Investment & Growth
Andhra Pradesh showcased significant economic growth in Q2 and H1 of FY26, surpassing the national average with rising Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP)
and surging investments. Telangana secured investments valued at ₹2.43 lakh crore, attracting entities such as Trump Media, Salman Khan Ventures, and GMR Group. The Adani Group committed ₹2,500 crore to establish a 48-MW AI green data center in Telangana, bringing its total investment in the state to ₹10,000 crore. Punjab extended invitations to Korean firms, including Daewoo and GS E&C, to foster investment in areas like infrastructure and renewable energy.
Market & Finance
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) introduced new regulations for merchant bankers, focusing on capital adequacy and revenue benchmarks. SEBI also unveiled modalities for transitioning Alternative Investment Funds (AIF) into AI-only schemes and Large Value Funds (LVFs). The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) planned a USD/INR buy-sell swap auction of USD 5 billion on December 16 to boost liquidity, alongside Open Market Operations (OMO) purchase auctions. Areion AMC established a Rs 125 crore special situations fund and launched the first close of a Rs 500 crore fund. The Sensex experienced a downturn, resulting in an investor wealth loss of Rs 7.12 lakh crore.
Trade & Deals
India and the US were scheduled to hold trade talks on December 10-11, with discussions focusing on a bilateral trade agreement, tariffs, and aiming to increase trade to USD 500 billion. Negotiations between India and the EU progressed, centering on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), investment, and geographical indications. Additionally, Trump Media announced plans to invest Rs 1 lakh crore in Telangana's Bharat Future City over a decade, with a focus on technological development.
Tech & Innovation
Intel partnered with the Tata Group to begin manufacturing and assembling semiconductors in India, with an emphasis on AI PC solutions and local market expansion. HCLTech joined forces with Dolphin Semiconductor to develop energy-efficient chips targeting IoT and data centers, emphasizing low-power IP and sustainability. Navitas Semiconductor and Cyient Semiconductors collaborated to co-develop gallium nitride (GaN) products for India's high-power market. Apple Fitness+ was set to launch in 28 new countries, including India, on December 15, introducing various workout programs and Apple Music integration.
Aviation & Banking
IndiGo faced significant operational disruptions, leading to the cancellation of 562 flights from six metro airports. Moody's deemed the flight cancellations credit negative. ICICI Bank intended to maintain over a 51% stake in its listed entities, like ICICI Prudential AMC, post-IPO. Wise entered the Indian travel card market, introducing a multi-currency card, with over 75,000 people on the waitlist. DGCA received IndiGo's response regarding flight cancellations and was expected to take enforcement action.
Other Developments
The Ministry of State for Finance revealed that 15 crore PM Jan Dhan Yojana accounts were inoperative, constituting 26% of the total. CTUIL revoked grid access for 6.3 GW of renewable energy projects due to developer delays. The Odisha assembly approved a Rs 17,440 crore appropriation bill for 2025-26. Abrau-Durso planned to produce wine beverages in India in collaboration with IndoBevs. Vedanta showcased its journey at Jashn-e-Rekhta 2025. Car corrosion protection was highlighted, with a call for parity between domestic and export markets.
