National News

Cabinet Approves Continuation of Atal Pension Yojana till 2030-31

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the extension of the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) through Financial Year 2030-31, maintaining government support for promotional activities, developmental initiatives, and gap funding to ensure scheme sustainability and expanded outreach among unorganised sector workers.
• Launched on May 9, 2015, and implemented from June 1, 2015, APY operates under the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) within the National Pension System architecture, targeting Indians aged 18-40 years to create a universal social security framework, particularly for poor, underprivileged, and unorganised sector workers.
• The scheme guarantees monthly pension amounts ranging from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 5,000 after subscribers reach age 60, with payments continuing until death, providing financial security to vulnerable populations who lack formal pension coverage through their employment.
• As of January 19, 2026, APY has successfully enrolled over 8.66 crore subscribers, establishing itself as a fundamental pillar of India’s inclusive social security system, with Public Sector Banks contributing approximately 70.44% of total subscriptions and Regional Rural Banks accounting for 19.80% of enrolments.

Banking and Finance News

Union Cabinet Approves Rs. 5,000 Crore Equity Infusion to SIDBI for MSMEs

• On January 21, 2026, the Union Cabinet approved a substantial equity infusion of Rs. 5,000 crore into the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to significantly expand credit availability for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises while supporting employment generation across the country through enhanced lending capacity.
• The Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, will implement the equity capital infusion across three distinct tranches: Rs. 3,000 crore in FY 2025-26 at Rs. 568.65 per share (based on March 31, 2025 book value), Rs. 1,000 crore in FY 2026-27, and Rs. 1,000 crore in FY 2027-28, with subsequent tranches valued at respective year-end book values.
• The infusion targets dramatic MSME growth expansion, with financial assistance projected to increase from 76.26 lakh MSMEs in FY25 to 1.02 crore by FY28, adding 25.74 lakh new units and generating 1.12 crore new employment opportunities, building upon the existing 6.90 crore MSMEs that have already created 30.16 crore jobs as of September 30, 2025.
• The capital injection will maintain SIDBI’s Capital to Risk-weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) above regulatory thresholds—exceeding 10.50% under stress scenarios and 14.50% under Pillar 1 and 2 norms—while protecting credit ratings and enabling digital, collateral-free lending, venture debt support to startups, and favorable resource mobilization that translates into lower interest rates for MSME borrowers.

Summit and Conference News

86th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference Held in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

• Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel inaugurated the 86th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference (AIPOC 2026) at the UP Vidhan Sabha in Lucknow during January 2026, marking the state’s fourth time hosting the prestigious event after previous conferences in 1961, 1985, and 2015, under the theme “Strong Legislature-Prosperous Nation.”
• The three-day conference, held from January 19-21, 2026, witnessed unprecedented participation from 36 Presiding Officers representing 24 States and Union Territories, making it the largest AIPOC gathering in the conference’s history and demonstrating comprehensive representation of India’s democratic legislative framework.
• Participants adopted six transformative resolutions addressing critical governance areas: re-dedication to Viksit Bharat 2047 goals through effective legislative proceedings, commitment to minimum 30 annual sittings for all state legislative bodies, enhanced technology integration for transparency and citizen-focused governance, strengthening democratic traditions through leadership, capacity building for MPs and MLAs particularly in digital technologies, and establishment of a National Legislative Index to benchmark and improve legislative performance.
• The comprehensive resolution framework emphasizes accountability to citizens, efficient utilization of legislative time, research-based participation by elected representatives, and creation of standardized assessment mechanisms that will enable systematic evaluation and enhancement of legislative effectiveness across all Indian states and union territories.

