Union Budget 2026 announces two high-speed rail corridors involving Tamil Nadu (Hyderabad-Chennai and Chennai-Bengaluru) to slash travel times and boost connectivity. West Bengal gets the Dankuni-Surat East-West freight corridor for logistics efficiency. Other highlights include rare earth corridors covering Tamil Nadu, special bird-watching trains for Pulicat Lake ecotourism, and targeted supports like jute production upgrades in West Bengal. The budget subtly focuses on poll-bound states with sectoral and infrastructural incentives amid election timelines.

Union Budget 2026 focuses on infrastructure with Rs 12.2 lakh crore capex, defence allocation Rs 7.85 lakh crore (15% hike), AI incentives like tax holidays for data centres and safe harbour regime. Tax changes include TCS reduction to 2% on overseas remittances, interest exemption from motor accident tribunals, and new Income Tax Act from April 2026. Other highlights: freight corridors, national waterways, city economic regions, SME growth fund Rs 10,000 crore, mandatory TReDS for CPSE procurement. Fiscal deficit at 4.3% GDP, states get Rs 1.4 lakh crore grants. No specific cancer drugs mention but general healthcare AI applications.

Mahindra unveiled the compact electric SUV XUV 3XO EV starting at Rs 13.89 lakh with 285km range, 150bhp performance, and premium features like panoramic sunroof and advanced connectivity. Three drive modes and frequency-dependent damping promise engaging drives. Bookings are open now, with deliveries starting February 23, 2026, marking a strong entry into the growing EV segment.

Australia has eliminated duties on 100% of Indian exports starting January 1, 2026, under the expanded ECTA. Piyush Goyal calls it a massive opportunity for textiles, pharma, gems, and labour-intensive sectors. Bilateral trade already up 8%; MSMEs set to gain big in this high-income market.

The New Year brought a price shock for businesses as oil marketing companies hiked the rate of 19-kg commercial LPG cylinders by ₹111, the steepest increase in six months. While domestic household cylinder rates remain unchanged, this hike pushes commercial prices to ₹1,691.50 in Delhi. In contrast, aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices saw a relief, getting slashed by 7.3%, offering some respite to the airline industry.

Arista Networks CEO Jayshree Ullal is now the world's richest Indian-origin CEO, surpassing Satya Nadella and Sundar Pichai. The Hurun India Rich List 2025 values her net worth at $5.7 billion, driven by Arista's boom in cloud and AI infrastructure. Unlike consumer tech giants, her success comes from enterprise networking. Her rise marks a major shift in global tech wealth, highlighting the value of backend infrastructure.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed the first Vande Bharat Sleeper train will run between Guwahati and Howrah. This semi-high-speed train features 16 luxury coaches, including AC 3-Tier, 2-Tier, and First Class, seating 823. Amenities include automatic doors, bio-vacuum toilets, and the 'Kavach' safety system. This launch marks a massive upgrade for connectivity in Northeast India, offering air-travel-like comfort on rails.