Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme expansion adds a targeted guarantee window for hospitality and travel firms and extends disbursement timelines.
ECLGS 3.0 creates a targeted credit guarantee window for Hospitality, Travel & Tourism, Leisure and Sporting enterprises that met pre-pandemic credit and overdue eligibility, permitting participating lenders to extend additional credit based on pre-pandemic outstanding balances. Loans under this window include an extended tenor with a moratorium component. The validity and disbursement timelines for ECLGS 1.0 and 2.0 have been extended, and revised operational guidelines will be issued by the designated guarantee trustee to govern implementation and participation.

Single IEM streamlines filing of investment intentions and commencement reports, enabling paperless approvals and state notifications.
DPIIT now requires a Single IEM per company to record all locations and sectors, enabling filing of IEM Part A (investment intentions) and IEM Part B (commencement reports), facilitating amendments to prior filings and avoiding duplication; approvals and notifications are issued in a paperless manner by email and SMS with simultaneous transmission to state governments via the G2B portal for submission and issuance of the IEM certificate under the statutory IEM framework.

Trade relationship strengthened through renewed cooperation and revitalized Trade Policy Forum, with pending legacy issues to be resolved by dialogue.
India and the United States agreed to strengthen their bilateral trade and investment relationship, consolidate economic partnership based on openness, transparency and fair trade, and pursue expanded cooperation while resolving outstanding legacy issues through sustained dialogue. They committed to reinforce the Trade Policy Forum as the institutional mechanism for engagement and to convene its next ministerial-level meeting within the stated year, using the Forum and ministerial consultations as principal channels for negotiation and follow-up on pending trade and investment concerns.

TRIPS waiver seeks to remove intellectual property barriers to scale up COVID-19 medical production and ensure equitable access
The proposal seeks a waiver of specified TRIPS Agreement provisions to ensure intellectual property rights do not obstruct rapid scaling of manufacturing for COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and related goods, enabling equitable, timely and affordable access; it has been co-sponsored by numerous members and received civil society and international health support, as reported to the legislature.

Quality control mandates and procurement preference strengthen domestic manufacturing while expanding startup support and MSME eligibility.
Regulatory and policy measures reinforce product quality and domestic manufacturing by enforcing Quality Control Orders, BIS Standard mark licensing, production linked incentives, and a public procurement preference to favour domestic producers; administrative structures and IPR strengthening support implementation. Complementary start up measures include self certification compliance, portal and hub support, patent facilitation, procurement relaxation, funding and credit guarantees, tax exemptions, and expanded MSME definition with export turnover excluded from category limits to widen eligibility.

Ease of Doing Business reforms enable states to obtain additional borrowing permission upon verified completion of prescribed reform measures.
States completing the Ease of Doing Business reforms qualify for additional borrowing linked to GSDP after departmental verification; required measures include first assessment of the District Level Business Reform Action Plan, elimination of renewal requirements for business registrations/approvals/licenses, and implementation of a computerized centralized random inspection system with inspector rotation, prior notice and timely electronic reporting, following which central departments recommend and the Department of Expenditure grants permission for market borrowings.

Ethics for insolvency professionals: new handbook sets an ethical and regulatory framework for professional conduct.
The Handbook establishes an Ethical Framework and regulatory guidance for Insolvency Professionals, presenting a practical ready-reckoner to assist IPs and stakeholders in adopting an ethical code of conduct. It details Code of Ethics topics including conflict of interest, independence, impartiality, objectivity and timelines, and promotes proactive compliance, care and diligence in discharge of professional duties within the insolvency regime.

Competition approval for acquisition of control in electricity distribution enables Tata Power's purchase from Gridco following regulatory bid.
The Competition Commission of India approved the acquisition of a majority stake in North Eastern Electricity Supply Company of Odisha by The Tata Power Company Limited from Grid Corporation of Odisha, relating to transfer of control in an electricity distribution and retail supply business effected pursuant to a competitive bidding process initiated by the state electricity regulator; a detailed CCI order will follow.

Recognition of Offices as competent ISA/IPEA under the PCT enables mutual Patent Prosecution Highway operation and examiner cooperation.
The Ministries agreed that each Office will act mutually as competent International Search Authority and International Preliminary Examining Authority under a pilot Patent Prosecution Highway program, with expert meetings and annual reviews to ensure smooth operation and continued information exchange among patent examiners.

Cloud skilling expanded: AIM and AWS partner to deliver cloud education for students and accelerator support for EdTech startups.
Atal Innovation Mission and Amazon Web Services signed a Statement of Intent to deliver cloud skilling via AWS Educate across Atal Tinkering Labs and to extend AWS EdStart accelerator benefits-including promotional credits, mentorship and technical training-to EdTech startups in Atal Incubation and Community Innovation Centers, alongside joint workshops and national challenges to develop cloud-based solutions.

