Ahead of Budget 2020, Shaktikanta stresses on  need  for  structural  reforms

• Monetary policy alone cannot do all the heavy lifting to stimulate growth, says RBI governor
• Das appears to be pointing to widespread expectations that the budget will include tax, reform proposals to stinulate growth

Air India trims losses by 40% in run-up to disinvestment

• Operational losses in Apr-Dec 2019 stood at ₹1,045 cr as against ₹1,960 cr in Apr-Dec 2018
• Air India, which had a 12.7% share of the domestic market, carried 18.36 million domestic fliers in 2019

Bank of Baroda reports ₹1,407 crore net loss in third quarter

• State lender’s provisions for bad loans rise 54% on a year-on-year basis to ₹6,365 crore
• Asset quality pressures continued in the quarter as loans worth ₹10,387 crore turned bad

India steps up coronavirus checks at airports as 3 people suspected of disease

• Around 23,000 Indian students are studying in China a considerable number of them in Wuhan medical University
• AIIMS in New Delhi said that it has kept ready an isolation ward and kept ready all the protective gear to handle any spread of the virus

Why PVR shares touched a 52-week high despite muted footfalls in Q3

• It helps sentiment is that PVR has said it is on track to open 90-100 screens in the current financial year
• So far, PVR has opened 67 new screens, taking the total screen count to 825

Film review: The anatomy of a comeback in ‘Panga’

Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari’s easy-going, empathetic film centres on a kabaddi player who, years after giving up the sport for her family, decides to play again

Film review: ‘Street Dancer 3D’ cares, but you don't have to

Remo D’Souza’s film, starring Varun Dhawan and Shraddha Kapoor as the heads of rival dance crews, is well-intentioned but tedious

Aviation fuel demand can reduce due to coronavirus: S&P Global Platts

• India has maintained that it has not detected any incoming air passenger with novel coronavirus
• The novel coronavirus was first identified in Wuhan, China, on 31 December

France says no concessions in FATF checks for Pakistan

• Statement follows indications that global community may let Islamabad off the hook
• A report on the actions undertaken by Pakistan will be presented in February

Budget 2020: Govt may increase import duties on more than 50 items

• Higher customs duties are likely to hit electronics, electrical goods, chemicals and handicrafts
• The hike would provide a level playing field for local manufacturers who are hit by cheap imports from China, say officials and industry sources

Wall Street set for weekly loss on gathering coronavirus fears

• All three major US stock averages extended their losses after Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed second case of the virus on US soil, this time in Chicago
• Intel jumps after strong forecast, had its best day at the markets since 2002

Growth slowdown in India temporary, expect momentum to improve going ahead: IMF

• On emerging markets, IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said they are also moving forward
• On risks ahead for the global economy, the IMF chief listed factors like weakness in long-term productivity growth and low inflation

I-T Dept unearths undisclosed income, assets from two corporate groups

• Raids on Bharat Hotels Group in Delhi leads to detection of over ₹1,000 crore undisclosed foreign assets
• While the policy-making body of the department did not take any names in the statement, official sources confirmed it to be the Bharat Hotels Group

Tata-Mistry case: Supreme Court stays NCLAT’s order dismissing RoC plea

• The appeals court had said that the RoC’s decision to convert Tata Sons Ltd from a public to private entity was ‘illegal’
• RoC cited that at the time of its conversion of Tata Sons into a private company, the said provision empowering the RoC was still in force

In FY20, India faces first fall in direct taxes in at least two decades: Report

• The tax department managed to collect only ₹7.3 trillion as of 23 Jan, more than 5.5% below the amount collected in the year-ago period, said a senior tax official
• Direct taxes typically account for about 80% of the government's projections for annual revenue

FAA administrator to tell US airlines MAX approval could come before mid-year

• Steve Dickson's calls come days after Boeing said it was pushing back its time-line for approval of the plane's return
• FAA approval before mid-year could only happen if Boeing continues to make complete and thorough submissions, an US govt official said

Special court grants bail to former BPSL director Sanjay Singal

• Sanjay Singal, was arrested on 22 November under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act
• The bail was granted by Special CBI judge Arun Bhardwaj while directing him to furnish a bail bond of ₹10 lakh and two sureties of like amount

Quick resolution of tax disputes an incentive for taxpayers: CJI

• Like tax evasion, excessive tax is also a social injustice, said S.A. Bobde
• The CJI said he is looking into the use of AI for judicial functioning but added that it should never be allowed to substitute human discretion necessary for decision making

