Inequality and welfare: report warns rising inequality and retreating welfare amid disputed economic statistics and weak manufacturing.
The report alleges widening inequality and retreating welfare, challenges the integrity of official GDP and inflation statistics, and links disputed data to policy effects: divergence between claimed manufacturing growth and core industry indices, employment concentrated in informal and low value work, a weakening currency with net FDI outflows, deteriorating household finances, concentrated national income and wealth at the top, a shifted tax burden toward individuals, and pressure on a principal rural employment guarantee programme.

Book promotes a five-component protocol and diet claiming rapid autism symptom improvement, while alleging vaccine links.
The book launch promoted a five-component C.A.N. Protocol and a branded diet box, asserting that an observational study of over 1,000 reported cases showed an average 52% improvement in neurodevelopmental symptoms after about 26 days; Neem Therapy, the D.I.P. Diet, grounding, fermented drinks, and coconut-based recipes are presented as core therapeutic elements, and the products and book are marketed online while a general medical disclaimer advises consulting a doctor.

Replacement of MGNREGA with VB G RAM G risks shifting funding burdens, curtailing Panchayat role, and imposing digital barriers.
Replacement of MGNREGA with VB G RAM G reallocates wage and administrative costs to subnational governments, removes the demand driven nature of guaranteed work, centralises planning by linking works to centrally designed plans, curtails Gram Panchayat authority, and introduces mandatory digital/biometric requirements, regional wage variation without a guaranteed minimum, and a 60 day no work period affecting agricultural labour availability.

HortiConnect India Expo 2026 expands horticulture outreach, promoting tech transfer, FPO led supply chains and climate smart agriculture.
HortiConnect India Expo 2026 broadens a horticulture trade platform by co hosting with Messe Muenchen India and colocating AgriCon India to promote transfer of protected cultivation, smart irrigation, climate resilient inputs and post harvest infrastructure into wider agricultural systems, while facilitating FPO led market development, horticulture export ambitions and policy industry collaboration to address productivity, resource efficiency and market access.

India-EU free trade agreement concluded amid US tariff threats and announced tariff hikes on South Korean imports.
A bilateral free trade agreement between India and the European Union has been concluded after nearly two decades of negotiations, creating a broad commercial framework affecting about two billion people. Concurrently, the United States announced targeted increases in import tariffs on South Korean goods-raising rates on some categories from 15% to 25% and naming autos, lumber and pharmaceutical drugs-prompting South Korean commitments to implement last year's trade framework and high-level ministerial consultations with US counterparts.

Mandira Bedi shares resilience and sustainable fitness insights on Herbalife India's wellness podcast about reinvention and discipline.
Mandira Bedi discusses personal resilience, disciplined practice, and reinvention on Herbalife India's podcast, highlighting movement and routine as mental and emotional anchors through grief, single parenthood and a public career. The episode promotes sustainable exercise and nutrition over extreme routines, reframes strength beyond age or appearance, and stresses discipline as a daily commitment and movement as medicine for long-term wellbeing, aligning with Herbalife India's holistic wellness messaging.

NEET aspirant death case: demands for CBI probe, judicial intervention and protests over investigation and hostel safety.
Demands for a CBI investigation and judicial intervention arise after an 18 year old NEET aspirant was found unconscious in a Patna girls' hostel and later died; forensic tests detected semen on her clothes and post mortem reported injuries and nail abrasions. A home department constituted SIT is probing the case, two police officers were suspended for dereliction of duty, and alleging deliberate delays and a potential cover up, party wings announced a 10 day 'Beti Bachao Nyaya Yatra' pressing for justice and enhanced safety oversight of private hostels.

Chips: government targets 3-nanometre domestic manufacturing by 2032 via a design-linked incentive scheme.
The government will use the second phase of the Design-Linked Incentive Scheme to develop domestic capability in manufacturing and design, targeting 3-nanometre chips by 2032 and aiming for control of 70-75% of technology products. The policy focuses on six chip systems-compute, RF, networking, power, sensor, and memory-to build a comprehensive semiconductor design ecosystem and promote academia-industry innovation so that by 2029 substantial manufacturing and design capacity exists for chips used across most domestic applications.

JioStar probe into alleged discriminatory discounts in Kerala cable market allowed to proceed; regulator may investigate.
Supreme Court refused to stay the CCI investigation into allegations that JioStar abused dominance in the Kerala cable market by providing discriminatory, excessive discounts and preferential treatment to a distributor, while JioStar argued TRAI pricing rules preclude CCI action and challenged a High Court order refusing to stay the probe.

Cybage Software appoints Badhrinath Krishnamoorthy as Global President to lead strategic growth and digital capability expansion.
Cybage Software appointed Badhrinath Krishnamoorthy as Global President to lead strategic growth, scale operations, and strengthen Digital, Data, and AI led capabilities; the role focuses on incubation and expansion of capabilities, partnership with senior client leaders to drive transformation, and maintaining delivery discipline and measurable client outcomes.

