The Times of India

Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal has been in the thick of action, negotiating with multiple countries, fromNew Zealand to Chile. Having just finalised a landmark deal with the European Union, Goyal spoke to TOIs Sidharthaabout the way forward on other agreements and maintained that talks with the US are progressing well. Excerpts:

Jane Lauder, Kevin Warshs wife, is the granddaughter of global cosmetics industry legend Este Lauder. She is the daughter of billionaire Ronald Lauder, who is the sole heir to the The Este Lauder Companies.

Niva Bupa CEO Krishnan Ramachandran highlights a key issue in India's health insurance market. He explains that loss-making corporate group policies are cross-subsidised by retail health insurance. This practice, rather than high acquisition costs, is impacting retail insurance penetration.

Households may also look for targeted relief at the lower end of the income spectrum. Under the new tax regime, the current rebate ensures that individuals with income up to Rs 12 lakh face no tax liability. For salaried taxpayers, the Rs 75,000 standard deduction effectively extends this relief to those with gross income up to Rs 12.75 lakh.

Bank of Baroda posted a net profit of Rs 5,055 crore for the December 2025 quarter, a 4.5% rise year-on-year. This growth was primarily driven by a significant reduction in provisions, despite margins facing pressure. The bank saw healthy deposit and advance growth, with asset quality continuing its upward trend.

Deepening the debt market is critical from an issuers perspective to ensure access to long term, cost-effective funding and an investors perspective, offering liquidity, transparency and risk diversification.

As India's Union Budget approaches, defence spending is under scrutiny. Experts advocate for a substantial, sustained hike in defence capital expenditure, emphasizing domestic manufacturing and technological advancement. While geopolitical tensions necessitate increased spending, the focus must be on strategic calibration rather than indiscriminate increases to bolster national security and industrial capabilities.

As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman prepares to present the Union Budget, the document's evolution from a colonial-era English text to an accessible public instrument is highlighted. Key milestones include the introduction of Hindi alongside English in 1955 and the transition to a paperless digital presentation in 2021, reflecting India's changing governance and communication.

The Survey revises Indias potential growth rate upwards to 7 percent, reflecting years of sustained public investment, infrastructure expansion, logistics reform and financial sector clean up. High frequency indicators show firming investment momentum and resilient consumption. Core inflation remains subdued, signalling that supply side improvements are finally anchoring prices rather than monetary tightening alone.

India's budgetary journey began with the first Union Budget presented on November 26, 1947, amidst the trauma of Partition and economic uncertainty. This interim budget focused on relief, rehabilitation, and defence, reflecting the nation's immediate challenges. Today, the Union Budget is a detailed roadmap for a rapidly growing economy, showcasing India's significant economic evolution.

The BJP is launching a nationwide outreach campaign from February 1-15 to explain the Union Budget 2026, utilizing both traditional and digital outreach. Ministers and leaders will address press conferences at nearly 150 locations. Meanwhile, MDMK leader Vaiko has accused the BJP government of discriminating against Tamil Nadu and attempting to impose Hindi, vowing strong resistance.

Kevin Warsh is the top choice to become the next Federal Reserve Chair. President Donald Trump is expected to announce his decision soon. This potential change is creating market buzz and debate about the Fed's future. Warsh's views on monetary policy and economic strategy are key. His nomination could signal a shift in US economic direction.

SpaceX is considering major mergers with Tesla or its AI venture xAI. Elon Musk is exploring ways to combine his companies. These potential deals could involve significant financing. SpaceX is also preparing for a public listing, which could be the largest IPO ever. The company aims to fund ambitious projects like Starship's flight rate and a Moon base.

The Economic Survey 2025-26 highlighted that high railway freight rates, driven by cross-subsidies, are distorting competition and increasing commodity prices. It recommended eliminating these subsidies within five years to rationalize rates, improve revenue, and encourage a shift from road to rail transport.

The Economic Survey clearly underscores the critical role that manufacturing and exports will continue to play in driving Indias growth, especially at a time when the global economy is increasingly fragmented and marked by heightened tensions.

After an exhilarating rally in the recent sessions, gold and silver futures took a nosedive on Friday as traders took the opportunity to cash in on their gains. The drop, spurred by a robust US dollar and shifting global market sentiments, led to notable declines across both domestic and international exchanges.

The Supreme Court further took care to explain that abuse of Section 498A does not in any way erode its constitutionality or social utility. At the same time, it acknowledged a growing tendency where criminal law is deployed as a pressure tactic in matrimonial disputes, often without regard to proportionality or truth.

Dubai magnate Hussain Sajwani warns at WEF 2026 that AI is a job-market revolution, posing a significant threat to economies reliant on outsourced work, particularly India's vast IT and BPO sectors. While some jobs may be automated, experts highlight the creation of new roles and the enduring value of human soft skills, creativity and adaptability.

Stock market today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, the Indian equity benchmarks, opened in red on Friday. While Nifty50 went below 25,300, BSE Sensex was down over 500 points.

Stock market recommendations: According to Bajaj Broking Research, the top stock picks for January 30, 2026 are State Bank of India (SBI), and Jayaswal Neco Industries. Heres its view on Nifty and Bank Nifty:

Make Up 50% Of Rural Monthly Consumption