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Global growth demonstrated resilience in 2025, with India projected to remain the fastest-growing major economy despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and policy uncertainties, according to a Reserve Bank bulletin. The year began with escalated conflicts, including US involvement in Venezuela and ongoing disputes in the Middle East and Ukraine, contributing to elevated geo-economic risks. Nevertheless, the Indian economy showed robust performance, driven by domestic factors, with GDP growth estimates indicating continued optimism. Financial resources to the commercial sector surged to ₹30.8 lakh crore, up from ₹21.3 lakh crore the previous year, bolstered by increased non-bank funding. Significant economic reforms, including tax rationalization and labour market changes, are expected to enhance growth prospects. While the Indian rupee faced depreciation pressures against the US dollar, foreign direct investment remained strong, particularly from Japan, Singapore, and the US, despite a negative net FDI trend due to high repatriation. 
Published: Jan 21 2026, 6 pmeznews.inMajor cryptocurrency exchanges in India are advocating for tax relief and clearer regulations on virtual digital assets (VDAs) in the upcoming Union Budget, as the industry seeks to enhance compliance and attract users back to domestic platforms. Sumit Gupta, co-founder of CoinDCX, emphasized the need for pragmatic reforms, including uniform implementation of TDS provisions across exchanges, which would bolster compliance and protect citizens from non-compliant operators. He suggested reducing TDS from 1% to 0.01% to discourage offshore migration and improve transaction visibility. Binance's SB Seker called for a regulatory framework focused on capital gains, while Delta Exchange's Pankaj Balani highlighted the risks of relying on offshore platforms, which could lead to significant economic losses for India. Recent estimates indicate that Indian traders contributed nearly ₹5 lakh crore in trade volume to offshore exchanges, underscoring the urgency for reforms to retain economic value and jobs within the country.
Published: Jan 21 2026, 7 pmeznews.inAir India is set to replace the engine of an Airbus A350 aircraft grounded after it ingested a cargo container while taxiing in low visibility at Delhi Airport. The incident, which occurred last Thursday, caused significant damage to the right engine, including the fan and inlet cowl. Air India is currently inspecting the engine and will consult with original equipment manufacturers Rolls-Royce and Collins Aerospace before proceeding with the replacement. The airline, which operates six A350s on routes to London and New York, is temporarily using a Boeing 777 for affected flights. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an investigation into the incident, which involved a container that fell from a tug operated by ground handling firm BWFS. The DGCA's preliminary findings indicate that the container was left on the taxiway, leading to the engine ingestion.
Published: Jan 21 2026, 7 pmeznews.inBengaluru-based Unimech Aerospace and Manufacturing Limited has entered into a joint venture with Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Company Limited to create an advanced manufacturing and remanufacturing facility in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The venture, named “YBAK Unimech Advanced Manufacturing Solutions,” will see Unimech holding a 51% stake, while YBA Kanoo will hold 49%. The facility, backed by a phased investment of approximately $30 million, aims to generate around $80 million in revenue over five years, contingent on market conditions and regulatory approvals. Anil Kumar Puttan, Unimech's Chairman & Managing Director, emphasized that this initiative aligns with Saudi Arabia's push for localization and industrial development, addressing the growing demand for precision machining and repair services. The facility will initially focus on advanced CNC machining, with plans to expand into API-certified remanufacturing and repair services, enhancing local capabilities and market access.
Published: Jan 21 2026, 7 pmeznews.inThe Indian government's proposal to increase the credit cap under the ₹1-lakh crore Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) from ₹2 crore to ₹5 crore is currently uncertain, with concerns about its inclusion in the upcoming Budget on February 1. This hesitation follows the Prime Minister's Office expressing reservations, particularly as three significant agriculture-related initiatives from last year's Budget remain unimplemented. Launched in May 2020 to enhance farm-gate infrastructure, the AIF has seen substantial uptake, with banks approving over 1.5 lakh projects and sanctioning ₹80,149 crore, of which ₹59,000 crore has been disbursed. Major states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh have received the highest investments. Experts argue that successful schemes should be rewarded, cautioning that delays in raising credit limits could undermine the credibility of government initiatives aimed at boosting agricultural productivity.
