As 2025 turned out to be historic for precious metals, with gold delivering returns of nearly 65 per cent and silver outperforming with gains of over 140 per cent, an expert said that the positive momentum likely to continue in 2026 as well.

Speaking to IANS, Nainesh Pachchigar, Gujarat President of the India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA), said gold and silver rewarded investors handsomely in 2025, and given prevailing global conditions, the positive momentum could continue this year as well.

The year 2025 saw record foreign institutional investor (FII) selling in India but significant improvement in the country’s fundamentals is likely to attract net FII inflows in 2026, analysts said on Saturday.

In the month of December, FIIs sold equity worth Rs 30, 332 crore through the exchanges. This takes the total FII selling through the exchanges in 2025 to Rs 240,193 crore.

FIIs have bought or invested equity for Rs 73,909 crore through the primary market, taking the total net sell figure for 2025 to Rs 166,283 crore, as per NSDL data.

Gold and silver entered 2026 with elevated volatility after an exceptional 2025 rally, analysts said on Saturday, adding that the fundamental outlook for precious metals remains constructive.

Gold futures with February expiry eased moderately down 0.04 per cent, settling at Rs 1,35,752 on MCX on Friday. The price of 10 grams of 24-carat gold closed the week at Rs 1,34,782 up from Rs 1,33,195 at the year end, according to data published by the India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA).

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has decided that the voters from three "aboriginal tribes" or "primitive tribes" will be automatically enlisted in the final voters' list of West Bengal.

The voters from these three communities will not be required to furnish any document for that purpose.

Nearly 80-85 per cent of individuals suffering from psychiatric disorders do not receive timely or appropriate care due to stigma and lack of awareness, said mental experts here on Saturday.

Speaking at the curtain raiser Event of the 77th Annual National Conference of the Indian Psychiatric Society, ANCIPS 2026 Delhi, the experts warned that despite advances in treatment and increasing awareness, the majority of people with mental illness continue to remain outside the formal healthcare system.

Dense smog and fog enveloped large parts of the national Capital on Saturday morning, significantly reducing visibility and affecting daily life across the city.

Prominent landmarks such as Rashtrapati Bhawan and India Gate were shrouded in thick haze, while visibility on Kartavya Path dropped sharply, leading to traffic slowdowns and travel disruptions.

According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) accessed through the SAMEER app, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 235 on Saturday morning, placing it in the ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’ category. Authorities have advised residents, particularly children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions, to limit outdoor activities due to the deteriorating air quality.

The Indian equity benchmarks closed on a strong note this week, touching fresh all-time highs amid strong performance in the banking and auto sectors.

Nifty surged 1.05 per cent during the week and 0.70 per cent on the last trading day to 26,328. At close, Sensex was up 760 points or 0.67 per cent at 85,762. It surged 0.89 per cent during the week.

Bank Nifty also continued its outperformance and scaled fresh record highs above the 60,200 mark.

In clear signs of a pick-up in investment intentions in the country, the momentum strengthened in the first nine months of FY26, with Rs 26.62 lakh crore worth of new investment announcements, significantly higher than Rs 23.88 lakh crore in the same period last year, according to a new report.

This is on the back of a very positive policy package of the government which has focussed on capex, lowering of income tax rates and GST 2.0.

To roll out the ‘Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna’ on January 15, the state government on Friday signed a pact with the United India Insurance Company to provide Rs 10 lakh cashless health insurance cover to all families of Punjab.

The agreement was signed by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) State Health Agency, Sanyam Aggarwal and Executive Director of United India Insurance, Mathew George, in the presence of State Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh.

Punjab's brightest government school students soaked in knowledge at Winter Residential Coaching Camps organised under Punjab Academic Coaching for Excellence (PACE) program. Over 1700 students benefited from the transformative program designed to democratise access to high-quality competitive exam coaching, informed Punjab’s Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains.

The Centre on Friday cleared the appointment of two judges to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, following the recommendation made by the Supreme Court Collegium.

"In exercise of the power conferred by clause (1) of Article 224 of th Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint i) Shri Ramesh Chande imri and ii) Ms. Neerja Kulwant Kalson, to be Additional Judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court for a period of two years with effect from the date they assume charge of their respective offices," said a notification issued by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice.

The Centre on Friday notified the appointment of Bombay High Court judge, Justice Mahesh Sharadchandra Sonak, as the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court, following the retirement of the incumbent Chief Justice on January 8.

A notification issued by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice said that the President, in exercise of powers conferred by the Constitution of India and in consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI), was pleased to appoint Justice Sonak as the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court.

India’s nominal GDP growth is expected to improve to about 11 per cent in FY27 with real growth at 7.2 per cent, driven by domestic credit‑led consumption and policy support, a report said on Friday.

