Postal exports eligible for Duty Drawback, RoDTEP and RoSCTL from 15 January 2026, boosting MSME competitiveness.
CBIC has extended export incentives to postal-mode exports in electronic form effective 15 January 2026, permitting claims under Duty Drawback, RoDTEP and RoSCTL. The extension is effected by amendments to the Postal Export (Electronic Declaration and Processing) Regulations, 2022 and by Notification No.07/2026 Customs (N.T.) and Circular No.01/2026 Customs, which set out the operational modalities for claiming these benefits for goods exported through the postal route.

IGGEFIL sanctions USD 22.5M green loan to Swarna Solar for a 100 MW Zambia solar project development.
IGGEFIL sanctioned a USD 22.5 million green loan to Swarna Solar Limited for a 100 MW photovoltaic solar power plant in Serenje District, Zambia; the board approval marks IGGEFIL's first international loan and reflects the subsidiary's role in leveraging international capital to finance cross border renewable energy projects while operating under a state owned renewable energy development agency.

ASME Foundation India launches EFx India 2026 to train engineers in interdisciplinary, hands-on skills and industry-aligned challenges.
ASME Foundation India launched EFx India 2026 in Jaipur, assembling 700+ students for interdisciplinary, hands-on workshops and industry-aligned challenges. Key features include a robotics and AI workshop, a women-only CAD and simulation challenge called Gear Up FEME, and competitive practical challenges in sustainable energy and mobility supported by industry sponsors to strengthen industry-academia collaboration and prepare students for product-design careers.

Axis Max Life launches an insurance-backed BSE 500 Value 50 Index Pension Fund targeting value-driven retirement savings.
Axis Max Life launched the Axis Max Life BSE 500 Value 50 Index Pension Fund within its Forever Young Unit-Linked Pension Plan (UIN: 104L075V08). The passively managed fund tracks the BSE 500 Enhanced Value 50 Index, selects 50 stocks by value scores using Book-to-Price, Earnings-to-Price, and Sales-to-Price ratios after liquidity filters, is reconstituted quarterly, and maintains a minimum 80% equity exposure with sector diversification to reduce concentration risk.

Raw jute ban proposed from April 1 to curb prices, centralise sales with JCI and protect mill fibre supplies.
A proposal would ban private raw jute trading from April 1, allowing traders to liquidate stocks until March 31; remaining quantities would be tendered to the Jute Corporation of India at government-fixed prices, and the JCI would supply mills based on linkage with B-Twill orders from April to stabilise prices and secure fibre and jute bag availability.

US lawmakers urge Trump to seek lower Indian tariffs on pulse crops to address competitive disadvantages for US producers.
US legislators urge negotiation of tariff reductions and favorable pulse-crop provisions in bilateral trade talks, stating that India's duties - including a 30% tariff on yellow peas - create an unfair tariff regime that places US pulse producers at a significant competitive disadvantage and that market-access commitments would benefit both American exporters and Indian consumers.

Illegal export of controlled aviation components to Russia via false end user claims violated export control laws and led to criminal charges.
The matter concerns a conspiracy to export controlled aviation navigation and flight control components to Russia in violation of the Export Control Reform Act, effected by falsely claiming domestic end users and civilian use to obtain licensable dual use items such as an AHRS. The scheme involved procurement from a US supplier, detention of the component before export, subsequent arrest, indictment on conspiracy, attempted illegal export and false statement charges, and a guilty plea to a conspiracy count regarding sale of export controlled aviation components to Russian end users.

Trade negotiations: push for pulse crop provisions meets export-control conviction over illegal aviation component shipments.
Legislative pressure seeks favourable trade agreement provisions for pulse crops with India, alongside enforcement action culminating in sentencing for a conspiracy to illegally export aviation components to Russia, indicating active application of export controls; separate items note an appointment to a governance board for Gaza redevelopment and naval training port calls under an Act East diplomatic posture.

Gaza redevelopment plan names Board of Peace and ISF to oversee reconstruction, demilitarisation, and economic zone creation.
A comprehensive redevelopment framework establishes an executive Board of Peace and the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza to oversee phased implementation of reconstruction, governance capacity building, investment attraction and capital mobilisation. Security is to be provided by an International Stabilisation Force tasked with demilitarisation and safe delivery of aid and materials. Cessation of hostilities, staged withdrawals and frozen battle lines are conditioned on agreed security and hostage related triggers. Economic measures include convening expert panels for redevelopment and creating a Special Economic Zone with preferential tariffs to attract investment and generate jobs.

