Here are some important developments that hit the headlines on Wednesday. Retail inflation for January has dropped to a 5-month low of 4.31%, thanks to a decrease in food prices. This marks a significant drop from 3.65% in August 2024. In other developments, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has lifted its ban on Kotak Mahindra Bank from issuing new credit cards. The RBI had previously imposed the restriction on April 24, 2024. Meanwhile, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), known for manufacturing Tejas aircraft and Dhruv helicopters, reported a profit of ₹1,440 crore for the third quarter of FY 2024-25. Today’s Key Events To Watch: Here are some yesterday's major news: 1. Retail inflation dropped to 4.31% in January, marking a 5-month low, with food prices seeing a decline. Retail inflation in January dropped to 4.31%, a 5-month low, thanks to lower food prices. Inflation stood at 3.65% in August and was 5.22% in December. The government released these figures on February 12. 2. RBI has lifted the ban on Kotak Mahindra Bank, allowing the bank to issue new credit cards. The restriction on opening online accounts for new customers has also been removed. On Wednesday (February 12), the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lifted the restrictions on Kotak Mahindra Bank. On April 24, 2024, the RBI had instructed the bank to halt issuing new credit cards and imposed a ban on onboarding new customers through online and mobile banking channels. 3. The Income Tax Bill may be presented in the Lok Sabha soon: The bill’s pages have been reduced from 823 to 622, and crypto assets will now be categorized as undisclosed income. The new Income Tax Bill is expected to be presented in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, February 13. The 622-page bill will replace the 6-decade-old Income Tax Act of 1961. The proposed law will be known as the Income Tax Act of 2025 and is anticipated to take effect in April 2026. 4. HAL reported a 14% increase in profit for the third quarter, reaching ₹1,440 crore. Revenue rose by 15% to ₹6,957 crore. The company manufactures Tejas aircraft and Dhruv helicopters. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), known for manufacturing Tejas aircraft and Dhruv helicopters, reported a 14% year-on-year (YoY) increase in profit for the third quarter (October-December) of FY 2024-25, reaching ₹1,440 crore. In the same quarter last year, the company’s consolidated net profit was ₹1,261 crore. 5. Equity mutual fund investments totaled ₹39,687 crore in January, marking a 3.6% decrease compared to December. Investments have exceeded withdrawals for the 47th consecutive month. In January 2025, equity mutual fund investments totaled ₹39,687 crore, a 3.6% decrease compared to December 2024, when ₹41,155.9 crore was invested. 6. A record ₹2,950 crore was invested in Gold ETFs in January, driven by rising prices. The investment has yielded up to a 35% return over the past year. As gold prices have risen, investment in gold has also surged. In January, a record $40 million (₹2,950 crore) was invested in Gold ETFs in India, surpassing the previous record of ₹1,962 crore set in October 2024.Original Article