Indian Sector Specific News:
A) BFSI:
1) Life Insurance Claim Settlement Performance in 2026
- Most leading life insurance companies such as Shriram Life, Aditya Birla Sun Life, PNB MetLife and HDFC Life have maintained very high claim settlement ratios of over 99%, showing strong reliability in paying claims.
- IndiaFirst Life Insurance trails its peers with a significantly lower claim settlement ratio of around 87%, indicating comparatively weaker claim settlement performance.
- Source: The Economic Times
2) SEBI Cybersecurity & IT Governance Compliance Guide
- SEBI has tightened cybersecurity and IT governance norms as cyberattacks on financial institutions rise, focusing on stronger identity security, access controls, and continuous monitoring.
- A new whitepaper explains the updated guidelines in simple terms and offers practical steps for financial institutions to improve cyber resilience, compliance, and audit readiness.
- Source: Express Computer
3) SEBI Proposes Revamp of ‘Fit and Proper Person’ Framework
- SEBI has proposed major changes to make the ‘fit and proper person’ rules for market intermediaries clearer and fairer, including giving an explicit right to a hearing and reducing uncertainty for applicants.
- Key proposals include easing disqualification norms, shortening timelines after show-cause notices, limiting penalties to what is clearly specified, and protecting economic ownership while restricting voting rights in certain cases.
- Source: PTI, CNBC-TV
B) Agriculture:
1) India–US Trade Deal Safeguards Agriculture & Dairy
- Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal assured Parliament that India’s agriculture and dairy sectors are fully protected under the India–US trade deal, with all critical and sensitive interests safeguarded.
- The deal lowers US tariffs on Indian exports to 18%, boosting competitiveness in the US market and opening opportunities for MSMEs, labour-intensive sectors, and manufacturing growth.
- Source: Hindustan Times
C) Energy:
1) India–US Energy Corridor Talks Gain Momentum
- India and the US are holding discussions to strengthen an energy corridor that supports India’s growing energy needs, focusing on reliable supply and long-term cooperation.
- The talks emphasize securing diverse energy sources to fuel India’s economic growth while deepening strategic energy ties between the two countries.
- Source: The Economic Times
2) ONGC–Petronet LNG Regasification Agreement
- ONGC has signed an agreement with Petronet LNG to use liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification services, helping strengthen India’s gas infrastructure and supply reliability.
- The deal, signed at India Energy Week 2026, supports India’s growing energy demand by improving regasification capacity and enabling smoother LNG distribution.
- Source: Construction World
3) India to Diversify Energy Supplies After US Deal on Russian Oil
- India plans to diversify its energy sources following an understanding with the US, while continuing to prioritise energy security and stable supplies for its growing economy.
- The move aims to balance geopolitical considerations with India’s need for affordable and reliable oil and gas imports amid evolving global dynamics.
- Source: The Economic Times
Indian Economy and Government Initiatives:
- India’s services sector began the year strong, with January PMI(Purchasing Managers Index) rising on robust domestic and export demand, lifting overall economic activity and business confidence despite weak job growth and rising costs.
- India and Estonia reaffirmed their strong and growing partnership through high-level consultations, focusing on deeper cooperation in trade, digital technology, and people-to-people ties while advancing shared democratic and strategic interests.
- The Budget, criticised by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, reflects an economy rich in schemes and intent but lacking a coherent growth and jobs strategy, with weak execution, stalled reforms, and missed opportunities undermining India’s long-term economic potential.
Indian Stock Market Update:
- Indian equity markets closed sharply lower, with Sensex down about 500 points and Nifty slipping below 25,650 due to continued selling pressure.
- Weak global cues, losses in metals and IT stocks, and underperformance of smallcap shares dragged overall market sentiment.
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