Aster DM Healthcare: merger pending NCLT and shareholders' approval; Q3 revenues up 13% YoY, combined proforma 15%.
The merger between Aster DM Healthcare and Quality Care India Limited remains conditional on regulatory and compliance approvals, including an NCLT order and shareholders' approval, with a shareholders' meeting directed between February 27 and March 13, 2026. The company completed a preferential allotment (~3.6% stake) and listed the allotted shares; closing of the transaction depends on fulfilment of regulatory requirements, finalization of merged accounts and statutory audits, and is expected to complete by Q1 FY27.

Declaration of Consciousness Movement advocates conscious leadership and nominates Prime Minister for Nobel Peace Prize consideration.
The Declaration of Consciousness Movement advocates recognition of leadership rooted in consciousness and has promoted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Nobel Peace Prize consideration, presenting peace as an ongoing, awareness-led process. DOCM outlines nine impact areas-humanitarian outreach, diplomacy and restraint, environmental leadership, economic development, women's empowerment, digital governance, cultural diplomacy, innovation, and democratic legitimacy-reports broad public participation, and proposes August 8 as World Consciousness Day while inviting public engagement via signdc.org.

India manufacturing PMI rose to 55.4 in January, driven by new orders, but business confidence fell sharply.
The HSBC India Manufacturing PMI rose to 55.4 in January, signalling expansion driven by faster new order growth that supported higher output and slight employment increases. Domestic demand led sales while export growth remained weaker. Input costs rose moderately, but output price inflation eased to a 22 month low as firms cited efficiency gains and competitive pressures. Despite these operating improvements, business confidence dropped to a three and a half year low, with only 15% forecasting output growth for the year. The PMI is compiled by S&P Global from about 400 manufacturers.

Union Budget promotes high-speed rail corridors and funds City Economic Regions with Rs 5,000 crore per CER over five years.
The Budget proposes seven high-speed rail corridors to improve regional connectivity and advances City Economic Regions policy targeting Tier-II and Tier-III cities, with mapping by growth drivers and an allocation of Rs 5,000 crore per CER over five years to be implemented through challenge mode using reform-cum-results-based financing to promote decentralised development and economic productivity.

High-speed rail corridor project launches local office, starts public consultations, fieldwork and surveys planned soon.
An operational office for the proposed high-speed rail corridor has been opened to initiate public meetings and phased staff appointments; fieldwork will begin in April to determine alignment and station locations for a 22 station route with a 200 kmph design speed, surveys to follow after building public trust, and a Detailed Project Report to be prepared for implementation by the national railway authority with subsequent state consultation.

Chinese imports into Latin America prompt tariffs, de minimis changes and other protective measures affecting industries and e commerce.
Several Latin American countries are responding to a surge of low priced Chinese manufactured goods-amplified by cross border e commerce and Chinese automaker expansion-by adopting protective trade and tax measures such as higher import tariffs (including up to 50 percent), removal of de minimis exemptions for low value parcels, imposition of VAT on small consignments, increased duties on EVs, and regulatory scrutiny of foreign production and labour standards to shield domestic industry.

CREX app posts highest MAU growth in India sports category and ranks fourth globally with 15-20 million monthly users.
CREX recorded the highest MAU growth in India's sports category and ranked fourth globally for MAU growth in Sensor Tower's State of Mobile 2026 report. The platform reports over 100 million downloads, 15-20 million monthly active users, sustained high ratings, platform recognition, and brand ambassadors, with real-time cricket updates and a statistical engine cited as core drivers of user engagement and retention.

MGNREGA replacement centralises control, shifts costs to states, and undermines the rights based employment guarantee for rural households.
MGNREGA was a rights-based, demand-driven rural employment guarantee that provided extensive work-days, created community assets, empowered gram panchayats, used direct benefit transfers and social audits, and required limited state cost-sharing. The 2025 Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act replaces that model with a more centralised, budget-driven scheme that notifies work in selected districts, suspends provision for two months annually, shifts up to 40% of costs to states, sidelines panchayats, and alters funding and implementation structures, which critics say dilutes the statutory entitlement to work.

Rupee strengthens to 91.56 as budget signals fiscal credibility amid large government borrowing and tax changes.
The Budget projects government borrowing of Rs 17.2 lakh crore to fund a fiscal deficit of 4.3% of GDP, signalling fiscal discipline while potentially pressuring investor sentiment. Early trading saw the rupee strengthen as crude prices eased, but analysts identified 92.00 as a near term pivot for USD/INR. Concurrently, higher securities transaction tax on derivatives and changes to buyback taxation raised market costs, contributing to equity weakness and foreign institutional selling.

Union Budget measures: long-term tax incentives for data centres and a hike in securities transaction tax sparked market volatility.
The Budget 2026-27 advances long-term growth through fiscal consolidation, infrastructure and manufacturing support, and long-term tax incentives for global data centres; it also raised the securities transaction tax on equity derivatives, provoking immediate market volatility and notable foreign institutional investor outflows.