India economic growth has often diverged from Economic Survey projections, affecting budgetary baseline and fiscal planning.
Actual GDP outturns have frequently diverged from the Economic Survey's pre-Budget projections: 2025-26 now expected 7.4% versus 6.3-6.8% projected; 2023-24 actual 9.2% against 6-6.8% projected; 2024-25 aligned at 6.5%; 2022-23 missed projections (7.6% actual v. 8-8.5% projected). The Survey, released ahead of the Union Budget, provides the macroeconomic baseline for fiscal planning, with observed variances reflecting base effects and shock-driven deviations relevant to budget preparation and projection reliability.

India needs USD 145bn/year in energy investments focused on grid modernisation, renewables, and supply-chain policy reforms.
India needs about USD 145 billion annually in energy investments to align growth with net-zero goals through 2035, focused on power generation, energy storage and urgent grid modernisation. Wood Mackenzie estimates USD 1.5 trillion for the 2026-2035 transition, stressing transmission and distribution investment and the necessity of market reforms, notably the Electricity Amendment Bill, to unlock private capital. Policy gaps include domestic content requirements, risks in the Advanced Chemistry Cell Battery PLI Scheme, nascent green hydrogen and CCUS development, and the 2026 launch of the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme to impose emissions limits.

Nirmala Sitharaman to present ninth consecutive Union Budget on February 1, with reform measures expected.
Nirmala Sitharaman will present her ninth consecutive Union Budget on February 1 with reform measures expected. The Budget date follows the 2017 shift to February 1 to allow Parliamentary approval by March-end and implementation from April 1. Since 1999 budgets have been presented at 11 a.m., replacing the earlier 5 p.m. timing tied to colonial-era coordination with the United Kingdom. The summary notes historical benchmarks including first Budget, records for numbers of presentations, and extremes in Budget speech length.

IIM Indore MMS programme for working professionals accepting applications until February 10, 2026; two-year live online degree.
IIM Indore is admitting the third cohort to its two year live online Master of Management Studies for working professionals (March 2026-March 2028, 900 hours) in collaboration with TimesPro. Eligibility requires a bachelor's degree with minimum marks (50%, 45% for reserved categories), at least two years' full time work experience, and a valid CAT, GMAT, GRE or IIM EAT score plus interview; successful participants earn the MMS degree and full IIM Indore alumni status.

EPG secures nearly $100M Series B to scale modular data center production and accelerate global deployment.
EPG completed a nearly US$100 million Series B financing to fund capacity expansion, working capital, and global growth for delivery of large-scale, high-power-density AI data centers. The company uses modular, factory-prefabricated solutions from manufacturing hubs in Johor Bahru and Shanghai, combined with end-to-end global delivery teams and in-house technologies (cold-plate liquid cooling with PUE below 1.3 and self-developed diesel generator sets) to accelerate on-site installation and reduce reliance on weak local supply chains and scarce skilled labor.

EU carbon border concessions under CBAM will automatically extend to Indian exporters under the India EU FTA, with technical cooperation.
The FTA provides that any future EU flexibility or concessions under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) granted to other countries will automatically extend to India; it also establishes technical cooperation on carbon price recognition and verifier accreditation, targeted financial and capacity support for emissions reduction compliance, a technical working group to accredit Indian verifiers and align footprint methodologies, and procedural safeguards including a non violation clause and rebalancing rights if EU measures impair pact benefits.

India-EU FTA introduces quota-based duty cuts for premium European cars, with phased tariffs and delayed EV quotas.
The India-EU FTA establishes a quota-based duty concession regime for automobiles: India grants phased, segment-specific tariff reductions within negotiated quotas while maintaining high out-of-quota protection to encourage local manufacturing. Market access is segmented by retail-price tiers (excluding cars under Rs 25 lakh from EU exports), quotas rise over time, and EV quota-based concessions begin in year five with varying initial reductions.

India-EU free trade agreement finalized to expand trade, technology cooperation and strengthen a rules-based economic order.
India and the European Union concluded a comprehensive free trade agreement, hailed as India's largest FTA, aimed at expanding bilateral trade, cooperation in critical technologies, and reinforcing a rules-based economic order; the agreement follows negotiations launched in 2007 and relaunched in 2022 and accompanies figures showing India-EU goods trade of about USD 136 billion in 2024-25.

India-EU free trade agreement expands tariff-free access, strengthens regulatory cooperation, and broadens services and mobility commitments.
The agreement eliminates or reduces tariffs across most goods, provides quota-based auto liberalisation, safeguards sensitive agricultural sectors, and secures a forward-looking most-favoured-nation assurance regarding carbon border measures. It enhances regulatory cooperation by streamlining customs, SPS and technical barrier procedures, expands services and investment access across multiple sub-sectors, and establishes business mobility commitments for intra-corporate transferees, contractual service suppliers and independent professionals, including dependent work rights and a framework for social security engagement and recognition of traditional medicine practitioners.

Grand Marathon mobilizes 1,500+ students in Mumbai for climate action, zero-waste practice, and community-led sustainability outreach.
A Grand Marathon engaged over 1,500 participants to promote climate awareness and sustainability, operating as a community-led climate action with minimum-waste controls under a Zero Waste School Initiative. Collected plastic waste was earmarked for recycling into civic amenities. The marathon served as a spoke in Mumbai Climate Week's hub and spoke model, extending central event outreach into neighborhoods and schools through decentralized activities and partnerships between Project Mumbai and educational institutions.