WinZO deposits frozen over alleged money laundering using bots, rake commissions, restricted withdrawals and overseas transfers.
The ED froze fresh bank balances, fixed deposits and mutual funds totalling Rs 192 crore as proceeds of crime under PMLA, found in the Indian subsidiary's accounts after searches. The agency alleges the operator used bots, AI and software to play against real users and earn rake commissions, restricted customer withdrawals, and generated alleged proceeds totalling about Rs 802 crore, part of which were transferred abroad and parked in a US account held by a shell company.

Air India pilot grounded after fitness-for-duty concern delayed Vancouver-Delhi flight; investigation and disciplinary process initiated.
Canadian authorities raised concerns about a cockpit crew member's fitness for duty before departure, the pilot was deplaned and taken for inquiry, an alternate pilot was rostered causing a delay, and Air India has suspended the pilot pending investigation with potential disciplinary action under company policy.

Punjab extends one-time settlement deadline to March 31, offering interest and penalty waivers for pre-GST tax dues.
Punjab extended the one-time settlement (OTS) scheme to March 31 to enable resolution of pre-GST VAT and Central Sales Tax liabilities, offering up to 100% waiver of interest and penalties and reductions in principal amounts; the extension follows stakeholder representations about overlapping deadlines and delayed VAT assessment orders, and the government warned of recovery proceedings against those who fail to opt in.

Punjab to deploy AI in agriculture with pilot projects, weather stations, farmer data collection and IIT Ropar training.
Punjab will deploy AI in agriculture with state support for pilot projects, installation of automatic weather stations, farmer-led data collection, horticulture clusters and AI-based livestock solutions. IIT Ropar's Centre of Excellence, supported by about Rs 310 crore, is developing AI-based crop advisory systems, multilingual chatbots, yield estimation, soil health analysis, weather tools and smart livestock management, and will offer national-level courses on precision agriculture and AI with reserved seats for Punjab students and officers.

India's space sector advances with an uncrewed Gaganyaan test, private orbital launch attempts, and major propulsion and quantum demos.
The Gaganyaan G-1 uncrewed test will validate crew systems with a humanoid in low Earth orbit ahead of human flights, while private firms Skyroot and Agnikul pursue commercial orbital launches, reusable stages, and patented methods to convert upper stages into satellites. ISRO's TDS-01 will demonstrate a High Thrust Electric Propulsion system, quantum key distribution, and an indigenous travelling wave tube amplifier, supporting future satellite mass and fuel reductions and enabling downstream commercial and defence applications.

Bulgaria adopts the euro: lev fixed at 0.51 euros, automatic account conversion, and fee-free cash exchanges.
Bulgaria's adoption of the euro fixes the lev at 0.51 euros, with automatic conversion of bank accounts, dual pricing before the switch, a transitional period allowing lev cash receipts while euros circulate, and fee-free exchange at banks, post offices and the central bank through June 30 and indefinitely at the central bank. Accession places Bulgaria within the eurozone legal and monetary framework, subjects it to ECB monetary policy and grants representation on the ECB governing council while eliminating national tools like independent interest-rate setting.

Rupee falls to 89.98 as foreign fund outflows and elevated dollar demand pressure the currency in early 2026.
The rupee fell to 89.98 against the US dollar on the first trading day of 2026 amid sustained foreign fund outflows and heightened dollar demand from importers; intraday trade remained in a tight range and the currency continued pressure after a roughly 5% decline in 2025, with market sentiment influenced by a firmer US dollar index and mixed support from easing crude oil prices.

Stock market ends flat as tobacco duty notification triggers sell-off and foreign fund outflows in early trading.
Equity benchmarks finished the first 2026 session largely flat, driven chiefly by steep selling in tobacco and cigarette stocks after a government notification fixed February 1 as the start date for imposition of additional excise duty on tobacco products and a health cess on pan masala; foreign institutional investor net sales and offsetting domestic institutional purchases also materially affected market flows.

Breast cancer patients may see improved quality of life with complementary Ayurveda Rasayana Therapy, study reports international presentation.
A real world analysis of 254 breast cancer patients (2021-2023) found that Ayurveda Rasayana Therapy as a complementary intervention to conventional treatment was associated with reduced anxiety and depression, improved sleep and symptom management, and enhanced health related quality of life in patients, including Stage IV cases who received ART for at least 90 days; findings presented internationally and slated for publication to support integrative oncology collaboration.

VinFast established large-scale EV manufacturing, dealer and service networks in India to accelerate localization and market adoption.
VinFast established a 400-acre manufacturing complex in Tamil Nadu producing the VF 6 and VF 7 as Made-in-India models, creating significant employment and prompting supplier relocations. The entry combined dealer expansion, third-party aftersales partnerships for charging and mobile service, and bank financing programs to address adoption barriers. A Memorandum of Understanding with the State will add 200 hectares and new production lines for buses, scooters and charging infrastructure, reinforcing localization and long-term investment commitments.

Pt Lokesh Anand blends a Raga Jaunpuri shehnai bandish into FA9LA, fusing Indian classical melody with contemporary rap production.
Pt Lokesh Anand performs a recorded bandish in Raga Jaunpuri on the shehnai for FA9LA, an Arabic rap track, providing a core melodic and emotive layer that blends Indian classical modality with contemporary production. His Mewati gharana training and national recognition inform his disciplined approach, framing the contribution as both a preservation of tradition and an adaptive cross genre collaboration that extends the shehnai's international presence.

