🏦 Economy / Policy
• RBI is widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged today, maintaining a cautious stance amid inflation and growth balancing 📊
• Unspent ₹43,636 crore remains parked in states’ SNA accounts despite higher allocations, indicating execution bottlenecks in public spending 💰
• India and the GCC have signed Terms of Reference to restart FTA negotiations after a three-year pause, reviving Gulf trade engagement 🌍💹
• India and the US are likely to sign a joint statement on the bilateral trade deal within days, with a first formal tranche targeted by mid-March 🤝
• India plans energy diversification and will continue sourcing crude from non-sanctioned entities, including Russia, even as trade dynamics evolve 🛢️
• India’s sunflower oil imports are expected to fall to a four-year low due to a price premium in global markets 🌻📉
• India’s battery demand is projected to surge sharply over the long term, reaching large-scale levels by 2045, driven by EVs and storage needs 🔋📈
🏢 Companies / Sectors
• Blackstone has received RBI approval to acquire up to a 9.99% stake in Federal Bank, signalling strong foreign investor interest in India’s banking sector 🏦📈
• Tariff reductions are helping Indian toys and games regain competitiveness in the US market 🎲📈
• India’s single-speciality healthcare market is projected to triple to over $12 billion by 2030, driven by rising demand and private investment 🏥📈
• Sri Lanka has invited Indian participation in an Udan-like domestic aviation connectivity programme, opening regional opportunities ✈️🌏
• Russian oil tankers positioning near India amid trade uncertainty highlights ongoing supply and logistics adjustments 🛢️⚠️
🌍 Global / World
• Venezuela remains a long-standing energy partner and India is open to crude sourcing options, reflecting pragmatic energy diplomacy 🌍🛢️
• Anthropic unveiled its latest AI model, intensifying competition with OpenAI in the global generative AI race 🤖📈