The report from SBI Mutual Fund said that it is "constructive on growth" in the medium term with structural reforms and premiumisation driving the outlook, though global slowdown and geopolitics remain key risks. Real GDP growth in FY26 averaged 8 per cent year‑on‑year in the first half while nominal growth was subdued at 8.8 per cent.

The recently released blockbuster ‘Dhurandhar’ has been declared tax-free in Ladakh. On Friday, the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta took to his X, formerly Twitter on Friday, and shared the update with regards to the film’s revenue.

He wrote, “ Lt Governor Shri @KavinderGupta declares Bollywood film ‘Dhurandhar’ tax-free in UT #Ladakh. Shot extensively in the region, the film spotlights Ladakh’s cinematic landscapes, signalling strong support for filmmakers and reinforcing the UT’s push to emerge as a preferred destination for film shoots and tourism. The Administration is also working on a New Film Policy and will provide full support to film productions in Ladakh”.

Investments by retail investors in the primary market reached a record Rs 34,840 crore in FY26 (April–November period), up from Rs 34,336 crore in FY25 (April–March) and Rs 18,057 crore in FY24 (April–March), according to industry data.

Indian markets saw strong fund‑raising in 2025, with 103 mainboard IPOs raising over Rs 1.76 lakh crore and 267 SME IPOs mobilising a record Rs 11,435 crore.

Of the 108 mainboard listings, 72 opened above their issue price and 36 traded below it. Among gainers, 16 stocks rose 30–70 per cent on listing while 22 gained 10–30 per cent and 34 rose 1–10 per cent.

Adani Group CFO Jugeshinder ('Robbie') Singh said on Friday that in 2026 and looking out over the next 10 years, “we stand with folded hands in gratitude to India and its people” and “we are not just building a conglomerate; we are fulfilling a national promise”.

In a post on LinkedIn, he said that by marrying the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) framework with governance of iron-clad integrity, “we are no longer just an Indian success story; we are the global benchmark for how a utility and infra platform can be both ‘Best-in-Class’ growth engine and a ‘Best-in-Class’ guardian of the future”.

India’s manufacturing activity continued to expand in December, albeit at a slower pace, as HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) eased to 55 in December from 56.6 in November, a report showed on Friday.

The report compiled by S&P Global said that despite the moderation in growth, HSBC India Manufacturing PMI, held above its long-run average and the industry “wrapped up 2025 in good shape”.

The Indian benchmark indices traded in the green zone early on Friday, supported by strong macroeconomic indicators and stable domestic fundamentals.

As of 9.30 am, Sensex advanced 185 points, or 0.22 per cent to 85,374 and Nifty gained 61 points, or 0.24 per cent to 26,208.

Main broad-cap indices performed in line with benchmark indices, with the Nifty Midcap 100 adding 0.42 per cent, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 gaining 0.30 per cent.

Maruti Suzuki, ONGC and Tata Steel were among the major gainers in the Nifty Pack, while losers included Titan Company, Tata Consumer, Dr Reddy's Labs, Apollo Hospitals and Bajaj Finance.

Winter conditions in Delhi and adjoining areas of the National Capital Region (NCR) are set to intensify, with the weather department forecasting cold wave conditions in the coming days. Even as temperatures are expected to drop further, the city has seen a noticeable improvement in air quality on Friday.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), cold wave conditions are likely to prevail at isolated locations in Delhi between January 2 and 5. A cold wave is declared when the minimum temperature falls between 4.5 and 6.5 degrees Celsius below the normal average.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has clarified why Trinamool Congress’ demand to allow the party’s booth-level agents at the ongoing hearing sessions on the claims and objections regarding the draft voters’ list in West Bengal was turned down by it.

The hearing session is the main part of the second stage of the three-phase Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the state.

An insider from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said that in case the Trinamool Congress’ demand for allowing BLAs at the hearing session is accepted, then similar demands from other political parties, six national parties, and two state parties in the state registered with the ECI will also have to be accepted.

India’s GST (goods and services tax) collection recorded a 6.1 per cent increase to Rs 1,74,550 crore in December 2025 compared to Rs 1,64,556 crore the same month of the previous year, reflecting the increase in economic activity during the month, official figures released on Thursday showed.

Central GST collections rose to Rs 34,289 crore, state GST collections to Rs 41,368 crore, and integrated GST collections to Rs 98,894 crore.

The government on Thursday announced the nationwide rollout of Voice over WiFi (VoWiFi), also known as Wi-Fi Calling, on New Year.

This advanced service is now available to all BSNL customers across every telecom circle in the country, ensuring seamless and high-quality connectivity even in challenging environments, said Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), India's premier state-owned telecommunications provider.

The service is now available to BSNL customers across all telecom circles in the country.

Flight operations across several parts of northern and eastern India, including Delhi, were affected on Thursday as dense fog engulfed large swathes of the region, sharply reducing visibility and prompting airlines to issue advisories for passengers.

Low visibility conditions led to disruptions at multiple airports, including those in Delhi, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar and Guwahati, with airlines cautioning travellers to remain alert and check flight updates to avoid inconvenience.

