The Times of India News

Exporters will benefit from a new Rs 7,295-crore government package designed to ease credit access. This includes an interest subvention scheme offering subsidies on export credit and a collateral support measure for MSMEs.

Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar defended the NCP's decision to field candidates with alleged criminal backgrounds, stating no one is guilty until proven. He cited allegations against himself in the irrigation scam to question premature labeling of guilt. Pawar also criticised the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation's financial decline under BJP rule, promising a probe if NCP gains power.

Singer Zubeen Garg's family is establishing a trust in his name to champion his vision for society. The trust, to be housed on family property, will focus on nature conservation, nurturing young talent, and preserving his intellectual property. It will collaborate with existing foundations to advance social and cultural initiatives for future generations.

Tesla has been surpassed by BYD as the world's largest EV maker following a second consecutive year of declining deliveries in 2025. Intensifying competition and weakening demand impacted sales, though Tesla's stock remains optimistic due to its long-term strategy in autonomous mobility and robotics.

The worlds 500 richest individuals added a record $2.2 trillion to their wealth as strong rallies across stocks, cryptocurrencies and precious metals lifted total net worth to $11.9 trillion, according to Bloomberg.

Global stock markets began 2026 with a strong start. Major indices in the US and Europe saw significant gains. Technology stocks, especially those linked to artificial intelligence, led the rally. Precious metals also performed well. Asian markets showed mixed but largely positive trends.

Punjab's Aam Aadmi Clinics are boosting pregnancy care, with over 10,000 free ultrasounds and 20,000 monthly check-ups for expectant mothers. This initiative aims to improve early detection and monitoring, addressing concerns over maternal health indicators. The expanded services offer crucial tests and free scans, identifying thousands of high-risk pregnancies monthly and easing the burden on larger hospitals.

A significant hike in cigarette duties has sent shockwaves through the tobacco sector, causing ITC shares to plummet. India's largest insurer, LIC, has seen its investment value in ITC drop by over Rs 10,000 crore in just two days.

In an embarrassing mix-up, Janmabhumi carried the editorial page of Chandrika, the daily run by the Indian Union Muslim League, in its KannurKasaragod regional edition, while all other pages of the newspaper remained unchanged. According to sources cited by local media, the incident occurred due to a technical lapse at the printing stage. Both Janmabhumi and Chandrika are reportedly printed at the same press, and the error affected only the Kannur and Kasaragod editions.

The first thing to understand is what a SIP actually does. It does not guarantee returns. What it does is force you to buy more units when markets are down and fewer when markets are up. It only works if you let it do this job when it feels most uncomfortable.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah defended Rahul Gandhi, accusing media and BJP of misrepresenting an administrative survey to discredit voter list manipulation allegations. He stated the survey, conducted before Gandhi's claims, assessed voter awareness, not electoral integrity, and its small sample size makes its findings statistically indefensible.

India's foreign exchange reserves surged by $3.293 billion to $696.61 billion in the week ending December 26, marking a continued strengthening of the nation's external buffer. This significant rise was primarily driven by a substantial increase in gold reserves, which climbed by $2.956 billion.

The Rouse Avenue court has recently convicted three people, including MCD's Junior Engineer, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe for allowing the construction of a house. It was alleged that the complainant was threatened if the demand was not fulfilled.

India has begun seeking weekly data from refiners on Russian and US crude imports as it works toward a trade agreement with Washington, with Russian purchases expected to fall below one million barrels a day, according to a Reuters report.

ITC shares plummeted to a three-year low following a significant cigarette tax hike, prompting widespread analyst downgrades. The steep increase, effective February 1, necessitates substantial price hikes, potentially impacting volumes and profitability. Concerns over illicit trade re-emerging are also a key worry for investors.

Office space supply dipped significantly in Delhi-NCR and Mumbai last year, even as demand for prime workspaces remained robust across India's major cities. This imbalance led to lower vacancy rates and a rental increase of up to 15% year-on-year. Technology and BFSI sectors, along with Global Capability Centres.

Congress MP Jothimani has voiced strong concerns, alleging that the Tamil Nadu unit is being hindered from performing election duties due to internal power struggles, potentially leading to its downfall. She warned of serious threats to Tamil Nadu from divisive forces, questioning the party's preparedness ahead of the Assembly polls and urging a commitment to its core principles and supporters.

Speaking at the 104th foundation day function of Bhupal Nobles' University, Singh referred to the November 10 car bomb blast near the Red Fort in Delhi, pointing out that those behind the attack were doctors. Today, an alarming trend of white-collar terrorism is emerging in the country. Highly-educated people are working against society and the country, Singh said.

Uttar Pradesh has achieved remarkable agricultural growth, becoming India's largest wheat producer and a leader in rice, sugarcane, and potato production. Government initiatives have boosted crop yields, farmer incomes, and diversified farming, leading to a significant increase in the state's agricultural growth rate.

The Indian rupee depreciated by 22 paise to settle at 90.20 against the US dollar on Friday, influenced by weak domestic manufacturing data and a stronger greenback. Persistent foreign fund outflows and importer demand pressured the currency, though softer crude oil prices.

ITC shares plummeted to a three-year low following a surprise government hike in cigarette excise duties. Brokerages have downgraded the stock, citing concerns over volume and margin pressure due to significant price increases required to offset the tax shock. Analysts anticipate a reset in valuation multiples for the company's biggest profit driver.

Dense fog and low visibility led to the cancellation of 66 flights at Delhi airport on Friday, impacting both arrivals and departures. This disruption occurred during the official fog window, a period requiring special operational measures for flight safety, including the deployment of trained pilots and compliant aircraft.