Rank and Reports News

NITI Aayog Releases Three Reports on Green Transition in Cement, Aluminium, and MSME Sectors

• On January 21, 2026, NITI Aayog released three comprehensive roadmap reports outlining strategies for green transition and decarbonization in the cement, aluminium, and MSME sectors, aligning with the Government of India’s ambitious Net Zero by 2070 target through adoption of green technologies and emission reduction methodologies.
• The cement sector roadmap addresses projected production growth from 391 million tonnes in 2023 to approximately 2,100 million tonnes by 2070, proposing reduction of carbon intensity from 0.63 to 0.09-0.13 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of cement, targeting the sector that currently contributes about 6% of India’s total emissions.
• The aluminium sector decarbonization strategy addresses expected output expansion from 4 million tonnes to 37 million tonnes by 2070, proposing phased transition through Renewable Energy-Round the Clock adoption by 2030, nuclear power integration during 2030-2040, and Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) implementation with captive generation beyond 2040 to manage the sector’s current 2.8% contribution (83 MTCO2e) to India’s greenhouse gas emissions.
• The MSME sector roadmap recognizes these enterprises contribute 30% to GDP, employ over 250 million people, and account for 46% of exports, recommending comprehensive deployment of energy-efficient equipment, adoption of alternative fuels, and integration of green electricity to drive sustainable transformation across this critical economic segment.

National News

GeM and WTC Mumbai Sign MoU to Strengthen MSME Participation in Public Procurement

• Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and MVIRDC World Trade Centre Mumbai signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding in January 2026 to promote domestic and international collaboration while significantly enhancing MSME participation in public procurement processes, focusing on inclusive opportunities for startups, women entrepreneurs, and smaller enterprises.
• The partnership establishes a formal collaboration framework emphasizing supplier development, comprehensive capacity building programs, and facilitated access to international markets, creating systematic pathways for Indian businesses to expand their global footprint and participate effectively in government procurement opportunities.
• Key focus areas include global outreach through webinars, buyer-seller meets, international trade fairs, onboarding of international suppliers on the GeM platform, policy dialogue on Artificial Intelligence and sustainable procurement practices, global training programmes, supplier readiness frameworks, and international outreach leveraging WTC’s extensive global network.
• The MoU establishes a Joint Working Group to oversee implementation and ensure alignment with Government of India policies, supporting Ease of Doing Business initiatives, empowering MSMEs under the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision, and advancing the comprehensive Viksit Bharat 2047 development agenda through enhanced procurement opportunities.

Science and Technology News

DIBD Signs MoU with Survey of India for Toponymic Data Digitisation

• The Digital India BHASHINI Division under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Survey of India, Department of Science & Technology, in January 2026 to digitise, transcribe, and standardise over 16 lakh geographical place names (toponyms) across India using advanced AI-based speech and language technologies.
• The collaboration supports accelerated development of the National Geographical Name Information System (NGNIS) by deploying BHASHINI’s indigenous AI-powered language tools, including Automatic Speech Recognition and Natural Language Processing workflows, to convert vernacular audio recordings from large-scale toponymic field surveys into validated, structured digital text databases.
• Survey of India, serving as the national nodal agency for geographical name standardisation, conducts extensive toponymic field surveys in local vernacular languages, while DIBD applies advanced AI technology for transcription, normalisation, and validation ensuring accuracy of pronunciation, regional variations, and full alignment with Survey of India Toponymy Manual and Bureau of Indian Standards specifications.
• The initiative will create a comprehensive validated database of over 16 lakh Indian place names in local scripts, Devanagari, and Roman formats, strengthening India’s geospatial systems for Open Series Maps, Disaster Management, Infrastructure Planning, and Citizen-Centric Governance while making Digital Public Infrastructure more inclusive, efficient, and linguistically representative in accordance with the National Geospatial Policy, 2022.

National News

CGCA Links SAMPANN Pension Portal with UMANG for DoT Pensioners

• On January 21, 2026, the Office of Controller General of Communication Accounts integrated its System for Administering Multi-purpose Pension Accounts and New Norms (SAMPANN) pension management system with the Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance (UMANG) platform, delivering enhanced digital services to nearly 4 lakh Department of Telecommunications pensioners.
• The integration enables seamless access to Pension Payment Order numbers and Life Certificate validity through the UMANG mobile app or web portal, eliminating the need for physical office visits and providing pensioners with convenient, anytime-anywhere access to critical pension-related information and services.
• SAMPANN Portal, developed by CGCA, serves as a comprehensive online pension management system specifically designed for DoT pensioners, while UMANG, developed by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in collaboration with National e-Governance Division and launched in 2017, provides a unified platform for Central, State, and Local government services.
• The digital enhancement, complemented by recent DigiLocker integration, demonstrates CGCA’s commitment to prompt, transparent pension access while reducing beneficiary visits to government offices and advancing Digital India initiative goals through technology-enabled governance and citizen-centric service delivery mechanisms.

