Supply chain continuity takes centre stage as India and Saudi Arabia push bilateral trade and India-GCC FTA progress.
India and Saudi Arabia reaffirmed the primacy of supply chain continuity and coordinated efforts to address disruptions caused by conflict in West Asia. The two sides noted the strain on regional trade flows and emphasised early recovery through joint measures. The discussion also reaffirmed commitment to strengthening bilateral trade and expressed optimism for early progress in the India-GCC free trade agreement negotiations.

Crop diversification and nutritional security guide advisory on state bonus policies for pulses, oilseeds and millets.
The Department of Expenditure issued a D.O. letter advising States, and not directing them, to align bonus policy so as to promote pulses, oilseeds and millets in line with nutritional security, Aatmanirbharta and sustainable agriculture. The communication links state bonuses over and above Minimum Support Price for wheat and paddy with crop concentration, reduced acreage under pulses, oilseeds and millets, and higher import dependence, and states that the policy objective is crop diversification, reduced monoculture, and strengthened long-term food and crop security.

Unincorporated construction sector survey maps household construction, employment, financing, and value added across the economy.
Pilot study on construction activities in the unincorporated sector and household own-account construction estimates key economic indicators for unincorporated construction establishments and households over a 365-day reference period. The study covers market and non-market establishments, employment, fixed assets, outstanding loans, expenditure, receipts, and financing sources, and was used as an input for revised national accounts estimates. It also records the sampling design, coverage thresholds, sample size, and computer-assisted personal interviewing used in data collection.

Dialogue and diplomacy guide India-Kuwait efforts to restore energy supplies, trade flows, and supply chain stability.
India and Kuwait reaffirmed the primacy of dialogue and diplomacy in addressing regional conflict and in restoring stability to energy supplies and trade flows. The discussion also focused on strengthening the India-Kuwait strategic partnership through trade and commerce, greater economic cooperation, shared prosperity, and assistance in addressing supply chain disruptions, particularly in relation to Kuwait's food security.

Supply chain resilience and regional stability guide India-GCC efforts to deepen economic cooperation and smooth trade flows.
India and the Gulf Cooperation Council reaffirmed support for regional stability, mutual dialogue, and supply chain resilience in their economic and commercial relationship. The discussion highlighted coordinated efforts to ensure smooth trade flows, strengthen logistics, explore alternate routes, and address challenges affecting essential food items, while expressing solidarity and commitment to deeper India-GCC cooperation.

Supply chain resilience and maritime safety drive India-Bahrain efforts to strengthen economic partnership.
India and Bahrain reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen economic partnership through continued cooperation and close engagement, with emphasis on regional stability, maritime safety, predictable trade flows, and supply chain resilience. The interaction also highlighted support for Bahrain's security and stability, solidarity after attacks on vital installations, and appreciation for efforts to protect the wellbeing of the Indian community in Bahrain.

Chief Adviser (Cost) appointment highlights extensive experience in financial analysis, public policy, and costing methodologies across sectors.
Shri Anand Kumar Pal, an Indian Cost Accounts Service officer, has assumed charge as Chief Adviser (Cost) in the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, following approval by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. The press release notes his professional qualifications in cost accountancy, commerce and law, his more than 30 years of experience in financial analysis, public policy implementation, WTO trade policy, and costing and pricing methodologies, and his prior postings across several departments and organisations.

Ease of doing business reforms highlighted as trader welfare board backs decriminalisation, simplified compliance, and digital empowerment initiatives.
Trade facilitation and trader welfare measures were highlighted, including decriminalisation reforms to reduce compliance burden, simplified food business licensing and registration, support for e-commerce promotion, and facilitation of collateral-free credit for traders and small businesses. Digital empowerment through the ONDC-backed DigiDukaan platform and the push for State-level Traders' Welfare Boards were also emphasised as part of a broader effort to make trade easier and strengthen institutional support.

Gold smuggling network intercepted through intelligence-led airport action, with gold bars and jewellery seized and carriers arrested.
Organised gold smuggling network intercepted by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence through intelligence-led action targeting female carriers arriving from Nairobi at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai. Under Operation Dhahabu Blitz, officers seized 29.37 kg of gold comprising gold bars and gold jewellery and arrested 24 foreign nationals carrying the contraband.

Cyber fraud prevention through intelligence sharing and coordinated action now strengthened by a new inter-agency memorandum.
The Financial Intelligence Unit-India and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen coordination in combating cyber fraud and financial crimes. The arrangement provides for enhanced information sharing, development of operational intelligence, and support to investigative agencies for prevention of financial crimes, protection of digital transactions, and asset recovery. It also contemplates feedback mechanisms to improve fraud detection and the dissemination of guidelines and red flag indicators for financial institutions.

