Government bank oversight reforms: standardized manual and real time dashboard to strengthen compliance and accountability.
Launch of a regulatory framework comprising the Government Bank Manual and Government Bank Dashboard to standardize bank handling of government transactions. The Manual prescribes operational procedures, reporting obligations, reconciliation timelines, and compliance requirements to reduce risk and strengthen accountability. The Dashboard provides real time monitoring of remittance timelines, scroll compliance, reconciliation status, transaction success rates, and service level adherence, enabling proactive oversight and performance management while supporting further digital integration and cybersecurity enhancements.

Fiscal receipts and expenditure review reports major tax receipts, state tax devolution and primary outlays through January.
Consolidated monthly accounts to January 2026 report Centre receipts at 79.5% of revised estimates-mainly Tax Revenue with Non Tax and Non Debt Capital Receipts-and an increased transfer to States as Devolution of Share of Taxes. Total expenditure is 74.3% of estimates, split between Revenue and Capital Expenditure, with Interest Payments and Major Subsidies forming the principal components of Revenue Expenditure.

Integrated multimodal infrastructure: four projects evaluated to strengthen connectivity, capacity and last mile linkages under national planning.
The Network Planning Group evaluated four projects for conformity with PM GatiShakti principles of integrated multimodal infrastructure, last mile connectivity and a Whole of Government approach. Two third line railway projects (Jalandhar Cantt-Jammu Tawi and Manikpur-Itarsi) aim to augment rail capacity, resilience and operational throughput on strategic corridors. A Greenfield airport at Doloo, Silchar is proposed to relieve airport capacity constraints and stimulate regional socio economic growth. A Surat Metro extension is proposed as a dedicated feeder link to the Mumbai-Ahmedabad HSR corridor to enable seamless last mile and modal integration.

Skill development and sustainability urged to boost competitiveness through technology, design innovation and industry collaboration for graduates.
FDDI's 5th convocation conferred degrees and academic medals across programmes, with the institute stressing its contribution to skill development, research, innovation and industry engagement in the footwear, leather, fashion and retail ecosystem. Speakers urged adoption of technology, sustainability and design innovation to enhance global competitiveness, noted sectoral support for employment and MSME growth, and highlighted Hyderabad campus developments including a Centre of Excellence, modern laboratories and strengthened industry collaborations.

Index of Eight Core Industries shows overall growth, with cement and steel leading while oil and gas sectors decline.
The combined Index of Eight Core Industries rose provisionally by 4.0 per cent year on year in January 2026, with Cement, Steel, Electricity, Fertilizers and Coal recording positive monthly growth while Crude Oil and Natural Gas declined and Refinery Products remained unchanged. The cumulative April-January 2025-26 growth is reported as 2.8 per cent (provisional). The release provides industry weights, monthly and annual indices, notes that January data are provisional and December data final, and explains methodological inclusions and revision practice.

Administrative data harmonization to inform a national agenda and prepare states for coordinated governance reforms.
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation is convening a national consultative workshop on using administrative data for governance to brief States/UTs, Central ministries and other stakeholders on objectives, scope and key issues, as a preparatory step for a national summit. The workshop will gather expert deliberations, showcase use cases, and collate inputs from State level workshops to identify priority reform areas for strengthening administrative data systems and enabling responsible harmonization across departments.

Re-enacted Boilers Act strengthens safety framework; stakeholders invited to streamline compliance and boost industry innovation.
The Boilers Act, re-enacted as the Boilers Act, 2025 and operational from 1 May 2025, was retained and reviewed to maintain a safety-focused regulatory framework; the Chintan Shivir solicited stakeholder feedback on the Act and subordinate rules, sought suggestions to rationalise regulations and reduce compliance burden, and addressed implementation issues including roles of Third-Party Inspecting Authorities and Competent Persons.

NDPS Act enforcement uncovers clandestine synthetic drug laboratory, leading to seizure of drugs, chemicals, equipment and arrests.
Enforcement under the NDPS Act led to interception of suspects with concealed high-purity methamphetamine and admissions linking the consignment to a clandestine laboratory; coordinated multi-branch searches located a chemically hazardous manufacturing facility equipped with modern machinery and bulk chemicals, which was secured with PPE and dismantled with technical assistance, and all recovered contraband, chemicals and equipment were seized under the Act while suspects were charged or detained under relevant provisions.

National accounts methodology revised to adopt new data sources and updated compilation methods aligning quarterly and annual estimates.
Revision of national accounts introduces new administrative and survey data, disaggregated modeling, and updated rates to improve sectoral estimates. Corporate sector changes include activity wise revenue splitting and disaggregated Paid up Capital multipliers; government estimates add imputed housing services and wider coverage; household estimates move to annual direct estimation using specific surveys. PFCE uses a mixed survey/production/commodity flow approach with COICOP 2018, and quarterly benchmarking adopts Denton proportional benchmarking to align QNA with annual accounts.

Merger approval: consolidation of an NBFC's asset finance business into an inactive holding entity cleared, detailed regulatory order to follow.
The Competition Commission approved the proposed merger of Hinduja Leyland Finance Limited into NDL Ventures Limited, enabling consolidation of Hinduja Leyland Finance's asset finance activities-small ticket retail and vehicle loans, loan against property and housing loans-into NDL Ventures, which presently has no active business; a detailed regulatory order and any conditions will follow.

