Internal TNMM should be preferred over external comparables where associated-enterprise and independent-party transactions involve comparable products, functions, assets and risks. Segmental financials need not be separately audited if reasonably prepared, reconciled with audited books and supported by a consistent allocation methodology. Invoice-level sales allocation, reasonable allocation keys for common expenses, and direct allocation of expenses exclusively relating to non-associated-enterprise sales support reliability. In the absence of identified defects, arbitrary allocations or profit shifting, a higher associated-enterprise segment margin supports arm's-length pricing and deletion of the transfer-pricing adjustment.

Income-tax reimbursement recoverable by a central generating company from beneficiaries forms part of electricity tariff. The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission has jurisdiction under the tariff framework to determine beneficiary objections to the amount claimed, with applicable regulations allowing direct recovery and an application for objections. Tariff regulations and contractual arrangements remain binding unless challenged as ultra vires. Re-determination, limitation, quantification and supporting evidence require factual adjudication before the specialised statutory forum, where beneficiaries may raise objections. That process provides an opportunity to be heard and meets natural-justice requirements.

Reassessment notices issued during an extended period are treated as deemed notices under Section 148A(b). Time from the deemed notice until information is supplied and the assessee's response period expires is excluded for limitation purposes. A fresh notice under Section 148 must nevertheless be issued within the limitation period remaining under the Income-tax Act read with the relaxation legislation. Issuance after the surviving deadline renders the reassessment notice time-barred and invalid, with consequential proceedings liable to be quashed.

Effective service of GST show-cause notices requires more than portal upload where a taxpayer does not respond. Although portal upload is a recognised method of service, officers should consider the circumstances and use alternative modes available under the GST law, preferably registered post, instead of issuing repeated portal communications and proceeding ex parte. Notice must genuinely enable participation, and an assessment made without an effective opportunity to respond or a personal hearing violates principles of natural justice and is invalid.

A one-time, interest-free working-capital loan of Rs. 50,000 per barn is approved for FCV tobacco growers in Andhra Pradesh under the Interest-Free Working Capital Assistance Scheme. Covering about 44,000 growers, the assistance is proposed to be delivered through direct benefit transfer. It is intended to provide liquidity for household requirements, institutional loan repayment and crop inputs, while reducing dependence on private borrowing.

Each auction carries a non-competitive bidding facility, under which five per cent of the notified amount is reserved for specified retail investors. The Government may modify indicated amounts, issuance periods and maturities, and may issue instruments with non-standard maturities, floating-rate bonds or inflation-indexed bonds, having regard to governmental requirements, market conditions and other relevant factors. It may retain additional subscriptions through a greenshoe option and conduct switch or buyback auctions of dated securities.

Government market borrowing for the second half of FY 2026-27 is to be raised through weekly auctions of dated securities, including Sovereign Green Bonds, across maturities from 3 to 50 years. Debt-management measures include switching and buyback operations to smooth the redemption profile and a greenshoe option for additional subscriptions. Treasury Bills are to be issued through weekly auctions in 91-day, 182-day and 364-day maturities. The Ways and Means Advances limit is fixed to address temporary mismatches in government accounts.

Margin earned from purchasing and reselling airline cargo slots at agreed rates constitutes trading income rather than consideration for Business Auxiliary Service where the purchaser acts independently and bears the potential profit or loss. This differs from general sales agency arrangements, in which commission is payable for agency services and service tax applies to that commission. Where no commission is payable and cargo space is acquired for resale on a principal-to-principal basis, the purchase-sale margin is not taxable under Business Auxiliary Service.

Preferential tariff claims must follow the Rules of Origin under the relevant trade agreement, which prevail over CAROTAR, 2020 in case of conflict. Under the India-UK CETA, a valid Origin Declaration supports preferential treatment without Form-I at the Bill of Entry stage. Origin-related information may be requested only where justified by risk-based checks and reason to doubt compliance. Earlier preference denials may apply to subsequent identical goods only after allowing the importer to furnish additional origin information.

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) of the Ministry of Home Affairs is designated as the agency to perform functions under section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000. Its function includes notifying instances where information, data or communication links residing in or connected to computer resources controlled by intermediaries are used to commit unlawful acts.

