MSME regulatory cooperation advances with focus on institutional frameworks, global value chain integration and services trade facilitation.
Deliberations focused on strengthening the MSME regulatory framework and institutional structures, promoting entrepreneurship and manufacturing, integrating MSMEs into global value chains, fostering innovation and technology transfer, and exploring a dedicated portal for cross-border SME linkages; delegations agreed to pursue further cooperation. Parallel seminar discussions targeted cooperation on services statistics and practical measures for trade facilitation in services to support regional services trade and collaboration.

Anti-dumping investigation into imported flat steel products alleges injury to domestic industry and awaits margin determinations.
Anti-dumping investigations were initiated into specified categories of imported hot rolled, cold rolled, wire rod and colour coated steel from multiple countries following petitions by domestic producers; DGAD found prima facie adverse effects on the domestic industry and will determine dumping margins and complete injury and causation assessments after examining submissions from all interested parties.

Anti-dumping duty targets imported purified terephthalic acid, restoring trade remedy protection for the domestic industry.
DGAD initiated an investigation into imports of Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA) from China PR, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia and Chinese Taipei on 18 June 2015; following final findings dated 9 June 2016 the Department of Revenue imposed anti-dumping duties on those PTA imports effective 5 July 2016, with duties prescribed per metric tonne within a specified range to address injury to the domestic industry and restore fair competition.

Foreign direct investment limits in pharmaceuticals expanded, enabling greater automatic-route and government-route participation while protecting local production and R&D.
The government expanded foreign investment permissions in the pharmaceutical sector by permitting increased FDI under the automatic route for Brownfield projects, with additional investment beyond that threshold allowed under government approval; 100% automatic FDI remains for Greenfield projects. The policy prohibits non-compete clauses, requires specified production of drugs on the National List of Essential Medicines, and mandates a defined level of R&D expenditure by investee companies to ensure domestic availability and continued capital deployment in research.

Expedited patent examination introduced to prioritise applications where India is ISA/IPEA or the applicant is a startup.
Amendments to the Patent Rules provide for expedited examination when India is the International Searching Authority or elected as the International Preliminary Examining Authority in the corresponding international application, and when the applicant is a startup; the rules were notified and brought into force on 16 May 2016 to create specific grounds for prioritised examination.

Fund of Funds for Startups to channel public corpus into AIFs for seed, early and growth equity investment.
Governmental approval establishes a Fund of Funds for Startups to channel public corpus into professionally managed vehicles that invest in startups through Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs). The Fund is sector agnostic, contributes to the capital of AIFs which take equity in startups at seed, early and growth stages under the Startup Action Plan, and releases corpus subject to scheme progress and fund availability. A multi departmental Monitoring Committee will review progress, evaluate effectiveness, plan implementation, ensure beneficiary alignment, demonstrate impact, and ensure legal and policy compliance.

Price stabilization measures for tea shift from fund support to a market-linked revenue insurance scheme while maintaining statutory worker welfare protections.
The Government is transitioning from a centrally managed Price Stabilization Fund to a market-linked Revenue Insurance Scheme for Plantation Crops to protect tea producers against yield and price losses, while tea garden workers are covered by the Plantation Labour Act and multiple social and industrial security statutes, and receive additional welfare support through Tea Board Human Resource Development programmes.

Goods and Services Tax to subsume indirect levies and integrate markets, supporting broader tax base and investment climate.
Passage and implementation of Goods and Services Tax is presented as a central reform to subsume indirect levies, remove cascading taxation, widen the tax base and integrate goods and services markets to support medium term growth; complementary measures include liberalisation of foreign direct investment, new insolvency and bankruptcy legislation, fiscal incentives for infrastructure and manufacturing, and programmes to promote entrepreneurship, digitalisation and improved policy transparency to strengthen private investment and the ease of doing business.

Aadhaar e-Signature enables paperless PAN applications and rapid allotment, reducing duplicate PAN issuance via certified service providers on government portals.
A DSC-based application route allows company applicants to obtain PAN and TAN via authorised service provider portals with allotment within one day of a valid online application; an Aadhaar e-Signature option for individual PAN applicants enables paperless electronic verification and seeds Aadhaar with PAN to reduce duplicate PAN issuance, with application links published on the department's website.

