India's capital markets: regulators push tech driven reforms, simplified reporting, and strengthened investor protection.
SEBI prioritises technology enabled oversight and proportionate regulation to support expanding investor participation and equity mobilisation. Reforms announced include the Stock Brokers Regulations, a common reporting platform, rationalisation of penalties, and a revised framework to address technical glitches, alongside deployment of AI and SupTech for real time supervision to strengthen investor protection and operational resilience.

University convocation highlighted inclusive access, major degree conferrals, entrepreneurship support, and an oath to integrity and service.
The convocation showcased inclusive access to higher education-exemplified by a mother graduating with her child-alongside institutional recognition of achievement (1,983 degrees and 109 medals) and support for entrepreneurship. University leaders framed education as a vehicle for social mobility and nation building, and graduating students took an oath committing to honesty, integrity, service to society, and protection of the university's reputation, linking access, excellence, innovation, and ethical obligation.

HealthTech accelerator ATMAN 3.0 recommended seed funding and provided regulatory and investor readiness support to six startups.
TIH IIT Bombay's ATMAN 3.0 accelerator recommended cumulative seed funding of up to INR 6 crore for six HealthTech startups (up to INR 1 crore each, subject to evaluation) after a competitive selection and mentoring process. The programme paired funding recommendations with technology validation, regulatory guidance, investor-readiness coaching and industry connections to strengthen commercialization potential. Demo Day featured investor and stakeholder engagement and sector discussions on investment trends and evolving regulatory frameworks, highlighting regulatory alignment and clinical-economic impact as key conditions for deployment and follow-on investment.

Nisaba launches The Times of India Heritage Table, an exclusive private dining experience with preferred access for Times patrons.
Nisaba introduces The Times of India Heritage Table as an exclusive private dining experience emphasizing a curated vegetarian menu, cultural storytelling, and a hosted setting; access is offered to Times of India patrons at a preferred rate, with Times Black ICICI Bank credit card holders able to book exclusively via the Times Black app.

BlockchainFX presale and DeepSnitch AI AuditSnitch security tool signal heightened token risk screening ahead of launch.
BlockchainFX's presale and staged listing mechanics create near term supply pressure and investor return assumptions, while its economic model redistributes a large share of platform fees to stakers. DeepSnitch AI's AuditSnitch provides a three tier contract risk classification (CLEAN, CAUTION, SKETCHY) to simplify due diligence, and promoters link the security layer and recent funding to market stability and pre listing investor behaviour amid ongoing regulatory debate over stablecoin rewards.

DeepSnitch AI presale offers live trader tools, active staking, and a near-term platform launch amid tightened crypto access.
The article reports regulatory pressure on crypto access alongside easing corporate investment rules, and describes DeepSnitch AI's Stage 4 presale-$0.03401 price, $1,167,642 raised-with live platform tools (SnitchFeed, SnitchScan, SnitchGPT, AuditSnitch), a unified dashboard, and active staking offering a dynamic uncapped APR, plus an indicated full platform launch roughly three weeks away, and includes a high-risk trading disclaimer.

Prime Volleyball League's Season 4 used a digital first strategy and creator partnerships to drive record viewership and engagement.
Prime Volleyball League Season 4 deployed a digital first distribution and marketing strategy-including a pioneering YouTube partnership, multi language streaming, platform collaborations and formal creator partnerships-resulting in substantially increased live and cumulative viewership, social engagement, and youth reach. The league is co owned and exclusively marketed by a single sports marketing firm and sources international players through the global volleyball body's international transfer procedures; the release includes a press attribution/disclaimer.

Blinkit drops 10-minute delivery claim amid gig worker welfare concerns; other quick-commerce platforms may follow.
Blinkit removed its 10-minute delivery advertising claim after the labour ministry engaged quick-commerce operators over delivery-worker welfare and following a nationwide gig-worker strike; other platforms may follow, while company statements assert delivery speed results from store proximity and that riders are not shown a 10-minute countdown.

OPPO Reno15 Series debuts with 200MP cameras, AI Editor 3.0, 4K60fps HDR video, HoloFusion design and fast charging.
OPPO India launches the Reno15 Series (Reno15 Pro, Reno15 Pro Mini, Reno15, Reno15c) emphasizing advanced imaging-200MP main sensor on Pro models, 50MP telephoto and ultra-wide lenses, AI Editor 3.0 and 4K60fps HDR video across focal lengths-alongside HoloFusion design, IP66/IP68/IP69 durability claims, MediaTek and Snapdragon platforms, large batteries with 80W SUPERVOOC charging, ColorOS 16 with integrated AI services, and specified pricing, availability dates and retail promotions.

VCare launches Bengaluru Centre of Excellence with India's first Single-Day Facial Architecture using seven advanced technologies.
VCare's Bangalore Centre of Excellence introduces a one-day Single-Day Facial Architecture combining seven advanced laser and energy-based technologies with AI-driven and multispectral diagnostics, claiming Day 1 visible results and progressive improvement over 90 days, and asserting selection of platforms based on global clinical validation and regulatory clearance such as FDA and CE.

