The Ministry of Commerce and Industry shared a report on the participation of women in India's entrepreneurial landscape, with some significant progress over the last few years. According to the Indian Startup Ecosystem Report, over 73,000 startups in the country have at least one woman Director, the Startup India initiative said on December 25.

Edelweiss Mutual Fund CEO Radhika Gupta has asked entrepreneurs to be wary of the "startup romance". "There's now...increased air of 'startup romance' that paints startup life as working in chiller attire out of a fancy co-working space, raising funding rounds...hosting Friday evening drinks for colleagues. Don't fall for it," she said. Gupta added that "startup reality" hits soon.

A video showing a man asking a Zomato delivery boy to remove his Santa Claus costume in Indore has surfaced on social media. The man asked the delivery boy, "Do you ever dress up as Lord Ram on Diwali and go out for deliveries?" to which he replied, "No we don't, but the company has asked me to wear this."

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) added 13.41 lakh new members in October, reflecting increased employment and greater awareness of employee benefits. The Ministry of Labour and Employment released a statement on Wednesday, showcasing this growth as a sign of improving workforce participation.

Lilium, an air taxi startup from Germany, recently laid off 1,000 employees and announced the shutdown of its operations. One of the founders, Dr Patrick Nathen, confirmed that Lilium would cease to exist, calling it heartbreaking, especially during the holiday season. The company announced the layoffs after failing to secure funding.

The Kerala High Court ruled that banks cannot publish photos or details of loan defaulters to pressure repayment, as it violates their right to personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution. The court emphasised that loan recovery must follow legal procedures, rejecting outdated practices like public shaming.

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced measures to combat cyber and telecom fraud, preventing ₹4,000 crore in losses and saving ₹10 lakh in public funds. An app disconnected 2.75 lakh fraudulent numbers, and caller ID software blocked 25-30 crore calls in two months. While progress is evident, the minister acknowledged challenges posed by technological misuse.

Thailand's cabinet approved a minimum wage increase and the second phase of a cash handout for senior citizens. The wage committee raised daily wages by 2.9% effective January to support workers and pensioners in the country. The second phase of the handout scheme will involve payments for four million elderly people who would receive payments by January.

NFRA has imposed a penalty of ₹2 crore on Deloitte Haskins & Sells for lapses in the audit of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) during FY2018-19 and FY2019-20. NFRA has also fined two CAs. The regulator's action stems from Deloitte's alleged failure to identify and report irregularities related to a ₹200 crore fixed deposit held by ZEEL in Yes Bank.

PM Narendra Modi met with eminent economists and thought leaders at NITI Aayog on Tuesday ahead of the Union Budget 2025-26. The theme of the meeting was "maintaining India's growth momentum at a time of global uncertainty". Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who attended the meeting, will present the Budget on February 1.