Daily News - Tuesday, 13 January 2026
India–Germany Sign 10 Agreements on Business, Semiconductors, and Defense Worth USD 140 Billion (Outlook Business)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Ahmedabad on January 12, 2026, marking his first official Asia trip, accompanied by a large business delegation. He met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, where both leaders discussed 10 agreements covering business cooperation, semiconductors, traditional medicine, and defense projects. A major highlight was negotiations on an USD 8 billion (INR ~668 billion) submarine deal between Germany and India, aimed at strengthening naval defense capabilities. The visit also focused on critical minerals supply chains, with Germany seeking to diversify away from China and align with India’s Ministry of Commerce & Industry and Ministry of Defence. Merz signaled progress on the long‑awaited India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), suggesting it could be finalized by end‑January 2026, boosting bilateral trade currently valued at USD 140 billion (INR ~11.5 trillion). The leaders emphasized cooperation in space, emerging technologies, and sustainability, positioning India as a key partner for Germany amid strained ties with the U.S. and China.
Tech Giants Invest USD 70 Billion in India’s AI Infrastructure (livemint)
India has been invited to join Pax Silica, a U.S.‑led strategic initiative focused on securing global supply chains in silicon, advanced manufacturing, and AI, according to MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan. The announcement was made by U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, who confirmed that New Delhi will formally join the grouping next month. IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is currently in Washington attending meetings on critical minerals, underscoring India’s role at the “high table” of global technology discussions. Krishnan emphasized that India should aspire to become the global use‑case capital for AI, with the government balancing openness to international players while building sovereign AI capabilities. He highlighted recent USD 70 billion (INR ~5.8 trillion) investments in India by Google, Microsoft, and AWS, which will provide the compute infrastructure needed for AI growth. India’s inclusion reflects strategic trust in its semiconductor and AI ecosystem, with 20% of the global semiconductor design workforce based in India, and new fabs under the India Semiconductor Mission already receiving export orders.
India’s Broadcasters Shift to Orange Economy as OTT Revenues Rise. India’s Creative Sector Can Hit USD 100 Billion by 2030 (Exchange4media)
At the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025) in Mumbai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Dr. L. Murugan (MoIB) emphasized India’s rise as a global creative powerhouse, urging global firms to “Create in India, Create for the World”. The orange economy, spanning film, music, gaming, design, advertising, and digital content, already contributes USD 28 billion (INR ~2.3 trillion) to India’s GDP, according to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Annual Report 2024‑25. Industry estimates from FICCI‑EY show India’s creator economy growing at 18% CAGR, rising from INR 19 billion in 2023 to INR 34 billion by 2026, driven by OTT platforms and influencer integration. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) projects the creative sector could reach USD 100 billion (INR ~8.3 trillion) by 2030, creating 5 million jobs, if supported by unified policy and infrastructure. Broadcasters such as Zee Entertainment, Sony Pictures Networks India, and Star India are collaborating with digital creators to offset slowing TV ad revenues, with OTT subscription revenues growing 11% in 2024 to INR 9,200 crore (USD 1.1 billion). Analysts note that the orange economy aligns with Digital India and Make in India initiatives, positioning India’s media and entertainment sector as a key driver of soft power, cultural exports, and sustainable GDP growth.
India’s Economy Lose 0.5% GDP Growth Annually to Diabetes Costs, Second‑Highest Global Diabetes Burden After U.S. (Business Standard)
A Nature Medicine study (Jan 2026) led by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and the Vienna University of Economics and Business found that India faces the world’s second‑highest economic burden from diabetes at USD 11.4 trillion (INR ~950 trillion) between 2020–2050. The United States tops the list at USD 16.5 trillion (INR ~1,375 trillion), while China ranks third at USD 11 trillion (INR ~917 trillion), reflecting differences in treatment costs and population size. Researchers calculated that informal caregiving accounts for nearly 90% of the total burden, as family members often drop out of the labor market, raising indirect costs to USD 152 trillion (INR ~12,680 trillion), or 1.7% of global GDP. In India, the high costs are driven by the large diabetic population over 25% of the world’s diabetics live in India, according to The Lancet (Nov 2024), while in the U.S. costs are driven by expensive treatment regimes. The study highlights that in high‑income countries, treatment costs make up 41% of the burden, compared to only 14% in low‑income countries, underscoring inequities in healthcare access. Experts, including Michael Kuhn of IIASA, stress that early detection, nationwide screening, and lifestyle interventions (diet, exercise) are essential to reduce both the health and economic impact, with India’s Ministry of Health & Family Welfare urged to expand preventive programs.
