India joined the BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies (BCIC) at an event organised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, at Vanijya Bhavan, New Delhi.
The BCIC, launched in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), serves as a one-stop centre providing integrated support services to manufacturing companies and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across BRICS countries, with a focus on strengthening Industry 4.0 competencies.
The National Productivity Council (NPC) has been designated as the India Centre for BRICS Industrial Competencies. Under the policy guidance of DPIIT and with technical support from UNIDO, NPC will spearhead India’s engagement with BCIC and contribute to capacity building, productivity enhancement and adoption of advanced manufacturing practices.
In a significant step towards advancing women-led development through skill empowerment, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IPE Global Limited to strengthen a gender-responsive and future-ready skilling ecosystem for young women across India.
The collaboration aims to enhance programme design, increase participation of women in aspirational job roles, and enable stronger linkages between skilling, employability, and inclusive economic growth.
This partnership will strengthen India’s skilling ecosystem through evidence-based, gender-responsive interventions aimed at improving women’s participation and outcomes in skill development. The collaboration will focus on addressing structural barriers, aligning training with industry demand, and strengthening placement pathways through private sector engagement.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru sealed their dominance in the Women’s Premier League by clinching their second title, outclassing Delhi Capitals by six wickets in a high-voltage final.
Delhi Capitals posted an imposing 203 for four against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women's Premier League final.
Laura Wolvaardt (44 not out off 25 balls) and Lizelle Lee (37 off 30 balls) also made quick runs after DC were put in. Rodrigues slammed 57 off 37 balls.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) skipper Smriti Mandhana led the Red and Gold franchise to the second Women's Premier League (WPL) title, securing the Orange Cap for most runs this season,
completing 1,000 runs in the tournament and shattering plenty of records. A dominant RCB made history, securing their 2nd WPL title with a six-wicket win while pulling off the highest run-chase in a women's T20 tournament final. Smriti came in clutch during the title clash, cracking a scintillating 41-ball 87 with 12 fours and three sixes at a strike rate of over 212.
She also joined the stalwarts Nat-Sciver, UP Warriorz skipper Meg Lanning, MI captain Harmanpreet Kaur and DC's opener Shafali Verma as the fifth player to complete 1,000 WPL runs. She has made 1,023 runs in 35 matches at an average of 31.00 and a strike rate of 136.76 and seven fifties, with best score of 96.
In WPL the Orange and Purple cap winners in IPL get Rs 10 Lakh, half of it is received by the WPL winners of the same category. The gap is wider when it comes to emerging players and the most valuable players of the two leagues.
The Government has revised the startup recognition framework to further strengthen the Startup India Action Plan and advance the Prime Minister’s vision of positioning India as a global innovation powerhouse, a manufacturing-led economy, and a hub for emerging technologies.
As Startup India enters its second decade, the revised framework seeks to provide a more predictable, inclusive and future-ready policy environment for founders, while facilitating the flow of long-term patient capital into high-technology and research-intensive sectors.
As part of continuous monitoring ofprices and ensure adequate availability of wheat before the upcoming festive season, Central Government has decided to withdraw thewheat stock limit order dated 27 May 2025.
The Removal of Licensing Requirements, Stock Limits and Movement Restrictions on Specified Foodstuffs (Amendment) Order, 2025 was issued on 27 May 2025 and is applicable for all States and Union Territories.
However, all wheat stocking entities are required to declare the stock position on every Friday on the food stock portal.
As per the wheat stock declaration by private entities on the DFPD portal for the year 2025–26, wheat stock availability with private entities is significantly higher compared to the corresponding period last year. The total stock reported stands at approximately 81 LMT, which is about 30 LMT higher year-on-year, indicating a comfortable supply position in the country.
Price data from the Department of Consumer Affairs reflects a declining trend in wheat prices, particularly in the wholesale segment. Wholesale prices have fallen from Rs. 2970.10 per quintal (last year) to around Rs. 2852.30 per quintal at present, suggesting subdued demand and excess supply conditions in domestic markets.
Wheat acreage has also increased to about 334.17 lakh hectares compared to 328.04 lakh hectares last year,exceeding the normal expected rabi area. This reflects continued farmer preference for wheat cultivation due to assured MSP and procurement prospects and signals the likelihood of another robust harvest.
The North Eastern Region Agri-Commodity E-Connect (NE-RACE) portal is fully operational and facilitates market linkages between farmers/Farmer Producer Organisations/ Self Help Groups/Cooperatives of the North Eastern Region (NER) and buyers across the country.
As on 23.1.2026, 6807 sellers/ farmers/Farmer Producer Companies and 735 buyers have been onboarded, with 1797 agri-commodities listed on the platform. The total value of sales facilitated through the portal stands at ₹895.56 lakh.
The NE-RACE platform has significantly benefited farmers of North Eastern States including Sikkim by strengthening their access to national markets and enabling direct buyer–seller linkages.Through the NE-RACE portal, buyers from Sikkim have procured 130 metric tons of agri-produce valued at ₹54.40 lakh.
The multi-lingual helpdesk and helpline services under NE-RACE are utilised for farmer onboarding and operational support in Sikkim. As on 23.1.2026, 251 farmers from Sikkim have been onboarded on the portal.
Five outreach and onboarding programmes have been conducted in the State of Sikkim as on 23.1.2026.
Further, International Buyer–Seller Meets are among the measures identified for enhancing outreach.
The NE-RACE platform supports buyer–seller matchmaking and provides logistics-related guidance through a multi-lingual helpdesk, field-level support, and State Coordinators, who assist in onboarding, resolving operational issues, and facilitating communication.
