The Times of India News

Starting February 1, tobacco and pan masala products will face new taxes. The government is introducing additional excise duties and a health cess, replacing the existing GST compensation cess. Pan masala will be taxed at 40% GST plus a new cess, while biris will attract 18% GST.

The United States has granted a majority-Russian-owned Serbian oil company a temporary reprieve from sanctions targeting Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, a Serbian minister said on Wednesday. According to the Serbian national broadcaster RTS, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was involved in discussions between Vucic and the US State Department earlier Wednesday, while the Hungarian firm MOL is in negotiations to buy the Russian portion of NIS's shares.

Meta's AI head, Alexandr Wang, revealed he will delay having children until advanced brain-computer interface (BCI) technology like Neuralink is widely available. Wang believes children's early neuroplasticity offers a prime window for intuitive BCI integration, potentially enabling future generations to learn and utilize superintelligence tools more effectively than adults.

Gold price prediction: According to Abhilash Koikkara of Nuvama Professional Clients Group, MCX Gold is expected to maintain its positive bias unless there is a clear and decisive break below the 132,000 support level.

The Indian Rupee began 2026 on a weak footing, depreciating significantly against the US dollar due to sustained foreign fund outflows and trade uncertainties. Despite India's steady growth, capital flows have faltered, making the rupee vulnerable. Analysts anticipate continued volatility, with the currency facing pressure from global investor caution and tariff disruptions.

Stock market today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, the Indian equity benchmark indices, opened in green on the first trading session of the New Year 2026. While Nifty50 went above 26,150, BSE Sensex was up over 100 points.

The domestic natural gas consumption is expected to rebound and grow by 3-4 per cent year-on-year in FY2027 after witnessing a phase of near-term moderation in FY2026, according to a report by ICRA.

As 2026 approaches, the article highlights the diverse ways people celebrate and express New Year's wishes. It emphasizes the value of simple, heartfelt messages, relatable quotes, and genuine status updates, alongside visual elements like images and wallpapers, to connect with loved ones during this transitional period.

Venezuela, currently in the throes of an escalating crisis with the United States, closed the books Wednesday on a complicated year for its economy, with the official cost of buying a US dollar up 479 percent in the last 12 months. The gap between the official and black market rate is mounting as well, nearing 100 percent in an economy that has become increasingly dollarized as a way to tackle hyperinflation.

Top stock market recommendations: Aakash K Hindocha of Nuvama Professional Clients Group recommends buying BHEL, IOC, and Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation. He also shares his views on Nifty and Bank Nifty.

Soaring global demand for semiconductors sent South Korea's exports to their highest-ever level in 2025, official data showed Thursday, despite a year of trade turmoil sparked by US President Donald Trump's tariff onslaught. Cars, South Korea's other key export, also performed strongly, with auto shipments rising to $72 billion, the highest on record despite US tariff pressures.

India has firmly rejected China's claim of mediating its conflict with Pakistan. New Delhi reiterated that military action ceased after a request from the Pakistani DGMO to his Indian counterpart.

A sessions court in North Goa sentenced Sandeep Verlekar to 6 years and 6 months in prison for culpable homicide not amounting to murder after he assaulted his bed-ridden mother. The court considered his alcoholism and lack of intent to kill, ordering his release after accounting for time already served.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court upheld a Pocso court's 20-year sentence for a man who had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old, despite their subsequent marriage and child. Justices Vivek Agarwal and R K Choubey stated that a minor's consent is immaterial and only the Supreme Court can suspend sentences under Article 142.

Chief Justice Surya Kant has introduced a new system to prioritize cases for the disadvantaged. Petitions from disabled individuals, acid attack survivors, senior citizens over 80, those below the poverty line, and legal aid recipients will now be fast-tracked. This initiative aims to ensure their cases don't get overlooked amidst the Supreme Court's massive caseload.

