Foreign investment cap increased in Indian insurance firms while preserving Indian ownership and strengthening regulator powers.
Amendments raise the composite foreign investment ceiling in Indian insurers while safeguarding Indian ownership and control, expand IRDAI regulatory authority over solvency, investments, expenses, commissions, agent eligibility and intermediary categories, enable capital raising through new instruments and permit foreign reinsurers and international entities to operate branches or invest within the composite cap. Consumer protections are reinforced through penalties for misconduct, limits on policy repudiation periods, simplified nominee payments, prohibition of multilevel marketing, mandatory underwriting of third party motor insurance as per regulator rules, and dedicated capital requirements for health insurance as a separate vertical.

FDI policy in pharmaceuticals permits automatic-route manufacturing investment and limits non-compete clauses subject to approval.
FDI policy permits investment in pharmaceuticals via the automatic route for greenfield projects and via government approval for brownfield projects; the automatic route also covers manufacturing of medical devices and equipment for both greenfield and brownfield investments. The policy prohibits non-compete clauses except in special circumstances subject to Foreign Investment Promotion Board approval, and allows the Government to impose conditions on brownfield approvals.

Investment facilitation: Japan Plus accelerates Japanese investment into India and confirms no fisheries trade restrictions.
The Government has operationalized a Special management team, Japan Plus, within the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion to expedite, support and handhold Japanese investment proposals, guide Japanese companies, coordinate with state governments on Industrial Park Development, and the government disclosed recent foreign direct investment inflows from Japan while confirming that no trade restrictions have been imposed by Japan on fisheries stock from India.

Foreign Direct Investment policy permits broad automatic-route access and sectoral liberalisation benefiting NRIs and foreign investors.
FDI proposals are received continuously and considered by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board only after mandatory documentation; FIPB examines investments on a case-by-case basis and has not banned any company. The Government's FDI policy permits foreign investment largely under the automatic route, allows up to full foreign ownership where prescribed, provides special dispensation for NRI investments in specified sectors, and subjects all FDI to applicable laws, security conditions and other conditionalities.

Ease of Doing Business reforms streamline licensing, online clearances and investor facilitation to boost domestic manufacturing.
The Make In India programme creates a framework to boost manufacturing through an investor facilitation cell, a dedicated web portal publishing sectoral and policy details, an ordinance to ease land acquisition for priority projects, deregulatory action removing many defence items from industrial licensing, and sector-wise one- and three-year action plans. Parallel Ease of Doing Business measures include simplified and online industrial licensing and registration processes, extended licence and security-clearance periods, online social security and environmental clearances, eBiz service integration, and institutional arrangements to fast-track foreign investment, notably from Japan.

Official state visit: bilateral economic talks and investor engagements following unveiling of Mahatma Gandhi statue in London
An official state visit by the Union Finance Minister focuses on bilateral economic dialogue with the UK Chancellor, institutional and investor engagement organized by financial and business bodies, a visit to the London Stock Exchange and inauguration of an Indian bank branch, and a public-commemorative unveiling of a Mahatma Gandhi statue alongside a meeting with the UK Prime Minister.

Supplementary demands for grants presented; cash and technical reappropriations structured to preserve the fiscal deficit target.
Supplementary Demands for Grants were presented seeking Parliament's authorisation for gross additional expenditure divided into cash supplementaries, technical supplementaries and token supplementaries. Cash supplementaries require additional cash outgo and will be matched by surrender of savings in other demands; technical supplementaries and token supplementaries are reallocations to be met by savings or enhanced receipts and facilitate intra-section reappropriation. The measures are stated as not affecting the fiscal deficit target of 4.1%.

Bilateral trade cooperation expanded through adoption of workplans on services, agriculture, IPR and manufacturing investment.
Delegates adopted sectoral work plans to strengthen bilateral trade and investment cooperation, addressing market access for agricultural products, services trade, investment in manufacturing, and intellectual property rights, within the framework of the Trade Policy Forum to sustain policy coordination and continued high-level engagement.

FDI liberalisation and licensing reforms expand foreign investment and simplify industrial approvals to stimulate manufacturing growth.
The Government adopted regulatory and policy measures to revive manufacturing by liberalising industrial licensing and capacity controls, expanding FDI policy access in defence, railways and construction, exempting medical devices from pharmaceutical restrictions, and enhancing business facilitation through e-Biz integration, the Make in India initiative, an Invest India Investor Facilitation Cell, a land acquisition ordinance for major projects, and the Shram Suvidha portal for unified labour compliance.

FDI liberalisation expands sectoral access and eases ownership rules, paired with regulatory simplification to boost manufacturing.
Reforms to accelerate manufacturing include liberalising industrial licensing (pruning defence items, extending licence validity, removing annual capacity limits, deregulating defence capacities), addressing inverted duty structures, and easing foreign investment norms; administrative measures include e-Biz integration, the Make in India campaign and Investor Facilitation Cell, a land acquisition ordinance, and the Shram Suvidha portal for unified labour compliance and computerized inspections.