Circular economy transition: committees to prepare action plans across multiple focus areas to manage waste and improve resource efficiency.
The government is advancing a regulatory and policy programme to transition from a linear economy to a circular economy, using existing waste management rules and recycling policies. Interministerial committees-comprising line ministries, planning and environmental agencies, experts and industry-will prepare comprehensive action plans and implementation modalities for designated end of life products and recyclable materials to enable reuse, recycling and improved material flows across sectors.

Bid rigging found in public procurement, corroborated by digital evidence, leading to regulatory penalties and cease directives.
Agreement to rig tender bids for the Picofall-cum-Sewing Machine procurement violated Section 3(1) read with Section 3(3)(d) of the Competition Act, 2002; near-identical bid prices together with evidence such as a single IP address, coordination in other tenders, call data records, and mobile location supported a finding of consensus among three suppliers, prompting recorded monetary penalties and cease-and-desist directions in Case No. 90 of 2016 dated 17.03.2021.

Compliance with law urged: investors must follow legal spirit to avoid regulatory changes and support startup stability.
Investors are urged to follow the spirit and ambit of the law, since attempts to circumvent provisions lead to regulatory changes; international investors remain welcome but domestic investors can better reach smaller towns to tap innovation. The Government will support startups through tax exemptions and preferential procurement, promoting regulatory stability and encouraging deeper domestic investment to strengthen the startup ecosystem.

Production Linked Incentive schemes expand sectoral coverage and eligibility to boost domestic manufacturing and exports.
A Production Linked Incentive (PLI) programme funds targeted schemes across 13 priority sectors for five years beginning FY 2021-22, implemented by the respective Ministries/Departments within prescribed financial limits. The scheme explicitly admits both domestic and foreign owned entities as eligible beneficiaries and aims to build a widespread supplier base, create scale in key sectors, and nurture export competitive 'global champions'.

Wholesale Price Index shows provisional rise in inflation; provisional and final indices released with methodology and response rates.
Release of Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for February 2021 (provisional) and December 2020 (final) reports aggregate and component indices, WPI based inflation rates, and weights for Primary Articles, Fuel & Power, and Manufactured Products; details group and item movements including the WPI Food Index; and states methodological particulars including provisional versus final release timing, weighted response rates, web based data collection, and a revision policy.

Street vending cart design adapted for COVID 19 to improve hygiene, mobility and business prospects for vendors.
A national design competition by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry with the National Institute of Design network sought cost effective street vending cart models adapted for COVID 19, intended for mass scale offering. Designs were required to address packaging, display, billing, hygiene, foldability, compactness, mobility, accessories (dustbin, seat), shade, lighting and power supply, to improve vendors' business prospects, operational efficiency and dignity amid post COVID challenges.

Issuance and Listing framework expands IFSC access to global capital, enabling listings for startups, SMEs, SPACs and ESG bonds.
A proposed unified regulatory framework specifies requirements for issuance and listing of various securities and associated initial and continuous disclosures to facilitate issuer access to global capital at IFSC stock exchanges. The draft accommodates Start ups, SMEs, SPACs, and debt instruments focused on ESG and smart city financing, and aims to support fintech and innovative business models through an enabling listing route while seeking public consultation on detailed regulatory prescriptions.

Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement feasibility advanced, with expedited study and coordinated trade facilitation measures agreed.
Officials agreed to advance trade facilitation and connectivity through streamlining Certificate of Origin procedures, standards harmonization, addressing anti dumping duties on jute, removing port restrictions, upgrading border trade infrastructure, sharing trade data, and establishing private sector engagement via an India Bangladesh CEOs' Forum, while committing to expeditiously pursue a feasibility study on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and scheduling follow-up Commerce Secretary and Joint Working Group meetings in India.

SDG India Index strengthens state-level SDG monitoring and benchmarking, emphasising partnerships and data-driven localisation efforts.
The SDG India Index is the principal instrument for monitoring SDG progress at national and sub national levels, benchmarking States and UTs and promoting policy action. The methodology uses quantitative indicators for the first sixteen Goals, a qualitative assessment for Goal 17, target setting, normalisation of indicators, and equal weighting of Goals to derive composite scores. Indicator selection and targets follow a consultative process with MoSPI, Union Ministries, UN agencies and States/UTs.

Repayment of government securities due; holders must provide bank details or tender securities early for payment.
Payment of the outstanding balance on 8.01% PLI GoI Special Security 2021 is payable on the effective date; if a State holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act falls on that date, repayment in that State will be made on the previous working day. Maturity proceeds will be paid by a pay order or by credit to the holder's bank account via electronic means under Government Securities Regulations, 2007; holders must submit bank account particulars in advance or tender discharged securities at designated paying offices 20 days prior to the due date.