The Indian National Congress, now 140 years old, is at a critical juncture. Facing upcoming assembly elections, the party is recalibrating its campaign calls and alliances. Efforts are underway to rebuild credibility from the grassroots. The Congress is navigating complex political landscapes in states like Kerala, Assam, and Tamil Nadu.

London's FTSE 100 index surged past 10,000 points for the first time on Friday, reaching a new all-time high. This historic milestone follows a robust 2025 performance, driven by interest rate cuts and receding inflation.

In her letter, Priyanka Chaturvedi called for strict guardrails on AI chatbots such as Grok, saying social media platforms must be made a safe space for women. She also underlined the need for better education of men from an early age to prevent such behaviour. Calling the practice an unacceptable and gross misuse of an AI function, Chaturvedi also criticised Grok for enabling this behaviour by adhering to such requests.

A severe diarrhoea outbreak has struck Bhagirathpura in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Contaminated drinking water has caused at least 10 deaths and sickened over 1,400 residents. Officials identified a leakage in the main water pipeline near a police outpost, leading to sewage contamination. Residents are now fearful of the water supply, even from tankers.

Rahul Gandhi accused the Madhya Pradesh government of distributing poison after 10 deaths in Indore due to contaminated water. He criticized the double-engine government's negligence, stating clean water is a right, not a favor, and blamed the administration for the tragedy.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar stated India faces challenges from ad neighbours, implicitly referencing Pakistan, and asserted the nation's right to self-defense against persistent terrorism. He emphasized India's strategic autonomy, dismissing external mediation and highlighting that continued hostility undermines goodwill, impacting pacts like the Indus Waters Treaty.

India's bullet train project achieved a significant milestone with the breakthrough of a 1.5-km mountain tunnel in Palghar, Maharashtra. This marks the first mountain tunnel completion on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor. With this, the stretch between Thane and Ahmedabad is now clear, leaving only the Mumbai-Thane undersea section as a constraint. The first bullet train is anticipated by August 15, 2027.

Bruce Springsteen, the iconic 'Boss,' emphasizes that the past profoundly shapes our present. His quote, 'The past is never the past,' urges us to confront our experiences, both good and bad. Ignoring them allows them to resurface destructively. By reckoning with our history, we transform it into wisdom, fostering healing and strength for a better future.

A Karnataka government study found most citizens believe elections are fair and EVMs deliver accurate results, countering Rahul Gandhi's 'vote chori' allegations. The survey, covering over 5,000 respondents, revealed strong public trust in the electoral process, with high agreement on free and fair elections and EVM reliability across all divisions, despite concerns about money's influence.

An Air India pilot was found to be under the influence of alcohol by Canadian authorities before operating flight AI186 from Vancouver to Delhi on December 23. The cockpit crew member was offloaded, causing a flight delay. Air India is cooperating with local authorities and has taken the pilot off flying duties pending an investigation.

Asian markets opened the new year positively, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng index surging 2.2% and technology stocks leading the rally. This optimism follows gains in US futures and higher oil prices, driven by expectations of AI-driven demand for chips and infrastructure. Despite a late-year pullback, US markets achieved strong annual gains in 2025.

Gold price prediction today: After a period of correction, gold prices are likely to exhibit stability and investors can look to buy the yellow metal on dips, recommends Jateen Trivedi, VP Research Analyst - Commodity and Currency, LKP Securities.

The incident took place around 9.30 pm in the Damudya area, near Keurbhanga Bazar in the Koneshwar Union. The victim, 50-year-old Khokon Chandra Das, was reportedly waylaid, beaten and doused with petrol before being set ablaze, reported news agency ANI, citing Prothom Alo. Das was later shifted to Dhaka for advanced treatment as his condition worsened, the report said.

Food delivery giants Zomato and Swiggy experienced record-breaking New Year's Eve orders, largely unaffected by a gig worker strike. Despite calls for better pay, platforms reported millions of deliveries, highlighting food delivery's integral role in Indian celebrations. Popular choices included biryani, pizza, and traditional desserts, with dining out also seeing significant traction.

Stock market today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, the Indian equity benchmark indices, opened in green on Friday. While Nifty50 was above 261,50, BSE Sensex was up around 100 points.

Highway commuters will soon see toll charges halved during the expansion of two-lane to four-lane stretches. Additionally, user fees on partially opened expressways will be aligned with other National Highways. These measures aim to provide relief to users facing reduced road width during construction and high toll rates on expressways.

Global oil prices saw a slight increase on the first trading day of 2026, recovering from a significant annual decline. This uptick was driven by renewed geopolitical tensions, including Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil facilities and fresh US sanctions impacting Venezuelan exports. Despite these immediate concerns, the market remains cautious due to persistent oversupply worries.

Hindu religious leaders and BJP figures have strongly criticized Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan. Their ire is directed at his IPL team, Kolkata Knight Riders, for selecting Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman. Congress has stepped in to defend Khan, labeling the criticism an attack on India's pluralism. The debate highlights differing views on nationalism and inclusion,

Stock market recommendations: Bajaj Broking Research recommends Canara Bank, and Nykaa as the top stock picks for January 2, 2026. It also shares its views on Nifty and Bank Nifty.

Deposit outflows in early December, driven by tax payments, widened the credit-deposit gap for scheduled banks. Despite a year-on-year deposit growth of 9.4%, deposits fell by Rs 1.7 lakh crore in a fortnight. Banks are resorting to RBI borrowings and asset liquidation to fund strong credit expansion.

Banks can now independently manage National Pension System (NPS) assets, as PFRDA approved a framework to boost competition and protect subscribers. Eligible banks must meet stringent net worth and soundness criteria. Additionally, the regulator revised investment management fees for pension funds and appointed new trustees to the NPS Trust Board, including former SBI chairman Dinesh Kumar Khara as chairperson.