Central Sector industrial incentive scheme launches online registration to streamline incentives and boost investment and employment opportunities.
An online portal was launched for the Central Sector Scheme for Industrial Development of Jammu & Kashmir to enable digital end-to-end registration, claim submission and processing, eliminate human interface, and ensure transparent, efficient implementation. The scheme offers four incentive components-Capital Investment Incentive, Capital Interest Subvention, GST Linked Incentive and Working Capital Interest Subvention-aimed at attracting fresh investment, supporting MSMEs and larger units, promoting employment, skill development and sustainable industrial and primary-sector linkages.

Vivad se Vishwas payment deadline extended for payments without additional amount; procedural notification to follow.
Extension of the Vivad se Vishwas payment deadline is announced for payments made without any additional amount due to operational difficulties in issuing and amending Form No. 3, which is a prerequisite for declarant payments under the Act; a formal notification will be issued shortly.

Foreign investment policy enables AVGC expansion; industry urged to scale vocational training and leverage SEZ cost advantages.
The summary highlights that India's foreign investment framework allows inbound investment across major AVGC segments and that several AVGC and gaming units operate in special economic zones to reduce production costs, while the National Education Policy can enable universities to tailor programmes and stakeholders are urged to invest in vocational training and technical education to build industry talent and competitiveness.

Trade margin rationalization can reduce drug prices and improve affordability by addressing distribution market distortions.
The workshop focused on trade margin rationalization to limit distribution markups and improve drug affordability, documented pilot margin caps that reduced prices and generated savings, and sought stakeholder feedback. It identified branded generics and perceived quality variation as barriers to generic competition, recommending quality marks, expansion of Janaushadhi and public procurement to enhance uptake. Concerns were raised about distribution practices-such as no objection certificates and mandated product information charges-prompting a combined strategy of enforcement and proactive engagement to uphold competition norms and promote market reforms.

Startup rental discount enables DPIIT-recognized startups to secure reduced exhibition rentals at the India International Security Expo.
India Trade Promotion Organisation announced a rental concession for DPIIT-notified startups participating in the 21st India International Security Expo at Pragati Maidan, intended to lower exhibitor costs and support technology collaboration and domestic manufacturing in the security sector.

Foreign direct investment approval enables private acquisition and downstream airport investment to support asset monetisation and infrastructure development.
The Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs approved an FDI proposal for M/s Anchorage Infrastructure Investment Holding Ltd to invest in Indian infrastructure and construction-development sectors, including downstream airport and aviation-related businesses, and authorised share transfer of Bangalore International Airport Limited to Anchorage, facilitating private equity participation and supporting asset monetisation.

Deemed approval under Green Channel: Daimler to spin off trucks and buses into an independent publicly traded company.
Deemed approval under the Green Channel applies to Daimler AG's internal corporate reorganisation: DTAG's Trucks & Buses Business will be separated and spun off into an independent, publicly traded company with Daimler AG retaining a minority shareholding; such notices filed under sub section (2) of Section 6 read with regulation 5A are treated as approved upon filing and acknowledgement.

International trade financing platform enables exporters and importers to access multiple global financiers via regulated sandbox approval.
Invitation to establish an International Trade Financing Services Platform at GIFT IFSC under the IFSCA framework; eligible entities must apply in the prescribed format with supporting documents and may obtain in principle approval to operate within the IFSCA Regulatory Sandbox before regular operations. The electronic platform will facilitate trade finance for exporters and importers by providing access to multiple financiers and arranging credit through mechanisms such as factoring and forfaiting to attract global trade finance to GIFT IFSC.

Resale price maintenance found: dealer discount controls led to penalty and cease and desist restricting dealer pricing autonomy.
CCI found MSIL imposed a Discount Control Policy constituting Resale Price Maintenance, restricting dealers from offering additional discounts without prior approval, monitored breaches via Mystery Shopping Agencies, and enforced compliance through penalties, threats of supply stoppage and directed utilisation of collected penalties, conduct which the Commission held caused an appreciable adverse effect on competition and violated Section 3(4)(e) read with Section 3(1) of the Competition Act, 2002.

IEM data cleansing: mandatory online revalidation via G2B portal, single IEM per entity and free submission.
Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade requires all IEM holders to revalidate or update their IEM information via the revamped G2B portal; a single IEM is issued per company irrespective of unit location, submissions are mandatory even if no change is needed, no fee applies, supporting documents must be uploaded where necessary, and system-generated acknowledgements with QR codes will be issued following verification.

Expansion of New Development Bank support to social infrastructure proposed to align development finance with industrial and social resilience.
India proposed broadening the New Development Bank's financing horizon to strengthen social infrastructure in addition to promoting industry, reflecting a BRICS commitment to channel multilateral resources for recovery and resilience. Ministers emphasized technology-driven governance, digital inclusion, skills development aligned with emerging technologies, open and non-discriminatory trade participation, and the progressive, safe use of disruptive technologies to advance growth and the Sustainable Development Goals.