Hydro electric project investment approval strengthens power supply, enables infrastructure development, and provides free power and local area benefits.
Investment approval is granted for construction of the Kalai-II Hydro Electric Project on the Lohit river in Anjaw District of Arunachal Pradesh, with an installed capacity of 1200 MW and an estimated completion period of 78 months. The project is expected to generate annual energy output and to strengthen power supply in the State, assist in peak demand management, and contribute to balancing the national grid. The arrangement provides for 12% free power to the State and an additional 1% earmarked for the Local Area Development Fund.

Hydroelectric project approval strengthens power supply, grid balancing and regional infrastructure development in Arunachal Pradesh.
Cabinet approval was granted for investment in the construction of the Kamala Hydro Electric Project in Arunachal Pradesh through a joint venture between NHPC Limited and the Government of Arunachal Pradesh. The project is intended to generate energy, support power supply and peak demand management, contribute to grid balancing and provide flood moderation benefits, while also including budgetary support for flood moderation and enabling infrastructure. The State is stated to receive free power, a Local Area Development Fund share and wider infrastructure and socio-economic benefits.

Refinery cost revision and equity investment support a greenfield petrochemical complex aimed at energy security and import reduction.
Revision of the project cost for HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited at Pachpadra, District Balotra, Rajasthan, has been approved, along with additional equity investment by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited. The project is a 9 MMTPA greenfield refinery-cum-petrochemical complex with 2.4 MMTPA petrochemical production capacity, implemented through a joint venture between HPCL and the Government of Rajasthan. The refinery is intended to support energy and industrial requirements, reduce import dependence, use locally available Mangala crude, and promote India as a refining hub.

Competition Commission approval for hospitality sector acquisition and group restructuring through amalgamation and demerger.
Competition Commission approval was granted for the acquisition of certain equity shares in Fleur Hotels Limited by Coastal Cedar Investments B.V. and the internal restructuring of the Lemon Tree Hotels Limited group through amalgamation and demerger. The transaction concerns a hospitality sector structure in which Fleur Hotels Limited is a subsidiary of Lemon Tree Hotels Limited and owns and leases hotels directly and through subsidiaries, while several wholly owned subsidiaries of Lemon Tree Hotels Limited are involved in the restructuring.

Bid rigging in public tenders led to cease-and-desist directions for anti-competitive conduct and proprietor liability.
The Competition Commission of India directed seventeen opposite parties to cease and desist from anti-competitive conduct in tenders for internal and external electrification works in police station buildings across Assam. The proceedings concerned alleged bid rigging by bid rotation and cover bidding, supported by identical mistakes in bids, identical IP addresses, call detail record details, and consecutive demand draft numbers, and the Commission acted under Section 27 for contravention of Section 3(3)(d) read with Section 3(1), with proprietors also held liable under Section 48.

Acquisition of sole control and minor shareholding increase in a joint venture were approved under competition law scrutiny.
Acquisition of an additional 0.4% shareholding in Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. through market purchases, together with acquisition of sole control over the 50:50 joint venture HCJI Holdings K. K. through a share buyback, was approved by the Competition Commission of India. Citrus Investment LLC is an investment vehicle with no other business activities, while HCM manufactures construction equipment and HCJI is a holding company with no other activities.

Competition approval for Torrent Power's acquisition of Nabha Power's equity and convertible preference shares.
Competition approval was granted for the proposed acquisition of 100% equity shares and non-cumulative optionally convertible redeemable preference shares in Nabha Power Limited by Torrent Power Limited from L&T Power Development Limited. The transaction was structured on a fully diluted basis and concerned a target operating a 2x700 MW supercritical thermal power plant at Rajpura, Punjab. The acquirer is a listed power company engaged in generation, transmission, distribution and cable manufacturing, and forms part of the Torrent Group.

Competition approval for minority equity acquisition in a housing finance company through preferential issue and private placement.
Approval was granted for a proposed combination involving acquisition of equity shares in a housing finance company through a preferential issue on a private placement basis. The transaction contemplates acquisition of 14.286% of the post-issue paid-up equity share capital of the target on a fully diluted basis by an investment holding company. The target is a non-deposit accepting housing finance company registered with the National Housing Bank and engaged in home loans, loans against property, construction finance loans, and lease rental discounting loans.

Regional accounts standardisation advances with draft guidelines for Gross State Value Addition and district income estimates.
Uniform guidelines have been released for the compilation of Gross State Value Addition estimates and District Domestic Product estimates, with a revised base year intended to improve accuracy, consistency and comparability of regional economic measurement. The framework aligns regional accounts with national accounts, emphasises updated data sources, refined estimation techniques, improved district allocation methods and standardised compilation practices across States and Union Territories.

Base year revision for national and state accounts supports more accurate, consistent, and comparable economic estimates.
The base year for National Accounts has been revised to 2022-23 to reflect the current structure of the economy, incorporate updated data sources, and align estimation practices with international standards. States and Union Territories are also to revise the base year for Gross State Domestic Product so that state-level estimates remain accurate, consistent, and comparable. A three-day workshop is being organised to discuss methodological changes in GSDP compilation and draft uniform guidelines for District Domestic Product.