ValueLabs will remain independent and founder-led to pursue AI-first, platform-led growth and deliver AI-driven enterprise services.
ValueLabs will remain an independent, founder-led company after a strategic review, citing strong momentum in its AI-first, platform-led offerings-centered on the AiDE platform-and significant inbound demand for outcome-based services such as BPAT and TaaS. The company frames founder-led governance as a strategic advantage to maintain speed, focus, and long-term intent while scaling enterprise AI delivery across its global workforce and client pipeline.

India-US trade deal negotiations are reportedly near conclusion, with finalisation contingent on mutual readiness and no set deadline.
Negotiations toward a bilateral trade agreement between India and the United States are nearing conclusion with teams addressing virtually all outstanding issues; no firm announcement date will be set and finalisation is contingent on both sides' mutual readiness, while prior tariff measures and policy disagreements have strained relations but have not halted engagement.

TGI Fridays Lucknow flagship opens under master franchise model, exclusive northern India partnership and planned regional expansion.
TGI Fridays opened a Lucknow flagship under a franchise-led expansion: Bistro Hospitality is the Master Franchisee overseeing brand strategy, and Feastary Hospitality LLP holds exclusive franchise rights for Northern India; the partnership establishes an exclusive territorial arrangement and structured franchise governance to scale outlets while preserving global brand standards and permitting regional adaptation.

VasudhaivaKutumbakam Conclave 4.0 mobilises policy, youth, and public engagement to advance justice centered governance.
VasudhaivaKutumbakam Conclave 4.0, convened by Jyot India Foundation with Ministry of External Affairs support, seeks to translate a 12 principle civilisational blueprint into actionable law and governance reforms centered on the Rule of Justice. The conclave employs a three engine strategy-policy maker engagement, youth programming, and societal outreach-using high impact panels, closed roundtables, a 25,000 sq. ft. research exhibition, legal exhibits commemorating constitutional values, and multi sector partnerships to promote policy momentum, future continuity, and public buy in.

Kredily launches complimentary Bharat Payroll OS plan to help MSMEs meet tightened labour law compliance.
In light of intensified labour code enforcement, a Bengaluru HRMS provider offers a one year complimentary Bharat Payroll OS Plan to DPIIT recognised startups and Udyam registered MSMEs, extendable via registered chartered accountant firms. The platform automates payroll with statutory calculations and filings for provident fund, ESI, professional tax and TDS, generates payslips and digital audit trails, and integrates onboarding and HR documentation to reduce manual processes and compliance risk.

PNG and CNG adoption campaign coordinates industry outreach to expand consumer access and support cleaner energy transition.
PNG Drive 2.0 is an industry-led national campaign, coordinated by BPCL with guidance from PNGRB, to accelerate adoption of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) across residential, transport, industrial and commercial segments. The initiative uses harmonised messaging, shared assets and coordinated outreach to strengthen consumer awareness of reliable supply, lower emissions, cost efficiency and operational convenience, and to drive last mile adoption through community programmes, digital engagement and on ground activations.

International Rover Challenge and Space Drone Challenge 2026 to be hosted at MIT Manipal with global student teams competing.
Manipal Institute of Technology will host the International Rover Challenge 2026 and International Space Drone Challenge 2026 on a purpose-built Mars-analogue terrain, where international and Indian student teams will compete in mission modules (R&DO, ABEx, IDMO, Autonomous Mission) that test robotics design, autonomy, sample handling, precision servicing, and broader planning and collaboration skills.

Fetal health insurance rider covering 16 in utero procedures with INR 2 lakh per maternity event, two-event limit, and nine-month waiting period.
Bajaj General Insurance's Fetal Flourish rider attaches to specified base health indemnity policies and provides coverage up to INR 2 lakh per maternity event for the first two events, subject to a nine month waiting period and eligibility limited to women aged 18-45 years, and covers 16 specified diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical in utero procedures.

Former Goa CM's restaurant sealed for illegal construction on salt pan land to halt unauthorised commercial use and protect public safety.
A deputy collector ordered sealing of a 700 sq.mt. restaurant on survey no. 52/1 at Arambol after a Mamlatdar report found structures, including a wooden pathway in a water body, erected on land recorded as a salt pan and shown as such in the Regional Plan without required permissions; the order directed immediate sealing to stop commercial operations and protect public safety.

Power Finance Corporation seeks government policy clarity before funding nuclear power projects, citing fuel and revenue certainty.
PFC will finance nuclear power projects only after the government provides a clear policy framework; funding requires assessment of project viability and revenue certainty, specifically clarity on fuel sourcing and power offtake arrangements. Once government guidelines are issued, PFC will frame internal funding policies and rely on its existing appraisal mechanism.

