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.

Rajasthan to host a global startup summit offering funding, mentoring, and release of the state AI ML policy.
Rajasthan will host the Rajasthan DigiFest-TiE Global Summit (Jan 4-6, 2026) in Jaipur to advance the state's technology and startup ecosystem by providing sectoral sessions, mentoring and funding opportunities for startups and entrepreneurs. The summit is expected to draw over 10,000 participants and 1,200 founders, CEOs and investors, may facilitate investments exceeding Rs 200 crore for local startups, and will include a Regional AI Impact Conference and release of the state's AI ML policy on January 6; iStart identified startups will receive one year of mentoring.

Turkmenistan legalises crypto mining and exchanges while excluding digital currencies as payment and imposing central bank licensing.
Turkmenistan enacted a statute legalising cryptocurrency mining and exchange, classifying virtual assets under civil law while explicitly excluding digital currencies as a means of payment, currency, or security, and establishing a licensing scheme for exchanges under central bank supervision.

PRAGATI platform accelerates time bound implementation and monitoring of major infrastructure and energy projects through ICT-enabled oversight.
The PRAGATI platform is an ICT-based administrative mechanism enabling time-bound implementation and real-time monitoring of major infrastructure and energy projects through inter-agency coordination, high-level reviews, and digital tracking; applied in Chhattisgarh to accelerate long-pending projects such as the Bhilai Steel Plant modernisation and the NTPC Lara Super Thermal Power Project, it institutionalises centre-state engagement to enhance accountability and project delivery.

Commercial LPG price hike hits small businesses and raises concerns about selective fuel pricing and fiscal imbalance.
Commercial LPG price increases impose immediate inflationary and livelihood costs on tea shops, small hotels, bakeries and street vendors dependent on commercial cylinders; the rise is attributed to international LPG contract prices while petrol and diesel remain unchanged despite softer global crude, suggesting a selective application of international price logic. The statement also alleges a pronounced fiscal imbalance, asserting that state contributions to the national exchequer far exceed returns, and cites rising fares, extra cesses and the shifting of welfare costs to states as factors increasing state financial burden.

Stock market investment fraud: assets worth Rs 4.59 crore seized under PMLA; alleged unregistered investment advisory activity involved.
Seizure of assets totalling about Rs 4.59 crore was made under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in an alleged stock market investment fraud where the accused are said to have lured investors, diverted funds for personal use, and operated unregistered investment advisory activities through multiple entities found responsible by the securities regulator.

GST collections rose 6% to Rs1.74 lakh crore; government raises excise duty and imposes health cess on pan masala.
The government imposed an additional excise duty on cigarettes and other tobacco products and introduced a health cess on pan masala effective February 1, with the largest increases on longer premium cigarettes; gross GST collections rose 6.1% to over Rs 1.74 lakh crore in December 2025.

State budget preparations to begin in January, signaling executive continuity amid leadership speculation before budget presentation.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, holding the finance portfolio, will begin state budget preparations in January for the 2026-27 budget expected in March, with his involvement signaling operational continuity in the executive finance function amid speculation about possible leadership change.

Cigarettes and pan masala face new excise duties, a health cess, 40% GST, and packing-machine CCTV and disclosure rules.
The government restructured taxation effective February 1 by imposing an additional excise duty on cigarettes based on length (Rs 2,050-8,500 per 1,000 sticks) over and above 40% GST, levying a Health and National Security Cess on pan masala manufacturing capacity, and setting specific excise percentages for chewing tobacco and gutkha; packing-machine rules require CCTV, 24-month footage retention, disclosure of machine capacities, and permit abatement for machines non-functional 15 consecutive days.

Assam government to transfer state GST from Zubeen Garg's film to his foundation and expedite prosecution.
The state will transfer Rs 2.90 crore of state GST from the late singer's final film to the Kalaguru Foundation, and will appoint a Special Public Prosecutor and seek a fast-track court to expedite the ongoing criminal prosecution. Trial has commenced at the District and Sessions Court following a charge sheet alleging murder, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy, and criminal breach of trust against various accused.

Defence modernisation advances with large capital contracts, procurement reforms, and measures to boost indigenisation and industry participation.
The Defence Acquisition Council approved capital acquisition proposals worth over Rs 3.84 lakh crore since January 2025, and the ministry signed capital contracts of Rs 1.82 lakh crore in FY 2025 26 up to December; budget execution reached about 80% for capital acquisition and 76% overall. Concurrent reforms include revision of the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020, promotion of foreign direct investment and private sector participation, streamlining of manufacturing licences, establishment of an export promotion body, implementation of Quality Assurance 4.0 and Industry 4.0 in DPSUs, and creation of a national integrated test laboratory.

Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference in Rajkot aims to showcase regional opportunities and attract investment through B2B and exhibitions.
The second Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference for Kutch and Saurashtra will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister on January 11 in Rajkot, run for two days at Marwadi University, and aims to showcase regional economic and industrial opportunities, attract new investments, and find global markets for local products through B2B and B2G meetings, an exhibition of 26,400 square metres, sector seminars, and reverse buyer-seller meets.

Mayoral policies will freeze rent, expand fare-free buses, fund universal childcare, and create city-owned grocery stores.
The administration proposes a Rent Freeze for all stabilized tenants and municipal housing production to lower rents; permanently eliminating fares on every city bus while building priority lanes and related infrastructure; implementing universal childcare for children six weeks to five years with guaranteed quality programming; and creating a network of city-owned grocery stores focused on low prices rather than profit, with campaign statements asserting funding plans for these measures.

Bharat Taxi cooperative ride-hailing to launch, offering zero-commission fares, integrated transit booking and driver profit distribution.
Bharat Taxi, operated by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Ltd and promoted by eight cooperatives, will launch by month-end after a pilot that showed average daily rides of about 5,500 and over 140,000 driver registrations. The board includes elected driver representatives. The platform offers mobile booking, transparent fares, real-time tracking, multilingual support, 24/7 service and transit integration. It follows a zero-commission model allowing drivers to retain full earnings while cooperative profits are distributed among them, and has a safety tie-up with local police.

Lado Lakshmi Yojana expanded to mothers of high achieving and rehabilitated children with split savings and deposit payouts.
The scheme retains a Rs 2,100 monthly benefit but from month two splits payments into Rs 1,100 to the beneficiary's savings account and Rs 1,000 into a government recurring or fixed deposit (tenure up to five years) payable with interest on maturity. Eligibility now includes mothers of children scoring over 80% in Class 10 or 12, children demonstrating NIPUN Bharat competency in Classes 1-4, and mothers who rehabilitated children from SAM/MAM as verified by the Women and Child Development Department; the income ceiling for these additions is raised to Rs 1.80 lakh and mothers with more than three children are excluded. Local self governance bodies will validate beneficiary lists.

Steel prices hit five-year low amid global protectionist measures and export duties disrupting trade flows and exports.
Protectionist trade measures and export duties in 2025 restricted international steel flows and, together with a surge in Chinese exports, produced global oversupply that depressed prices; as a result, Indian steel prices fell to a five-year low despite strong domestic demand and supply. Tata Steel reported limited scope for further capacity expansion at Jamshedpur, emphasised investments in value-added facilities, and highlighted corporate planning adjustments in response to trade disruptions and duties affecting export access.

Insurance sector faces structural stress from high cost distribution, prompting calls for cost rationalisation and tech driven distribution adoption now.
The Reserve Bank flags a persistent high expense structure in the insurance sector where premium growth is driven by high cost distribution and front loaded acquisition costs rather than operating efficiency, leading to weakened profitability buffers and potential cyclical vulnerabilities; it recommends cost rationalisation, realignment of intermediary incentives toward persistency and policyholder value, broader technology enabled low cost distribution, and supportive regulatory measures such as risk based capital, enhanced disclosures, and stronger market conduct standards to reduce expense intensity and improve consumer value.

Gold and silver outlook: interest-rate expectations, central-bank buying, ETF flows and China's silver export curbs shape 2026.
Gold rose domestically at the start of 2026 while silver slipped; market outlook hinges on US interest-rate expectations and dollar strength, continued central-bank purchases and ETF flows that provide structural support, and China's new silver export curbs which may tighten global supply and influence prices.

Assam economy recognised for 45% growth, higher per capita income, stronger fiscal metrics and major investment commitments.
RBI data recognises Assam as the fastest growing state economy with 45% GSDP growth in five years, with GSDP rising from Rs 4,10,724 crore to an expected Rs 7,41,626 crore and per capita income up 54%. The government reports improved fiscal metrics-revenue growth of 53%, budget utilisation rising from 65% to 85%, and capital expenditure increases-coupled with large infrastructure projects, a reported Rs 5.18 lakh crore investment commitment, and major industrial investments aimed at attracting private capital and employment.