Rank and Reports News

India Ranks Sixth in Asia Manufacturing Index 2026

• The third edition of the Asia Manufacturing Index 2026, released by Hong Kong-based advisory firm Dezan Shira & Associates, positioned India at 6th rank among 11 Asian countries, maintaining its previous position while highlighting the necessity for stronger economic reforms and accelerated policy execution to improve manufacturing competitiveness.
• China retained its dominant 1st position with leadership across economy, workforce, and international trade dimensions, followed by Malaysia securing 2nd place and Vietnam claiming 3rd position, demonstrating the competitive manufacturing landscape across the Asian region and varied national strengths.
• The comprehensive assessment evaluated eight critical pillars including Economy, Political Risk, Business Environment, International Trade, Tax Policy, Infrastructure, Workforce, and Innovation, with India demonstrating strengths in its large domestic market, improving infrastructure, and expanding workforce, while facing challenges in slower execution, policy instability, and limited innovation capacity.
• Other country rankings include Singapore (4th), South Korea (5th), Indonesia (7th), Thailand (8th), Japan (9th), Philippines (10th), and Bangladesh (11th), providing a comprehensive comparative analysis of manufacturing competitiveness across major Asian economies and identifying areas for strategic improvement and policy intervention.

Rank and Reports News

WEF’s Global Risks Report 2026: Geoeconomic Confrontation Emerges as Biggest Global Threat

• The World Economic Forum published the 21st edition of its ‘Global Risks Report: 21st Edition Insight 2026’ in January 2026, identifying geoeconomic confrontation as the foremost global risk, followed by state-based conflict, extreme weather, social protection gaps, and misinformation, based on insights from over 1,300 global leaders and experts through the Global Risks Perception Survey.
• The report analyzes 33 key global risks across three distinct time horizons—immediate (2026), short-to-medium term (to 2028), and long term (2036)—revealing significant reprioritization of threats, with extreme weather dropping from 2nd to 4th place in the two-year outlook while remaining the most severe long-term (10-year) risk facing humanity.
• Long-term risk assessment identifies extreme weather events as the most significant threat through 2036, followed by biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse (2nd), critical change to earth systems (3rd), misinformation and disinformation (4th), and adverse outcomes of AI technologies (5th), highlighting the interconnected nature of environmental, technological, and social challenges.
• For India specifically, the report identifies cyber insecurity as the major risk, followed by inequality in wealth and income distribution, insufficient public services and social protections including education, infrastructure, and pensions, economic downturn characterized by recession and stagnation, and state-based armed conflict including proxy wars, civil wars, and terrorism.

Banking and Finance News

RBI Issues Guidelines on Interest Subvention for Export Credit under Niryat Protsahan

• The Reserve Bank of India issued comprehensive operational guidelines in January 2026 for extending interest subvention on pre-shipment and post-shipment export credit under the Export Promotion Mission’s NIRYAT PROTSAHAN first component, aimed at facilitating improved access to rupee export credit for MSME exporters by reducing credit costs.
• All Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding Regional Rural Banks), Primary Urban Co-operative Banks, State Co-operative Banks, and All-India Financial Institutions have been directed to extend benefits strictly to eligible exporters, ensuring systematic implementation of the interest subvention scheme across India’s banking and financial institutions network.
• Eligible MSME manufacturer exporters and merchant exporters must hold valid active Importer Exporter Code and valid MSME Udyam Registration Number to receive interest subvention support, with applicability limited to exports covered under a specifically notified positive list of tariff lines at the Harmonised System of Nomenclature six-digit level.
• The interest subvention initiative represents a targeted government intervention to enhance export competitiveness of Indian MSMEs in international markets by reducing financing costs, thereby supporting the broader objectives of export promotion, economic growth, and strengthening India’s position in global trade ecosystems.