L&T Technology Services reports 10.2% YoY revenue growth, $200M average TCV deal momentum and improved EBIT margin.
L&T Technology Services reported Q3 results with Rs 29,235 million revenue (10.2% YoY), US$326.3 million USD revenue (4.6% YoY), net profit of Rs 3,291 million and a 14.6% EBIT margin, citing sustained large deal wins averaging ~$200 million TCV, multiple significant bookings, strategic emphasis on AI and high margin segments, a patents portfolio of 1,655 (1,007 co authored), employee strength of 23,639, and a distribution disclaimer by PTI/Business Wire India.

KORA opens a 4,200 sq ft Anna Nagar store in Chennai offering luxury men's ethnic wear, bespoke tailoring, and styling services.
KORA by Nilesh Mitesh opened a 4,200 sq ft flagship store in Anna Nagar, Chennai, extending its presence after Nungambakkam and Coimbatore. The store provides dedicated traditional and fusion sections, bespoke wedding collections, made-to-measure tailoring, and personalized styling consultations, emphasizing veshti sets, sherwanis, pancha-kurta combinations, festive silk kurtas, and indo-western ensembles crafted with premium fabrics and intricate handwork. Appointment-based services, launch-week previews, and special offers accompany the opening.

FDDI Foundation Day launches Vision 2030 and an Industry Membership Programme to boost skills, innovation and sustainability.
FDDI, an Institution of National Importance, unveiled Vision 2030 focused on innovation-led education, sustainability, entrepreneurship and global competitiveness, and launched an Industry Membership Programme alongside Memoranda of Understanding to institutionalise collaboration in education, research, skilling and technology transfer, aligning workforce development and industry-academia engagement.

GST fraud: bogus invoices used to claim ineligible input tax credit, arrests made and investigation ongoing.
Fraudulent availment of ineligible Input Tax Credit of about Rs.8.52 crore through bogus invoices of about Rs.199.90 crore was uncovered; searches showed closed or non existent business premises and statements attributed false ITC claims to a proprietor and his father, both arrested as direct beneficiaries, remanded to judicial custody, and subject to ongoing investigation to trace funds and additional beneficiaries under the CGST legal framework.

India-EU free trade agreement to be sealed at the summit, paired with a strategic agenda and defence cooperation.
Expected India-EU free trade agreement to be finalised at the India-EU Summit on January 27 to deepen bilateral trade ties, accompanied by a new strategic agenda and a defence framework pact identifying five priority domains and expanded cooperation on maritime security, cyber defence, counterterrorism, regional connectivity initiatives including the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, Global Gateway alignment, and trilateral engagement with third partners.

Iranian airspace closure forces airlines to cancel and reroute international flights, causing delays and higher operational costs.
Closure of Iranian airspace forced Indian carriers to cancel or reroute international flights, affecting Air India services to the US and Europe and IndiGo services to CIS countries, Europe, and Turkey; alternative routing over Iraq increases sector length, fuel consumption, and operating costs, and in some cases prevents continuation of planned nonstop services, prompting airline advisories, cancellations, and operational incidents on affected flights.

I-PAC raid raises scrutiny over alleged interference with central probe; FIR stayed and CCTV secured.
The ED alleges obstruction of its raids at a political consultancy, removal of evidence, and seeks a CBI probe into interference by state agencies. The court described the allegation as very serious, stayed the FIR against ED officers, ordered preservation of CCTV footage, and issued notices to the chief minister, state government, DGP and senior police to respond to the petition.

World markets mixed; oil fell after a political remark; antitrust probe opened and margin requirements raised.
World markets were mixed and oil fell nearly $3 a barrel after a US political leader said executions in Iran had stopped; US futures rose modestly. Asian moves included technology stock weakness, a Beijing-initiated antitrust investigation into a Chinese online travel platform, and Chinese regulators raising minimum margin requirements. Corporate factors included an increased buyout offer for Toyota Industries and a planned significant capital spending increase by a major chipmaker.

Book From Startups to Success offers founders a practical roadmap for building sustainable, values-driven businesses.
Manu Patolia's From Startups to Success provides a practitioner's roadmap covering planning, execution, leadership, funding, systems, team building, sustainable growth, and exit planning. The book pairs actionable frameworks with decades of operational experience and stresses disciplined processes, long term thinking, and integrity as foundational principles for building durable, scalable enterprises.

IIM Ahmedabad BPGP admissions open for 2026-28: blended 80% online/20% campus, professional experience and aptitude test required.
IIM Ahmedabad's two-year BPGP for working professionals combines 80% live online instruction with 20% week-long campus immersions, employs case-method pedagogy and experiential components, and assesses candidates on academic background, professional experience, purpose, an aptitude test and readiness to contribute; applications for the 2026-28 cohort are open with a stated deadline and published contact and application portal details.