🏦 Economy / Policy
• December trade deficit widened as imports surged 8.8%, while export growth remained modest at 1.86%, reflecting demand-led import pressure 💹
• USD–INR trades near 90.25–90.35; the rupee weakened 4.7% in 2025, its steepest annual fall in three years amid trade uncertainty 📉
• India’s defence outlay stands at ₹6.81 lakh crore for FY26 (+9.5% YoY), with the ministry eyeing a 20% jump in FY27 to bridge capability gaps 🛡️📈
• India will receive its fourth S-400 squadron by May 2026, with the fifth in 2027, strengthening multi-layered air defence 🛡️
🏢 Companies / Sectors
• Indian IT shows Q3 FY26 recovery, with TCS, Infosys, and HCLTech reporting strong deal pipelines and momentum in agentic AI adoption 💻📈
• Adani will commission a 1,126 MW / 3,530 MWh battery energy storage system in Gujarat by March 2026—the world’s largest single-location BESS 🔋📈
• Passenger vehicle volumes are projected to grow 20% YoY in Q3 FY26; two-wheelers rebound with 16% growth on affordability gains 🚗📈
• Indian pharma is expected to grow 9–11% in FY26, led by domestic demand and 15–17% expansion in Europe 💊📈
🌍 Global / World
• The US Federal Reserve signalled a cautious 2026 rate path, with markets pricing at most two cuts, creating mixed cues for global risk assets 🌍📊
• OpenAI is rolling out a new ChatGPT-based translator, challenging Google Translate in consumer AI utilities 🤖📈
• YouTube introduced enhanced parental controls and new limits on Shorts for teens, tightening platform safety measures 📱
• China’s trade surplus hit a record $1.2 trillion in 2025 (+20% YoY), while US exports to China fell 19.5%, reshaping global supply chains 🌍💹