The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.25 per cent. RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra announced the decision after the policy meeting.
In its policy meeting, which took place between February 4-6, the committee continued with the 'neutral' stance.
The latest move follows a series of rate reductions last year. Since February 2025, the MPC has lowered the repo rate by a total of 100 basis points (bps) through three consecutive cuts. This brought the policy rate down from 6.5 per cent in February to 5.5 per cent in June. One basis point equals one-hundredth of a percentage point.
The standing deposit facility (SDF) rate was kept at 5 per cent. The marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the bank rate were both set at 5.50 per cent.
The Terms of Reference (ToR) for the India-GCC Free Trade Agreement (FTA) were signed between Shri Ajay Bhadoo, Additional Secretary and Chief Negotiator, Department of Commerce and Dr. Raja Al Marzouqi, Chief Negotiator, Secretariat General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, on 5 February 2026 at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi.
The ToRs will guide the negotiations for the GCC-India FTA by defining its scope and modalities.
The India–GCC FTA holds significant potential to unlock and expand trade with an important region, with which India has longstanding historical ties in trade and commerce.
India’s trade with GCC stood at USD 178.56 billion (Exports: USD 56.87 billion; Imports: USD 121.68 billion) in FY 2024-25, accounting for 15.42% of India’s global trade. In the last five years, India’s trade with the GCC has expanded steadily, registering an annual average growth rate of 15.3 per cent.
Key exports from India to GCC include engineering goods, rice, textiles, machinery, gems and jewelry. Key sectors of imports from GCC primarily comprise crude oil, LNG, petrochemicals, and precious metals such as gold.
Collectively, the GCC countries represent a market of 61.5 million people (2024) and US$ 2.3 trillion in terms of GDP at current prices, ranking 9th globally in this category. The GCC region is also a significant source of FDI for India, with cumulative investments exceeding USD 31.14 billion as on September 2025.
Airbus inaugurated a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for aerospace studies at the Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV), India’s unique industry-driven central university for the transportation and logistics sector, based in Vadodara, Gujarat.
Delhi ranks first in a list of world's most-affordable city for international students, according to a report by Knight Frank, Deloitte India, and QS.
The report titled 'India's 155 Million Student Mandate', which was released on Wednesday, noted that Delhi has emerged as the "world's most affordable student city, ranked first globally".
Mumbai ranks 11 while Bengaluru is at 15th place.
The QS Best Student Cities 2026 ranking showcases the most attractive urban destinations for international students.
The rankings are based on a diverse variety of indicators grouped under six key categories.
As many as 150 cities were assessed across these equally weighted categories, namely affordability, employer activity, university ranking, city desitability, student voice and student mix.
In affordability parameter, India has a defining competitive advantage.
Shishir Baijal, International Partner, Chairman & Managing Director, Knight Frank India, said, "India's higher education opportunity must be understood through the lens of cities and real estate. Policy enables entry, but it is spatial strategy that determines success."
Axis Bank has announced the launch of Rooftop Solar Finance, a tailored financing solution to support Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in transitioning to solar energy and optimising energy costs through energy self-reliance.
Under this program, MSMEs can avail collateral-free loans from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 2 crore, with flexible repayment tenures of 4–7 years. This structure allows MSMEs to invest in rooftop solar systems without putting pressure on their balance sheets or working capital cycles.
his is aimed to help them lower operating expenses, gain greater control over energy costs, and build long-term financial resilience.
The product is available nationwide through Axis Bank’s branch network. The Bank has partnered with leading Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
Axis Bank has also collaborated with a Technology Partner to provide MSMEs with enhanced transparency throughout the solar adoption journey, including system costs, projected savings, and execution timelines.
Former Manipur speaker Yumnam Khemchand Singh took oath as the chief minister of the strife-torn state, becoming the first person to helm the northeastern state since President’s Rule was clamped in 2025 after two years of ethnic violence.
Along with Singh, two deputy chief ministers from the Kuki-Zo and Naga communities also took oath in a low-key ceremony at the Lok Bhavan in Imphal. Hours before the event, President’s Rule was withdrawn after almost 12 months from the state where nearly 260 people have died and another 60,000 displaced in ethnic clashes since 2023.
Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla administered the oath of office and secrecy to the 62-year-old two-timelegislator who hails from the dominant Meitei community and is also a Taekwondo enthusiast.
Kuki-Zo lawmaker, Nemcha Kipgen, also took oath as deputy chief minister through video conferencing from Manipur Bhavan in New Delhi.
BJP legislator K Govindas and National Peoples Party (NPP) legislator K Loken, both Meiteis, also took oath as cabinet ministers.
A few hours before the ceremony, President’s Rule was lifted, a communique by the Union home ministry stated.
“In exercise of the power conferred by clause (2) of article 356 of the constitution, I Droupadi Murmu, President of India hereby revoke the Proclamation issued by me under the said article on the 13th day of February, 2025, in relation of the State of Manipur with effect from 4th day of February 2026,” the notification read.
In 2012, the UN General Assembly designated February 6th as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, with the aim to amplify and direct the efforts on the elimination of this practice.
This year’s theme, “Towards 2030: No end to female genital mutilation without sustained commitment and investment,”.
Female genital mutilation is a human rights violation that infringes on the fundamental rights of girls and women. The injury of female genitalia for non-medical reasons can have short-term to lifelong health impacts on physical, sexual, and mental health, spanning from childhood, reproductive years, and into old age.
