Livemint News

Bank holiday on Saturday, 3 January: Banks remain open on the first, third and fifth Saturdays of every month, as per the bank holiday rules of the Reserve Bank of India.

A widening CD ratio is forcing banks to lean increasingly on market borrowings, liquidation of excess statutory liquidity ratio (SLR) holdings, and balance-sheet buffers to raise money for lending.

Out of the total 41,863 crore announced in investments, the three projects by Tata Electronics, Foxconn's India subsidiary and Motherson's alone will account for 27,166 crore investment.

Micro-dramas became immensely popular in 2025 and are expected to emerge even stronger in 2026 as streaming service providers become more selective amid budget constraints. But growing consolidation in the industry may stifle independent and small creators. 

While the residential sector saw a slowdown in 2025, commercial office and logistics assets offer greater scope for further growth.

While some carmakers bat for government support, experts question the logic, as range-extended EVs will at best play a transitional role.

Quick commerce is becoming a habit for customers as platforms have started delivering everything from groceries and lifestyle products to high-end gadgets. Yet, next year may be even more challenging for the likes of Blinkit, Instamart and Zepto.

By leveraging a staggered release strategy, Netflix achieved high social media engagement throughout late 2025, enabling brands like Swiggy Instamart to integrate immersive technology into their apps. 

Sugar consumption is hitting a plateau and is projected to decline as a rising diabetes epidemic and health-conscious younger generations pivot toward natural alternatives. While household demand wanes, the industry is increasingly reliant on food and beverage companies.

In a move that is set to widen distribution of pension products, the PFRDA board has given an in-principle nod to a framework that will permit scheduled commercial banks to set up their own pension funds under the National Pension System.

UPI processed 228 billion transactions worth a cumulative 300 trillion in 2025, 33% more than in 2024 in terms of the total number of transactions and 21% higher in terms of value. In December 2025, the platform processed a record 21.6 billion transactions worth 30 trillion.

On the first day of 2026, India introduced 185 new seed varieties to boost agricultural productivity. This includes a focus on cotton, rice, and pulses, aiming to improve yields, stability, and reduce reliance on imports.

In 2026, veteran filmmakers Priyadarshan, Rajkumar Santoshi, and David Dhawan will return to cinema, responding to the demand for mass-market storytelling. Their new projects aim to attract both nostalgic older audiences and younger viewers drawn by star casts and familiar content.

In January 2026, banks will observe up to 16 holidays, varying by state due to local events. Digital services will remain operational even if branches are closed.

The high capacity of clean energy installations doesnt translate into high energy output, given that solar and wind are erratic power sources. The focus is now set to shift towards building energy storage capacity and diversifying into more stable non-fossil sources such as nuclear power

Bank holiday today, 31 December: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) releases a bank holiday calendar every year, according to which lenders close their branches on national holidays, festivals, and other public holidays.