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The Times of India

Business / The Times of India

'We will negotiate, finalise FTAs based on what is good for 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:

31 Jan 2026 3:17 am
Who is Jane Lauder? Wife of Fed chair pick Kevin Warsh is billionaire Ronald Lauders daughter

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.

30 Jan 2026 10:29 pm
Need to spend more to grow retail health: Niva Bupa CEO

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.

30 Jan 2026 9:30 pm
Union Budget 2026: Top expectations of salaried taxpayers; households seek clarity as new tax law nears

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.

30 Jan 2026 8:30 pm
Bank of Baroda net profit rises 4.5% to Rs 5055 crore due to lower provisions

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.

30 Jan 2026 8:04 pm
Budget 2026 expectations for personal finance: Top 2 things FM Sitharaman should do

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.

30 Jan 2026 7:32 pm
Defence allocation in Budget 2026: Experts urge sustained capex rise; focus on R&D, local output

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.

30 Jan 2026 6:52 pm
Union Budget 2026: Did you know when the Budget went bilingual?

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.

30 Jan 2026 4:26 pm
From stability to strategic indispensability: What the Economic Survey sets up for Budget Sunday

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.

30 Jan 2026 4:26 pm
47% for defence, Rs 197 crore expenditure: A look at Indias first Budget in 1947

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.

30 Jan 2026 4:09 pm
Budget 2026: Over 100 press meets, reels & more BJP rolls out nationwide 'Outreach Campaign'

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.

30 Jan 2026 3:07 pm
Who is Kevin Warsh? Secret White House meeting with Trump that made him lead Fed Chair race

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.

30 Jan 2026 2:07 pm
Musk meets Musk: SpaceX explores mergers with Tesla or xAI; $50 billion IPO in focus

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.

30 Jan 2026 2:06 pm
Economic Survey calls for phasing out cross-subsidised rail and power tariffs to cut logistics costs, boost competitiveness

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.

30 Jan 2026 2:01 pm
Why Economic Survey draws on Yamas message in Katha Upanishad on delayed gratification

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.

30 Jan 2026 1:44 pm
Brutal selloff! Gold, silver prices crash in volatile session - whats causing the dip?

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.

30 Jan 2026 12:53 pm
Husband spends 109 days in jail, charges dropped: When Supreme Court stepped in to curb misuse of Section 498A

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.

30 Jan 2026 12:10 pm
AI will take 80% of these jobs: UAE billionaire warns India about threat to traditional outsourcing

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.

30 Jan 2026 11:15 am
Stock market today: Nifty50 opens below 25,300; BSE Sensex down over 500 points

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.

30 Jan 2026 9:18 am
Top stocks to buy today: Stock recommendations for January 30, 2026 - check list

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:

30 Jan 2026 7:30 am
30 Jan 2026 2:40 am