prevent amputations in patients with diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, chronic non-healing wounds, and infected ulcers.

Piramal Realty launches 'Design Led, Delivery Focused' campaign highlighting delivered, design-driven residential and commercial developments.
Piramal Realty's 'Design Led, Delivery Focused' campaign ties thoughtful design to disciplined execution, centring its brand on completed, functioning developments rather than future promises. The campaign uses a ribbon motif to symbolize commitment and highlights delivered projects-citing over 4,200 homes in 21 towers and 6.2 million sq. ft. delivered in two years-to substantiate a design philosophy prioritising purposeful space use, usability, longevity, natural light, biophilia and resident experience.

JAGSoM Padode Foundation Scholarship offers Rs. 7,50,000, selective merit-based awards with holistic evaluation; apply by Feb 14.
JAGSoM and The Padode Foundation will award limited merit-based scholarships of Rs. 7,50,000 each from the Foundation endowment to selected applicants. Eligibility includes a qualifying national competitive examination score, ASP completion, evidence of leadership and communication, and consistent academic performance. Selection is by multilayered holistic evaluation leading to a final merit list. Applications and ASP completion must be submitted by 14 February 2026; final Merit List and scholarship decisions are expected by the end of February 2026. JAGSoM will maintain an internal open merit list framework and share structured performance snapshots with ASP participants.

India-US trade deal cuts tariffs to 18%, expected to increase FDI and portfolio flows and support the rupee.
The India-US trade agreement sets a reciprocal tariff of 18 per cent on Indian goods to the US, lowering barriers relative to several competitor countries and aiming to boost labour intensive exports. The tariff cut is expected to raise exports, support higher economic growth, and reverse uncertainty that reduced net FDI and portfolio inflows, with the resulting capital flows anticipated to have a positive impact on the rupee.

India launches Bio-Pharma Shakti with Rs 10,000 crore to boost bio-pharma manufacturing and digitise health services.
The Union Budget 2026-27 launches Bio-Pharma Shakti, a five-year Rs 10,000 crore programme to position India as a global bio-pharmaceutical manufacturing hub by strengthening drug manufacturing, research, testing and regulation. Complementary measures include expansion of public health coverage under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (over 62 crore beneficiaries and 10 crore treatments) and large-scale digitisation of health records through the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (about 84.7 crore ABHA IDs), intended to attract investment and bolster healthcare sector growth.

India-US and India-EU trade deals: Opposition demands full parliamentary disclosure and safeguards for farmers and sensitive sectors.
Opposition parties demand Parliament be given full texts and opportunity to debate the India-US and India-EU trade agreements, citing public statements about liberalised agricultural imports and tariff changes and asserting that legislators must be taken into confidence to assess safeguards for farmers and sensitive sectors such as agriculture, dairy and pharmaceuticals.

Death of realtor C J Roy: SIT to record statements and decide action after Unnatural Death Report.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is probing the death of C J Roy, will record statements of family members and others, and will decide further action based on its inquiry report. An Unnatural Death Report (UDR) has been registered at Ashok Nagar Police Station. Family allege pressure from Income Tax proceedings conducted at Roy's office, and a request for a judicial inquiry has been made to central authorities, though the state SIT investigation remains the immediate fact-finding mechanism.

India-US trade agreement cuts reciprocal tariffs to 18%, expanding market access and boosting trade, investment and jobs.
A bilateral India-United States trade agreement reduces the reciprocal tariff on Indian goods to 18% from 50%, altering tariff rates and market entry conditions; the change is presented as enhancing market access, supporting Make In India, and promoting investment, innovation, and job creation for exporters, MSMEs, startups, farmers, youth, and US businesses.

India-US trade agreement lowers US reciprocal tariff to 18% while India is expected to reduce trade barriers; details pending.
The United States has announced a reduction in the reciprocal tariff on Indian goods from 25% to 18%, while stating that India will move to reduce its tariffs and non tariff barriers; no implementing instruments or detailed sectoral coverage have been published and an executive order or trade document is awaited to clarify legal effect and operational terms.

