Index of Eight Core Industries growth signals sectoral expansion as multiple core industries report production gains.
The Combined Index of Eight Core Industries increased provisionally by 5.2 per cent in March 2024 over March 2023, driven by positive monthly production growth in Cement, Coal, Electricity, Natural Gas, Steel and Crude Oil while Fertilizers and Petroleum Refinery Products declined. The ICI covers eight sectors comprising 40.27 per cent of IIP weight; January-March 2024 data are provisional, indices are revised on receipt of updated source data, and methodological notes specify inclusion of renewable electricity and a new steel product.

Competition approval permits international development finance institution to subscribe convertible debentures in automotive electronics firm.
The Competition Commission of India approved subscription by an international development finance institution to Compulsory Convertible Debentures of a domestic automotive electronics and components company, providing regulatory clearance for the proposed capital investment; a detailed CCI order will follow.

AI and competition: proposals invited for a market study to assess competition dynamics and regulatory frameworks.
The Competition Commission of India has invited proposals for a Market Study on Artificial Intelligence and Competition to map AI systems and ecosystems, identify actors, essential inputs, value chains and market structures, and to evaluate emerging competition issues and AI use cases across industries. The study will assess opportunities and risks from a competition standpoint, review domestic and comparative regulatory frameworks, conduct stakeholder consultations for a holistic understanding, and identify trends to inform the Commission's enforcement and advocacy priorities under its statutory mandate.

Merger control approval: internal group restructuring transferring target shareholdings to acquirer allowing the deal to proceed.
Merger control approval was granted for an internal group restructuring transferring indirect shareholdings: acquisition of 100% of PAMP Technologies (India) Private Limited and a majority fully diluted stake in MMTC PAMP India Private Limited by the acquiring holding company. PAMP Technologies supplies captive IT services to group companies; MMTC PAMP refines and sells gold and silver products. A detailed order will follow.

Wholesale price inflation shows a modest rise as WPI records sectoral upticks; provisional figures and monthly change noted.
The Wholesale Price Index for March 2024 stood at 151.8 with a provisional annual inflation rate of 0.53%, led by increases in food articles, electricity, crude petroleum & natural gas and manufactured goods; M-o-M WPI rose 0.40%. Primary Articles, Fuel & Power, and Manufactured Products showed varying M-o-M changes, and the WPI Food Index inflation rose to 4.65%. March figures are provisional (weighted response rate 83.6%) and subject to finalisation under the WPI revision policy; the next release is scheduled for 14 May 2024.

Engagement of Young Professionals: call for contract consultants with email-only submissions and published eligibility terms.
The Sixteenth Finance Commission invites applications for Young Professionals and Consultants on a contract basis, with eligibility, terms of reference, remuneration, and application form published on its website. Applicants must submit the duly filled proforma only by e-mail to the designated Commission officials; physical copies are not accepted. The Commission's published guidelines provide the operative eligibility, scope, duration, and remuneration framework that govern engagement.

Access to medicine: calls for IPR reform and collaborative policy measures to secure equitable public health access.
The text focuses on the interplay between access to medicine, the right to health, and Intellectual Property Rights, noting the practical invocation of the Disaster Management Act where the Epidemic Diseases Act proved deficient during the COVID-19 response and the relevance of public interest in granting injunctions in pharmaceutical patent disputes. It underscores calls for collaborative policy solutions, potential IPR reform to serve public health objectives, and the role of evidence-based research and local governance in implementing health policy.

Clean Economy investment mobilization: forum to showcase climate tech and investible sustainable infrastructure for private investors to engage.
The Clean Economy Investor Forum under IPEF creates a platform to mobilize private investment into sustainable infrastructure, climate technology and renewable energy projects. India's Department of Commerce and Invest India manage outreach. Two operative tracks allow Indian participation: the Climate Tech Track, an open call to identify top climate tech companies for a Top 100 shortlist and investor pitches governed by published eligibility and selection methodology; and the Infrastructure Track, which showcases investible projects prioritizing those ready for private investment within 18 months across energy transition, transport and waste sectors.

Integrated planning on PM GatiShakti platform strengthens coordinated infrastructure decision making and mandates GIS data onboarding.
DPIIT promoted onboarding of GIS data layers onto the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan to enable integrated planning and harmonised project implementation; ministries were urged to upload data layers, develop SOPs for data management, build planning capacity, and deploy ministry specific planning tools. The workshop highlighted PMGS NMP principles-logistical efficiency, multimodality, and connectivity-presented system architecture and tools, reviewed adoption status and best practices, and set action points to identify interventions, analyse data, and accelerate platform adoption to streamline operations and de risk infrastructure investments.

Acquisition approval: AMG India to acquire NFCL assets and full shareholding of ZeroC using investor funding.
CCI approved a proposed combination whereby AMG India will acquire specified NFCL assets used in urea and micro irrigation and will acquire 100% of ZeroC's shareholding, both transactions to be funded by investment proceeds from the AMG Entities, Baker Street Investment, Gentari, and Platinum Rock; the NFCL assets include a urea plant in Kakinada and three micro irrigation plants, while ZeroC currently has no revenue generating operations in India.

New tax regime as default: taxpayers may choose between new and old regimes, opt-out allowed until return filing.
The Finance Act 2023 introduced the new tax regime under section 115BAC(1A) as the default regime for non-corporate taxpayers from FY 2023-24, offering lower slab rates but excluding most exemptions and deductions except specified standard deductions; taxpayers may opt out and choose the old regime until filing their return, and eligible non-business taxpayers can elect regimes year by year.