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:

Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Haryana's opposition leader, accused the BJP government of betraying the poor by arbitrarily canceling ration cards and pensions. He stated that over 70,000 ration cards and 500,000 pensions were stopped in six months due to minor errors in Family IDs, with Haryana leading national cancellations.

The Supreme Court has made significant observations regarding acid attack cases. The court suggested extraordinary punitive measures and questioned why convicted attackers' assets cannot be seized for victim compensation. Shaheen Malik, an acid attack survivor, shared her long struggle for justice. The court urged high courts to expedite trials and sought data from states.

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.

Ajit Pawar's untimely death in a plane crash has reignited talks of reuniting the NCP factions. Sources indicate merger talks were advanced, with Ajit Pawar viewing it as a strategic move for the party's future. His passing may now accelerate this process, with a potential February announcement. Leadership questions arise for the ruling NCP.

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.

Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati has asked UP CM Yogi Adityanath to stop beef exports from the state and declare the cow as Rajya Mata. He emphasized that such steps would prove the chief ministers commitment as a Hindu sympathiser. The seer further stated that he had staged a sit-in protest for 11 days after the incident but left the Magh Mela ground last Wednesday with a heavy heart.

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.

Gold and silver prices experienced a significant drop on Friday, with investors cashing in after recent record highs. Silver futures plunged over 16%, and gold futures fell 9% on the MCX. This decline is attributed to weaker global trends, a stronger US dollar, and profit-booking. Major Indian cities also saw a dip in gold rates.

Directors of 20 AIIMS institutions have signed an MoU to establish a Pan-India collaborative research consortium. This initiative aims to strengthen biomedical and clinical research by pooling expertise, infrastructure, and patient data for joint projects and multicentric studies. The consortium will focus on national health priorities, including AI in healthcare and affordable therapies.

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.

BJP storngly condemned former Vice President Hamid Ansari for his remarks who called Mahmud Ghazni as an Indian. In a social media post, BJP spokesperson C Kesavan said that the remarks were shocking and recalled that Ansari had been the Congress-led UPAs choice for Vice President twice. Shehzad Poonawala, also attacked the Congress party.

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.

Union home minister Amit Shah accused the Congress of altering Assam's demography, claiming infiltrator numbers rose significantly during their rule. He urged voters to elect the BJP for a third term to combat infiltration and protect the state's identity, highlighting the Mising community's role in this effort.

Scientists have discovered that perchlorate, a chemical previously thought harmful to Martian life, can actually strengthen bacteria-made space bricks. Researchers found that under specific conditions, this compound aids in creating more robust building materials from Martian soil. This breakthrough offers a sustainable alternative to traditional cement for construction on the Red Planet and Earth.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal fiercely defended the India-EU FTA, dismissing Congress criticism as 'sour grapes' and highlighting the party's past inaction. He accused Congress of endangering India's interests by pushing for China-centric trade pacts, contrasting it with the current government's balanced approach. Goyal also lauded India's economic growth and the FTA's geopolitical significance.

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.

The Supreme Court has declared menstrual hygiene a constitutional right under Article 21, mandating free sanitary pads and separate toilets for girls in all schools. This ruling ensures dignity and equality, holding both government and private institutions accountable for compliance. The judgment stems from concerns over period-shaming incidents.

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has dismissed speculation of a rift within the party, projecting unity after meeting with Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge. The MP affirmed his commitment to the party and stated he would not leave, emphasising his intention to campaign extensively in Kerala for the upcoming assembly polls.

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.