APEDA facilitated the export of a one-metric-tonne consignment of GI-tagged Gulbarga Tur Dal from Karnataka to the Maldives through an FPO-led brand. Gulbarga Tur Dal has held GI registration since 2019. The export-linked channel provides farmers a realisation of Rs.82 per kg compared with a prevailing market price of Rs.60 per kg, while supporting closer integration of FPOs and farmers into export-oriented supply chains.

Deliberations covered GST rationalisation, refund delays, audit duration, amnesty schemes, input tax credit anomalies and pending appeals, alongside proposed inclusion of traders in MSME facilitation committees, a centralised loan portal with a 30-day timeline, CIBIL score reforms and grievance helplines. Trader welfare measures considered timely contractor payments, safeguards against technical penalties, loan-repayment flexibility during lean periods and stronger Centre-State coordination.

Computer resources supporting the Public Financial Management System application, including modules, web portals, databases and associated dependencies, are declared protected systems under section 70 of the Information Technology Act, 2000. Access is restricted to designated employees, authorised service-provider or vendor personnel requiring need-based access, and authorised consultants, regulators, government officials, auditors or stakeholders requiring case-specific access. Written authorisation from the Public Financial Management System is required for each category.

Intelligence-led interception and baggage examination identified foreign-origin gold converted into fine powder and mixed with packaged food products of similar colour, texture and consistency. Segregation and assaying yielded 9.40 kg foreign-origin gold, which was seized under the Customs Act, 1962. Questioning linked the passengers to the same organised gold-smuggling syndicate, and they were arrested under that Act.

Intelligence-led customs enforcement in Mizoram and Assam resulted in seizure, under the Customs Act, 1962, of suspected foreign-origin areca nuts and poppy seeds believed on preliminary inquiry to have been smuggled from Myanmar. Searches of locked, unattended godowns near the Indo-Myanmar border recovered the commodities, while interception of two trucks carrying poppy seeds without valid import documents led to seizure of the consignments and vehicles. Four persons connected with transportation of the poppy seeds were arrested.

IEC 62443-3-3 Security Level 2 certification applies to a wind farm control system covering SCADA, PPC, PLC and industrial network devices. It assesses system-level security requirements, including the interaction of components, networks and security mechanisms within an overall industrial control environment. The cybersecurity framework also spans secure development, certified core control components, system-level protection, and security integration and maintenance services across the lifecycle of wind energy technologies.

India's foreign exchange reserves declined by USD 14.881 billion to USD 765.901 billion for the week ended 18 September 2026. The contraction was principally driven by a reduction in foreign currency assets, which also reflect valuation effects from movements in non-US reserve currencies. Gold reserves increased, while Special Drawing Rights decreased and the reserve position with the International Monetary Fund remained reported separately.

Five-day banking remains under governmental consideration, with no Finance Ministry commitment to implementation. Unions linked the proposal to the 12th Bipartite Settlement/9th Joint Note, which contemplated extended Monday-to-Friday working hours. Family pension revision and a pension option for resignees were identified as addressed, while withdrawal of the Performance Linked Incentive scheme remains in abeyance. Public sector banks were instructed to remain open on the preceding Sunday, and central government salaries, wages and pensions were directed to be disbursed in advance.

Alternative-fuel and public-transport measures seek to reduce dependence on imported petroleum, curb air pollution, and support farmer income and employment. Ethanol is positioned as a farm-income source through increased demand and returns for maize growers, alongside electricity, hydrogen and waste-derived CNG. Development and introduction of flex-fuel vehicles, using engines capable of operating on ethanol, electric tractors, hydrogen-powered vehicles and hydrogen buses form part of a cleaner-mobility strategy.

Foreign-exchange market conditions supported a 19-paise appreciation of the rupee to 95.80 against the US dollar, aided by improved global risk sentiment and expectations of Reserve Bank intervention. Dollar demand from importers, high crude prices and US dollar strength constrained gains. Lower crude prices and dollar weakness could support the rupee, while geopolitical escalation may create pressure. Market participants expected intervention if the currency weakened toward 96.