 Despite an uncertain and challenging global economic backdrop, the Indian economy continues to grow strongly, underpinned by robust domestic demand, benign inflation, and prudent macroeconomic policies, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has said.

The domestic financial system remains robust and resilient, bolstered by strong balance sheets, easy financial conditions, and low financial market volatility. Nonetheless, there are near-term risks from external uncertainties - geopolitical and trade related, the Central Bank said in its latest Financial Stability Report (FSR).

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has now decided to apply its own independent mechanism for identifying housing complexes with multiple towers for setting up polling booths for the forthcoming Assembly elections in the state.

The ECI has decided the matter amid the failure of the District Magistrates (DMs), also the District Electoral Officers (DEOs), to identify housing complexes with 300 voters or above for setting up the polling booth, sources in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, said.

Pace duo Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood and middle-order batter Tim David have been named in Australia's provisional 15-player squad for the T20 World Cup despite injury concerns.

Cummins has played just one international match since suffering a lumbar stress injury in July, when he featured in the Ashes-securing third Ashes Test in Adelaide. A scan on Pacer's back later this month will determine whether he will be right for the tournament.

The unified payments interface (UPI) saw 29 per cent transaction count growth (year-on-year) at 21.63 billion in the month of December — along with registering 20 per cent annual growth in transaction amount at Rs 27.97 lakh crore, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) data showed on Thursday.

Month-wise, the UPI transaction count as well as amount grew significantly too.

Service Doctors' Forum, an association of medical practitioners in West Bengal, has threatened a major protest demonstration against the Election Commission of India (ECI), for its decision to issue summons to clinically ailing patients and senior citizens asking them to be present at the hearing sessions on claims and objections on the draft voters' list.

Incidentally, the Forum played a leading role in spearheading the mass movement on the issue of the ghastly rape and murder of a junior doctor of state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata within the hospital premises in August 2024.

The Indian stock markets welcomed 2026 with a positive opening on Thursday as overall sentiment remained cautiously constructive, supported by improving domestic technicals, despite mixed global cues and the absence of major domestic triggers.

While Nifty opened 0.17 per cent higher at 26,173.30, Sensex opened 0.04 per cent up at 85,255.55.

Among sectors, FMCG index was down 1 per cent, while telecom index was up 1 per cent in the early trade. On NSE, 10 out of 15 sectors were in the green. Nifty Media and Nifty Auto lead the advance, while Nifty FMCG and Nifty Pharma traded in red.

Indian equity markets ended the final trading session of the calendar year on a strong note, supported by broad-based buying across most sectors, even as information technology stocks remained under pressure.

At the close of trade, the Sensex settled at 85,220.6, gaining 545.52 points or 0.64 per cent.

The Nifty also finished higher at 26,129.6, up 190.75 points or 0.74 per cent. “Holding above the 26,000 mark remains crucial to sustain the ongoing uptrend and keep the possibility of a retest of the all-time high at 26,320 intact,” analysts said.

The launch of the Market Access Support Intervention scheme under the Export Promotion Mission by the government marks a strategic shift in country’s export strategy, aimed at strengthening international market access for India’s exporters, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and first-time exporters, the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) said on Wednesday.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has fixed the new schedule of responsibilities for the Booth-Level Officers (BLOs) engaged in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in West Bengal from the New Year, which will continue for some time before the final voters' list is published on February 14 next year.

Under the new schedule, BLOs will have to be present at the existing polling booths for two hours daily from Monday to Friday.

On the two weekend holidays, namely Saturday and Sunday, the BLOs will have to present at the polling booths concerned for four hours.

The Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday that the Ophthalmology Department at the Army Hospital Research and Referral (AHRR) has successfully performed India’s first-ever 3D Flex Aqueous Angiography with iStent, combining advanced imaging with minimally invasive glaucoma surgery.

Conducted with the new stand-mounted Spectralis system and a state-of-the-art 3D operating microscope, this pioneering procedure places the Armed Forces Medical Services at the forefront of global ophthalmic care in a landmark achievement for Indian medicine, the ministry said in a statement.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has fixed the multi-prong accountability of the District Magistrates (DMs), also the District Electoral Officers (DEOs), as regards to checking the authenticity of the supporting identity documents to be provided by the voters' summoned for the ongoing hearing sessions on the claims and objections on the draft voters' list which is a part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal.

The Deputy Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Bharati, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, and the other top ECI officials had a meeting with the DMs and the DEOs on Tuesday, where accountabilities in the matter were fixed, and instructions accordingly were given.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted light rain or drizzle in some areas of Bikaner, Jaipur and Bharatpur divisions of Rajasthan on Wednesday.

A weather alert has been issued for several parts of the state due to the influence of an active Western Disturbance.

The department has also forecast light rainfall in some areas of the Bikaner, Jaipur and Bharatpur divisions on Thursday.