FDI in multi-brand retail under consideration to improve back-end infrastructure and integrate retailers into value chains.
The proposal considers permitting FDI in multi-brand retail to improve back-end infrastructure, reduce agricultural wastage, integrate retailers into the value chain, and increase competition. A Discussion Paper solicited comments from stakeholders including State Governments and central ministries; an inter-Ministerial Committee reviewed responses and the Government has not reached a final decision.

Clean and green technology urged as national priority, emphasizing manufacturing growth, skills training and leveraging information capital.
Clean and green technology is advanced as a national priority, with emphasis on deploying sustainable technologies and developing India as a manufacturing hub. Leveraging capital and information is presented as essential to adopt technology and create jobs, while large-scale skills training and strengthened institutional networks are required to capitalise on demographic advantage and support enterprise competitiveness.

Multilateral cooperation urged to agree indicative guidelines for reducing persistent external imbalances and supporting balanced global recovery.
The address urges G20 members to reach consensus on a set of indicative guidelines and measurable indicators to identify and reduce persistent external imbalances while ensuring the Framework remains multilateral and flexible rather than prescribing one-size-fits-all national policies. It stresses recognising national and regional circumstances, redirecting global savings toward development and infrastructure needs, and signals that a positive outcome is required to show commitment to long-term balanced global growth. India's stance-that it did not contribute to global imbalances-is coupled with concern about domestic food inflation and related macroeconomic vulnerabilities.

International economic policy coordination urged to sustain recovery, with BRICS study and MDB-led infrastructure financing prioritized.
International economic policy coordination under the G20 is essential to sustain the fragile global recovery; the Multilateral Assessment Process should produce indicative guidelines to reduce excessive external imbalances without imposing one-size-fits-all policies. The address also calls for channeling global surpluses into infrastructure financing for developing countries through Multilateral Development Banks and confirms a joint BRICS study-now including South Africa-with India anchoring compilation and all members requested to provide inputs to finalise the report.

Convergence of accounting standards with IFRS to align domestic reporting and enhance transparency for investors.
Convergence of Indian Accounting Standards with IFRS is being implemented in a phased manner to align domestic financial reporting with internationally accepted norms while accommodating local economic conditions. Revised financial statement formats and depreciation schedules have been prepared for notification. The converged standards were developed through exposure drafts, stakeholder consultation, and sequential review by standard setting and advisory bodies followed by government consideration, accompanied by capacity building, clarifications, and stakeholder outreach.

Inflation decline in food articles signals easing price pressures and a likely fall in overall inflation over coming months.
The fiscal authority reported a sharp reduction in inflation in food articles for the week ending 5 February 2011, with both food and non-food price indices declining week-on-week, and projected that this fall should contribute to a reduction in overall inflation over the next one to two months.

Wholesale Price Index movement: primary articles eased while fuel and power firmed, affecting annual inflation trends.
Wholesale Price Index data for week ending 5 February 2011 show Primary Articles down 1.7% to 188.5 with point to point annual inflation at 14.59% (down from 16.24%), and Fuel & Power up 0.1% to 152.1 with annual inflation at 11.92% (up from 11.61%). Food Articles fell 2.1% driven by fruits, vegetables and several staples; Non Food Articles fell 1.2% with mixed movements across oilseeds, fibres and other inputs. The release provides item level weekly changes and build up and year on year inflation measures.

Infrastructure partnership: enhanced financial support and increased bilateral investment commitments to implement the industrial corridor project.
Discussions prioritized implementation of the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor as a flagship industrial-infrastructure partnership transitioning from master planning to active implementation, and a proposal for a bilateral revolving fund with matching contributions was advanced to catalyse project launch while the Japanese side indicated willingness to enhance financial support and investment in core infrastructure and capital goods.

Green Productivity: integrate environmental management into productivity programs to boost competitiveness and reduce environmental impact.
Green Productivity (GP) aligns productivity growth with environmental protection by applying productivity and environmental management tools, techniques and technologies to reduce the environmental impact of an organization's activities, products and services while enhancing profitability and competitive advantage; it urges integrating environmental considerations into productivity programs alongside cost-effectiveness, quality and customer satisfaction to achieve resource efficiency, pollution reduction and sustainable socio-economic development.

Inflation control: marginal WPI easing but persistent food inflation keeps pressure on meeting policy targets.
Inflation remains a principal macroeconomic challenge: WPI eased slightly while food inflation stayed high despite a fall in manufactured food prices and overall food inflation being reported in single digits. All five major measures (WPI and four CPIs) moved into single digits in October 2010 and have remained there, showing progress from earlier peaks, and recent declines in food prices have led to guarded hope that overall inflation might approach the government's target by the fiscal year end.

