Startup support programs expand acceleration and mentorship, enabling startups to access incubation, funding pathways and market linkages.
Startup India Innovation Week delivers Ask Me Anything sessions and a MAARG Mentorship Series supplying guidance on seed funding, business planning, incorporation and corporate engagement, coupled with a new three month sector-focused accelerator, Startup Shala, to provide knowledge, networks, funding access and scaling guidance; applications opened on the Startup India portal while incubator-hosted physical events and showcases increase market exposure and mentorship opportunities.

District product branding expands aggregator network to boost product origin awareness and market access through storytelling.
One District One Product (ODOP) expands its aggregator network to over fifty participants to select, brand, and promote a single identified product from each district. Aggregators use eco friendly packaging, product story cards, event showcases, and collaborations with government schemes to enhance market access, consumer awareness of product origin, and a distinct identity for artisanal and agricultural outputs, advancing regional development and integration into wider value chains.

Bilateral trade expansion through CEPA, direct currency settlement and infrastructure projects to deepen India-UAE economic ties.
India and the UAE seek to expand bilateral trade building on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, with emphasis on direct currency settlement between the rupee and dirham, promotion of Rupay payment infrastructure, and strategic projects such as the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor. The partnership covers multisector cooperation-including space, security, education, climate, defence and infrastructure-and aims to attract investment through initiatives like Bharat Park in Jebel Ali Free Zone while supporting coordinated participation in multilateral trade diplomacy.

Integrated infrastructure planning using GIS drives coordinated project delivery and reduces time and cost overruns.
PM GatiShakti is a national integrated infrastructure planning framework using a GIS-based National Master Plan to coordinate physical and financial monitoring across sectors, reduce time and cost overruns, and enable States/UTs to streamline project implementation; Gujarat's initiative is presented as a best-practice example of adoption and measurable efficiency gains.

Narcotics enforcement leads to large poppy straw seizures and arrests under NDPS Act, strengthening anti-drug efforts.
CBN officers, acting on specific intelligence and surveillance, intercepted a trailer and searched premises recovering 5,057.300 kg and 1,131.900 kg of poppy straw in separate operations; vehicles, seized contraband and one person in each case were taken into custody and arrested under NDPS Act, 1985 after completion of legal formalities.

Infrastructure planning tool PM GatiShakti enables integrated data-driven project planning and faster, cost-effective delivery of major infrastructure.
PM GatiShakti is an integrated infrastructure planning platform that aggregates interconnected data layers, including geospatial mapping and technology solutions, to enable improved planning, analysis, monitoring and implementation of projects, thereby facilitating faster, coordinated and cost-effective delivery of large-scale infrastructure and supporting national and global planning objectives.

Startup Recognition and State Ranking announcement advances national startup ecosystem support and capacity building through awards and mentorship.
DPIIT is organising the Startup India Innovation Week focusing on the National Startup Awards and the States' Startup Ranking, with a result declaration and felicitation ceremony as the central recognition event. The programme couples awards and benchmarking with capacity building activities-virtual AMA sessions, mentorship on starting and scaling enterprises, stakeholder roundtables and incubator events-to strengthen linkages among incubators, investors, corporates, academia and startups and to promote youth entrepreneurship through Mera Yuva Bharat.

Competition approval for acquisition of remaining promoter stake by call option consolidates control in a pharmaceutical excipients distributor.
The CCI approved IMCD India Private Limited's acquisition of the remaining promoter equity in Signet Excipients Private Limited by exercising a call option, consolidating ownership in a company engaged in sale, marketing, distribution, import and export of excipients and related inputs for pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, biotech, food and API formulations; the target's operations are primarily domestic with limited exports and a detailed CCI order will follow.

Indian economy to grow 7.3% in FY2023 24 with construction at 10.7% and broad sectoral gains year ahead.
Real GDP for 2023-24 is estimated to grow 7.3% (nominal GDP 8.9%), with construction at double digit growth and agriculture at 1.8%. The First Advance Estimates use the benchmark indicator method, extrapolating prior year benchmarks with contemporaneous indicators (IIP, corporate financials, crop/livestock/fishery estimates, cement/steel metrics, transport and trade traffic, vehicle sales, bank deposits/credits, and budget data) and compile taxes and subsidies from budget, CGA and CAG information. Estimates are preliminary and subject to revision as fuller data and revised benchmark estimates become available.

Multimodal connectivity enhanced through integrated rail, road and logistics planning to improve cargo movement and regional access.
PM GatiShakti NPG reviewed three projects to enhance multimodal connectivity: a new rail line through Odisha and Chhattisgarh to improve coal evacuation and connect mines to Paradip Port while minimising forest intersections and enabling access to a Multimodal Logistics Park; the Mirzapur-Ayodhya bypass corridor to divert commercial traffic, reduce travel time and improve access to the Varanasi Multi-Modal Terminal; and a Multi-Modal Logistics Park in Andhra Pradesh to aggregate/disaggregate cargo and encourage rail-road modal shift for long-haul bulk transport.

One District One Product initiative advances branding and export promotion, with awards and compendium to scale local product value chains.
The One District One Product initiative was advanced at Aatmanirbhar Bharat Utsav 2024, emphasising ODOP and Geographical Indicators as branding and market promotion tools to increase visibility for artisans and boost outbound shipments through coordinated action by ministries and Indian missions; DPIIT hosted the event and administered the National ODOP Awards 2023 across District, State/UT and Mission categories, launched an ODOP compendium documenting awardee models, and announced the digital launch of the next awards edition to replicate best practices and support local value chains.

Competition approval for acquisition of power company by a state-owned utility enables resolution-plan transfer of full shareholding.
The Competition Commission has approved the proposed acquisition of 100% shareholding of GVK Power (Goindwal Sahib) Limited by Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd under a resolution plan, whereby PSPCL, a state-owned successor of the former electricity board, will acquire the target once declared the successful resolution applicant, effecting full ownership transfer of the coal-based thermal power generating company; a detailed CCI order will follow.

Repayment at par: holders must provide bank account details or tender discharged securities for maturity payment.
Outstanding principal of 7.32% GS 2024 is repayable at par on January 25, 2024; no interest will accrue from January 28, 2024. Payment to registered holders in SGL/CSGL or by stock certificate will be made by pay order with bank account particulars or by electronic credit; holders must submit bank account particulars in advance. In absence of such particulars, holders may tender duly discharged securities at Public Debt Offices, Treasuries/Sub Treasuries or designated State Bank branches twenty days before the due date; procedural details are available at those paying offices.

One Time Settlement scheme offers graded settlement rates and instalment options for pre GST liabilities under the state taxation framework.
The One Time Settlement-2023 scheme provides a time bound mechanism for resolving pre GST tax arrears by categorising liabilities into four settlement categories with prescribed payment percentages and relief from interest and penalties where specified. It applies to legacy liabilities under specified VAT and related acts up to the scheme's cut off, and offers lump sum and staged installment payment options alongside administrative support measures to facilitate intake and resolution.

Finance Commission constitution directs allocation of divisible tax proceeds and grants in aid and frameworks for local government financing.
A Finance Commission constituted under Article 280 is to recommend distribution of divisible tax proceeds between the Union and States and allocation among States, set principles for grants in aid from the Consolidated Fund of India including payments under Article 275, recommend measures to augment State Consolidated Funds to support Panchayats and Municipalities, and may review Disaster Management financing under the Disaster Management Act, 2005; the Commission has a Secretariat head and is to submit a report covering a five year period.