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The economy appears to be on a stable footing ahead of the Union budget. Growth clocked 6.5% in 2024-25, public capital expenditure crossed ₹11 trillion, its highest share of GDP in 15 years, and inflation has largely stayed within the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) tolerance band.Yet, a troubling imbalance lies beneath the macro aggregates. Private capital has not responded with the breadth or momentum one would expect at India’s current stage of development.

₹1.5 trillion during the period since RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee met in October 2025.Despite this, in its policy announcement of 5 December, the central bank said it would conduct OMO purchases of government securities (G-Secs) amounting to ₹1 trillion this month, apart from 3-year dollar-rupee buy-sell swaps of $5 billion—only to double the quantum of both within a space of less than three weeks.Last Tuesday, RBI announced OMO G-Sec purchases of ₹2 trillion and a forex swap auction of $10 billion for a tenor of 3 years to be held on 13 January 2026. While bankers say liquidity typically tightens as the year nears its end, RBI has not explained what has changed to make it literally double down on infusion.Yes, like other central banks, RBI is expected to function as a lender of last resort.

₹6.64 a unit, even though solar and wind power come for ₹2.5-4. The key reason is the 'infirm' nature of renewable power - lack of generation when the sun doesn't shine, and the wind doesn't blow.Even those renewable projects with combined solar and wind generation, plus battery storage, are not finding takers despite being available at ₹5 a unit or lower, as discoms remain wary of battery supply chains. Meanwhile, thermal provides the necessary base load.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. PNB Housing Finance Ltd has come full circle. Ajai Kumar Shukla took charge as managing director and chief executive officer on 18 December, bringing closure to the leadership vacuum created by the sudden resignation of Girish Kousgi on 31 July, an episode that had rattled investors.

Dear reader, as 2025, a year of global tumult and volatility, rolls by, Mint's reporters and columnists look around the corner on what is coming in 2026—to help you know what to expect and prepare for it. Tell us what you think at [email protected] India stands at a pivotal moment in its journey toward universal health coverage (UHC).

The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Technology for India (Shanti) Act of 2025 is a watershed moment in making nuclear power a part of the country’s decarbonization strategy. It paves the way to achieve a target of 100GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047, while removing structural and legal hurdles that constrained investment, slowed capacity addition and kept the sector technologically insular.The Act heralds three transformative shifts. First, it opens the door for private sector participation in nuclear power generation, equipment manufacturing and fuel-cycle services.

India’s economy was under $1 trillion when its rural job-guarantee scheme was launched in 2006. Now it’s four times that size. By turning the Indian state into an employer of last resort, it created a useful safety net.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. The Federal Reserve lowered interest rates for the third time in four months on Wednesday while signaling that further easing is far from assured.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. India plans to get its drug regulatory system audited and rated by the World Health Organization (WHO) to detect specific strengths and weaknesses that will help to make it fool proof, according to four officials and a document reviewed by Mint. The move comes after multiple instances of drug safety related incidents in the country as well as export markets raised serious questions on the quality of medicines made in India, often referred to as ‘pharmacy of the world’.

Enterprise technology has long rested on a basic assumption: determinism. When a system gets identical inputs, it must yield identical outputs. Business and tech leaders rely on this expectation.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. The week-long disruption at IndiGo—India’s largest airline—resulted in more than 1,500 flight cancellations and widespread delays across major airports, prompting the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to issue a show-cause notices to chief executive officer (CEO) Pieter Elbers and other executives for failing to ensure reliable operations. The crisis has deeper roots in a decade-long legal dispute over the rights of pilots to regulated work hours and strict enforcement of fatigue-mitigation norms.

A mobility agreement allowing Indian blue-collar workers, such as those in construction, to seek employment in Russia.A naval training pact under which Russia will train Indian sailors for operations along the Arctic route. This is particularly significant, as the melting of Arctic ice opens up new shipping lanes.

semiconductor startup founder has issued a strong rebuttal to Union Minister Piyush Goyal’s recent criticism of Indian consumer internet startups, highlighting the challenges faced by deep-tech entrepreneurs in India. At Startup Mahakumbh 2025, Goyal had taken a swipe at the direction many startups were heading, saying, “Do we have to make ice cream or chips? Dukaandari hi karna hai?” His comments suggested a preference for innovation in areas like semiconductors over consumer-facing ventures such as food delivery or boutique D2C products. Also Read: Zepto's Aadit Palicha, Mohandas Pai react to Piyush Goyal's comments on Indian startups

Pamban Bridge in Tamil Nadu’s Rameshwaram, which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 6 April, has been declared safe to run trains at 80 kmph for the next 100 years. This assurance comes from MP Singh, director (operations) at Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), the public sector company behind the project. Singh, who is also part of a five-member Expert Committee formed last November to look into safety concerns, said that the panel carefully examined every part of this iconic structure.

