The Times of India

As India's private sector workforce steps into a new era of financial independence, individuals are urged to take charge of their retirement savings. The National Pension System (NPS) stands out as a strategic investment choice, boasting market-driven returns and offering recent updates that enhance user flexibility.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray met Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in Mumbai, marking their first interaction since the BMC elections. The meeting, which covered various issues, follows MNS's support for Shinde's Shiv Sena in Kalyan-Dombivli and Shinde's praise for Thackeray's broader perspective in decision-making.

Galgotias University was asked to vacate its stall at the AI Impact Summit after its showcased robot dog was identified as a commercially available Chinese model, sparking controversy. Meanwhile, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi called Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma 'Assam's Jinnah' and downplayed a former state chief's exit.

Piyush Goyal revealed India's ambitious economic diplomacy, emphasising engagement and trust to achieve trade success. He highlighted the nation's goal of becoming a $30-35 trillion economy by 2047, stressing the need for global integration. Goyal noted India's recent success in securing trade agreements from a position of strength, while safeguarding national interests.

Gold prices experienced a significant surge climbing Rs 1,297 to Rs 1,52,715 per 10 grams in futures trade. This rise was fueled by robust spot demand and fresh speculative buying. Globally, gold also saw an upward trend, with silver prices registering even stronger gains. Here are the current gold rates across major Indian cities.

NVIDIA's Shanker Trivedi urged India to boost AI infrastructure investment beyond $1.2 billion, aligning with global standards. He highlighted the Union Budget's 20-year tax holiday for foreign firms as a significant chance to build foundational AI capacity. With 1,800 global corporations operating in India, each requiring local AI factories, increased capital allocation is crucial for developing intelligence-led business processes.

A Rajasthan BJP MLA sparked controversy by comparing the state budget to gendered outcomes, calling the BJP's budget a youth budget that gave birth to a boy and the previous Congress budget an old-age budget that resulted in the irth of a girl. Congress members strongly criticized the remarks as discriminatory and inappropriate, demanding clarification from the ruling party.

Shiv Sena (UBT) urges the INDIA bloc to strategize collectively before state elections, highlighting internal confusion within Congress. The party's mouthpiece points to conflicting suggestions for leadership, including Mamata Banerjee and Stalin, questioning the alliance's post-election direction and stressing the need for unified action.

Cigarette stocks surged on Dalal Street as manufacturers raised prices to offset increased excise duties. ITC, Godfrey Phillips India, and VST Industries saw significant gains following reports of price hikes aimed at protecting margins. This move comes after the government's notification on a new tobacco taxation framework.

Indian consumer goods companies are raising prices by up to 5% due to rising input costs and a weakening rupee. This follows a period of holding back on revisions after September's GST cuts, as companies now exercise pricing power. Increased costs for commodities like crude oil derivatives and imported ingredients are impacting profitability across various product categories.

Gold price prediction today: Maneesh Sharma, AVP - Commodities & Currencies, Anand Rathi Shares and Stock Brokers is of the view that gold prices are likely to resume their upward trend in the long run. He takes a look at the top factors for gold prices in the coming days:

Meerut is set to launch India's fastest metro, boasting a maximum operational speed of 120 kmph. This 21-kilometer corridor will connect Meerut South to Modipuram with 12 stations, cutting travel time significantly. Notably, it will share tracks with semi-high-speed Namo Bharat trains, creating an integrated transport model.

Asian markets saw a slight uptick as investors assessed US-Iran nuclear talks and Japan's substantial investment pledges to Washington. Tokyo led the gains, buoyed by confirmed funding for infrastructure projects. Meanwhile, energy prices stabilized after earlier fluctuations, and global leaders convened in New Delhi to discuss AI governance amidst growing societal and environmental concerns.

Planning a bank visit? Be aware that Indian banks observe both national and state holidays, leading to varied closures. Today, February 18, Sikkim banks are closed for Losar. Maharashtra observes Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti on February 19, while Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh celebrate State Day on February 20. Remember, second and fourth Saturdays also mean no branch operations.

