Department of Posts joins ONDC as logistics service provider enabling sellers to book pickups and track deliveries.
The Department of Posts is integrated into ONDC as a Logistics Service Provider (LSP), allowing sellers to select it for parcel pickup, booking, transmission and delivery through the postal department's nationwide network; postage is collected at pickup and consignments are inducted and tracked using the Department's technology-enabled logistics systems under a Click & Book model.

Digital arrest scams: panel to propose regulatory fixes, SOPs for fund recovery, and victim compensation for service failures.
A high-level inter-departmental committee chaired by the Special Secretary (Internal Security) has been constituted to examine digital arrest scam cases, identify legislative and implementation gaps, and propose corrective measures. Membership includes MeitY, MEA, financial and law ministries, RBI, CBI, NIA, Delhi Police and I4C (CEO as member secretary). Key outcomes reported: CBI's monetary threshold proposal; MeitY's call to activate IT Act adjudication; DoT's draft telecom rules on SIM issuance; I4C's near-final SOPs for freezing, recovery and fund restoration; and agreement to provide victim compensation where loss arises from negligence, service deficiency or fraud.

Himachal apples: state seeks import ban in peak season, 100% off season duty, and trade protections for growers.
The state requests central intervention to protect apple growers by imposing a ban on imports during the July-November peak, raising import duty to 100 percent in off-season months, applying quantitative restrictions, and designating apples as a special category commodity; it also seeks a Green Fund allocation for hill states and permission for additional borrowing to address constrained fiscal space.

Tiger Global capital gains from 2018 Flipkart exit deemed taxable in India; DTAA exemption denied.
Capital gains from Tiger Global's 2018 exit from Flipkart are taxable in India because the sale of unlisted equity shares occurred pursuant to an arrangement impermissible under law, precluding exemption under Article 13(4) of the DTAA; the revenue finding on the impermissible arrangement and intermediary corporate structure was upheld against the Delhi High Court's contrary characterisation.

Smartphone exports rose 43.7% to $18.8 billion in Apr-Nov, led by shipments to the US and UAE.
Smartphone exports rose 43.7% to USD 18.8 billion in April-November this fiscal year, up from USD 13.08 billion the prior year and USD 9.07 billion two years earlier; principal destinations were the United States, UAE, China, Portugal, and Spain, alongside increased shipments to emerging markets such as Slovakia, Israel, Latvia, Vietnam, and South Korea.

MILMA and NDDB open a NABL-accredited food testing lab in Kochi to expand dairy and food safety testing services.
MILMA and NDDB have partnered to open a NABL-accredited NDDB CALF laboratory in Kochi as a branch of NDDB CALF Limited, initially providing comprehensive quality and safety testing for milk and milk products for Kerala and neighbouring states, with phased expansion to testing spices, fruits, vegetables, bakery and ready-to-eat products, fish and allied commodities, and support for state departments and food safety authorities through advanced analytical services.

Suraksha Group: FIR alleges diversion of funds meant for stalled homebuyers, ED may pursue PMLA probe.
The EOW registered an FIR against Suraksha Group, Lakshdeep Investments and others based on Enforcement Directorate inputs under section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act alleging diversion of about Rs 235 crore from Jaypee Infratech Ltd that were intended for construction of stalled apartments, constituting breach of trust and cheating of homebuyers; the ED appended its communication and indicated it may file a fresh PMLA case, asserting Suraksha's allocations to linked entities were inconsistent with the approved resolution plan.

Indians in Iran urged to leave as India prepares evacuation using civil and military transport.
The Ministry of External Affairs urged all Indian nationals in Iran to leave by available means, is preparing contingency evacuation measures including civil and military transport to repatriate an estimated little over 10,000 Indians, and directed the embassy in Tehran to advise caution, avoid protest areas, and maintain contact with citizens and PIOs.

Silver and gold hit record domestic highs amid sustained buying by jewellers and rising industrial demand for silver.
Silver and gold reached domestic record peaks-silver at Rs 2,89,000/kg and gold at Rs 1,47,300/10g-driven by five days of sustained buying from jewellers, stockists and retail consumers. Silver's rally is reinforced by rising industrial demand from renewable energy, electronics and electric mobility, attracting HNI and family capital as a portfolio diversifier, though silver remains more volatile than gold. Recent international corrections and Producer Price Index data have moderated near-term momentum by tempering expectations of rate cuts.

Protests in Minneapolis face threatened invocation of the Insurrection Act to deploy federal troops amid legal challenges.
The executive threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy military forces or federalize the National Guard to suppress Minneapolis protests stemming from immigration enforcement, setting federal authority against state and local objections; concurrent litigation seeks judicial restraints on the federal crackdown amid claims of constitutional violations, and the administration is assigning military legal officers to support prosecutions related to the operations.