International trade and investment law cooperation strengthens capacity building and research to support national positions in global negotiations.
Memorandum of Understanding approved between the Permanent Mission of India to the WTO, CTIL (Indian Institute of Foreign Trade) and CTEI (The Graduate Institute, Geneva) to establish academic and technical cooperation in international trade and investment law. The MoU provides for collaborative research, capacity building programmes and exchanges for CTIL staff, Department of Commerce officials, researchers, academics and students to deepen understanding of trade and investment law, support India's negotiation and dispute settlement positions, and will remain in force for three years.

Intellectual Property Rights reform expands access through fee concessions and procedural modernisation, boosting patent and trademark activity.
India's Intellectual Property Rights framework expanded through steep increases in patent grants and trademark registrations, reduction of patent examination timelines via e-filing and electronic processing, and targeted fee concessions and rebates for startups, small entities and recognised educational institutions, supported by outreach and training initiatives and the National IPR Policy to strengthen the national IP ecosystem.

Ease of Doing Business reforms to cut red tape and boost startup financing, incubation and nationwide expansion.
The document commits to cutting regulatory barriers and improving Ease of Doing Business for startups, providing targeted financial assistance via a Startup Seed Fund, supporting incubators and skills development, and positioning DPIIT as an open facilitator to resolve capital mobilisation, innovation support and capacity gaps facing early-stage enterprises.

Wholesale price inflation driven by fuel, primary articles and manufactured goods; month on month uptick signals persistent inflationary pressure.
Provisional WPI for July 2021 shows annual inflation of 11.16% and a month over month increase of 0.60%. Fuel & Power drove strong annual increases, Primary Articles showed mixed monthly movements with rising crude petroleum, non food and food articles but falling minerals, and Manufactured Products recorded a modest monthly rise with sectoral divergences. The WPI Food Index rose month on month while its year on year inflation declined. Provisional figures are compiled at stated weighted response rates and remain subject to the WPI revision policy.

Tribunals Reforms Act 2021 reassigns tribunal adjudication, sets unified selection and service rules, and provides transitional vesting.
The Act empowers the Central Government to make rules prescribing qualifications, appointments, salaries, allowances, resignation, removal and other conditions of service for Chairpersons and Members of specified tribunals, establishes a Search cum Selection Committee to recommend panels for appointment, fixes terms, age limits and re appointment rules, and provides transitional provisions whereby listed tribunal office holders cease on the notified date with limited compensation while pending matters, assets and staff are transferred or vested as specified.

Limited Liability Partnerships: amendment raises penalties, establishes special courts, introduces adjudicating officers and registration offices, and prescribes accounting standards.
The Amendment updates references and definitions (including Regional Director, Registrar, and small LLP), restructures penalties with daily continuance fines and reduced penalties for small and start-up LLPs, empowers compounding of fine-only offences by Regional Directors, establishes adjudicating officers to impose penalties and direct rectification, creates registration offices and appointable Registrars, inserts authority to prescribe accounting and auditing standards, and provides for Special Courts and related procedural and appellate mechanisms.

Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021 limits retrospective tax claims for pre 2012 foreign share transfers subject to withdrawal and waiver conditions.
The Act excludes application of the Explanation to section 9 for income from transfers of assets situate in India consequent to transfers of shares in foreign entities before 28 May 2012 where specified assessments, orders or penalties relate to that income; such assessments or orders shall be deemed never to have been passed if the person fulfils specified conditions, and any refundable amount shall be paid but without interest under section 244A. Specified conditions include withdrawal or undertakings to withdraw appeals or writs, withdrawal or undertakings to withdraw arbitration/conciliation/mediation proceedings or notices, furnishing an undertaking waiving rights to pursue remedies or claims in relation to the said income, and other prescribed conditions.

Combination approval: Zomato acquires minority stakes and rights in two grocery platforms, affecting food and grocery platforms.
The Competition Commission of India approved a proposed combination in which Zomato Limited will acquire an approximately nine percent minority stake and certain associated rights in each of Grofers India Private Limited and Hands on Trades Private Limited; Zomato operates a food services platform, Grofers India runs an e-commerce grocery marketplace, HoT provides B2B wholesale, contract manufacturing and warehousing services, and Grofers International is the holding company of the targets, with a detailed order to follow.

Acquisition of control: CCI approves share and voting rights transfers in ANI Technologies, impacting ownership and governance.
The Competition Commission approved Plum Wood Investment Limited's acquisition of shareholding in ANI Technologies Private Limited and Mr. Bhavish Aggarwal's acquisition of specified voting rights, affecting ANI's ownership and governance. Plum Wood is an investment holding company whose shareholders are private equity funds managed by Warburg Pincus, and Bhavish Aggarwal is an executive director of ANI. ANI operates a technology platform offering taxi and auto rickshaw aggregation under the Ola brand and conducts related businesses through subsidiaries.