News Nook: Jan 2, 2026

Indian Sector Specific News:

A) BFSI:

1) High Insurance Commissions Raise Affordability Concerns

• RBI’s Financial Stability Report warns that high insurance commissions are increasing policy prices, making insurance costlier for common people and slowing wider adoption.
• IRDAI and the Finance Ministry have echoed this concern, saying unchecked commissions could hurt affordability and the goal of universal insurance coverage.
• Source: CNBC-TV18

2) Sebi Cracks Down on SME Stock Price Manipulation

• Sebi has barred 26 individuals from trading after finding they manipulated the price of DU Digital Global’s SME stock, which surged abnormally from ₹12 to over ₹296 without any genuine business trigger.
• The regulator ordered recovery of nearly ₹99 lakh as illegal gains and imposed penalties worth ₹1.85 crore, warning that such practices harm small investors and market integrity.
• Source: Business Standard

B) Automobile:

1) Auto PLI Scheme to Expand, Govt Warns Non-Investing Firms

• From FY27, eight more companies (3 automakers and 5 auto component firms) will start receiving incentives under the Auto PLI scheme, taking total beneficiaries from 10 to 18.
• The government will take action against 10 auto component firms that made zero investment for two years by invoking their bank guarantees, stressing stricter enforcement of scheme rules.
• Source: Moneycontrol

C) Pharma:

1) GSK Pharma Gets GST Demand Notice from Karnataka

• Karnataka GST authorities have issued an ₹8.57 crore demand to GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals for FY22 over GST rate issues on certain products, including tax, interest, and penalty.
• The company said the order will not impact its finances for now and is reviewing the notice before deciding its next course of action.
• Source: ScanX

D) Telecommunication:

1) Amit Agarwal Appointed Telecom Secretary

• Senior IAS officer Amit Agarwal has been appointed as Secretary of the Department of Telecommunications until June 2030, taking charge of telecom policy, spectrum management, and 5G–6G expansion.
• A former UIDAI CEO and ex-Pharmaceuticals Secretary, Agarwal brings strong experience in technology, digital infrastructure, and governance, and will oversee BSNL and MTNL.
• Source: ScanX

E) Agriculture:

1) India Pushes Climate-Resilient Agriculture to Protect Food Security

• Climate-Resilient Agriculture focuses on climate-tolerant crops, bio-inputs, precision irrigation, soil health, and AI-based advisories to boost farm productivity and reduce climate risks.
• With 51% of farmland rainfed and most rainfall packed into just four months, Indian agriculture faces rising threats from heat stress, floods, droughts, and erratic weather, making CRA essential.
• Source: The Hindu

F) Energy:

1) KPI Green Energy Receives Grid Connectivity Approval

• KPI Green Energy has received approval for grid connectivity for its 32 MW renewable energy projects, enabling the company to move ahead with power evacuation and operations.
• The clearance supports the company’s expansion plans in the renewable sector and strengthens its execution pipeline.
• Source: The Economic Times

2) GAIL Gas Cuts CNG and Domestic PNG Prices

• GAIL Gas has reduced CNG prices by ₹1 per kg and domestic PNG prices by ₹1 per scm across all its authorised areas, effective January 1, 2026.
• The price cut follows PNGRB’s rationalised pipeline tariff structure, which lowers gas transportation costs and supports wider adoption of clean fuels.
• Source: Daily Excelsior

3) Adani Green Energy Adds 307.4 MW Renewable Capacity

• Adani Green Energy has operationalised 307.4 MW of solar, wind, and hybrid projects at Gujarat’s Khavda renewable energy zone, with power generation starting from January 1, 2026.
• The commissioning lifts AGEL’s total operational renewable capacity to 17,237.2 MW, strengthening its leadership in India’s clean energy transition.
• Source: IBEF

Indian Economy and Government Initiatives:

• The Modi government’s economic reforms have helped India become the world’s fourth-largest economy, surpassing Japan, said former Union minister Anurag Thakur. He said India’s GDP has reached $4.18 trillion and is on track to overtake Germany to become the third-largest economy by 2030. India remains one of the fastest-growing major economies, with GDP growth hitting 8.2% in Q2 FY26 despite global uncertainties. Thakur also highlighted record foreign exchange reserves of over $700 billion as a sign of India’s strong economic position.
• The government has launched the Market Access Support Intervention (MASI) under the Export Promotion Mission to help Indian exporters expand global reach by supporting participation in international trade events, reducing marketing costs, and improving access to new overseas markets.

Indian Stock Market Update:

• Indian markets ended higher with Nifty 50 closing at a fresh record of 26,328.55, while the Sensex jumped 573 points to 85,762 on strong investor sentiment.
• Broad-based buying lifted stocks across sectors, with Coal India surging 7% and Hindalco gaining 4%, supported by positive corporate updates.
• Heavyweights like NTPC, Trent, Bajaj Finance, Power Grid and Maruti led the gains on the Sensex.

Bonus Briefs:

• Global oil prices fell sharply in 2025, with WTI crude dropping 20% to about $57 per barrel due to a large global supply surplus.
• Oil supply rose much faster than demand, driven by strong production growth in the US, Brazil and Guyana, while global demand growth slowed to just 0.7%.
• OPEC+ added output instead of cutting supply, worsening oversupply and shifting focus from price support to market share.
• Analysts expect oversupply to continue in 2026, keeping oil prices under pressure despite occasional geopolitical risks.