Banking and Finance News

RBI Notifies New FEMA Rules for Exports and Imports to Take Effect from October 01, 2026

• The Reserve Bank of India issued the ‘Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026’ under FEMA, 1999, in January 2026, introducing uniform timelines and enhanced monitoring requirements for trade-related foreign exchange transactions, superseding the Foreign Exchange Management (Export of Goods & Services) Regulations, 2015, with implementation scheduled from October 1, 2026.
• The new regulations mandate that all RBI references must be routed via the Platform for Regulatory Application, Validation and Authorisation (PRAVAAH) portal, with doubtful transactions requiring mandatory reporting to the Directorate of Enforcement under the Ministry of Finance, strengthening regulatory oversight and compliance mechanisms.
• Exporters of goods must submit declarations in Export Declaration Form to specified authorities, with Authorized Dealer banks required to enter EDF details for goods exported through non-EDI ports into the Export Data Processing and Monitoring System within 5 working days of receipt, ensuring timely tracking and monitoring of export transactions.
• Export proceeds must be realized and repatriated within 15 months of shipment or invoice, while exports invoiced and settled in Indian Rupees require realization within 18 months, with all inward and outward remittances linked to exports, imports, and merchanting trade transactions mandated for reporting in EDPMS and IDPMS, empowering AD banks to monitor all transactions for closure of outstanding entries.

Banking and Finance News

RBI Grants In-Principle Approval to Payoneer India as PA-CB

• The Reserve Bank of India granted in-principle approval to Payoneer India Private Limited, a subsidiary of USA-based Payoneer Global, in January 2026 to operate as a Payment Aggregator – Cross Border (PA-CB), enabling the company to facilitate comprehensive cross-border payment transactions for Indian importers and exporters.
• Payoneer India will enable end-to-end inward and outward cross-border payment transactions, allowing Indian exporters to receive overseas funds and importers to make international payments, particularly benefiting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and startups seeking to access global markets and scale international trade operations.
• Non-bank entities seeking PA-CB authorization must maintain net worth of Rs. 15 crore initially, increasing to Rs. 25 crore by year three, adhere to Rs. 25 lakh per-transaction limits, and maintain separate accounts for imports and exports with no netting permitted, ensuring financial stability and regulatory compliance.
• The approval represents significant progress in India’s digital payment infrastructure, enabling Indian businesses to efficiently manage cross-border transactions, reducing complexity and costs associated with international trade payments, and supporting the broader objectives of financial inclusion and facilitating seamless integration of Indian enterprises into global commerce ecosystems.

Banking and Finance News

Fintech Firm ZET Receives NPCI Approval to Launch UPI Payments on RuPay Credit Cards

• Credit-focused Indian fintech firm ZET secured approval from National Payments Corporation of India in January 2026 to operate as a Third-Party Application Provider, marking a significant milestone in integrating credit card functionalities into the Unified Payments Interface system and expanding digital payment options for Indian consumers.
• Following NPCI approval, ZET launched ZET UPI platform enabling users to make UPI payments and transactions using RuPay credit cards issued through its platform, with services enabled through banking partnership with RBL Bank (formerly Ratnakar Bank Limited) and powered by Juspay’s advanced technology infrastructure for secure transaction processing.
• Beyond existing credit card-linked rewards programs, ZET credit users with active subscription plans become eligible for additional cashback benefits on UPI transactions, creating enhanced value propositions and incentivizing adoption of integrated credit-UPI payment solutions among Indian consumers.
• The approval and launch represent significant advancement in India’s digital payment ecosystem, combining the convenience and ubiquity of UPI with credit card benefits, potentially driving increased adoption of digital payments while providing consumers with flexible payment options and enhanced financial management capabilities through integrated platforms.

