The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) has partnered with the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) to develop key components for THz communication systems, a crucial aspect of next-generation 6G technology. The collaboration, under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) 6G Call for Proposals, is aimed at advancing research for the Bharat 6G Vision, which seeks to create a secure, intelligent, and ubiquitous 6G network. The project will focus on the development of essential devices and components for THz systems, with applications in military communications and material characterization. C-DOT and IIT Delhi are committed to producing these components within India, marking a significant step towards self-reliance in the telecom sector. The initiative is expected to contribute to India's leadership in global telecom innovations.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the launch of Amrit Bharat Version 2.0, featuring 12 significant upgrades aimed at improving passenger comfort and safety. These include semi-automatic couplers, modular toilets, ergonomic seating, emergency talk-back systems, and advanced pantry car designs. The new trains are designed to provide affordable, long-distance travel with added amenities such as charging points and mobile holders in general coaches. Vaishnaw also highlighted that 50 of these upgraded trains will be manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) over the next two years. Additionally, the minister clarified concerns about the historic Pamban Bridge and called for greater cooperation between state and central governments to enhance public infrastructure.

NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) has launched EmpowHER Biz – Sapno Ki Udaan, in partnership with New Shop, India's largest 24/7 convenience retail chain. This initiative aims to empower women entrepreneurs by providing mentorship, training, and resources to succeed in the organized retail sector. The program offers comprehensive training in retail management, digital tools, financial literacy, and business development. Fifty women aged 18–35 will be selected, with the top twenty receiving a 100% waiver on New Shop franchise fees. The program targets aspiring entrepreneurs from Delhi NCR, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat. WEP, in collaboration with over 30 partners, continues to support women entrepreneurs with resources and guidance to overcome challenges in business development.

The World Economic Forum's (WEF) Future of Jobs Report 2025 forecasts significant changes in the global job market by 2030, driven by technological advancements, economic shifts, and the green transition. The report highlights that AI, big data, and security management specialists will be the fastest-growing job roles, with 170 million new jobs expected to be created. While 22% of jobs will be disrupted, roles in FinTech, AI, and machine learning are among the top job sectors set to experience rapid growth. The report also emphasizes the rise of key skills like AI, big data, and cybersecurity, alongside creative thinking and resilience. In India, digital access and geopolitical factors are expected to shape job trends, with significant investments in AI, robotics, and quantum technologies. Meanwhile, jobs such as postal service clerks, bank tellers, and data entry clerks are predicted to decline sharply.

Union Minister of Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, launched the multilingual functionality of the e-Shram portal in New Delhi, marking a significant milestone in the Government’s efforts to provide comprehensive social protection to unorganised workers. The portal is now available in all 22 Scheduled Languages, making it more accessible to workers across India. Dr. Mandaviya emphasized the growing trust in the platform, with over 30,000 registrations per day. The e-Shram portal currently facilitates access to 12 government welfare schemes and is set to integrate more social security initiatives. Future plans include the launch of an e-Shram Mobile App and a Single Common Application Form for easier access to benefits. The event also highlighted the ongoing registration of gig workers and Building and Other Construction Workers (BoCW) on a mission-mode basis.

In November 2024, central banks globally added 53 tonnes of gold to their reserves, with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) contributing 8 tonnes. This marked a continuation of the trend where central banks, especially from emerging markets, have been active buyers of gold to secure stable assets amid global economic uncertainties. Poland led the purchases with a 21-tonne addition, while other countries such as Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and China also made significant contributions. The People's Bank of China resumed gold buying after a six-month hiatus, increasing its reserves by 5 tonnes. Meanwhile, Singapore was the largest seller, reducing its reserves by 5 tonnes.

On January 6th, 2025, Union Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries, Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy, launched the second round of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Specialty Steel, known as PLI Scheme 1.1. The scheme, which will run from January 6th to January 31st, 2025, aims to strengthen India’s steel industry by promoting the production of value-added steel grades and reducing imports. It covers five key product categories, including Coated/Plated Steel, High Strength/Wear Resistant Steel, Specialty Rails, Alloy Steel Products & Steel Wires, and Electrical Steel.Shri Kumaraswamy emphasized that the changes made in PLI Scheme 1.1 are in response to industry feedback and will make the scheme more investor-friendly. Key modifications include reduced investment and capacity thresholds for certain products, particularly Cold-Rolled Grain-Oriented Steel (CRGO), and the ability for companies to carry forward excess production to the next year for incentive claims. The scheme is expected to promote innovation, create jobs, and support India’s vision of becoming a global steel powerhouse under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

CSIR-CIMFR has successfully conducted the first trial blast for the Dozer Push Mining Method at the PEKB Coal Mine in Chhattisgarh. This innovative approach, developed in collaboration with Adani Natural Resources, integrates advanced digital technologies to enhance safety and operational efficiency in mining.

