Author: News Desk

France and India are advancing negotiations on a major defence agreement for the procurement and local production of 114 Dassault Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Air Force under a broad ‘Make in India’ framework. Under discussions, a significant portion of the aircraft, potentially up to around 55–60% indigenisation initially and aspirations of up to 80% localisation is expected to be manufactured in India through partnerships with Indian firms such as Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited (DRAL) in Nagpur and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) in Hyderabad. These production plans include establishing final assembly, fuselage manufacturing and Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) facilities on Indian soil, beginning with local fuselage fabrication and eventual full…

The Government of India is reportedly exploring plans to ease foreign investment norms in the defence sector, aiming to attract greater global participation, advanced technologies and capital inflows into domestic defence manufacturing. Under consideration are policy reforms that could raise foreign direct investment (FDI) caps and reduce approval barriers for overseas firms seeking to invest or partner with Indian defence companies. The proposed easing of FDI rules comes as part of a broader strategy to strengthen India’s defence industrial base, align with the objectives of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative and enhance the country’s appeal as a preferred destination for global defence supply chains. Industry stakeholders have long advocated for streamlined…

The Government of India has updated its Qualifying Customs Obligations (QCO) list to include aluminium cookware and aluminium beverage cans, aiming to bolster domestic manufacturing in these sectors. The QCO mechanism requires importers to undertake certain domestic production or investment obligations to qualify for concessional customs duty rates, thereby encouraging local industry participation. Under the revised policy, companies importing the specified aluminium products under preferential duty conditions will now have to meet minimum thresholds of local production or value addition in India. This adjustment comes as part of the government’s efforts to strike a balance between tariff rationalisation, aimed at simplifying and reducing import duties, and targeted protection…

Thiruvananthapuram has emerged as a standout destination in Agoda’s latest international travel growth rankings, highlighting the Kerala capital’s growing global appeal. The surge reflects increasing international searches and bookings, driven by a mix of cultural heritage, scenic beauty, and improved connectivity. At the heart of the city’s attraction is the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, a major spiritual and architectural landmark drawing visitors from across the world. Beach destinations such as Kovalam, Shanghumugham, and the nearby Varkala Cliff continue to rank high among foreign travellers seeking coastal escapes. Nature and adventure tourism are gaining traction with destinations like Ponmudi Hills, offering cool climates, winding roads, and panoramic views.…

Gujarat has emerged as India’s best-performing startup ecosystem for the fifth consecutive year, according to the Startup Ecosystem Ranking 2026 (5th Edition) released under the Startup India initiative. The ranking highlights the state’s consistent efforts in building a robust environment for innovation, entrepreneurship and startup growth. The assessment evaluates states on parameters such as policy support, funding access, incubation infrastructure, talent development and regulatory ease. Gujarat topped the rankings by demonstrating sustained progress across these indicators, supported by proactive governance and industry collaboration. According to the report, Gujarat’s strong network of incubation centres, innovation hubs and startup-focused policies has helped nurture early-stage ventures as well as scale-ups.…

Kochi-based agri-tech startup Fuselage Innovations, supported by Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), has won the Aspire Award at the National Startup Awards 5.0 held in New Delhi on Friday. The National Startup Awards 5.0 are instituted by Startup India under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. The awards were announced on the sidelines of National Startup Day 2026, which marked ten years of the Startup India initiative. Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with startup founders and entrepreneurs during the event. Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal was…

Dilpreet Singh Bajwa, a 22-year-old cricketer born in Gurdaspur, Punjab, has been named captain of the Canada national team for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from 7 February to 8 March 2026. Bajwa’s journey from being overlooked in Punjab’s domestic cricket system, where he struggled to secure selection despite strong performances, to leading an international side at cricket’s biggest T20 event is a remarkable turnaround. He moved to Canada in 2020, where he quickly established himself in the domestic circuit and earned a spot with the Montreal Tigers in Global T20 Canada before breaking into the national setup. In T20…

The Union Budget of India for 2026-27, the annual financial statement outlining the government’s revenue, spending priorities, tax proposals and economic agenda, is scheduled to be presented in Parliament on Sunday, 1 February 2026 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. This date continues a long-standing tradition of tabling the Union Budget on 1 February, even though it falls on a Sunday this year. The Budget Session of Parliament is expected to begin on 28 January 2026 and run through early April, comprising two phases where lawmakers will debate and review the budget proposals before approval. Alongside the Budget, the Economic Survey, a pre-budget report detailing India’s economic performance and outlook, is…

A recent LocalCircles survey of more than 90,000 quick-commerce users across India has revealed that a significant share of consumers do not favour ultra-fast “10-minute delivery” claims promoted by platforms like Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart and Zepto. The results suggest a shift in consumer sentiment toward more balanced delivery expectations that prioritise safety and essentials over extreme speed. According to the poll, 38% of respondents said they do not want anything delivered within 10 minutes, while 62% said there are some products for which faster delivery is desirable. Among those who still value rapid delivery, 100% cited medicines as the top priority, followed by 55% for essential household items and 25% for discretionary goods.…

OpenAI has announced an investment in Merge Labs, a brain-computer interface (BCI) startup cofounded by Sam Altman that aims to develop high-bandwidth neural interfaces blending biological, device and AI technologies. Merge Labs closed a $250 million seed round at an $850 million valuation, with OpenAI among its biggest backers alongside investors such as Bain Capital and Gabe Newell. Merge Labs describes itself as a research lab focused on bridging biological and artificial intelligence to maximise human ability, agency and experience. It is pursuing new BCI methods expected to interact with the brain at higher bandwidth by combining biology, advanced sensing and AI interpretation systems, with early aims including…