Indo-US trade deal sparks opposition walkout demanding parliamentary discussion as government offers suo motu statement.
Opposition members walked out demanding parliamentary discussion and full disclosure of the Indo US trade deal, alleging that information was coming from Washington. The government stated it is ready to discuss the deal and will issue a suo motu statement the same day to provide minute details, while criticising the opposition's protest as obstructive and politicised.

Sabarimala gold loss probe: Enforcement Directorate questions former TDB official under money laundering law in Kerala.
Enforcement action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act was taken in relation to alleged misappropriation of gold from Sabarimala shrine artefacts; the agency questioned a former Travancore Devaswom Board officer, conducted searches, and filed a PMLA case on January 9 taking cognisance of multiple FIRs, following a state special investigation team probe that alleged official misconduct, administrative lapses and a criminal conspiracy to misappropriate the gold.

India-US trade deal cuts US tariff to 18%, sparking major stock market rally and gains for export sectors.
The United States agreed to reduce the reciprocal tariff on Indian goods from 25% to 18%, prompting equity benchmarks to rally-Sensex and Nifty rose nearly 3% in afternoon trade-with export oriented sectors such as textiles, leather, gems and jewellery, seafood and specialty chemicals leading gains and market participants citing restored tariff predictability and improved export competitiveness.

Adani Group and Leonardo to establish helicopter manufacturing ecosystem in India targeting military and training needs.
Adani Group and Leonardo signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create an integrated helicopter manufacturing ecosystem in India focused on manufacturing, phased indigenization, MRO capabilities, pilot training, and supply of AW169M and AW109 TrekkerM helicopters to address projected armed forces and civil demand.

Lok Sabha proceedings adjourned after noisy protests over Manikarnika Ghat redevelopment and procedural objections during Question Hour.
Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned amid opposition protests over the Manikarnika Ghat redevelopment and alleged idol damage, which the district administration denied. MPs displayed pictures and raised slogans while the Speaker admonished members and refused a request to quote from an unpublished memoir. Only one question was taken during Question Hour before the Speaker adjourned the House, citing that planned disruptions impeded legislative accountability.

Bartronics India reports a profitable Q3 and launches Project AVIO to digitally onboard 20 million farmers.
Bartronics India posted a Q3 FY26 net profit of ?2.44 crore with revenue of ?48.35 crore and EBITDA of ?2.60 crore, driven by its rural fintech and agri tech strategy across about 5,000 villages. The company launched Project AVIO to digitally onboard 20 million farmers, create 1,000 Smart Agri Stores, and target USD 1 billion GMV by offering phased services-agri inputs, digital advisory, embedded finance, carbon services, market linkages and supply chain support-using data analytics and AI.

Vasant Utsav celebrates Rajasthani folk arts and releases multilingual volumes while blending tradition with contemporary music.
The 24th Vasant Utsav at Sai Ka Aangan emphasised Rajasthan's music, dance and storytelling traditions through youth and master performances while promoting intergenerational transmission. The programme paired traditional forms-Raag Basanti, kathputli, Kesariya Balam, Bhavai, Ghoomar and Kalbelia-with contemporary reinterpretation by the Ether Band. Organisers also released the eighth Hindi volume of Shri Guru Bhagwat plus editions in Santhali, Dogri and Urdu, and announced a digital album and two audiobooks to expand the work's multilingual and streaming reach.

Budget 2026 extends customs duty exemptions to boost domestic manufacture of lithium ion cells and solar glass for clean energy.
Union Budget 2026 extends an exemption from basic customs duty on capital goods used to manufacture lithium ion cells for battery energy storage systems and on sodium antimonate used in solar glass, lowering customs costs for upstream inputs to incentivise domestic production of batteries and solar glass in support of renewable capacity expansion.