Exports rose modestly while imports grew, widening the trade deficit amid high US tariffs and sectoral slowdown.
Exports rose 1.87% to USD 38.5 billion in December while imports grew 8.7% to USD 63.55 billion, widening the trade deficit to USD 25.04 billion. Labour intensive sectors showed export slowdown, attributed in part to a steep 50% US tariff, and the government is pursuing free trade agreements, export promotion and market diversification to mitigate impacts.

State interference in central probe questioned; notice issued to CM and FIRs stayed while evidence is preserved.
The case raises whether state law-enforcing agencies may lawfully interfere with central agencies investigating serious offences; the court stayed FIRs against central agency officers, ordered preservation of CCTV footage, and issued notices to the chief executive, the state government, and senior police to answer petitions seeking a central probe into alleged obstruction, while inviting submissions on protecting the independence of investigative organs and the rule of law.

Delhi government approves integrated financial management system costing Rs 261.66 crore to unify transactions and enable real-time data.
The Delhi government sanctioned Rs 261.66 crore for an Integrated Financial Management System to unify financial transactions across departments, enable real time data exchange, automate workflows and strengthen fiscal governance; Deloitte was engaged for design, the system will be hosted on MeitY infrastructure, the project spans phased implementation over 90 months with two years of development, covers comprehensive financial functions and user portals, and includes a stringent penalty clause for the concessionaire plus a project management committee to monitor quality and timelines.

Air India A350 engine damaged after ingesting an unsecured baggage container while taxiing in dense fog.
An Air India A350 incurred substantial right-engine damage when an improperly secured baggage container toppled from a ground-handling tug and was ingested while taxiing in dense fog after the flight returned to Delhi. The DGCA has initiated a probe into compliance with ground handling protocols and equipment maintenance. The aircraft was grounded for inspection and repair, no injuries occurred, and the airline is assisting affected passengers with re-accommodation or refunds.

Womaniya initiative empowers women led MSEs to secure public procurement orders and expand access to government markets.
The Womaniya initiative on the Government e Marketplace provides a digital interface to increase women led MSE participation in public procurement; over two lakh women led MSEs are registered and have secured orders exceeding Rs.80,000 crore (4.7% of GeM orders), surpassing the three percent procurement target. The initiative removes intermediaries, lowers entry barriers, promotes price discovery and GFR awareness, and pairs capability building with stakeholder convergence. A Memorandum of Understanding with the Women's Collective Forum formalises support for onboarding, documentation, compliance, training and visibility to enhance women entrepreneurs' access to government markets.

Strategic Trade Controls conference advances SCOMET guidance, licensing, enforcement and compliance for sensitive technology exports.
The National Conference on Strategic Trade Controls focused on the Strategic Trade Control framework and SCOMET policy, detailing the licensing framework, enforcement mechanisms, recent SCOMET list updates, and non proliferation considerations. It emphasized compliance measures including the Authorised Economic Operator programme and controls on Intangible Technology Transfer, and released the third edition of the Handbook on India's Strategic Trade Control System to guide implementation of export control policies and procedural obligations.

India trade: April-December 2025 exports rose 4.33% while imports rose 4.95%, widening the trade deficit.
Cumulative exports of merchandise and services for April-December 2025 are estimated at US$ 634.26 billion (up 4.33% YoY) and cumulative imports at US$ 730.84 billion (up 4.95% YoY), producing a trade deficit of US$ 96.58 billion. Merchandise exports were US$ 330.29 billion (2.44% growth) and non petroleum exports US$ 288.16 billion (5.51% growth). Services exports for April-December 2025 are estimated at US$ 303.97 billion (6.46% growth) with a services surplus of US$ 151.74 billion. December 2025 monthly estimates show total exports US$ 74.01 billion and imports US$ 80.94 billion.

India's trade with Iran is largely humanitarian and awaits clarity on the proposed 25% tariff affecting countries trading with Iran.
India describes its trade with Iran as largely humanitarian trade in food and pharmaceuticals and is awaiting the US executive order to assess the implications of the announced 25 percent tariff on countries doing business with Iran, with attention to sanctions compliance, potential secondary impacts on banks and firms, and effects on ongoing port development and sectoral exports.

Budget printing will occur at North Block with quarantined staff, restricted access, and continued digital distribution via a mobile app.
Printing of the Union Budget 2026-27 will occur at a dedicated government press in North Block despite relocation of ministerial offices; operational protocols include quarantining printing staff, restricting access to key officials, and holding the traditional 'halwa' ceremony to commence confidential production, while noting the parallel availability of electronic distribution and the Union Budget Mobile App introduced in 2021.

Sankranti: Andhra leaders extend festival greetings; CM pledges government support and temples see large pilgrim turnout.
Senior Andhra Pradesh officials extended Sankranti greetings, stressing the festival's cultural and agrarian significance; the Chief Minister affirmed government commitment to pursue appropriate schemes to support farmers and inclusive development. Ceremonial actions included presentation of consecrated offerings to the Chief Minister, Vedic blessings, CM participation in village deity rituals, and heavy pilgrim turnout at the Tirumala temple.