Daily News - Friday, 9 January 2026
India Becomes First Country to Commercially Produce Bio‑Bitumen from Rice Straw. This Will Cut Emissions by 70% and Save Billions in Imports (Times Now)
On January 7, 2026, Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways, announced that India is the first country to commercially produce bio‑bitumen, marking a global milestone in green infrastructure. The innovation was developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), specifically CSIR‑IIP (Dehradun) and CSIR‑CRRI (New Delhi), and licenses have been handed to multiple Indian manufacturers. Bio‑bitumen is produced from agricultural residues like rice straw, replacing 20–30% of conventional petroleum bitumen without compromising road performance. The technology is expected to reduce carbon emissions by up to 70%, cut stubble‑burning pollution, and save billions in import costs for petroleum bitumen. India’s gems and jewellery exports already contribute USD 28.5 billion (INR 2.41 lakh crore) annually, and bio‑bitumen is projected to add significant savings in infrastructure costs while supporting the Ministry of Commerce & Industry and Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH).
India’s Services Exports Hit USD 340 Billion in FY25, Forex Reserves Cross USD 650 Billion (The Week)
The BJP government highlighted India’s robust GDP growth of 7.3% in FY25, making it one of the fastest‑growing major economies globally. According to the Ministry of Finance, India’s foreign exchange reserves crossed USD 650 billion (INR ~54 trillion), providing strong macroeconomic stability. Inflation has remained under control at 4.9%, within the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) tolerance band, while fiscal deficit is projected at 5.1% of GDP. The Ministry of Commerce & Industry reported merchandise exports at USD 450 billion (INR ~37.5 trillion), with services exports adding another USD 340 billion (INR ~28.3 trillion). Employment indicators improved, with EPFO data showing 1.2 million new subscribers in November 2025, reflecting rising formal job creation. The BJP emphasized that these stable indicators, GDP growth, forex reserves, controlled inflation, and rising exports signal a strong and resilient Indian economy heading into 2026.
India Surpass China and Tops Asia‑Pacific Healthcare PE by Volume as Global Value Hits USD 191 Billion (Free Press Journal)
Global healthcare private equity (PE) deal value hit USD 191 billion (INR ~15.9 trillion) in 2025, surpassing the previous peak of 2021, according to Bain & Company. India accounted for 26% of Asia‑Pacific deal volume in 2024, making it the largest PE market in the region by volume, as investors shifted focus away from China. The sector saw 445 buyouts globally, the second‑highest on record, with exit values rebounding to USD 156 billion (INR ~13 trillion) from USD 54 billion in 2024. In India, 33 deals worth ₹4,900 crore (USD 580 million) were closed in Q2 2025, spanning hospitals, pharma, and health‑tech, per Grant Thornton Bharat and ET Healthworld. Key growth drivers included biopharma investments, healthcare IT, and provider consolidation, with large deals exceeding USD 1 billion (INR ~83 billion) fueling the surge. Analysts note India’s strong macroeconomic fundamentals, demographics, and digital adoption will continue to attract healthcare PE, aligning with the Ministry of Commerce & Industry’s push for FDI in healthcare.
Trump Signs Bill Imposing 500% Tariffs on India and China Imports. India’s GDP Growth Could Fall 0.5% Due to Tariffs (Moneycontrol)
U.S. President Donald Trump has approved a bill imposing 500% tariffs on imports from India and China, marking one of the most aggressive trade protectionist measures in recent history. The legislation, backed by the U.S. Congress, targets sectors such as steel, textiles, electronics, and pharmaceuticals, which together account for over USD 150 billion (INR ~12.5 trillion) in annual exports from India and China to the U.S. Analysts warn that the tariffs could raise U.S. consumer prices by 15–20%, while reducing India’s exports to the U.S. by nearly USD 35 billion (INR ~2.9 trillion) annually. The Ministry of Commerce & Industry (India) has called the move “unprecedented” and is exploring retaliatory tariffs and WTO dispute mechanisms. China’s Ministry of Commerce condemned the bill, warning of “severe consequences” for global supply chains, while India’s NITI Aayog estimates the tariffs could shave 0.5% off India’s GDP growth in FY26. Economists note that the tariffs are part of Trump’s broader “America First” trade agenda, but risk escalating into a full‑scale trade war that could destabilize global markets.
