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Social media companies like Instagram, X, or Reddit will now only have 3 hours to comply with government content removal requests. Today, we explain more.
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Macro
Multiple refiners are ordering Venezuelan oil, with Indian Oil, Hindustan Petroleum, and Reliance being the first. Cargos will take 45 days to deliver versus Russia’s 30. Additionally, Venezuelan crude will take more processing power as it is a heavier variety compared to Russia’s.
Soybean oil rose 2.2 percent after India agreed to allow more US soy into its market. Though this is the highest level since last July, a test remains if prices can withstand increased Brazilian yields. India, to meet promised import quotas, would likely cut imports from LatAm.
Equities
The NSE reassured investors that regulators will change the equity derivatives tax hike. The exchange controls 75 percent of the local futures and options market; it is trying to make sure its valuation stays high for its IPO later this year.
Brokerages predict the Nifty to grow at 15+ percent this year after the US FTA. Additionally, there has been an earnings recovery, strong local liquidity, and a rebound in foreign inflows. There have been local signs of recovery after the early sell-off that SMID caps experienced last month.
State Bank of India beat earnings due to higher credit growth. The Nifty PSU Bank Index also experienced bullish growth, hitting a new all-time high. Call volumes for SBI and the index were up 4x higher than average after earnings came out.
Net inflows into gold ETFs were at $2.7 billion (₹240.4 billion), edging out equity mutual funds in January.This is the strongest bullish signal on gold seen in India ever. Geopolitics remain a demand driver while cultural ties and weak domestic equity performance drove Indians to become more long bullion.
Alts
ICICI's CIO is joining rival DSP to run their $25.4 billion (₹2.3 trillion) worth of mutual fund assets. ICICI actually ran more at $70 billion (₹6.3 trillion) but Tawakley likely received a higher compensation package.
The RBI is allowing for banks to lend directly to REITs to boost the sector's growth.This will lower expenses for investors while growing the space and speeding up asset expansion.
Policy
Pakistan quickly walked back plans to boycott India at the t20 World Cup. The tournament is being hosted in India and Sri Lanka, but Pakistan did not want to play any matches against the Indian national team, citing support for Bangladesh. Sources say Sri Lanka convinced Pakistan to change course, reminding the government of the commercial stakes attached to the India-Pakistan game.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jaiswal reaffirms that energy security will be key for India's oil imports. Though India is shifting its pattern to appease the US, cheap oil prices will be the most important factor since 1.4 billion citizens depend on cheap energy.
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India Passes World's Toughest Social Media Rules
India is turning up the heat on social media companies. Starting February 20, 2026, platforms like Meta, YouTube, X, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, and Twitch will have just three hours to remove unlawful content after being notified, a dramatic cut from the previous 36-hour window.
The government hasn’t explained why it shortened the timeline, but experts warn that meeting it will be nearly impossible.
“This assumes no real-world constraints or legal considerations,” Akash Karmakar, a technology law partner in India, told Reuters.
India has a long history of aggressive online content regulation. Over the years, it has issued thousands of takedown orders. Meta alone removed more than 28,000 pieces of content in the first half of 2025 following government requests. The new rules continue this trend, giving authorities power to demand the removal of anything deemed illegal under Indian law, including content affecting national security or public order. The content removals have ranged from removing what the government determines as hate or offensive speech to censoring journalists in Kashmir.
Alongside the takedown rule, the government also revised its approach to AI content. The original plan would have required platforms to label 10 percent of AI-generated material. Now, the rules simply mandate that such content be “prominently labelled.”
Social media companies are uneasy. Some changes were introduced without consultation, and executives say the new three-hour window is unworkable. Yet India isn’t alone in pushing for faster content moderation. Around the world, from Europe to Brazil, governments are demanding that platforms take down harmful material more quickly. India’s experiment can inform global economies looking to reel in the influence of social media.
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Written by Yash Tibrewal. Edited by Shreyas Sinha.
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