JSW misses the mark, net profit plunges 88%

• Q3 was affected by a fall in local steel prices, while automotive contracts were renewed at lower levels
• The company reported a consolidated net profit of ₹187 crore for October-December, 88% lower than the ₹1,603 crore in the year-ago period

Coronavirus: 11 people who returned from China under watch in hospitals

• During the screening at the Mumbai airport, six passengers -- three from Pune and another three from Mumbai -- underwent further medical examination
• As over 20,000 passengers returning from mainland China and Hong Kong underwent thermal screenings at the seven international airports

6 killed in Germany shooting, suspect arrested

• Aalen police said several people were injured and some were killed in the shooting early Friday afternoon, but haven't confirmed the number of fatalities
• Rot am See is located about 170 kilometers (105 miles) northwest of Munich.

Patanjali says will close FY20 with a turnover of ₹25,000 crore

• Ramdev said the company will also liquidate the promoter shareholding in Ruchi Soya over the next two years in line with Sebi regulation
• In December 2019, Patanjali spent ₹4,350 crore to take over the debt-laden Ruchi Soya through the insolvency process

India Ratings downgrades Vodafone Idea’s ₹3500-crore debt to BBB-

• The rating has been downgraded from BBB to BBB minus
• The downgrade is on account of 'crystallisation of adjusted gross revenue related liabilities' post the dismissal of the review petition by Supreme Court

There will be performance audit of NHAI officials: Gadkari

• The officials will be assessed on whether they are able to complete the allocated work in time, their problem resolution skills and initiative towards taking responsibility at work
• The road minister instructed all chief engineers in the highways ministry and all members of NHAI to organise ‘review Mondays’ on the first and third Monday of every month

Phuket-bound GoAir plane returns to Bengaluru after technical glitch

• A precautionary air turn was made by a Bengaluru-Phuket flight (G8 041) with 173 passengers on board, informed GoAir spokesperson
• Aircraft has since been changed and departed with passengers for its destination at 10:44 hours

Mumbai retailers warm up to running 24x7 outlets as new rules set in 

• The new rules which allow shops and establishments to be open through the night with some riders come into effect from 27 January
• Many of the mall owners have reportedly said that initially they will be open only till 3 am and may take it up to 5 AM

China shuts down 13 cities as coronavirus death toll climbs to 26

• China has also deployed its military medics to help civilian doctors
• The Wuhan lockdown is a cause of concern for Indian students who are still there

US wants India to commit buying $5-6 bn more farm goods to seal trade deal

• India needs to commit to additional farm goods buying from US agri firms if GSP trade privilege is to be reinstated, say sources familiar with the talks
• India and US are working on a trade deal ahead of Trump's India visit

Film review: ‘Judy’ shows how the actor's life wasn't all rainbows

Renée Zellweger stars in this affectionate tribute to the 'Wizard of Oz' star

From facial recognition to four-layer security, Delhi Police gears up for R-Day

• 'Around 5,000 to 6,000 Delhi Police personnel have been deployed in New Delhi district along with 50 companies of paramilitary forces,' says DCP (New Delhi Zone)
• Hundreds of CCTV cameras have also been installed as part of the security arrangements

Air Asia PMLA case: ED issues fresh summons to CEO Fernandes, others

• The ED is also probing this case under the Foreign Exchange Management Act
• Few others linked to the present and past management of the airline have also been asked to depose

2G internet on mobiles restored in Kashmir, with restrictions

• All post-paid and prepaid mobile subscribers will get 2G internet access
• Access shall be limited only to 301 whitelisted sites and social media applications will continue to remain out of bounds for the Valley's residents

China rushes to build new 1,000-bed hospital by 3 Feb as coronavirus kills 26

• The virus has killed 26 people, sickened hundreds and prompted unprecedented lockdowns of cities during China's most important holiday
• Transportation was shut down in Wuhan, the city of 11 million at the epicenter of the outbreak, and in at least 12 other cities in central China's Hubei province

AGR case: Supreme Court agrees to hear modification plea by PSUs

• The government on Thursday said it will not take coercive action against mobile service providers that failed to meet the court-directed 23 January deadline to pay dues

Delhi Metro services on Republic Day 2020: Timings to parking details

• DMRC has increased the safety and security measures across all Delhi Metro stations a week before Republic Day
• Metro services on Phase-III corridors will commence at 6 am this Sunday i.e, on 26th January