🗞️ Congress Flags “Fourth F” - Falling Private Investment
Congress has hit back at FM Sitharaman’s 3F framework (fuel, fertiliser, forex), saying she missed the critical fourth F — falling private investment. The party pointed out that net FDI inflows have declined and private corporate investment as a share of GDP has fallen to half its pre-2014 peak.
🗞️ India’s Power Grid to Get $94 Billion Upgrade
India’s power transmission sector is set for a sustained growth cycle backed by an estimated ₹9 trillion capex programme through 2032, per a Motilal Oswal report. The push is driven by renewable energy integration, with a 32.3 GW HVDC pipeline already in the works — 14.5 GW of which has been tendered and awarded. Indian transformer makers stand to gain from both domestic demand and surging exports to the US and Europe.
💬 Expert Take - “Grid modernisation is no longer optional — it’s the backbone of India’s renewable energy ambitions and a multi-year earnings story for the power equipment sector.”
🗞️ India Eyes $100 Billion in Textile Exports by 2030
FM Nirmala Sitharaman reaffirmed India’s target of $100 billion in textile exports and $250 billion in production by 2030. The sector currently contributes 2.3% to GDP and supports close to 6 crore livelihoods, with exports touching ₹3.01 lakh crore in FY26. Seven PM MITRA parks are under development with MoUs worth ₹27,000 crore already signed.
🗞️ AP & SIDBI to Launch Angel Fund for Startups
Andhra Pradesh and SIDBI are jointly setting up an angel fund to support early-stage startups in the state. The move is aimed at strengthening the startup ecosystem and channelling institutional capital into emerging ventures at the ground floor.
🗞️ GST 2.0 Reforms Not Fixing Refund Delays: Experts
Despite GST 2.0 guidelines mandating 90% provisional refunds within 7 days for low-risk cases, businesses continue to face delays on inverted duty structure refunds. Experts from PwC, KPMG, and EY say state-level GST officers are conducting quasi-audits and seeking documentation beyond prescribed requirements, making the process highly jurisdiction-dependent.
🗞️ Fuel Price Hikes May Push Inflation to 5%; RBI on Watch
Economists warn that recent fuel price hikes could push retail inflation toward 5%, complicating the RBI’s rate-cut path. The central bank is expected to stay in wait-and-watch mode until there’s more clarity on the West Asia situation and its pass-through to domestic prices.
🗞️ FMCG Giants Eye ₹2.5 Lakh Crore GLP-1 Market
India’s FMCG players are gearing up to tap the emerging GLP-1 drug opportunity, estimated at ₹2.5 lakh crore. As weight-loss drugs reshape consumer behaviour globally, companies are rethinking product portfolios around nutrition, portion sizes, and wellness adjacencies.
🗞️ ONGC Q4 Profit Falls 21% Despite Revenue Growth
ONGC reported a 21% decline in Q4 profit even as revenue rose to nearly ₹36,000 crore. The company also announced a dividend. Higher costs and subdued realisations weighed on the bottom line despite strong topline performance.
📊 Market Updates
📉 Sensex: 76,009.70 ▼ 479.26 pts (-0.63%)
📉 Nifty 50: 23,913.70 ▼ 118.00 pts (-0.49%)
🪙 Gold (per gram): 24K ₹15,888 ▼ ₹1 | 22K ₹14,564 ▼ ₹1 | 18K ₹11,916 ▼ ₹1
🥈 Silver (per kg): ₹2,84,900 ▼ ₹100