Competition approval for internal reorganisation permits transfer of specified BCCL businesses to newly formed THPL on going concern basis.
Competition Commission approval granted for an internal reorganisation by Bennett Coleman & Company Limited to demerge and transfer specified entities, businesses, undertakings, assets and liabilities (EIBME Business) into newly incorporated Times Horizon Private Limited on a going concern basis, with further detailed order to follow.

Competition approval for acquisition of portfolio management services business, consolidating PMS activities under an asset manager.
The Competition Commission of India has approved an acquisition in which Axis Asset Management Company Limited will acquire the portfolio management services business of Axis Securities Limited in India. The Acquirer manages a mutual fund business, provides portfolio management services, and manages alternative investment funds across Category II and Category III; the Target Business comprises the Transferor's portfolio management services in India. A detailed order will follow.

Health insurance co-payment options enhance CGHS beneficiary coverage with cashless hospitalization access and flexible network choices.
Paripoorna Mediclaim Ayush Bima is an optional indemnity-based in patient hospitalization policy exclusively for CGHS beneficiaries, coverable up to six members per policy. The product offers selectable co-payment sharing ratios between insurer and subscriber, cashless treatment through insurer and Third Party Administrator networks, and is promoted as a retail complement to existing CGHS benefits with a GST exemption to improve affordability.

Incentive Scheme for digital payments increased UPI adoption and expanded payment infrastructure, recommending targeted measures for RuPay uptake.
The report assesses the design, implementation and socio-economic effects of the Incentive Scheme for promotion of RuPay debit cards and low-value BHIM-UPI P2M transactions, noting that structured budgetary support reduced cost barriers, accelerated merchant onboarding, expanded acceptance infrastructure and strengthened the payments ecosystem. Based on primary and secondary research, it finds marked increases in UPI adoption, merchant QR deployment and bank participation, increased user confidence and reduced cash reliance, and recommends targeted measures to deepen RuPay usage, rural penetration, connectivity, digital literacy and fraud mitigation.

Highway upgradation provides an alternate freight corridor, reducing urban congestion and enhancing regional connectivity and employment.
Approval is granted for rehabilitation and upgradation of the Ghoti-Trimbak-Jawhar-Manor-Palghar section of NH-160A in Maharashtra on Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode, covering 154.635 km with a Total Capital Cost of Rs.3320.38 crore. The project provides 2-lane or 4-lane configurations with paved shoulders according to traffic projections to relieve congestion, integrate with expressways and highways, connect multiple economic and logistics nodes under PM GatiShakti, and generate substantial direct and indirect employment.

Four-lane upgradation of NH-56 sections approved to improve regional connectivity and reduce travel time substantially.
Cabinet approval authorises upgradation of two NH-56 sections in Gujarat to four-lane standard under the HAM Mode, totaling 107.67 km at a Total Capital Cost of Rs.4583.64 crore. Designed for 100 km/h (70 km/h average), the works aim to cut travel time by about 40%. The alignment passes through aspirational and tribal districts, enhances access to the Statue of Unity, links to major highways and the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, began partial construction in November 2025 with a two-year completion target, and is projected to generate significant direct and indirect employment.

Highway widening approval advances NH 167 to four lanes under Hybrid Annuity Mode, enhancing regional connectivity and employment.
The Cabinet approved widening NH 167 from Gudebellur to Mahabubnagar to a four lane access controlled standard over 80.01 km on Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) under the NH (O) scheme, covering bypasses, realignments and utility shifting. The alignment connects with NH 150 and NH 167N and links multiple economic, social and logistic nodes, aiming to reduce congestion and travel time, enhance freight efficiency and multimodal integration, and generate substantial direct and indirect construction period employment.

Project approval for underwater road rail tunnel enabling 4 lane greenfield connectivity between Gohpur and Numaligarh under EPC.
Cabinet approved a 33.7 km 4 lane access controlled greenfield corridor between Gohpur (NH 15) and Numaligarh (NH 715) including a 15.79 km twin tube TBM underwater Road cum Rail tunnel with rail provision in one tube, implemented on an EPC basis. The scope covers civil works, land acquisition, short road and rail cut and cover sections, and integration with existing highways and railway sections to deliver multimodal connectivity to airports, inland waterways, railway stations and economic, social and tourist nodes, with estimated traffic and employment implications.

Rail network expansion approved to add multitrack capacity, boost freight movement and reduce emissions while improving regional connectivity.
Cabinet approved three multitracking projects (Kasara-Manmad, Delhi-Ambala, Ballari-Hosapete) under PM Gati Shakti to add third and fourth lines across 12 districts, increasing the rail network by about 389 km at an estimated combined cost of Rs 18,509 crore through 2030-31. The works are projected to generate about 265 lakh human days of construction employment, augment freight capacity by 96 MTPA, improve connectivity to roughly 3,902 villages (population ~97 lakh), reduce logistics costs and oil imports, and lower CO2 emissions for more sustainable rail operations.

Venture capital mobilisation for startups to prioritise deep tech, early growth support, and regional investment across the country.
The Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 establishes a government-backed corpus to mobilize long-term domestic venture capital, strengthen the domestic venture capital base by supporting smaller funds and AIFs, and address capital gaps. The Scheme prioritises deep tech and tech-driven innovative manufacturing, supports early-growth stage founders to reduce funding shortfalls, and promotes national reach to crowd in private investment beyond major metropolitan centres.