Appointments and Resignations News

Deepinder Goyal Resigns as CEO of Eternal Group; Albinder Dhindsa to Take Over

• Deepinder Goyal resigned as Director, Managing Director, and Chief Executive Officer of Eternal Limited, parent company of food delivery platform Zomato and commerce delivery arm Blinkit, effective February 1, 2026, marking a significant leadership transition for one of India’s most prominent technology companies.
• Albinder Singh Dhindsa, current CEO of Blinkit, has been appointed CEO and Key Managerial Personnel of Eternal Limited effective February 1, 2026, bringing his experience leading the rapid commerce vertical to the broader organizational leadership role during this strategic transition period.
• Deepinder Goyal, who started his career as management consultant at Bain & Company, co-founded Zomato in 2008 and served as CEO since inception, leading the company through its 2021 public listing and the 2025 rebranding of the holding entity to Eternal Ltd. to represent its expanded business ecosystem beyond food delivery.
• Post-resignation, Goyal will remain on the Board of Directors as Vice Chairman, pending shareholder approval, ensuring continuity of strategic vision and institutional knowledge while transitioning operational leadership to Dhindsa, reflecting a planned succession strategy for the rapidly evolving digital commerce and food delivery ecosystem.

Appointments and Resignations News

Tata Communications Appoints Ganesh Lakshminarayanan as MD & CEO

• Tata Communications Limited announced the appointment of Ganesh Lakshminarayanan, former Airtel Business executive, as its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer in January 2026, succeeding current MD & CEO A. S. Lakshminarayanan who will retire on April 13, 2026, following a distinguished tenure leading the global telecommunications and digital infrastructure company.
• Ganesh Lakshminarayanan brings over 30 years of international management experience spanning technology, telecommunications, multinational corporations, Business-to-Business start-ups, and Indian enterprises, providing comprehensive expertise for leading Tata Communications’ next growth phase in an evolving digital infrastructure landscape.
• Most recently serving as Managing Director and Group Vice President for ServiceNow India and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation region, Lakshminarayanan previously held leadership positions as CEO of Airtel Business India and Head of Airtel’s Enterprise Business Unit, demonstrating strong track record in enterprise technology and telecommunications sectors.
• His industry leadership credentials include two-term election to the NASSCOM Executive Council and service as council member of FICCI, reflecting recognition of his strategic vision, industry expertise, and capability to navigate complex regulatory, technological, and competitive dynamics in India’s telecommunications and digital infrastructure sectors.

National News

Governments of Odisha and Meghalaya Sign MoU to Strengthen ECCED

• On January 20, 2026, the Governments of Odisha and Meghalaya signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Bhubaneswar to enhance cooperation in Early Childhood Care, Education and Development through inter-state collaboration, focusing on mutual learning, best practice exchange, and holistic childhood interventions covering nutrition, health, education, and community engagement.
• The MoU was formally signed by Sampath Kumar, Principal Secretary of Meghalaya, and Ananta Narayan Singh Laguri, Additional Secretary of Women & Child Development Department of Odisha, establishing an official framework for systematic knowledge sharing and capacity building between the two states.
• ECCED focus areas encompass comprehensive nutrition and health interventions for early years, early learning programs, responsive caregiving practices, community engagement strategies, and institutional strengthening initiatives targeting state officials and frontline workers who directly implement early childhood development programs.
• The structured framework will support knowledge exchange mechanisms, joint research initiatives, exposure visits for officials and practitioners, documentation of innovative and effective practices, and multi-level training programs for personnel, ultimately strengthening institutional capacity and improving outcomes for young children across both states through evidence-based, collaborative approaches to early childhood development.

State News

Assam Government Announces ‘Atal Vichal Agragami Assam Scheme’ for Research Scholars

• Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the ‘Atal Vichal Agragami Assam’ scheme in January 2026 to support research scholars through monthly financial assistance, providing Rs. 25,000 per month for general research scholars and Rs. 40,000 per month for Divyang (differently-abled) research scholars pursuing doctoral studies.
• The scheme, implemented by the Directorate of Employment and Craftsmen Training under the Skill, Employment and Entrepreneurship Department of Assam Government, aims to strengthen the state’s education and skill development infrastructure while advancing national goals of research, innovation, and self-reliance through targeted financial support.
• Eligibility is limited to permanent residents of Assam enrolled in full-time Doctor of Philosophy programs at Central or State Universities within Assam, ensuring benefits reach local talent and incentivizing retention of research scholars within the state’s higher education system.
• Monthly assistance covers essential academic requirements including research materials, fieldwork expenses, data collection costs, and living expenses during the research tenure, with eligible candidates able to apply through a dedicated online portal, and the scheme scheduled for official launch on February 11, 2026, providing comprehensive support for advancing research capabilities in Assam.