Cigarettes will become more expensive from 1 February 2026 after the government imposed additional excise duty on tobacco products. The move replaces the GST compensation cess and led to a sharp fall in shares of ITC and Godfrey Phillips following the announcement.

A contaminated water supply in Indore has led to at least eight deaths and the hospitalisation of over 149 people. The Madhya Pradesh government has ordered a probe, suspended officials for negligence, launched mass screenings, and announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for each victim’s family.