Ban on unregulated deposit schemes to criminalise illicit deposit taking and enable asset attachment and depositor restitution.
The proposed central Bill establishes an ex ante prohibition on promoting, operating, advertising or accepting deposits in Unregulated Deposit Schemes, creates offences for running such schemes and for fraudulent default, and empowers State designated Competent Authorities to attach and realise assets for disgorgement and restitution to depositors; it prescribes timelines, defines "Deposit" and "Deposit Taker," provides for courts to oversee repayment, and enables a central online database and Central Government authority to modify the list of Regulated Deposit Schemes.

Title correction: Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code amendment's main title year amended to reflect the correct enactment year.
Corrigendum amends the main title of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Act, as published in the Gazette, by replacing the reference "Act, 2017" with "Act, 2018", an administrative correction to the printed title issued by the Secretary to the Government of India.

Tax devolution and grants framework to guide fiscal consolidation and state funding, including performance incentives and GST impacts.
The 15th Finance Commission is to recommend tax devolution between Union and States, allocation of State shares of divisible taxes, and principles and amounts of grants in aid under Article 275, assess fiscal impacts of GST and prior devolution, propose a fiscal consolidation roadmap for Centre and States, advise on augmenting State funds for Panchayats and Municipalities, consider performance based incentives for State reforms and programmes, and review disaster management financing under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

Loan agreement secures multitranche financing for Rajasthan water sector restructuring, enabling canal rehabilitation and irrigation improvements.
Loan agreement between the Republic of India and the New Development Bank provides the first tranche of financing under a Multi Tranche Financing Facility to support Rajasthan water sector restructuring. The financing targets rehabilitation and modernization of the Indira Gandhi Canal to stop seepage, conserve water, remediate waterlogged areas, improve irrigation and drinking water supply, and enhance irrigation management through involvement of water users' associations. Implementation is to be carried out by the Government of Rajasthan, primarily through the Rajasthan Water Resources Department, over a six year period, pursuant to the Facility Framework Agreement and Project Agreement signed by authorised representatives.

Wholesale Price Index: marginal monthly rise while annual wholesale inflation eased, driven by food and manufactured product shifts.
The all commodities Wholesale Price Index for January 2018 rose marginally month on month to 115.8 (provisional) with annual wholesale inflation at 2.84% and a fiscal year build up of 2.30%. Primary Articles declined overall (notably Food Articles), Non Food Articles and selected Manufactured Products rose, Minerals eased and Crude Petroleum & Natural Gas increased slightly. Fuel & Power recorded a small uptick despite lower electricity prices. The WPI Food Index inflation rate declined compared with the prior month. Detailed annexes provide commodity level and six month trend data.

Extension of narcotics assistance scheme to fund enforcement capacity and rehab-focused demand reduction measures nationwide.
The central government extended the Assistance to States and UTs for Narcotics Control scheme to provide financial assistance to states and union territories and their anti-narcotics agencies for strengthening enforcement capabilities against illicit trafficking, with the Narcotics Control Bureau designated to process assistance requests. The scheme also funds capacity building and training and emphasizes a dual strategy of supply reduction through enforcement and demand reduction through rehabilitation and de-addiction measures.

Industrial production growth: general index rose year on year, driven by manufacturing and capital goods expansion.
Quick Estimates of the Index of Industrial Production (base 2011-12) for December 2017 show a year on year rise in the General Index driven mainly by Manufacturing, with sectoral indices for Mining, Manufacturing and Electricity reported alongside 2 digit NIC breakdowns and use based classifications; the release lists high positive and negative item contributors by weight and records revisions to earlier months, with detailed statements and the next release date provided on the Ministry website.

Consumer price index revision indicates provisional rise in annual inflation; food price trends also signalled.
Provisional release of the Consumer Price Index (Base 2012=100) and Consumer Food Price Index for January 2018 presents all India and State/UT Rural, Urban and Combined indices, point to point annual inflation rates and month on month changes. Annexures provide group and sub group indices, category inflation rates, and State/UT breakdowns. Data collection and compilation methods are summarised, limitations noted where schedule receipt was low, and the indices for January 2018 are explicitly stated as provisional.

National Health Scheme implementation examined; advisory council reviewed modalities informed by health reform and fiscal coordination analysis.
Implementation modalities for the National Health Scheme announced in the annual budget were examined by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, informed by presentations on health reforms, fiscal-monetary coordination, and a World Bank report to guide policy and financing considerations.

Industry 4.0 promotes Smart Factory digitization to modernize manufacturing and support policy goals expanding employment and sector share.
The National Productivity Council designates Industry 4.0 as the theme to promote digitization, interconnection and Smart Factory concepts to enhance manufacturing versatility, resource efficiency and integration, and links this technological transition to policy goals of expanding the Manufacturing Sector, strengthening MSMEs for employment, and supporting national productivity through NPC's consultancy and regional presence.

