India is currently engaging in trade negotiations from a position of strength, balancing its push for wider market access with the need to safeguard sensitive areas like agriculture and dairy. According to Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, a free-trade agreement with the European Union could significantly boost exports, potentially doubling India’s shipments to the bloc within five years. If the deal materialises, trade in goods between India and the EU is expected to grow substantially, with projections indicating bilateral trade could touch $150 billion.
2. NCP Leadership Developments in Maharashtra
Senior Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal stated that the Nationalist Congress Party’s legislature wing will convene a meeting on January 31 to take an important leadership decision. During the meeting, Sunetra Pawar, wife of former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, is expected to be named leader of the party in the legislature. Bhujbal added that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has indicated there would be no objection to her taking oath as deputy chief minister as early as Saturday, provided the party’s legislative group formally approves the move. Sunetra Pawar currently serves as a Rajya Sabha member and is not part of the Maharashtra legislature. The Baramati assembly seat has fallen vacant following Ajit Pawar’s death in a plane crash earlier this week.
3. Ola Electric’s Turnaround Measures
Electric two-wheeler manufacturer Ola Electric, led by Bhavish Aggarwal, is working on a turnaround plan aimed at improving customer service standards and increasing automation in its front-end operations. As part of these internal changes, the company is expected to rationalise its workforce. Ola Electric has around 3,500 employees, and nearly 175 roles across different departments are likely to be affected as the company restructures its operations.
4. Blinkit Launches National Mobility Card
Quick-commerce platform Blinkit has started offering the Bharat Yatra National Common Mobility Card through its app, marking its entry into public transport enablement. The card is currently being delivered in major cities including Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai and Ahmedabad. Priced at ₹50, the card does not require KYC and removes the need for separate city-specific transport cards. According to Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa, the RuPay-powered card, developed by Pine Labs, allows instant UPI-based top-ups and can be used for metro and bus travel across multiple cities. The card remains valid for five years and supports a wallet balance of up to ₹2,000, making it a step towards simplifying public transport usage nationwide.
5. Satcom Licence Applications in India
The government informed the Rajya Sabha that several companies have applied for satellite communication licences in India over the past five years. These include Nelco, Yotta Network Services, Eutelsat OneWeb India Communications, Jio Satellite Communications, Starlink Satellite Communications, Amazon Kuiper Services India and Connect4Sure Technologies. While Connect4Sure and Nelco later withdrew their applications, approvals have so far been granted only to OneWeb, Jio and Starlink for providing global mobile personal communication by satellite services. Meanwhile, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has recommended that satellite spectrum be allocated administratively for an initial five-year period, with a possible two-year extension. TRAI has also suggested charging operators 4% of adjusted gross revenue, subject to a minimum annual spectrum fee, though the final policy framework is still under discussion.
6. Amazon Announces Fresh Job Cuts
Amazon has announced another round of job reductions, confirming plans to eliminate 16,000 corporate roles globally. This marks the second major workforce cut in just four months, following the removal of 14,000 positions in October. Reports indicate that employees in the United States, the United Kingdom and India have been informed, with the layoffs impacting multiple business units across the company.
7. AI Talent Exodus at Apple
Apple has seen further attrition within its artificial intelligence teams, with at least four AI researchers leaving the company in recent weeks. These departures come in addition to the exit of a senior executive associated with Siri. The researchers are reportedly joining competitors such as Meta Platforms and Google DeepMind, highlighting intensifying competition for AI talent across the global tech industry.
8. Glenmark Pharma Q3 Performance
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals posted a strong year-on-year improvement in its third-quarter results for FY26, reporting a 16% increase in consolidated net profit to ₹403.2 crore. Revenue from operations also rose 15% to ₹3,900 crore during the quarter. However, compared to the previous quarter, both profit and revenue declined sharply. The company saw better traction in Europe and emerging markets, driven by growth in its respiratory portfolio and expanding global brands.
9. Google India’s FY25 Financials
Google India reported largely flat profitability for the financial year ended March 2025, with standalone profit standing at ₹1,436.9 crore. The muted performance was attributed to slower revenue growth along with rising employee-related and tax expenses. Total expenses for the year crossed ₹4,100 crore, while staff costs increased nearly 8%. Tax outgo also rose significantly, leading to a marginal decline in the company’s net margin compared to the previous year.
10. Ola Electric Q2 FY26 Results
Ola Electric reported a sharp drop in operating revenue for the second quarter of FY26, with earnings declining 43% year-on-year to ₹690 crore. Despite the fall in revenue, the company managed to narrow its losses to ₹418 crore compared to the same period last year. As part of its restructuring and efficiency drive, Ola Electric is focusing on service improvements and automation, a move that is expected to impact around 175 employees across various teams.
11. Meesho’s Rising Losses Despite Revenue Growth
E-commerce platform Meesho reported a significant widening of losses in the December 2025 quarter, with its consolidated net loss surging to ₹490.7 crore. This marked a sharp increase compared to the same quarter last year and a further rise on a sequential basis. Despite the losses, Meesho’s operating revenue grew strongly, supported mainly by its core marketplace business. However, rising expenses and higher operating costs weighed heavily on profitability during the quarter.
12. Jindal Steel’s Profit Declines in Q3
Jindal Steel and Power reported a steep fall in profit for the December quarter, impacted by lower steel prices, rising costs and a one-time expense related to labour code implementation. Net profit dropped sharply to ₹190 crore compared to the same period last year, even as revenue recorded double-digit growth. The company’s sales volumes increased significantly, but margins came under pressure. Net debt rose during the quarter, largely due to continued capital expenditure on expansion projects at its Angul plant.
13. Easy Home Finance Raises Series C Funding
Mortgage-tech firm Easy Home Finance has secured $30 million in a Series C funding round led by Investcorp, with participation from existing investors. The company plans to use the fresh capital to strengthen its technology platform and expand its presence across India’s housing finance market.
14. D-Propulse Aerospace Secures Seed Capital
IAN Alpha Fund has invested ₹25 crore in aerospace startup D-Propulse Aerospace. The company intends to utilise the funding to scale its engineering workforce, enhance simulation and computing capabilities, and develop advanced testing infrastructure to support future projects.
15. Nivaan Care Raises Series A Funding
Healthcare startup Nivaan Care, which operates a single-specialty interventional pain management chain, has raised $7 million in a Series A round. The funding was led by Sorin Investments, with continued support from existing backers including W Health Ventures, Endiya Partners and Rebright Partners.
16. Zijin Mining Raises Funds Through Convertible Bonds
Chinese mining major Zijin Mining Group has raised $1.5 billion by issuing convertible bonds maturing in 2031. The bonds carry a zero-coupon structure and can be converted into equity. The fundraising comes at a time when gold prices are trading at record levels, providing favourable market conditions for the offering.
17. Maruti Suzuki Selects Startups for Incubation Programme
Maruti Suzuki has shortlisted five Indian deeptech startups for the fourth batch of its flagship incubation initiative. The selected startups AugurAI, Aatral, Zen Mobility, Indus Vision and Proxgy will collaborate with the automaker to develop innovative solutions across various business areas. The programme is being conducted in partnership with IIM Bangalore’s incubation centre, NSRCEL, as part of Maruti Suzuki’s broader innovation strategy.
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