Published: Jan 21 2026, 7 pmeznews.inAndhra Pradesh is considering adopting Australia’s ban on social media for children under 16, as stated by Technology and Human Resources Minister Nara Lokesh at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Lokesh emphasized the need for a robust legal framework to protect young users, arguing that minors often lack the understanding necessary to navigate social media safely. While India has implemented parental controls for minors, the federal government has yet to take a definitive stance on broader restrictions. Legal expert Karnika Seth cautioned that enforcing a total ban could be challenging due to technological circumvention methods. Amidst a global trend of tightening regulations on Big Tech, Andhra Pradesh aims to position itself as a leading IT hub, with aspirations of becoming a $2.4 trillion economy by 2047, following a significant partnership with Google for a data center.
Published: Jan 21 2026, 7 pmeznews.inAt the World Economic Forum in Davos, key Indian leaders, including Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, launched a book during the inauguration of the India Pavilion. Joshi emphasized that India's energy transition is a catalyst for growth, highlighting the significant reduction in electricity costs due to the renewable energy movement initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He noted India's ambition to become a hub for green hydrogen, with a target of 5 million metric tons by 2030. Joshi also discussed the recent SHANTI Bill aimed at enhancing private sector participation in nuclear energy. He underscored India's impressive renewable energy capacity growth, now at 266.78 GW, and the need for over $350 billion to bolster green energy infrastructure. The Minister's remarks positioned India as an attractive investment destination, showcasing its commitment to sustainable development and energy transition.
Published: Jan 21 2026, 5 pmeznews.inIndia's Ministry of Power is urging its utilities to lower power supply costs to alleviate customer burdens, according to Secretary Pankaj Agarwal. Speaking at an industry event in New Delhi, Agarwal emphasized the need for utilities to secure coal supplies at lower prices and to independently plan their coal and renewable energy capacity additions. He highlighted that the current industrial power tariff in India, approximately $95 per megawatt hour, is significantly higher than in countries like China and the U.S., where prices range from $60 to $80 per MWh. Agarwal pointed out that integrating cheaper renewable energy could help reduce costs, yet many power distributors are hesitant to commit to long-term clean energy contracts, opting instead for pricier coal power. Additionally, he noted rising inter-state transmission costs, suggesting that the government may reconsider existing waivers for electricity storage projects, currently set to last until June 2028.
Published: Jan 21 2026, 5 pmeznews.inGujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced on Wednesday that the state government has disbursed a substantial ₹9,400 crore in compensation to 32 lakh farmers affected by unseasonal rains in September and October 2025. During a Cabinet meeting in Gandhinagar, Patel reviewed the compensation package, which was initially announced months prior. The funds were allocated to 2.34 lakh farmers in five districts who faced severe rainfall, receiving ₹791 crore, while an additional ₹8,571 crore was distributed to 30.06 lakh farmers across 33 districts impacted by October's downpours. This financial support aims to alleviate the hardships faced by the agricultural community due to the adverse weather conditions.
Published: Jan 21 2026, 5 pmeznews.inThe Ministry of Power has released a draft of the National Electricity Policy (NEP) 2026, inviting stakeholder feedback within 30 days. The policy aims to tackle significant challenges in India's power sector, including high losses and debt among distribution companies (discoms), non-cost-reflective tariffs, and excessive cross-subsidisation. NEP 2026 sets ambitious targets for per capita electricity consumption, aiming for 2,000 kWh by 2030 and over 4,000 kWh by 2047, while aligning with India's climate goals of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. The draft emphasizes fostering competition, enhancing grid resilience, and integrating renewable energy, alongside proposals for tariff indexing and the establishment of a distribution system operator. It also highlights the need for a robust regulatory framework to prevent market dominance and suggests advancements in nuclear technology to reach a target of 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047.
Published: Jan 21 2026, 5 pm
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