Rupee falls amid crude gains and FII outflows; net direct tax collections rise 8.82% to Rs 18.38 lakh crore.
The rupee fell to 90.21 against the US dollar amid higher crude prices, a stronger dollar, FII outflows, geopolitical tensions and weak equity markets, with traders eyeing US inflation data and a 90.10-90.70 trading range. Separately, the Income Tax Department reported net direct tax collection up about 8.82% to over Rs 18.38 lakh crore through January 11, driven by slower refunds and stronger corporate tax mop up; corporate receipts rose c.12.4% and non corporate receipts c.6.39%.

Tariff announcement sparks foreign fund outflows and blue-chip selling, causing benchmark indices to end lower.
An immediate 25 per cent tariff on countries doing business with Iran was announced, creating broad extraterritorial trade-policy uncertainty. Markets reacted with risk-off behaviour: benchmark indices fell amid significant foreign institutional outflows and concentrated selling in large-cap stocks, while domestic institutional buying partially offset net foreign sales. Corporate earnings weakness and a rise in retail inflation contributed to volatility and weaker investor sentiment.

Animal remains found near temple prompt arrests, charges under animal cruelty laws and suspension of local police.
Animal remains found near a temple led to registration of a case naming ten persons under provisions including the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act; two individuals were arrested, four detained, veterinary teams conducted post-mortems, remains were recovered from tin enclosures and a shed which was sealed, and four police personnel were suspended for alleged supervisory negligence given the site's proximity to police patrol routes.

PRAGATI platform accelerates project delivery through centralized monitoring, inter-agency coordination and accountability, boosting infrastructure progress.
PRAGATI is a centralized e-governance mechanism enabling real-time monitoring, review and resolution of project issues by integrating key stakeholders, institutionalising project monitoring and time-bound implementation, and shifting administration from a file-centric to a field-based, results-oriented approach that fosters inter-agency coordination and clear administrative accountability.

Excise policy case: authorities seek review of bail in a money laundering probe, with trial record ordered for court review.
Enforcement authorities have challenged bail granted in an excise policy-linked money laundering investigation; the High Court directed the trial court record be produced and set a hearing to review the plea against bail. The matter arises against prior interim consideration of the need and necessity of arrest under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, previous trial-court bail that was stayed, and concurrent investigations alleging irregularities and undue favours in excise-policy modifications.

Secret Alchemist raises $3 million to expand its clean, ingredient-led perfume line and R&D capabilities.
Secret Alchemist raised $3 million in a seed round led by Unilever Ventures with participation from DSG Consumer Partners and prior backing from IPV; proceeds (primary and secondary) will be used to expand the clean fragrance portfolio, deepen formulation and R&D capabilities, build leadership and core teams, and scale distribution and brand presence while maintaining public ingredient and allergen disclosure.

Russian fossil fuel trade shifted as refiners cut crude purchases after sanctions, altering import rankings and reducing purchases.
India's Russian hydrocarbon imports fell to Euro 2.3 billion in December 2025 from Euro 3.3 billion the prior month, driven mainly by a 50 percent reduction in Reliance's Jamnagar refinery imports and a 15 percent cut by state-owned refineries. Crude accounted for 78 percent (Euro 1.8 billion) of India's purchases. CREA links these reductions to US sanctions on major Russian producers and to timing of pre-sanctions cargoes, noting some refiners halted or curtailed purchases while others continued buying from non-sanctioned suppliers.

Coal block allocation fraud: company and executives convicted for false claims in allocation application, fined.
A special CBI court found SKS Ispat & Power Ltd and named officers guilty for submitting false and misleading information in the Rawanwara North coal block application, specifically misrepresenting financial net worth, production capacity, land possession, and environmental clearances; the convictions followed a CBI investigation, registration of the case, and filing of a chargesheet.

Battery swapping network will deploy 23 stations along Aqua Line 3 to support electric two and three wheelers.
A partnership between Indofast Energy and MMRCL will deploy 23 battery swapping stations along Aqua Line 3 at eight named metro locations, expanding Indofast's Mumbai network and using automated swapping technology on a common battery platform to serve electric two and three wheelers and small commercial vehicles.

Iran: heavy security, communications blackout, mass detentions and fatalities reported amid warnings of death penalty charges and new tariffs.
A heavy security crackdown in Iran accompanied a temporary nationwide communications blackout, with internet and SMS largely restricted and searches for satellite terminals reported. Witnesses described burned banks, smashed ATMs, mass detentions and fatalities reported by monitoring groups. Authorities warned protest participation could be treated as an enemy of God offence subject to a death penalty designation. Simultaneously, an external economic measure announced 25 percent tariffs on countries trading with Iran while diplomatic contacts continued privately.