The Centre has released draft rules for four new labour codes, outlining minimum wage calculations based on family needs and capping weekly working hours at 48. The rules also propose a national social security board for gig workers and clarify gratuity provisions, which will apply prospectively from November 21, 2025.

Prime Minister Modi highlighted Pragati's role in accelerating over Rs 85 lakh crore in projects over a decade, signifying a governance transformation. He emphasized eform, perform, transform for simplified processes and citizen-centric outcomes. Modi also reviewed five infrastructure projects and stressed PM SHRI schools becoming a national benchmark for holistic education.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade has launched the first component of its Export Promotion Mission, a Rs 4,531-crore market access support scheme for exporters. This initiative aims to help Indian businesses diversify into new product categories and markets, with a special focus on MSMEs and priority sectors like agriculture and handicrafts.

India's broadband subscriber base surpassed 100 crore in November 2025, reaching 100.4 crore. This marks a significant six-fold increase from 13.2 crore subscribers in November 2015. Jio leads the market with 51 crore subscribers, followed by Bharti Airtel with 31.4 crore.

Tata Group chairman N Chandrasekaran outlined a strategy to leverage India's dynamic economy amidst global uncertainty, focusing on AI, advanced manufacturing, and sustainability. He emphasized resilience against geopolitical and cybersecurity risks, highlighting opportunities for the group's future success and India's economic growth.

India's financial stability report for 2026 highlights domestic resilience amidst global uncertainty. While the banking system is sound, deeper financial linkages between banks and NBFCs amplify contagion risks. External spillovers from geopolitical and trade tensions, coupled with volatile global markets, pose the primary threats, impacting the rupee and increasing market stress.

Dalal Street navigated local and global factors in 2025, with Sensex and Nifty posting single-digit gains. Despite underperforming global markets, new darlings emerged while some older ones faltered. The year saw record IPO mobilizations and significant growth in mutual fund assets, nearing the trillion-dollar mark. Precious metals like silver and gold delivered exceptional returns, while Bitcoin struggled.

Indian banks are in their strongest position in over a decade, with stress tests indicating improved bad-loan ratios and sufficient capital even under extreme economic downturns. The Financial Stability Report projects gross NPAs to fall to 1.9% by March 2027, reaffirming the banking system's resilience against adverse scenarios.

Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra views artificial intelligence not as a threat, but as an accelerator that can enhance the value and dignity of blue-collar jobs. He believes AI will handle routine tasks, elevating the importance of practical skills in building, crafting, and repairing essential machinery.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has recovered over Rs 5 crore in unaccounted cash, Rs 8 crore in gold and diamond jewellery, and property documents worth Rs 35 crore during searches on alleged gangster Inderjit Singh Yadav's premises. The investigation into money laundering stems from Yadav's alleged illegal extortion and coercive loan settlements.

Dilip Ghosh's return to party meetings during Amit Shah's Kolkata visit signals a potential larger role for the former Bengal BJP chief. However, the absence of key Matua and Rajbangshi leaders from a recent BJP meeting highlights underlying unease within the party ahead of the 2026 polls.

The Election Commission has issued a stern warning against the intimidation of electoral staff by political workers, vowing stringent action. Following a meeting with a TMC delegation, the poll panel urged parties to prevent their representatives from threatening election duty personnel. The EC also pressed the West Bengal government to release enhanced honorariums for Booth Level Officers (BLOs).

Trinamool leader Abhishek Banerjee accused the Election Commission of failing to address concerns about electoral roll manipulation, alleging vote theft occurs through software and list discrepancies, not EVMs. He claimed opposition parties missed this tactic in recent state polls and vowed to prevent it in Bengal's upcoming elections, warning of legal action if issues aren't resolved.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged BJP workers in Bengal to aim for victory in the 2026 assembly elections, setting a target of winning 22 out of 28 seats in and around Kolkata. He also expressed concerns about infiltration and a changing demography in the region, while dismissing perceptions of organizational weakness.

