India's GDP projection rises, attributed to investment policies, manufacturing incentives, infrastructure and digital public goods driving demand.
The government attributes an upgraded fiscal 2025-26 GDP projection to a suite of regulatory and fiscal measures - including investment policy initiatives, manufacturing incentives, infrastructure spending, promotion of digital public goods, and Ease of Doing Business reforms - which together are presented as supporting demand and productive capacity and thus a higher growth trajectory.

MMRDA transformed into an infrastructure authority; Rs 4 lakh crore projects and AC local trains promised, fares unchanged.
MMRDA has been repositioned as the principal infrastructure development authority for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, with the state initiating projects totalling Rs 4 lakh crore for water, roads and an expansive metro network. The plan includes phased introduction of AC local train coaches with closed doors while keeping second-class fares unchanged, and delivery of major corridors - the Airoli-Katai Naka Freeway, a multi-modal corridor and east-west tunnels - alongside a proposed commercial hub to spur jobs and regional economic growth.

Illegal mining in Sahibganj: investigators conducting on-site inspections of quarries, boats and seizure records following probe order.
A central investigative team inspected a seized boat and several stone quarries in Sahibganj, compared seizure lists and documents with prior enforcement records, and questioned personnel and officials at the sites to verify and expand the evidentiary record identified in earlier raids.

Mahadev online betting app: ED attaches assets worth about Rs 92 crore under PMLA, including promoters' assets.
ED issued a provisional order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act attaching about Rs 92 crore in bank deposits and properties linked to entities traced to alleged promoters of the Mahadev online betting scheme. The agency alleges the app enabled multiple illegal betting platforms, laundered proceeds abroad via hawala, trade-based transactions and crypto, routed funds back as foreign portfolio investments, and operated a cashback mechanism requiring promoters to return 30-40% in cash.

IISc Foundation, Cyberverse and Pantherun to incubate early-stage cybersecurity startups offering technical, market and funding support.
A memorandum of understanding commits FSID's STEM Cell, Cyberverse and Pantherun to identify, incubate and support two to four early-stage cybersecurity startups from early 2026, with FSID providing infrastructure, mentorship, faculty access and grants; Cyberverse supplying training and lab access plus incubation and accelerator programmes; and Pantherun scouting startups, offering seed-stage funding and guiding product development and early market access.

Air safety: AAIB urges regulator to inspect airlines' safety management systems and enforce mandatory occurrence reporting.
AAIB found the airprox resulted from crew non adherence to SOPs, failure to update and cross verify the SID, inadequate cockpit disturbance control, and lack of climb monitoring; prior SID deviations were not recorded or reported. AAIB recommends a one time regulatory inspection of airlines' and the air navigation service provider's safety management system and reiteration of rules to ensure prompt reporting of mandatory occurrences, and suggests an AAI study of unjustified STCA and parallel departure procedures.

Jaypee fund diversion: ED attaches assets worth Rs 400 crore linked to alleged siphoning from homebuyers.
The Enforcement Directorate issued a provisional attachment order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, attaching immovable assets owned by Jaiprakash Sewa Sansthan and Page 3 Buildtech Private Limited (combined market value Rs 400 crore) after alleging those entities received portions of diverted homebuyers' funds collected by Jaypee Infratech Ltd and Jaiprakash Associates Ltd; the probe attributes a central organising role to the managing trustee of JSS and identifies Page 3 Buildtech as beneficially owned by the promoter of Investors Clinic.

College lecturer suspended after arrest for misappropriating funds meant for girls' self defence programme and former governing body president also arrested.
A college lecturer was suspended after being remanded to judicial custody on allegations of misappropriating Rs 32.07 lakh meant for a girls' self defence programme; the sub collector issued the suspension and referred the matter to the Higher Education Department, and both the lecturer and the former governing body president were booked under the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018 and IPC sections following a Vigilance investigation.

Bitcoin scam: court finds prima facie material to proceed over alleged retention of 285 bitcoins and missing wallet records.
The court found prima facie material to issue process under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against two individuals accused of involvement in a bitcoin based scheme; prosecution alleges one accused received 285 bitcoins, retained them when a mining farm deal failed, and failed to produce wallet addresses, while a signed term sheet and precise recollection of tranche amounts support an allegation of beneficial ownership rather than a mediator role.

MGNREGA rollback demands nationwide protest alleging new law removes the right to work and wage guarantees.
The party alleges the VB-GRAM-G Act replaces the constitutional right to work under MGNREGA with discretionary benefits, centralises employment decisions, undermines gram panchayat authority, removes guaranteed minimum wages and annual revisions, and restricts work availability; it demands immediate rollback, restoration of guaranteed work and wages, guaranteed accountability, and a national minimum wage of Rs 400.

US ambassador-designate Sergio Gor arriving in India to address tariffs and negotiate a trade deal to rebuild ties.
Sergio Gor, confirmed and sworn as US ambassador to India, is arriving to strengthen the strategic partnership and to focus on diplomatic and trade negotiations addressing recent US trade actions, including 50% tariffs on Indian goods and an additional 25% duty related to purchases of Russian crude oil, with efforts underway by both sides to firm up a proposed trade agreement to address India's concerns.