Direct transfer of subsidies aims to replace leak prone in kind delivery with UID linked IT disbursement pilots and reforms.
The Task Force will design and recommend a direct transfer of subsidies mechanism for kerosene, LPG and fertilizer by re engineering delivery systems, creating UID aligned IT systems, and proposing administrative and supply chain changes; it will submit an interim report within a defined period, oversee pilot implementation of interim recommendations by concerned ministries, and later submit a final report including field results.

Wholesale price inflation rises as primary articles, fuel & manufactured products push monthly WPI higher.
Wholesale Price Index (All Commodities, base 2004 05=100) rose to 145.9 in January 2011 with annual inflation at 8.23% and a fiscal year build up of 7.44%. Primary Articles, Fuel & Power and Manufactured Products all recorded month on month increases; Primary Articles rose to 193.4 on higher food, non food and mineral prices, Fuel & Power rose to 151.3 led by petroleum products and light diesel oil, and Manufactured Products rose to 129.9 with mixed subgroup movements. Figures are provisional and the next release is scheduled for February 2011 data.

Green technology policy spurred through international fair to advance eco-product markets and industry-government collaboration.
Promotion of green technology policy and market development through EPIF 2011 convened government, industry and international bodies to showcase and discuss sustainable energy, renewable and energy efficient technologies, eco-products, green supply chains, low carbon growth and eco-finance; the fair combined plenary knowledge sessions with commercial exhibition to foster buyer-seller linkages, accelerate technology adoption, and expand the eco-products market with institutional support from central ministries and productivity organisations.

Mobile number portability requires procedural steps and eligibility checks, enabling subscribers to change providers within the same service area.
Mobile Number Portability requires contacting the gaining provider, obtaining and completing CAF and Porting Form, and procuring a Unique Porting Code via SMS from the number to be ported. The donor operator issues an eight character UPC. Submit completed forms with documentary proof; postpaid subscribers must provide a paid last bill and undertake clearance of dues. A new SIM is issued and a non refundable porting charge may apply; withdrawal is permitted within twenty four hours but the charge is not refundable.

Professional indemnity insurance for chartered accountants secured through ICAI MOU, offering discounted renewable coverage to members.
A memorandum between the professional body and an insurer establishes a discounted, insurer administered professional indemnity insurance scheme available to eligible members and CA firms, structured as renewable annual coverage with extensions for allied professionals and firm partner liability, and governed by MOU terms on eligibility, renewal, scope of cover, and insurer underwriting commitments.

Wholesale inflation: primary articles fell while fuel and power index remained steady, showing mixed price movements across commodities.
Wholesale Price Index data show Primary Articles (weight 20.12%) declined week on week, driven by lower Food Articles prices despite rises in Non Food Articles; Fuel & Power (weight 14.91%) remained unchanged week on week with stable point to point annual inflation. The release provides weekly percentage changes and build up inflation from the financial year end and year on year comparisons for key items including cereals, pulses, vegetables, fibres and fuels.

Central Sales Tax compensation for states authorised; on-account payments allowed pending final guidelines for revenue loss from CST rate reduction.
Central Sales Tax compensation is approved to reimburse States for revenue loss due to CST rate reduction, and the Cabinet authorised on-account payments to States pending finalisation of detailed guidelines to enable provisional disbursement.

Market intervention urged to curb essential commodity price rises through statutory controls and strengthened PDS measures.
States are urged to implement timely market intervention and use powers under the Essential Commodities Act and related legislation to check malpractices and contain prices; the Centre offers a funded market intervention scheme while requiring States to review stock limits, strengthen price monitoring and PDS offtake, lift full allocations, and assist expansion of storage capacity through nominated nodal agencies.

Audit frequency norms establish mandatory and periodic service tax audits and risk-based selection to prevent duplicate scrutiny.
Frequency norms set audit schedules for service tax assessees by payment bands: highest band subject to mandatory audit annually (preferably via CAAP), mid bands on biennial and five year cycles, and a 2% annual sample of the smallest band. Non mandatory audits are selected through risk assessment using a quantitative risk parameter, with avoidance of duplication between audits and detailed ST 3 return scrutiny. Existing instructions continue until the Service Tax Audit Manual, 2010 is published.

Quality and productivity techniques can improve public administration, services and agricultural output through statistical methods.
Techniques of improving quality, reliability and productivity should be applied beyond industry to public administration, public services and agriculture, with the Indian Statistical Institute playing a lead role in promoting statistical methodologies, reliability, optimisation and modelling to address increased data availability and stricter quality requirements.