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.

Government securities repayment: holders must provide bank account details for electronic credit or tender discharged certificates for maturity payment.
Payment of maturity proceeds for the 11.50% GoI (IIBI) Special Security will be made to the registered holder by pay order incorporating bank account particulars or by credit through electronic means under Government Securities Regulations, 2007; holders must submit bank account particulars in advance, or alternatively tender duly discharged securities at Public Debt Offices, Treasuries/Sub Treasuries or designated bank branches twenty days before the due date to enable repayment.

Competition policy reform stresses regulatory coordination and new tools to secure effective antitrust enforcement in digital markets.
The conference emphasised the centrality of competition policy and coordinated regulatory design to correct market imperfections and support well functioning markets, stressing economics based antitrust enforcement, inter regulatory interaction, capacity building for regulators, stakeholder engaged market studies, and the development of new tools for assessing market power and regulating digital platform markets.

FDI policy liberalization boosts inbound investment flows and reinforces India as a preferred investor destination.
Government measures of FDI policy liberalization, sectoral reforms and ease of doing business initiatives have been implemented to remove entry and procedural bottlenecks, with a resultant increase in inbound FDI volumes and a higher share of equity investment, reflecting the policy package's facilitative effect.

Multimodal logistics integration to reduce freight costs and modernize ports while improving rail electrification and supply chain efficiency.
Integration of road, rail and waterways is advanced to reduce logistics costs and create a unified market via multimodal logistics, technological upgrades, and port-sector efficiency. Maritime India 2030 and Sagarmala investments drive port modernization, expanded freight corridors and job creation. Complementary rail measures include network electrification, renewable energy transition, dedicated freight corridors, roll-on/roll-off and double-stack services, and state-central collaboration to enhance freight efficiency, lower emissions and promote industrial development along coasts.

Expanded ombudsman jurisdiction enables complaints against insurance brokers and intermediaries, with electronic filing and video hearings.
Amendments expand the Insurance Ombudsman mechanism to include complaints for deficiencies in insurance services by insurers, agents, brokers and intermediaries, empower Ombudsmen to issue awards against insurance brokers, rename the administering body as the Council for Insurance Ombudsmen, and introduce electronic filing, a complaints management system, video-conferencing hearings, temporary charge assignments for vacancies, and selection-process safeguards including consumer-rights representation.

Biotech startup support promotes affordable, accessible innovation and government-private synergy to boost commercialization and funding.
Government prioritizes strengthening the biotechnology startup ecosystem by promoting affordable, mass-accessible innovation and fostering government-private synergy. The Department of Biotechnology launched a Project Development Cell and unveiled five technologies to further self-reliance and improve healthcare access, while ministerial support is committed to help startups secure funding, market exposure, and commercialization opportunities.

National Education Policy prioritises innovation and skill development to broaden access and boost India's higher education appeal.
The National Education Policy prioritises innovation, entrepreneurship and skill development, promotes creative learning, personality development and moral education to provide universally available, equitable quality education, and seeks to enhance the global attractiveness of Indian higher education through sectoral collaboration and strengthened roles for schools and teachers.

Economic recovery resumes positive growth as GDP rebounds and investment-led stimulus supports revival in services and manufacturing.
Real GDP returned to positive growth in Q3 2020-21 as a V-shaped recovery progressed, driven by rebounds in Private Final Consumption Expenditure and Gross Fixed Capital Formation. Central government capital expenditure materially supported the investment recovery, with capital spending having larger fiscal multipliers than government consumption. Manufacturing and construction shifted to positive growth, services markedly narrowed its contraction, and agriculture continued to contribute positively. The release notes ongoing pandemic risk and that declining cases and accelerated vaccination are important to sustain services-led revival.

Merger approval secures consolidation of NAM Estates and Embassy One into Indiabulls Real Estate with share issuance.
The Competition Commission approved a multi-step proposed combination whereby identified Embassy-group assets, securities and investments will be reallocated, certain third-party investors will swap their shareholdings in those assets for shares in NAM Estates and EOCPDPL, and the restructured NAM Estates and EOCPDPL will merge into Indiabulls Real Estate, which will issue shares to the existing shareholders of NAM Estates and EOCPDPL.

Combination approval: acquisition of stake in energy engineering firm allows foreign investor to increase shareholding after regulatory clearance.
The Competition Commission of India approved a proposed combination in which Bpifrance Participations S.A. will acquire a specified minority stake in Technip Energies B.V., increasing its shareholding within a stated range. The Acquirer is an investment group indirectly owned by EPIC Bpifrance and the CDC group and does not directly conduct business in India. The Target, part of the TechnipFMC group, provides EPC and related engineering, consultancy, fabrication, supply, erection and commissioning services and internal support services in India. A detailed regulatory order will follow.

TRIPS waiver urged to expand equitable access to COVID 19 medicines; industry must adopt global quality and manufacturing standards.
The minister urged the pharmaceutical and healthcare sector to adopt good manufacturing practices, regulatory systems and international certifications to ensure global confidence and cost efficiencies, and called for support of the TRIPS waiver at the WTO to enable wider, equitable access to COVID-19 medicines and technologies.

Merger clearance: CCI approves acquisition increasing Tata Group stake in Tata Communications toward a controlling interest.
CCI approved a statutory combination under the Competition Act, 2002, allowing Panatone Finvest Limited (a Tata Group CIC-ND-SI) to acquire additional shareholding in Tata Communications Limited, producing a material increase in the group's stake and approaching a controlling interest; Tata Communications is identified as a facilities-based telecom service provider across wholesale voice, enterprise and carrier data, undersea cable systems, ISP services and enterprise value-added services, with a detailed CCI order to follow.