Startup India initiative: States and stakeholders to discuss implementation, funding access, incubation and ecosystem support mechanisms.
The Startup India initiative establishes an Action Plan to create a supportive ecosystem for startups, targeting access to capital, incubation and mentoring, infrastructure, and regulatory measures to nurture innovation and scale enterprises. A DIPP-organised States' Conference convenes States, startups, investors, incubators and ministries to review implementation, share state-level policy practices, and discuss funding frameworks, incubation models and inter-ministerial coordination to operationalise the Action Plan.

Acquisition enables reverse merger and share swap, restructuring corporate ownership and enabling operational synergies and expansion.
Approval was granted for an acquisition of a minority equity stake in a holding company followed by a reverse merger implemented through a share swap, creating a linear parent-subsidiary structure to consolidate ownership, realise operational and financial synergies, strengthen the consolidated balance sheet and cash flow profile, and facilitate further expansion and employment generation.

Foreign direct investment in railways authorised for identified non operational areas to modernise network and attract technology.
Foreign direct investment is authorised in specified non-operational segments of the rail sector to support modernisation, technology infusion, manufacturing growth and competitiveness. The policy permits foreign equity participation in construction, operation and maintenance in identified areas that do not affect management or operational control of the national railway network, which remains with the Government, pursuant to sectoral guidelines issued by the Ministry of Railways.

Infrastructure grant approvals under modified industrial upgradation scheme announce central grants released and project commencement status.
Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion approved two industrial area projects under the Modified Industrial Infrastructure Upgradation Scheme, specifying project costs, central grant entitlements and amounts released to date; work on both projects has commenced and the figures were provided in a written parliamentary reply.

Financial year realignment could require transitional tax measures and statutory amendments to align budgeting and data collection.
A government committee will assess shifting the financial year to the calendar year by examining historical studies, budget estimation, agricultural cycles, business impacts, tax systems, statistics, and legislative convenience, and may recommend a commencement date considered most suitable.

Hybrid till basis for airport tariffs to enable cross-subsidy and levy-funded regional connectivity scheme implementation.
Airport tariffs are to be calculated on a hybrid till basis with a portion of non-aeronautical revenue used to cross-subsidise aeronautical charges. A Regional Community Fund will be financed by a levy per departure on domestic routes, excluding specified category routes and aircraft below eighty seats. City selection under the Regional Connectivity Scheme is demand-driven, contingent on airline firm demand and State Government agreement to provide policy concessions.

Capitalization support for public sector banks released now, with remaining funds tied to performance conditions.
The government allocated capital to public sector banks in 2016-17 to provide immediate liquidity support for lending and to enable market fund-raising; 75% of each bank's assessed amount was released now, with the remaining 25% retained for later release contingent on performance improvements in efficiency, credit and deposit growth, and cost reductions, based on assessments using recent credit growth and banks' projections.

Ease of doing business reforms prompt government engagement with Doing Business mission and cross checking of private sector data.
Government prioritised improving the ease of doing business through legislative and administrative reforms and partnerships with subnational governments, and highlighted the notification of the insolvency framework. Officials requested that the Doing Business mission cross check private sector data against government records when discrepancies arise and offered facilitation support; the mission will consult central ministries, selected regional governments, and private respondents to validate data and gather feedback on reforms.

Mandatory PFMS registration and EAT module use required for implementing agencies, enforcing centralised payment and monitoring compliance.
PFMS use is made universal and compulsory for all Central Sector Schemes: Implementing Agencies must register on PFMS and must employ the Expenditure, Advance & Transfer (EAT) module for payments, advances and transfers. Ministries must integrate their systems with PFMS and the Central Project Monitoring Unit will assist in registration and onboarding, creating a centralised platform for tracking releases, accounting, reconciliation and last-mile utilisation monitoring.

Aadhaar-based authentication expands NPS online self-service, enabling address update, KYC re-verification and transactions via OTP and eNPS flows
PFRDA has enabled Aadhaar-based authentication and OTP-based procedures across NPS components: a mobile app for account access and statement requests; Aadhaar-driven address update and KYC re-verification; OTP-secured scheme preference changes and Tier II activation; eNPS-integrated online contributions using IPIN credentials; online initiation of Tier II withdrawals via login and OTP; and instant online I-PIN generation to permit immediate CRA access.

Phased payment schedule under Income Declaration Scheme allows staged discharge of declared tax liabilities to ease liquidity pressures.
Income Declaration Scheme 2016 permits phased payment of declared tax, surcharge and penalty in three instalments-an initial portion by the existing deadline, a further interim instalment in the next fiscal period, and the balance by a later specified date-implemented by Notification to address stakeholder liquidity concerns.