Federal immigration officers in Minneapolis barred from detaining or tear gassing peaceful protesters during enforcement operations.
The central operative holding addresses whether federal officers carrying out immigration enforcement may detain or use tear gas against peaceful protesters; the court determined those officers do not have authority to detain or deploy tear gas against nonviolent demonstrators encountered during the enforcement operation, a claim brought by six activists alleging constitutional rights violations while observing immigration activity.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell faces DOJ subpoenas as GOP senators defend Fed independence amid presidential pressure.
Senate Republicans publicly defended Federal Reserve independence after DOJ subpoenas and threats of criminal charges concerning a USD 2.5 billion Fed office renovation; lawmakers characterised the investigation as intimidation aimed at influencing interest-rate policy, while Chair Powell engaged directly with senators to secure support and recent statements indicated blocking of administration Fed nominees until the legal cloud is resolved.

EU Mercosur trade pact creates one of world's largest free trade zones with preferential agricultural market access.
The EU Mercosur agreement establishes a comprehensive free trade area granting South American nations enhanced market access to the EU under preferential tariff treatment, contemplates accession pathways for additional regional members, and combines tariff liberalization for agricultural sectors with institutional mechanisms and political signaling relevant to regional trade governance.

Mumbai civic body election: BJP-Shiv Sena alliance wins majority to take control of the BMC amid counting disruptions.
BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena alliance won 118 of 227 seats, securing majority control of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation; counting proceeded amid EVM faults, recount demands and use of a PADU, several incumbents lost, and voter turnout varied widely against the backdrop of the BMC's substantial budget and a period of commissioner-led administration since the previous elected term ended.

Assam to implement announced schemes and finish recruitments before election dates, with mid February beneficiary rollouts.
The administration commits to implement budgeted schemes by February 20 and to complete government recruitments by February 10, with monetary incentives and first phase beneficiary payments by mid February. Near term rollouts include women and youth entrepreneurship programs, financial assistance for graduates and research scholars, a one time grant for tea garden workers, and support for farmer producer companies, alongside planned infrastructure inaugurations and project foundation stones as part of an investment promotion agenda.

Bharat's character tied to Hindu unity; call for self-reliance, ethical conduct, and youth serving national development.
The speaker tied the character of Bharat to the Hindu community, urging unity across castes and sects and preservation of values through Sanatan Dharma. He promoted self-reliance and use of locally produced goods, ethical daily conduct, opposition to injustice, and youth skill development abroad for national benefit, presenting the organisation's aim as uniting the Hindu community rather than seeking material gains.

RSS chief advocates economic self-reliance, Hindu community unity, civic ethics, and cultural continuity as national priorities.
Advocacy for economic self-reliance urges prioritising domestically produced goods and importing only what cannot be made locally, presenting independent international engagement as the chosen path. Emphasis is placed on unity among Hindus across caste, sect, language and occupation, with the organisation to initiate but the community to lead cohesion. Citizens are urged to oppose injustice stepwise and observe civic duties like paying bills and following traffic rules, while cultural continuity and Sanatan Dharma are cited as sources of national resilience and moral strength.

One District-One Cuisine scheme to promote Uttar Pradesh culinary heritage globally with branding, safety certification and GI protection.
The One District-One Cuisine scheme directs identification and development of district-specific cuisine clusters with support for branding, technology, packaging and marketing to boost local economies and export potential. It requires quality control and Food Safety Certification, eco-friendly packaging with QR codes and nutrition labels, and protection of culinary identities via Geographical Indication tagging to conserve products, strengthen value chains, and generate sustainable livelihoods.

Farmers and workers pledge nationwide resistance to recent agricultural, electricity, seeds and labour reforms until repeal.
Political parties and farmers' organisations pledged coordinated pan-India resistance until repeal of measures they deem anti-farmer and anti-worker, targeting the Seeds Bill, Electricity Bill, VB-GRAMG Act replacing the rural employment guarantee, and the four Labour Codes as threats to livelihoods, food security and workers' rights. They coupled opposition with affirmative demands for MSP based on the C2+50 formula with guaranteed procurement, comprehensive loan waivers, employment security and protection of federal principles, and committed to sustained joint action with trade and agricultural unions.

US tariff threats over Greenland could be used to coerce international support for territorial control.
The executive indicated the possible use of tariffs as punitive measures against countries that do not support U.S. efforts to assume control of Greenland, framing such trade measures as justified by national security concerns and signalling the use of trade policy as leverage in a territorial dispute.

Punjab pitches trade and investment ties with British Columbia across agriculture, energy, education, IT and manufacturing.
Punjab's Chief Minister sought stronger trade and investment ties with British Columbia, highlighting Punjab's strengths in agro processing, textiles, engineering goods, IT services and renewable energy and identifying complementary BC capabilities in sustainable farming and greenhouse technologies. He emphasised opportunities in precision farming, post harvest systems, value added food processing, agricultural machinery integration, processed food exports supported by the Punjabi diaspora, and invited Canadian participation at the Progressive Punjab Investors Summit 2026 while proposing education, healthcare, energy and IT collaborations.