Dhaka-Karachi direct flights resume Jan 29: Biman to operate twice-weekly service, Pakistan cleared route, India overflight pending.
Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority approved Biman Bangladesh Airlines to operate twice-weekly direct Dhaka-Karachi flights from January 29, authorising use of designated Pakistani air corridors; overflight clearance from India for the planned routing over Indian airspace has not been confirmed.

Social media posts linking a politician to a murder must be removed within 24 hours under court direction.
A directive required parties to remove social media posts linking a political leader to a murder within 24 hours, highlighting social media liability. Authorities were asked to respond on regulating e-rickshaws and on whether NBFCs and digital lending apps breached a borrower's right to privacy and data protection. City agencies were ordered to prepare an action plan for fire and safety in hospitality venues, the animal welfare board to report on alleged illegal dog breeding, and a national transporter was reprimanded for failing to file an affidavit, stressing procedural compliance.

TP Solar reports Q3FY26 production of 940 MW cells and 990 MW modules, scaling output from its 4.3 GW facility.
TP Solar, a subsidiary of Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited, reported cell production of 940 MW in Q3FY26 (up from 196 MW year on year) and module production of 990 MW (about 7% higher than 927 MW). For April-December 2025 the facility produced 2.8 GW of cells and 2.9 GW of modules. The output derives from a single 4.3 GW manufacturing facility at Tirunelveli established with an investment of Rs 4,300 crore.

Indian economy expected to grow 7.4% in FY26 driven by GST rationalisation, income tax relief and demand-side support.
The First Advance Estimates project real GDP growth of 7.4% in FY26 and inform Union Budget preparation; policy measures cited as underpinning this include GST rationalisation, income tax relief, implemented labour reforms, and accommodative monetary settings. Sectoral GVA gains are led by services and manufacturing, with moderated agricultural growth. Nominal GDP is estimated to rise 8.0%, affecting revenue expectations and fiscal space through non-tax receipts and potential expenditure savings that together influence fiscal deficit management and budgetary calibration.

Silver hit a record Rs 2,56,000/kg amid safe haven demand, supply constraints and export curbs.
Silver prices in Delhi rose Rs 5,000 to Rs 2,56,000 per kg driven by safe haven demand, industrial buying, supply constraints and China's export curbs effective January 1; traders also cited US-Venezuela tensions as a factor. Gold slipped marginally by Rs 100 to Rs 1,41,400 per 10 grams amid profit booking and a firmer US dollar, while commentators warned of possible profit taking and identified higher technical targets for silver at USD 84 and USD 88.5 per ounce.

Railway freight evasion led to provisional PMLA attachment of properties linked to alleged money laundering of illicit freight gains.
Provisional attachment under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act of immovable properties worth Rs 2.67 crore follows allegations that companies and their promoter misdeclared high freight goods as low freight items to evade railway freight charges and GST, generating illicit gains of Rs 16.15 crore which were allegedly siphoned into personal accounts, layered, and used to acquire the attached properties; the investigation continues to identify further assets and persons involved in laundering.

Sri Lotus Developers to build a 1 million sq ft luxury mixed-use project at GIFT City with Abhishek Bachchan.
Sri Lotus Developers & Realty Ltd entered a joint development agreement with landowner Abhishek Bachchan to build an ultra-luxury mixed-use project on freehold land at GIFT City through its subsidiary Rise Root Projects Pvt Ltd under a profit-sharing arrangement, covering over one million square feet; the regulatory filing does not disclose the investment amount.

India GDP projected to grow 7.4% in FY26, led by services and manufacturing and supported by consumption and investment.
Real GDP is projected to grow 7.4 per cent in FY2025 26 with GVA at 7.3 per cent, led by services ( 9.1%) and manufacturing ( 7.0%), nominal GDP up about 8%, and First Advance Estimates used for Union Budget preparation; consumption and investment (PFCE 7.0%, GFCF 7.8%) underpin the demand side, while tax relief and GST reductions form part of the fiscal context.

NDMC budget prioritises surplus finance, major infrastructure spending, 2,000+ CCTVs, 100% renewable energy target and uniform property tax plans.
NDMC presented a surplus 2026-27 budget projecting a Rs 143.05 crore net surplus with receipts of Rs 5,953.07 crore and expenditure of Rs 5,810.02 crore; major allocations include Rs 1,966.80 crore for electricity (Rs 360.07 crore for RDS capital works), Rs 556 crore for sewerage rehabilitation, a pilot 24x7 water supply project, and installation of over 2,000 CCTV cameras. The plan targets 100% renewable power by 2028, sewage-to-energy at Bharti Nagar, expanded solar, mechanised sanitation, and Rs 245.93 crore for education upgrades; property tax rates remain unchanged now, with future streamlining toward uniform rates.