Digital arrest money laundering: Enforcement Directorate arrests alleged facilitator linked to mule accounts and crypto proceeds.
Enforcement action alleges a money laundering scheme arising from a high value impersonation extortion (digital arrest); authorities arrested an alleged facilitator who provided mule accounts, coordinated with foreign associates, received proceeds in USDT and rupees, and enabled transfer of illicit funds abroad. Searches recovered digital devices and cash, and the detainee was placed in custody under anti money laundering procedures. The report links the accused to multiple cyberfrauds and notes government advice for victims to contact local police and the national cybercrime helpline.

Andhra Pradesh absorbs Rs 4,497.89 crore power true-up today to protect consumers from retrospective tariff increases.
The State formally committed to absorb a Rs 4,497.89 crore true-up liability for FY 2019 20 to FY 2023 24 across three distribution companies, with APERC recording this payment commitment to avoid burdening end consumers and to preserve tariff stability instead of incorporating retrospective charges into retail tariffs.

India-UK trade pact to grant 99% duty free access and expand services mobility, including a dedicated women and gender chapter.
The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement is expected to enter into force in the first half of 2026, providing duty free market access for 99% of Indian products by trade value across 26 sectors and aiming to double bilateral trade to USD 112 billion. The pact covers labour intensive and high growth goods, includes tariff rationalisation for some UK exports, liberalises services trade with mobility provisions for IT professionals, and introduces a first of its kind chapter on women and gender to promote women led enterprises and artisan employment.

Telangana welfare schemes boost farmers', households' and youth economic security through housing, electricity relief and skills programs.
Telangana's welfare package combines direct farmer assistance for inputs, expanded low-income housing and a utility relief measure supplying up to 200 free electricity units, alongside youth skill-development and scholarship programs, structured to reduce household financial burden, foster economic empowerment and promote social equity through public investment rather than charity.

Merck Foundation and African First Ladies launch scholarships, media campaigns and health education initiatives in Sa o Tome and Pri ncipe.
Merck Foundation and the First Lady of Sa o Tome and Pri ncipe partnered at the 12th Africa Asia Luminary to expand healthcare capacity and public health education by enrolling doctors from Sa o Tome and Pri ncipe into Oncology and Diabetes Care scholarships, providing annual scholarships for 40 underprivileged students, launching Portuguese-language children's storybooks and animation films on social and health issues, conducting online health media trainings, and promoting awards and media campaigns to amplify awareness and support scientific research capacity and women's empowerment in STEM.

Punjab cashless health scheme offers universal coverage up to ten lakh per family with Aadhaar based enrollment requirement.
The Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna provides universal cashless health coverage to all resident families in Punjab, capped at Rs 10 lakh per family, with eligibility contingent on residency and Aadhaar and voter identity. Covered benefits include hospitalisation, surgeries, ICU care, diagnostics, medicines and pre- and post-hospitalisation treatment under approved package rates; around 2,200 procedures are listed. Enrollment via over 9,000 camps and issuance of scheme cards triggers entitlement, with the scheme designed to be cashless and paperless and to cover the full state population.

Tamil Nadu attracted Rs 2.07 lakh crore in investment commitments and launched sectoral policies to spur jobs and industry.
Tamil Nadu secured Rs 2.07 lakh crore in committed investments in 2025 via 270 MoUs expected to create over 4 lakh jobs, supported by decentralised infrastructure such as new TIDEL Neo parks and SIPCOT industry parks. The State implemented sector-specific policies - including the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme and the Tamil Nadu Maritime Transport Manufacturing Policy 2025 - targeting aerospace, defence, advanced electronics, railways and maritime manufacturing, and promoted Global Capability Centres and university-industry research to strengthen investment attraction and improve ease of doing business.

Electronics manufacturing: 22 ECMS proposals approved, Rs 41,863 crore investment and increased domestic component production.
The Ministry approved 22 proposals under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) with projected investment of Rs 41,863 crore, projected production of Rs 2,58,152 crore, and estimated 33,791 direct jobs; approvals cover 11 target-segment products across eight states and aim to strengthen domestic supply chains, reduce import dependence for critical components, and support high-value electronics manufacturing.

Silverstorm Parks and Resorts files DRHP for IPO to raise up to 6.2 million equity shares for park expansion and debt repayment.
Filing of a Draft Red Herring Prospectus with BSE SME for an IPO of up to 62,00,000 equity shares (face value Rs. 10) to fund capital expenditure for a Lucknow Snow Park and FEC, expand and upgrade the existing theme park, repay certain borrowings, and for general corporate purposes; disclosed consolidated FY25 revenue Rs. 3,100.12 lakhs, EBITDA Rs. 1,655.89 lakhs, PAT Rs. 971.07 lakhs, and six-months-to-September-2025 revenue Rs. 1,311.63 lakhs, EBITDA Rs. 715.50 lakhs, PAT Rs. 415.38 lakhs.