Fast track insolvency reforms tighten valuation, confidentiality, and timelines for submission and filing of resolution plans.
Amendments require the Resolution Professional to appoint Registered Valuers and, on confidentiality undertakings, electronically provide fair value and liquidation value to Committee members and prospective applicants; submit the information memorandum electronically within two weeks of appointment and to prospective applicants by the invitation date; issue and potentially modify an invitation and evaluation matrix while guaranteeing at least fifteen days from invitation (or modification) and eight days from evaluation matrix (or modification) for submission of resolution plans; and file the Committee-approved plan with the Adjudicating Authority at least fifteen days before the fast-track deadline.

Valuation confidentiality: valuers' fair and liquidation values must be shared securely with creditors after confidentiality undertakings.
The Resolution Professional must appoint two registered valuers to determine fair and liquidation values and, upon confidentiality undertakings, provide those values electronically to each member of the committee of creditors; the Resolution Professional must also submit the information memorandum electronically to committee members and prospective applicants, issue and may modify invitations and evaluation matrices while ensuring minimum submission windows, and submit the committee-approved resolution plan to the adjudicating authority before the expiry of the maximum resolution period.

State Startup Ranking framework promotes competitive strengthening of state startup ecosystems through evaluation and dissemination of good practices.
Launch of a national State Startup Ranking framework to evaluate and incentivise state efforts in building startup ecosystems by assessing criteria such as startup policy implementation, incubation support, seed and venture funding, regulatory simplification, public procurement facilitation, and outreach; accompanied by a compendium of 95 good practices to disseminate replicable measures and promote stakeholder collaboration for policy formulation and proactive state-level ecosystem strengthening.

Startup ranking framework to incentivise state-level ecosystem reforms and disseminate good practices for startup support.
A State and Union Territory Startup Ranking Framework measures and incentivises subnational actions to build startup ecosystems by assessing parameters such as dedicated startup cells or helplines, web or mobile portals, mentor network size, key incubators, and emphasis on seed funding and women's entrepreneurship; the Framework is supported by a Compendium of Good Practices and a Startup India Kit and will be launched via the Startup India Hub portal to disseminate good practices and enable benchmarking.

Economic partnership to develop third-country markets and enhance investment facilitation between India and UAE, leveraging services and SMEs.
Discussions focused on formulating a comprehensive economic partnership to leverage India's services sector and the UAE's hub position to expand Indian business into third-country markets, with emphasis on investment facilitation and sectoral cooperation in services, SMEs, healthcare, technology and education to support the UAE's transition toward a knowledge-based economy.

Industrial policy reform seeks digital single ID, self-certification and plug-and-play infrastructure and national R&D vision.
The New Industrial Policy consultations focus on aligning regulation with global trends and reducing regulatory burden through digital and procedural reforms, including a single ID and digital G2B platform, a shift toward self-certification with third-party verification, plug-and-play infrastructure for SMEs, privatisation of estate maintenance, and a national R&D vision, alongside centre-state cooperation and regional strategies for the North East.

Finance Bill 2018: new tax rates and surcharges, digital nexus for non residents, 10% long term equity gains tax, customs digitisation.
The Bill sets income tax rates and layered surcharges with education/health cesses; recognises significant economic presence to tax non resident digital transactions; imposes 10% tax on specified long term equity gains (section 112A) with FMV cost adjustments; introduces accounting based rules for foreign exchange gains, marked to market losses and contract revenue recognition; revises deductions and thresholds (senior citizen interest, health insurance, start up and producer company incentives); and modernises customs via electronic filing, an electronic cash ledger, a Customs Authority for Advance Rulings, new audit and controlled delivery powers, plus social welfare and infrastructure cesses.

Economic growth forecast signals stronger second-half expansion, supporting projections of higher GDP and improved global ranking.
Official fiscal communications project a stronger second half with an expected H2 growth of 7.2-7.5%, report that India has become a multi trillion dollar economy and improved its world ranking, note the CSO estimate of 6.5% growth for the current fiscal, and cite the Economic Survey's projection of 7-7.5% for the next fiscal year; quarterly GDP slowed to 5.7% in Q1 and recovered to 6.3% in Q2, indicating short term volatility beneath the upward medium term projection.

Index of Eight Core Industries shows sectoral production shifts with refinery, cement and electricity leading growth
The Index of Eight Core Industries records the combined index at 129.1 for December 2017, a 4.0% increase year on year, and reports 4.0% cumulative growth for April-December 2017-18; sectoral indices and growth rates are provided showing varying monthly and year to date performance across coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilizers, steel, cement and electricity, with underlying industry weights scaled to a combined ICI weight of 100.

Public procurement digitalisation expands with new GeM version, standardised specifications and national seller onboarding to increase transparency
GeM 3.0 implements a scaled digital overhaul of the national procurement portal to standardise catalogue management, enable empirical price comparison, template based bidding and electronic instruments, and institutionalise transaction transparency. A National Sellers On boarding Campaign supports migration by training sellers, offering registration assistance and a contact centre, while a Managed Services Provider and partners will deliver and operate the upgraded platform to increase scalability and broaden seller participation.