Stock market today: Indian equity benchmarks opened flat in trade on Wednesday. While the 50-share index Nifty was near 25,700, the 30-share BSE Sensex was down marginally.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat urged Hindu families to have at least three children, citing concerns over a declining population. He emphasized uniting and empowering the Hindu community, advocating for the detection and deportation of infiltrators. Bhagwat also stressed the importance of social harmony, addressing caste divisions, and uplifting the disadvantaged, asserting India's potential to guide the world.

President Trump announced a MASSIVE Trade Deal with Japan, unveiling $36 billion in Japanese investment for US projects. These initiatives, focusing on energy, power generation, and advanced manufacturing, are the first under Japan's $550 billion commitment. The deal includes slashing US tariffs on Japanese imports to 15%.

Stock market recommendations: Mehul Kothari, DVP - Technical Research, Anand Rathi Shares and Stock Brokers recommends buying Bharti Airtel, Finolex Industries, and Coal India as the top stock picks for February 18, 2026. The expert shares a detailed outlook on each stock along with target prices:

Social media giant X argued in Delhi High Court against broad court orders to block content, asserting that satire, fair comment, and public speech deserve protection. The platform opposed Baba Ramdev's lawsuit, which alleges AI-generated content misappropriated his image, stating that such restrictions could stifle freedom of expression and lead to internet sanitization.

Gujarat's voter count has dropped by 13.4% to 4.4 crore after a special revision removed 77 lakh names and added 9.5 lakh new electors. This significant decline follows two rounds of scrutiny, with over 40 lakh voters identified as permanently shifted and 18 lakh deceased.

Gold imports saw a volume dip of 18.3% despite a 25% price rise, leading to cautious buyer behavior. Conversely, silver imports surged 56% in volume, more than doubling in value to $7.8 billion, driven by industrial demand alongside its price increase.

The RBI is proposing a significant overhaul to liberalize access to currency markets, offering increased opportunities for hedging foreign exchange risk and extending trading hours. The draft framework broadens derivative offerings and allows transactions across various global platforms, aiming to integrate Indian participants more firmly into international liquidity pools.

Maruti Suzuki enters the EV market with the e-Vitara, starting at Rs 10.99 lakh, featuring a unique Battery-as-a-Service model for lower upfront costs. The company aims to address customer concerns about range, charging, and service, positioning itself to disrupt the competitive Indian EV landscape.

Infosys chairman Nandan Nilekani states AI is transforming businesses fundamentally. He emphasizes that companies must adapt their operations and employee roles for an AI-driven future. This shift involves moving beyond simple automation to integrating human judgment with machine intelligence. Nilekani points out that legacy systems pose a significant hurdle to this widespread organizational change.

Domestic help apps are booming in Indian metros, offering convenience for tasks beyond routine chores. Platforms like Snabbit and Urban Company's InstaHelp are seeing exponential growth, driven by repeat customers needing reliable backup for absent help or extra assistance. While user retention is strong, profitability remains a challenge due to onboarding investments.

RBI has overhauled external commercial borrowing rules, broadening access for entities like statutory bodies and LLPs. Overseas funding is now explicitly permitted for construction, township development, and industrial parks, fostering structured development and manufacturing-linked infrastructure. Selective agri activities also gain access to foreign capital.

Adani Group plans a massive $100 billion investment by 2035 to establish renewable energy-powered, AI-ready data centers across India. This initiative aims to foster a $250 billion AI infrastructure ecosystem, building on existing partnerships and expanding renewable energy capacity to support India's ambition as an AI hub.

India's Supreme Court expressed alarm as lawyers increasingly use AI to draft petitions, leading to citations of non-existent judgments. This hallucination by AI tools is complicating judicial work, forcing judges to verify every quoted paragraph. High courts have also penalized parties for submitting AI-generated arguments with fake case law, highlighting the urgent need for verification.