Freshara Agro Exports secures full equity in two Spanish SPVs to establish processing and production operations in Europe.
Freshara approved acquisition of full equity in two Spanish SPVs, using a turnaround approach to buy insolvency-origin assets and separately secure processing operations and production facilities; the deal is disclosed under stock exchange disclosure obligations, funded through allocated acquisition, inventory and working capital commitments, and aimed for completion within the stated timeline.

GST collections rose 6.1% to Rs 1.74 lakh crore in December; rate cuts and cess narrowing altered revenue mix.
Gross Goods and Services Tax collections rose 6.1% to over Rs 1.74 lakh crore in December 2025, with net GST receipts after refunds up 2.2% to over Rs 1.45 lakh crore; domestic transaction revenue grew 1.2% to ~Rs 1.22 lakh crore, import receipts rose 19.7% to Rs 51,977 crore, refunds increased 31% to Rs 28,980 crore, and cess receipts declined to Rs 4,238 crore. A regulatory change effective 22 September 2025 cut GST rates on about 375 items and limited the compensation cess to tobacco and related products, affecting revenue composition.

VB-G RAM G Act replaces MGNREGA, shifting to normative funding, Centre-State cost sharing, and intensified digital monitoring.
The VB-G RAM G Act replaces MGNREGA, converting a demand-driven, rights-based entitlement into a scheme with normative funding allocations, increased statutory days (125), and programme-aligned works originating from Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans integrated with national digital platforms. It revises funding into Centre-State cost sharing (standard 60:40; special and UT rules), placing excess expenditure on states, and mandates a comprehensive digital governance ecosystem-measures criticised for weakening enforceable guarantees, social audits, and creating discretionary central control.

Centre to procure additional rice from Odisha to address surplus and ensure MSP payments to farmers.
Centre will procure an additional 6 lakh mt of rice from Odisha, including 5 lakh mt of boiled rice by April; Odisha has a 7 lakh mt surplus with 1 lakh mt to be auctioned. Paddy procurement has yielded 10.50 lakh mt from about 2.30 lakh registered farmers, with Rs 2,350 crore paid as MSP and input assistance. Procurement continues until March, with purchases from all registered farmers and ministerial instructions to expedite operations using transparent measures and to address alleged irregularities.

Vehicle registrations in Maharashtra rose 13.5% in 2025, adding 32.78 lakh new vehicles.
Vehicle registrations in Maharashtra rose 13.55% in 2025 with 32.78 lakh new vehicles: two-wheelers 22.92 lakh, cars 5.05 lakh, tractors 1.46 lakh, trucks 1.35 lakh, autorickshaws 88,352 and buses 13,346. Registrations occurred across 58 RTOs, peaking in October-November (8.56 lakh) and lowest in February (1.99 lakh); Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad led, Chalisgaon recorded the fewest. Mumbai accounted for 3.02 lakh new vehicles (1.88 lakh two-wheelers, 68,379 cars). The state's road network totals 3,28,526 km and earlier-year data reported 33,002 accidents with 14,066 fatalities and 29,038 injuries.

Manufacturers of pouch-packed chewing tobacco must install CCTV, preserve footage 24 months, and disclose machine capacities to excise authorities.
Manufacturers packing chewing tobacco, jarda scented tobacco and gutkha in pouches must install and preserve footage from a functional CCTV system covering all packing machines for at least 24 months, disclose machine numbers and specifications and retail price details to excise authorities, and submit to physical inspection for determination of annual production capacity. Abatement for non-operation is available for continuous non-function of at least 15 days subject to three working days advance notification and sealing by excise officials; de-sealing, resumption, and machine removal each require three working days prior notice.

EU carbon tax raises export costs for Indian steel and aluminium; India EU FTA must address this non-tariff barrier.
The EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism subjects Indian steel and aluminium exports to a carbon tax and detailed emissions reporting, raising export costs; cited estimates indicate exporters may cut prices by 15-22% to accommodate the levy while documentation requirements add administrative burdens. The document urges that the India EU Free Trade Agreement account for this non-tariff barrier and its effects on exporters.

NPS reforms permit banks to sponsor pension funds, revise fees, and mandate a small outreach levy for intermediaries.
PFRDA has approved a framework permitting Scheduled Commercial Banks to sponsor Pension Funds subject to eligibility criteria aligned with prudential banking norms; it revised the slab-based Investment Management Fee for Government and Non-Government subscribers effective 1 April 2026, kept the Annual Regulatory Fee at 0.015% of AUM, and earmarked 0.0025% of AUM to the Association of NPS Intermediaries for outreach.

Machine-based levy on tobacco pouches charges duty by packing-machine capacity, with mandatory declarations and departmental verification.
A machine-based capacity levy applies to pouches of chewing tobacco, jarda scented tobacco and gutkha from 1 February 2026. Duty is charged on deemed annual capacity of each packing machine; manufacturers must file Form CE DEC-01 within seven days. Initial monthly duty is calculated using machine maximum rated speed and retail sale price pending departmental verification; annual capacity is fixed after physical inspection. Differential duty and interest apply where departmental capacity exceeds self-declaration, payable from installation or relevant change, and payment is required during appeals.