Union Budget measures for Tamil Nadu spark debate over infrastructure projects, industry incentives, tourism and job creation.
The Union Budget's measures affecting Tamil Nadu include proposed high-speed rail corridors linking Chennai with Bengaluru and Hyderabad, targeted allocations for electronics manufacturing and biopharma capacity building, an SME Growth Fund, and funding for development of selected Tier-2 and Tier-3 urban centres. Political actors dispute the Budget's direction and adequacy: state government voices call it neglectful and directionless, while opposition leaders point to sectoral allocations and infrastructure projects they say will boost industry, jobs, ports, tourism, and archaeological conservation.

Federal Reserve nomination and interest-rate policy jitters weigh on Asian markets and oil prices globally.
The nomination to lead the Federal Reserve requires Senate approval and affects interest-rate decisions, central-bank independence, and market expectations; stronger-than-expected wholesale inflation increases pressure to maintain higher rates, prompting declines in equities, oil, and precious metals as investors reassess the outlook and the policy transmission to currencies and asset prices.

Death during Income Tax search prompts state leader to demand judicial inquiry and probe of search procedures.
The chief minister urged a judicial inquiry by a Commission of Inquiry led by a former constitutional court judge into the death of a businessman during an Income Tax search, citing serious procedural lapses, allegations of harassment despite the searched person's cooperation, and stressing that premises under search must be controlled by officials to ensure the safe conduct of searches and respect for the rights of the searched person.

World Bank President visits gurdwara and Buddhist site; pledges support for cultural heritage preservation and tourism.
World Bank President Ajay Banga visited a Sikh gurdwara and the Jaulian Buddhist archaeological site in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where provincial and federal officials briefed him on economic affairs and site management. He praised conservation efforts and assured support for cultural heritage preservation. Officials framed the gurdwara visit as reinforcing religious freedom and described ongoing renovation and promotional steps to advance religious tourism and related economic objectives.

Congress CLP to raise flood relief, workers' protections, unemployment, inflation and restoration of statehood in the JK Assembly.
The Congress Legislature Party set the CLP agenda for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Budget Session, prioritising relief and rehabilitation for flood victims; statutory and non statutory protections for daily wagers and temporary workers (need based, casual, contractual); measures to tackle large scale unemployment and rising inflation; and pressing for restoration of statehood, alongside advocacy for development and welfare demands relating to water supply, electricity, connectivity, healthcare and education.

Tourism: Government to develop 15 archaeological sites and create a National Destination Digital Knowledge Grid for heritage documentation.
The Budget mandates development of 15 archaeological sites into vibrant experiential cultural destinations and establishes a National Destination Digital Knowledge Grid to digitally document cultural, spiritual and heritage places, creating jobs for local researchers, historians, content creators and technology partners. It proposes upgrading the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology into a National Institute of Hospitality, develops ecologically sustainable mountain, nature, turtle and bird-watching trails, pilots a 12-week guide upskilling programme for 10,000 guides, and links tourism growth with regional medical hubs, e-buses and the East Coast Industrial Corridor.

Jammu and Kashmir budget session strategy meeting called by NC to prepare for a 27-day assembly session and budget presentation.
A National Conference legislative party meeting has been summoned to coordinate coalition attendance and strategy for the upcoming 27-day budget session beginning February 2, with the Chief Minister - also holding the finance portfolio - set to present the Budget Presentation on February 6; preparations focus on responding to opposition scrutiny, especially over restoration of statehood.

Indian Coast Guard lauded for Operation Sindoor and urged to adopt a clear 2047 roadmap focusing on capability and organisational reform.
The Defence Minister commended the Indian Coast Guard for Operation Sindoor-highlighting advance deployment of strategic assets, heightened western-coast surveillance, and sustained high alert-and urged preparation of a clear, well-targeted 25 year roadmap to 2047 addressing manpower planning, capability development, and organisational reforms to make the ICG more agile, responsive and future oriented.

Union Budget 2026-27 allocates Rs 500 crore as a special package for ULFA cadre rehabilitation in Assam.
Union Budget 2026-27 designates a special package of Rs 500 crore for ULFA groups in Assam to finance rehabilitation of surrendered cadre who have joined the mainstream, placed within the broader North East development allocations and connected to the Memorandum of Settlement with the pro-talks ULFA faction.

Union Budget boosts MSMEs and rural agriculture; soybean processors call for targeted crop policy and GST simplification sought.
Trade and industry bodies welcomed the Union Budget's emphasis on MSME support, enhanced credit access, rural and agricultural allocations, and measures for manufacturing and start-ups, while underscoring that effective implementation is essential. Soybean processors praised the Agriculture and oilseed self-reliance thrust but urged a sharper, crop-specific policy for soybean to reduce edible oil import dependence. Traders also sought concrete GST simplification and targeted support for agriculture-based industries and rural markets.