Vodafone Idea (Vi) has started initial discussions with banks and global vendors to buy 4G and 5G network gear against letters of credit (LCs) instead of making full upfront payments, backed by the government's debt conversion. Switching back to an LC-based payments model with global vendors is likely to give Vi far more cash-flow flexibility and allow it to accelerate its 4G network expansion and 5G rollouts via bigger volume equipment purchases, multiple people aware of the discussions said. The telco needs to speedily expand its 4G services as it aims to narrow the network coverage difference with rivals Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, and stem rapid user losses.

Enforcement Directorate on Friday conducted searches at offices of Kerala-based businessman Gokulam Gopalan, one of the producers of the movie "L2: Empuraan", and some others as part of an alleged foreign exchange violation case, official sources said. The searches are being undertaken in Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and Kochi (Kerala) under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), the sources said.

TDP's nuanced stand on the waqf bill is a well-crafted strategy to woo Muslim voters and make inroads in Rayalaseema — YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy's stronghold. While TDP voted in favour of the bill, it proposed that the appointment of non-Muslims in state waqf boards be left to state governments. The decision to take this stance and propose this change through rules was taken after Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu held consultations with legal experts and Muslim groups. The party has its eye firmly on the Muslim electorate that comprises about 9.5% of the state's population.

Marco Rubio has assured NATO allies that Washington is committed to the alliance, despite concerns raised by President Donald Trump’s earlier remarks. Speaking at a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels, Rubio said that the United States seeks a stronger and more capable NATO. Rubio, as per the reports, said that the US is as active in NATO as it has ever been. He dismissed alleged hysteria and hyperbole in the media over Trump’s stance on the alliance. Rubio said that Trump has made it clear that the US supports NATO and they will remain a part of the organisation. However, Rubio reiterated Trump’s call for NATO allies to shoulder more responsibility. He, as per the Euro News report, urged European nations and Canada to increase their defence spending to five per cent of GDP. This reportedly is double of the current two per cent target which several nations including Belgium, Italy, and Spain fail to meet. Also Read :Judge who sentenced Marine Le Pen now under police protection

Waqf Amendment Bill by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju led to a showdown between the NDA and the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. The bill seeks to improve the administration of Waqf properties, introduce technology-driven management, address complexities and ensure transparency. Introducing the bill, Rijiju said the consultation process of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) was the largest ever exercise carried out by a parliamentary panel in India's democratic history.

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has decided to propose that state governments be allowed to decide on non-Muslim members in State Waqf Boards as the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill comes for introduction and passage in Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The party has decided to take a nuanced stand on the floor of the House after detailed meetings at Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s residence late on Tuesday night. According to sources, Naidu consulted legal experts and decided that the party will support the bill but the Lok Sabha MPs will propose the change in their speeches.

India’s economy, MSMEs remain critically underinsured. With less than 15% having adequate insurance coverage, millions of businesses are left vulnerable to financial shocks. Why, then, do so many small enterprises overlook such a crucial safety net? Business insurance penetration among micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in India remains alarmingly low. Given that there are 63 million MSMEs, which currently contribute approximately 30% to India’s gross domestic product (GDP), only a small fraction have insurance. Insurance coverage is crucial for MSMEs, given their limited capacity to withstand risks such as payment defaults. In the post-pandemic world, challenges such as supply chain disruptions, geopolitical tensions, inflation, and economic slowdowns have further heightened the risks associated with exports, making risk mitigation through insurance more vital than ever. This raises an important question: Are MSMEs reluctant to embrace insurance, or is the system failing to make insurance accessible and compelling? According to Girija Subramanian, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, The New India Assurance Co. Ltd., the issue is deeply rooted in perception and awareness. Speaking on the sidelines of the Economic Times (ET) MSME Awards 2024 in Delhi, Subramanian addressed this challenge in a fireside chat moderated by Neha Dewan, Assistant News Editor, The Economic Times.