Andhra Pradesh government to pay Rs 4,500 crore true-up dues to power DISCOMs to avoid consumer tariff shock.
The state government will pay Rs 4,500 crore in true-up dues-deferred revenue-cost gaps from 2019-2024-on behalf of the three Andhra Pradesh DISCOMs to avoid tariff shock; APERC directed the DISCOMs to claim the approved amounts from the government, with allocations of Rs 1,552 crore to APSPDCL, Rs 1,163 crore to APCPDCL and Rs 1,783 crore to APEPDCL.

Retailer launches limited time electronics sale with prices tied to bank cashback, trade in, EMIs, and T&C.
Retailer announces a limited period promotion with product prices stated as inclusive of bank cashback and exchange adjustments, conditional offers tied to specified payment instruments and financing products (including EMI plans and consumer durable loan cashbacks), and promotional add ons for qualifying purchases; all offers are subject to the seller's Terms and Conditions and limited availability.

India manufacturing PMI falls to 55 as new orders soften; firms curb purchases and hiring amid weak export growth.
The HSBC India Manufacturing PMI fell to 55.0 in December, the weakest two-year improvement, as softer new domestic and export orders led firms to limit input purchases and restrict hiring; input cost inflation was negligible and charge inflation eased, while business sentiment weakened despite expected higher output in 2026.

Merck Foundation partnership advances healthcare capacity and breaks infertility stigma through scholarships, media training and awareness initiatives.
Merck Foundation partnered with the First Lady of Central Africa and other African First Ladies to strengthen healthcare capacity via scholarships for local doctors, annual scholarships for under privileged schoolgirls, and programs to build scientific research capacity and empower women in STEM. The collaboration focuses on breaking infertility stigma (including male infertility), combating gender based violence, ending child marriage and FGM, and promoting early detection of diabetes, hypertension and cancer through media training, awards for creative messaging, children's storybooks and animation, songs, and a Pan African TV program, supported by reported metrics of scholarships, trainings and outreach.

Asian markets rise as Alibaba plans a Hong Kong spin-off subject to regulatory approvals and trade pauses affect imports.
Alibaba's planned spin-off and Hong Kong listing of its artificial intelligence chip unit is expressly subject to regulatory approvals, while a pause in tariff actions and ongoing trade negotiations operate as regulatory measures affecting imports, export-oriented sectors, and market conditions across the region.

Director KYC annual filing replaced by once-in-three-years intimation; digital signature only for contact or address updates.
Annual KYC filing for directors under rule 12A has been replaced with a once-in-three-years KYC intimation using a simplified KYC Form for compliance, contact or address updation, and DIN re-activation. Digital signature verification and professional certification are required only when updating mobile number, email or residential address. Directors who completed KYC already must next file by 30 June 2028; those who have not may get DINs re-activated under existing rules until 31 March 2026.

Ministry updates corporate rules: higher small-company thresholds, simplified director KYC, broadened fast-track mergers, and digital investor claims.
Thresholds for small companies were raised to paid-up capital up to Rs.10 crore and turnover up to Rs.100 crore; rules were amended to allow authorised government representatives to furnish indemnity bonds for closure under section 248(2); fast-track merger/demerger eligibility was broadened; annual director KYC was replaced by KYC once every three years; IEPFA launched an integrated digital portal and call centre to accelerate claim settlement; IBC reforms and a digital integrated platform were advanced to improve insolvency outcomes.

Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters offers 100% government backed collateral free loans to exporters for liquidity and market diversification.
The Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters provides a 100% government guarantee for additional collateral free credit of up to Rs.20,000 crore through eligible Member Lending Institutions to support exporters and MSMEs, permitting working capital loans tied to existing export credit limits; the scheme runs until 31 March 2026 or until the guarantee corpus is exhausted.

Actor Jayasurya questioned in alleged money laundering probe over Save Box endorsements; he says transactions were legal.
Enforcement Directorate interrogation under PMLA probed alleged money laundering linked to the 'Save Box' scheme, focusing on payments to actor Jayasurya as brand ambassador-including bank transfers to a partner and alleged cash handed over at his wife's boutique-while the couple asserted a formal endorsement agreement, that most funds were received through banking channels, and that their transactions were legitimate as the ED examines the alleged proceeds of crime.

Stock markets rallied early as domestic institutional buying offset foreign selling, lifting major indices and blue chip stocks.
Benchmark equity indices opened higher, with Sensex up about 158 points to 85,346.79 and Nifty up roughly 56 points to 26,202.35, led by gains in major blue chip sectors. Exchange data showed foreign institutional investors as net sellers while domestic institutional investors were net buyers, and market observers attributed the early rally to domestic inflows offsetting FII selling; Asian markets were higher and Brent crude traded near USD 61 per barrel.

Rupee trades near 89.92 as RBI defends 90 level; GST collections up 6.1% in December.
The rupee rose to 89.92 against the US dollar amid thin liquidity, a narrow trading range attributed to active market management by the Reserve Bank protecting the 90 level, with corporate, government and FPI demand weighing on the currency while domestic equities offered partial support. Official data showed gross GST collections rose 6.1% to about Rs 1.74 lakh crore in December, a change linked to slower domestic sales growth following sweeping tax cuts.