Daily Current Affairs for CAT, XAT & MBA GDPI – January 16, 2026
Indian Economy & Policy
After 41-month high, Trump's tariffs drag India's export growth in December
India Export Data: India's trade deficit grew in December as exports slowed. Despite challenges, overall outbound shipments saw modest growth. Diversification strategies are deepening trade ties with West Asia, Europe, and other regions. Services exports also saw a contraction. Government initiatives are supporting exporters, with positive growth expected in goods and services trade for the fiscal year.
India-US talks on 'virtually', trade deal near finish line
In the last week of December, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal had a virtual meeting with US trade representative Jamieson Greer.
Indian Politics & Governance
Pilots' body FIP serves legal notice to AAIB in relation to Ahmedabad plane crash probe
AAIB has summoned Captain Varun Anand, nephew of the late Sabharwal and a pilot of narrow-body aircraft with Air India
Drones sighted along India-Pakistan border in J&K’s Poonch, Samba
The drones were seen hovering along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch and the Ramgarh sector of Samba district
Geopolitics (India Focus)

Venezuela’s acting President adapts to post-Maduro reality and signals a new era of U.S. ties
Delcy Rodriguez laid out a vision for Venezuela's new political reality — one that challenges her government's most deeply rooted beliefs less than two weeks after U.S. captured former President Nicolás Maduro

Indian Embassy in Israel urges citizens to remain vigilant, avoid non-essential travel
Indian Stock Market & IPOs
ONGC, Oil India and other oil-linked stocks in focus as crude slides after Iran tensions ease
A sharp 4% drop in global crude has put ONGC, Oil India, Reliance, Indian Oil, BPCL and HPCL back in the spotlight. The reversal, driven by easing geopolitical fears, reshapes near-term expectations for upstream producers and refiners, with analysts watching whether oversupply or renewed tensions steer prices ahead.
Groww shares in focus as Q3 profit slumps 28% on one-off. Buy, sell, or hold?
Billionbrains Garage Ventures, parent of Groww, reported a 27.8% profit dip in Q3 FY26 due to a one-time tax gain last year. Despite this, revenue surged 24.8%, and market share grew significantly in stocks and derivatives. Analysts at Motilal Oswal and Citi maintain 'Buy' ratings, citing strong revenue growth and market position
Marketing, Brands & Consumer Trends

Bank holiday today, 16 January: Are banks open or closed today for Thiruvalluvar Day, Kanuma? Check details here
Bank holiday today, 16 January: Banks in some states across India will be closed on Friday, 16 January. Bank holidays are decided by the Reserve Bank of India.
Mint Explainer: How India’s toll reforms are making highway travel smoother
A series of reforms in 2025 – from predictable toll expenses and digital payments to barrier-free tolling and reduced charges during upgrades – quietly reshaped highway travel in India.
Sports (Business & Governance)

WPL-4: UP Warriorz stuns Mumbai Indians to end losing streak
While Nat Sciver-Brunt claimed a couple of wickets, none of the other Mumbai Indians bowlers could make an impact

India Open 2026: Lakshya remains India’s lone hope
Title favourites and World No. 3 Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy were upset by the Japanese pair of Hiroki Midorikawa and Kyohei Yamashita