The Ministry of Commerce is working to enhance India’s food exports by expanding food-testing infrastructure. The Export Inspection Council (EIC) has launched a detailed gap assessment study to identify deficiencies in food testing systems across regions and commodities. The study will be completed within 2–3 months, after which a comprehensive plan for infrastructure expansion will be developed. The EIC is also adopting advanced technologies like IoT-based sampling and launching an integrated traceability module to streamline inspection, testing, and certification processes. New laboratories are being set up in key locations, and the EIC is entering into mutual-recognition agreements with various countries to facilitate global trade. With the number of accredited laboratories increasing and the introduction of a user-friendly online portal, the EIC aims to strengthen India’s position in the international food export market.

State Bank of India (SBI), the largest bank in India, has introduced two new deposit schemes aimed at providing customers with greater financial flexibility. The Har Ghar Lakhpati scheme is a pre-calculated recurring deposit designed to help customers accumulate ₹1,00,000 or its multiples, with a tenure ranging from 12 months to 10 years. This scheme is also available to minors, promoting early savings habits.The SBI Patrons scheme is a specialized term deposit product for senior citizens aged 80 and above, offering an additional 10 basis points in interest rates compared to regular senior citizen deposits. The bank also updated its fixed deposit rates, with offerings ranging from 6.50% to 7.00% based on tenure.Additionally, SBI has introduced a TAB-based end-to-end digital onboarding procedure for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), making it easier to open NRE and NRO accounts with greater efficiency.

Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, highlighted the importance of public-private sector collaboration in developing action plans to boost logistics business and attract investments. Speaking at the release of the “Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) 2024” report in New Delhi, he emphasized the need for regional and city-level logistics plans, green logistics, workforce inclusivity, and technological advancements like AI and Machine Learning. Goyal also urged states to leverage public-private partnerships (PPPs) and focus on multi-modal hubs for inland container depots. The LEADS 2024 report evaluates logistics performance across key pillars, including infrastructure, services, and sustainable logistics. The event also recognized exceptional contributions to the logistics sector with the LEAPS 2024 awards. Additionally, Goyal launched a PM GatiShakti course for efficient infrastructure planning and unveiled a report on logistics cost assessment, contributing to India’s vision of becoming a $32 trillion economy by 2047.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has collaborated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare on Project VISTAAR, a digital initiative aimed at enhancing the agricultural extension system's efficiency. The partnership, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), will integrate information about over 12,000 start-ups in the agriculture and allied sectors into the VISTAAR platform. This will enable farmers and stakeholders to access valuable start-up resources easily. The initiative aims to provide farmers with timely, contextual, and accurate advisory services on crop production, marketing, and government schemes. By digitalising agricultural extension services, the project is set to significantly improve support for farmers, fostering innovation and sustainability in the sector.

The government has launched a revamped e-auction portal, 'Baanknet,' to consolidate and simplify access to properties being auctioned by Public Sector Banks (PSBs). The portal, unveiled by M. Nagaraju, Secretary of the Department of Financial Services, offers a comprehensive platform for buyers and investors to explore a wide range of residential, commercial, and industrial properties, as well as vehicles and land. With enhanced features such as a frictionless user experience, automated payment systems, and integrated KYC tools, Baanknet aims to improve the recovery process for PSBs and enhance credit availability. Over 122,500 properties have already been migrated to the portal for auction.

On Thursday, the government announced the formation of a panel to revise the base year of the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) from 2011-12 to 2022-23 and to develop a roadmap for transitioning to the Producer Price Index (PPI). The panel, headed by Ramesh Chand of NITI Aayog, will include 18 other members from various sectors such as government, rating agencies, and the Reserve Bank of India. The panel's task includes revising the commodity basket for WPI and PPI, improving the price collection system, and determining the computational methodology for both indices. While the transition to PPI is underway, both WPI and PPI will run concurrently. PPI is seen as a more accurate measure of price movements as it excludes indirect taxes and multiple counting biases present in WPI. The panel is expected to submit its final report within 18 months.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the extension of the One-time Special Package for Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) under the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) scheme. The package, effective from January 1, 2025, will provide a subsidy of Rs 3,500 per metric ton (MT) of DAP to ensure its affordable availability for farmers. The extension aims to stabilize prices amid global market fluctuations and geopolitical tensions. This subsidy will be in addition to the existing NBS subsidy, continuing the government's commitment to supporting farmers and ensuring their access to essential agricultural inputs. The decision follows a similar package approved in July 2024 for the period from April 1 to December 31, 2024, with a financial implication of Rs 2,625 crore.