Cement industry growth: policy push for rapid sector expansion and inter ministerial action to clear supply and land bottlenecks.
DIPP directs rapid expansion of the cement sector as a driver of manufacturing and infrastructure growth and proposes an inter ministerial meeting to address supply side and regulatory constraints including land availability, inputs like limestone and coal, and transport infrastructure; the Budget's infrastructure focus is identified as supporting cement demand, accompanied by industry growth data and release of technical guidance on concrete road construction.

Bank governance reforms strengthen board selection and autonomy, creating an independent bureau for professional appointments and oversight.
Public sector bank performance is being addressed through governance and operational reforms including separation of Chairman and Managing Director, expanded eligibility and compensation flexibility for MD & CEO appointments, a structured multi stage selection process with merit cum preference allotment, capital allocation based on efficiency parameters, and strict non interference directives. Planned measures include creation of an autonomous Bank Board Bureau to select bank heads and non official directors, revised appointment guidelines with an online application route, restructured Statements of Intent with higher cash incentives, and encouragement of board led strategic restructuring and consolidation.

Priority Sector Lending reforms expand eligible sectors, add sub limits and introduce tradable certificates to incentivise efficient lending.
Proposed PSL reforms expand eligible categories and create targeted sub limits to channel credit to small and marginal farmers and micro enterprises, include agri processing and agri infrastructure without loan size caps, add medium enterprises, social infrastructure for smaller towns, and renewable energy; introduce tradable Priority Sector Lending Certificates to monetise surplus priority lending and shift monitoring to quarterly reporting.

Life insurance cover under PMJJBY: automatic bank-debit premium enrolment with annual opt-in and fixed death benefit.
The scheme makes persons aged eighteen to fifty with a bank account eligible, allows extension of cover to fifty-five for those who join before fifty, requires an annual premium collected by auto-debit in a single instalment with an option for recurring yearly debits, and provides a fixed death benefit while enrolled. Implementation is by LIC and willing life insurers tied to banks; the Government may co-contribute premiums for certain beneficiaries and will fund common publicity.

Accidental insurance eligibility: auto-debit premium scheme for bank-account holders with annual opt-in and nominee provision.
Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana provides accidental death and disability insurance to eligible adult bank account holders with Aadhaar linkage; enrollment requires a simple annual form with nominee details and the only premium collection method is direct bank auto-debit. Subscribers must opt in each year or give a standing instruction for automatic renewal. Coverage is tiered for total/full disability and partial disability. Public sector and other insurers participating through bank tie-ups will implement the scheme, and the Government may co-contribute premiums for specified beneficiaries and fund common publicity.

Competition enforcement: regulator reports penalties on firms and outlines recovery, stayed and dismissed statuses.
The Competition Commission enforces the Competition Act, 2002 by referring prima facie violations to the Director General for investigation and then issuing final orders or closing matters. Its principal remedial tool is monetary penalties, with an annexed company wise ledger detailing penalties imposed, amounts realised, amounts stayed pending appeal, dismissed sums and outstanding recoveries. Year wise intake and disposal figures are reported, and the Annexure lists sectoral cases and enforcement statuses to support follow up recovery actions.

Deputation appointment of Dr. Kshatrapati Shivaji as Chairman and Managing Director of SIDBI on deputation.
Appointment places Dr. Kshatrapati Shivaji, then Principal Secretary (Expenditure), on deputation to assume the role of Chairman and Managing Director of the Small Industries Development Bank, with the deputation limited to a fixed term commencing on the date he takes charge and defining the temporal scope for holding that corporate office.

Indian macro recovery driven by revised national accounts, fiscal consolidation measures, GST proposal, and strengthened external and monetary management.
Revision to the 2011-12 national accounts base raises measured growth and alters sectoral GVA shares, reinforcing a narrative of macroeconomic recovery in 2014-15 driven chiefly by domestic demand and services. The Survey emphasises a policy package centred on fiscal consolidation-revenue mobilisation, subsidy rationalisation, diesel deregulation, direct benefit transfers, disinvestment and a proposed dual GST-to stabilise public finances. Complementary monetary easing, liquidity reforms, and a stronger external position are presented as supporting conditions for investment recovery, while targeted social and infrastructure measures aim to sustain inclusive growth.

Economic Survey outlines fiscal, GST and ordinance-driven reforms plus Aadhaar-linked direct transfers to rationalise subsidies.
The Economic Survey 2014-15 summarises macroeconomic recovery and sets out central legal and policy measures: promulgated ordinances (coal, land, insurance), the pending constitutional amendment for a single Goods and Services Tax, fiscal adjustments aligned with the Fourteenth Finance Commission, expansion of Direct Benefit Transfer using the JAM trinity (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile), and recommended reforms to banking regulation, insolvency frameworks, and public investment governance to unlock investment and improve targeting of subsidies.

Foodgrains production estimated at 257.07 million tonnes; survey urges focusing on yield and productivity to secure food supply.
Foodgrains production for 2014-15 is estimated at 257.07 million tonnes, exceeding the five-year average by 8.15 million tonnes but falling 8.5 million tonnes short of the previous year due to reduced output of rice, coarse cereals and pulses amid erratic monsoon rainfall. Overall productivity of foodgrains declined marginally while several crops, notably groundnut, tur and cotton, recorded sharp yield increases. The Economic Survey stresses that improving yield and productivity is the primary strategy to bolster agricultural resilience and secure availability and affordable access to food.