Combined Index of Eight Core Industries rises provisionally, signalling sectoral production growth in April year on year.
The Combined Index of Eight Core Industries increased by 6.2% in April 2024 year on year, driven by positive monthly growth in Electricity, Natural Gas, Coal, Steel, Refinery Products, Crude Oil and Cement while Fertilizers declined; ICI accounts for 40.27% of the IIP weight, the cumulative ICI growth for 2023 24 is provisionally 7.6%, and January 2024 final growth is revised to 4.1%. Data for Feb-Apr 2024 are provisional and methodological notes detail inclusion of renewable electricity and a new steel product.

Disclosure of origin obligations require patent applicants to identify genetic resource sources, strengthening transparency and protecting traditional knowledge.
The WIPO treaty requires states to adopt mandatory disclosure obligations in patent applications that rely on genetic resources or associated traditional knowledge, obliging disclosure of country of origin or source. It mandates domestic legal reforms to enforce disclosure of origin obligations with appropriate sanctions or remedies, aiming to increase patent-system transparency, prevent misappropriation of biodiversity-linked knowledge, and harmonise protections for provider countries within the global IP framework.

Competition regulation in digital markets: adapt enforcement and frameworks to preserve fair competition amid platform dynamics.
Competition regulation must adapt to preserve competitiveness in digital markets by balancing ex post investigations and sanctions with ex ante prohibitions, using market specific analysis, behavioural economics, and detailed domestic market studies to provide guidance on proscribed conduct. Regulatory tools such as settlements and commitments, merger notification thresholds, recognition of hub and spoke cartels, and leniency innovations are highlighted as mechanisms to address modern market complexities, improve transparency, empower smaller firms, and constrain anticompetitive practices while integrating privacy, data and sustainability considerations into competition policy.

Incubation centre fosters industry-academia startups, supporting commercialization and mentorship in cement sector for sustainable technology adoption.
Inauguration of the National Council for Cement and Building Materials Incubation Centre creates a facility providing mentor-led technical guidance, advanced laboratory access, and support for development of market-ready products to commercialize innovations in cement and building materials, with startup projects addressing AI for alternative fuels, pre-combustion technology, 3-D printing, and carbon capture aligned to sustainability objectives.

Digital logistics data gateway enables API access to government datasets, promoting interoperable applications and state integration.
ULIP operates as a digital gateway that provides authorised industry access to government logistics datasets via API integration, linking multiple central systems and extensive data fields to support private-sector application development. The platform enables interoperable applications for route optimisation, authentication and operational efficiencies, while encouraging state-level adoption to harmonise logistics frameworks and integrate with national mobility and infrastructure tools.

Digital commerce democratization: government-backed ONDC event drives startup onboarding and market access expansion for small businesses.
The release describes the ONDC Startup Mahotsav as a government initiative to integrate startups with the Open Network for Digital Commerce, highlighting Letters of Intent for onboarding, panel discussions and a masterclass to support startup onboarding and utilisation, and operational metrics showing substantial seller onboarding-predominantly small and medium enterprises-and large transaction volumes as indicators of the platform's maturity and potential to expand market access, foster competition, and lower digital-entry barriers for underserved businesses.

Regulatory cooperation in digital transformation and tele-medicine to be explored, aiming to deepen bilateral trade ties.
Both delegations committed to pursue enhanced trade and investment engagement and explore signing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for regulatory cooperation in digital transformation solutions, tele-medicine, rough diamonds, fast payments systems and traditional medicine, while identifying priority sectors for expanded cooperation and agreeing closer collaboration between Investment Promotion Agencies and Chambers of Commerce.

Wholesale Price Inflation rises as food, energy and select manufactured items push provisional WPI higher; figures subject to revision.
Provisional WPI for April 2024 records a year over year inflation of 1.26%, led by increases in food articles, electricity, crude petroleum & natural gas and certain manufactured products. The bulletin provides component and sub group month over month and year over year movements, distinguishes provisional and final figures, reports compilation response rates (April provisional 86.6%; February final 95.5%), and notes that provisional WPI figures are subject to revision under the WPI final revision policy; DPIIT issues monthly WPI releases with a specified schedule and online annexures.

Retail inflation eases in April, signaling lower year on year consumer price growth and moderating food price pressures.
All India CPI inflation eased to 4.83% year on year in April 2024 (provisional), with rural inflation at 5.43% and urban at 4.11%. The Consumer Food Price Index rose substantially (combined CFPI 8.70%). Monthly CPI and CFPI indices increased modestly from March to April 2024. The release disaggregates General, Group and Sub group indices for rural, urban and combined series, and provides state/UT level indices; April figures are provisional and data collection coverage and methodology are noted.

AITIGA review progresses as joint committee advances sub-committees to negotiate market access and rules of origin reforms.
Review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement is progressing under a Joint Committee that established Terms of Reference and a Negotiating Structure and has convened multiple meetings to initiate formal negotiations. Eight specialised Sub-Committees were constituted to address distinct policy areas; five have begun deliberations and reported to the Joint Committee. The Joint Committee is guiding negotiations on National Treatment and Market Access, Rules of Origin, Standards and Conformity Assessment Procedures, and Legal and Institutional Issues, while sanitary and phytosanitary matters are being considered separately.

Index of Industrial Production reports annual growth led by manufacturing and electricity, with sectoral and use-based gains.
Index of Industrial Production Quick Estimates for March 2024 report a General IIP of 159.2 with year on year growth of 4.9 percent. Sectoral indices show mining, manufacturing and electricity with divergent growths and identify leading manufacturing contributors. Use based indices cover Primary, Capital, Intermediate, Infrastructure/Construction, Consumer Durables and Non Durables with corresponding monthly and cumulative growths. The estimates are released monthly with a six week lag, are subject to a formal revision policy, and recent months incorporate first and final revisions based on updated source data.

Competition clearance for acquisition of additional shares in a hydro project special purpose vehicle enables group consolidation.
The Competition Commission granted competition clearance for Greenko Energies Private Limited to acquire additional shares in Sikkim Urja Limited, a special purpose vehicle formed to implement a multi-unit hydro power project. Greenko Energies is an Indian company within a Mauritius-based holding structure whose ultimate holding company is an investment vehicle with power generation investments in India. The CCI's detailed order will follow.

Competition approval permits Sanyo to acquire further shareholding in its Indian steel subsidiary from Mitsui, consolidating control.
The Competition Commission approved Sanyo Special Steel Co. Ltd.'s acquisition of a 15.43% equity stake in Sanyo Special Steel Manufacturing India Private Limited from Mitsui & Co. Ltd. The acquirer is a Japan-based manufacturer of various special steel products with operations in Europe and India. SSMI, originally a joint venture that changed shareholding in 2019 making Sanyo the majority shareholder, is now a subsidiary of the acquirer and manufactures forged, hot rolled and cast steel products. A detailed CCI order will follow.