📰 India Business Brief: Top Headlines for February 17, 2026

Business Standard

• India's trade deficit reached a three-month high of $34.68 billion in January, driven by a 19% surge in imports ($71.24 billion) primarily due to rising global gold and silver prices.
• The national unemployment rate rose to 5% in January, marking a three-month high, raising concerns about the pace of job creation despite industrial growth.
• Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal warned that an 18% US levy on certain Indian exports could take effect this week, potentially impacting trade relations.
• Cochin Shipyard has emerged as the lowest bidder (L1) for a ₹5,000 crore Indian Navy contract to construct five Next Generation Survey Vessels.
• The India-France Year of Innovation 2026 was officially inaugurated, aimed at fostering deep-tech and industrial collaboration between the two nations.

Economic Times

• Nine of India’s top 12 "new-age" companies reported revenue growth of over 25% for the October-December quarter, with Zomato-owned Eternal tripling its revenue.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron are scheduled to hold a high-level bilateral summit in Mumbai to review strategic partnerships in defense, space, and digital cooperation.
• The AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi continues to draw global attention, with leaders from over 45 nations discussing sovereign AI frameworks and regulation.
• The India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash provided a massive boost to the gig economy, with food delivery platforms and advertisers reporting record-breaking engagement.
• A massive revision in US labor data revealed that job growth in 2025 was overstated by 1 million, a move that is expected to influence global market sentiment and Fed policy.

Mint

• Indian markets are expected to trade in a range-bound and choppy manner today, following a strong 650-point surge in the Sensex on Monday, as major global markets remain closed for Lunar New Year and Presidents' Day.
• Logistics major Delhivery announced a partnership with RIDEV to deploy 150 electric vehicles, accelerating its commitment to a fully electrified last-mile delivery fleet.
• Lupin has signed a licensing agreement with Spektus Pharma to commercialize its novel antidepressant, DeslaFlex, in the Canadian market.
• The Indian government is planning a comprehensive overhaul of drug testing and sampling protocols to eliminate corruption and ensure global quality standards for Indian pharmaceuticals.
• In regional geopolitics, Tarique Rahman is set to take the oath as the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh, a development closely watched by Indian trade and diplomatic circles.

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Tags: Headlines Business News Economic Times Business Standard Mint Top News