A pan-India kidney trafficking syndicate with alleged international links has been exposed in Maharashtra. The illicit market saw transplants priced up to Rs 80 lakh, while impoverished donors reportedly received as little as Rs 5 lakh. Police have named two specialists as key players in the network, which allegedly conducted surgeries in Trichy.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached properties worth Rs 150 crore near Buckingham Palace in the UK, belonging to former S Kumars CMD Nitin Kasliwal. Kasliwal is accused of laundering Rs 1,400 crore of bank loans by establishing an offshore network of trusts and companies to acquire foreign assets.

Rocket debris, suspected to be from an ISRO heavy-lift rocket, washed ashore on Sri Lanka's eastern coast near Trincomalee. Local fishermen discovered the five-meter diameter, ten-meter long fragment, believed to be a payload fairing, prompting authorities to secure the site. This follows previous instances of Indian rocket debris found in the region and on Australia's coast.

ISRO is developing a third launchpad at Sriharikota to accommodate heavier satellites and future launches. Approved by the Union cabinet, the project, costing Rs 3,984.8 crore, aims for completion by March 2029. This expansion will enhance launch frequency, provide redundancy, and bolster India's position in the global space sector.

India's Defence Research and Development Organisation successfully launched two Pralay missiles in quick succession. This test validated the missile's reliability and precision. Pralay is an indigenously developed solid propellant quasi-ballistic missile. It is designed for high accuracy and can carry various warheads. This launch follows recent successful tests of other advanced missile systems, reinforcing India's defence capabilities.

A village defence guard fired shots after reportedly spotting a terror suspect in Rajouri's Kalakote area. Security forces have intensified surveillance and anti-terror operations in the Chenab region and frontier districts. Meanwhile, village defence guards are receiving enhanced training to bolster grassroots security, and a suspected Pakistani drone was briefly sighted near the International Border in Samba.

A Jammu and Kashmir court acquitted three individuals arrested in 2022 for alleged arms possession, citing a lack of independent witnesses and corroborative evidence. The prosecution failed to prove conscious and unauthorized possession of the recovered arms and ammunition, leading to the acquittal of all three accused.

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has set aside the conviction of an elderly woman in a 1979 murder case, citing 46 years of prolonged proceedings and her age. The court ruled her sentence be treated as already undergone, closing the case due to the heat of passion and decades of litigation.

India welcomed the New Year 2026 with vibrant celebrations across major cities, featuring fireworks, cultural performances, and large public gatherings. Prime Minister Modi reflected on 2025 reforms, while President Murmu extended greetings wishing peace, prosperity, and renewed energy. Delhi Police urged safety, highlighting responsible celebrations as the nation stepped into 2026.

The Indian rupee faces significant volatility through 2026, with capital outflows and trade disruptions overshadowing strong economic fundamentals. Analysts warn that a US trade deal alone may not stabilize the currency, which has already seen substantial depreciation against major global currencies.

The government has launched a Rs 4,531-crore Market Access Support scheme to bolster Indian exporters' participation in international events.

India's northern borders are stable yet sensitive, with the Army robustly deployed to handle any contingency. Bilateral talks have fostered positive developments and troop disengagement. Enhanced infrastructure and new equipment bolster defence preparedness. India's calibrated military actions aim for peace and mutual security, with communication channels actively used to address concerns.

Starting January 1, energy-efficiency star labelling will be mandatory for a broader array of appliances, including refrigerators, televisions, and LPG stoves, as the government intensifies efforts to reduce power consumption.

India's Operation Sindoor, a decisive response to the Pahalgam attack, showcased unwavering resolve against terror. Precision strikes on Pakistani terror infrastructure delivered a calibrated blow, sending a clear message of retribution. The operation highlighted India's multi-domain capabilities and commitment to self-reliance, marking a defining moment in its military history.

Indian steel and aluminium exporters will face a carbon-linked cost from January 1, 2026, as the EU's CBAM transitions to its payment stage. Exporters may need to cut prices by 15-22% to absorb the carbon cost, with high-emission producers facing the sharpest impact.