Index of Industrial Production shows overall decline with mixed sectoral performance and divergent use based goods trends.
Quick estimates of the Index of Industrial Production for November 2013 record a year on year decline in the General Index, with Mining rising modestly, Manufacturing contracting, and Electricity expanding. Ten of twenty two 2 digit manufacturing groups showed negative growth; specific industry groups and individual items with large negative and positive monthly changes are identified. Use based classification reveals weak Consumer Durables and modest Consumer Non durables, producing an overall fall in Consumer Goods. October indices received a first revision and August indices a final revision, with a further finalization timetable indicated.

Rural refinance policy: NABARD lowers refinance rates to stimulate investment credit and warehousing via crop specific pilot projects.
NABARD approved crop specific pilot projects through Primary Agriculture Co operative Societies to support production and post production interventions including Project Market Facilitation Centres, productivity measures, scientific storage, cold chains and capacity building, financed by NABARD loans and grants and government subsidies; it also expanded the NABARD Warehousing Scheme to finance construction of storage and cold chain infrastructure and revised refinance pricing to encourage banks to extend investment credit for rural infrastructure.

Disbursement of agricultural insurance claims: majority transferred to nodal banks, with remaining amounts to be released shortly.
Agricultural Insurance Corporation has transferred the bulk of approved farmer claim funds to designated nodal banks, which are expected to complete onward payments to claimants; the remaining balance of approved claims will be released and forwarded to the nodal banks for final payment shortly.

Trade balance improves as exports increase and imports decline, narrowing the trade deficit over April-December.
Exports rose in December and for April-December on a year on year basis while imports declined in December and over April-December in US dollar terms, resulting in a reduced cumulative trade deficit; crude oil imports were slightly higher while non oil imports fell for the compared periods.

Yarn subsidy policy extended with redesigned quantity limits and broader coverage enabling subsidised yarn access and distribution reforms.
The Mill Gate Price Scheme is continued as the Yarn Supply Scheme (YSS) with a 10 percent subsidy on specified yarns to support underprivileged and vulnerable handloom weavers and societies. Modifications set revised quantity limits for cotton yarn and continue limits for domestic silk; extend the subsidy to wool for individual weavers and weaver cooperatives with tiered quantity caps by yarn count; authorize NHDC to open distribution centres and enable cash sales to reduce supply gaps; and increase NHDC service charges uniformly across States.

Centrally sponsored scheme expands MBBS seats through differentiated central state funding and specified unit cost guidance.
A centrally sponsored scheme upgrades existing State and Central Government medical colleges to expand MBBS seats, allocating central assistance alongside required State/UT contributions; funding patterns differ with a higher central share for North Eastern and special category States and a lower central share for other States, and the scheme specifies an approximate unit cost per MBBS seat to guide budgeting and central assistance allocation.

Relief contribution: IRS Association donates funds to Uttarakhand Chief Minister's Relief Fund for rehabilitation efforts.
Indian Revenue Service Association presented cheques to the Union Finance Minister drawn in favour of the Uttarakhand Chief Minister's Relief Fund for relief and rehabilitation following the June 2013 natural disaster, and communicated a letter expressing solidarity and intent to assist.

Agricultural insurance claim disbursement: insurer to release most of eligible claims now, balance pending remaining contributions.
Following representations that AIC had not paid drought insurance claims for 2012 in Tiruvadanai Taluk, AIC reported approval of the first NAIS instalment for paddy in Tamil Nadu; with Central and State shares allocated and AIC holding ~83.8% of required funds, AIC proposes to release 83.8% of each eligible farmer's claim now and to release the balance on receipt of the remaining contribution, while the Finance Minister will follow up to ensure full payment as early as possible.

Minimum Support Price for raw jute raised; premium structure preserved and nodal agency to conduct price support operations.
The government raised the Minimum Support Price for raw jute for the 2014-15 season for TD 5 grade, maintaining percentage premiums for higher grades to incentivize quality production, and retained the designated nodal agency to carry out price support operations in jute-growing regions at the declared MSP.

Transmission infrastructure approval enables grid connectivity for Ladakh with central-state funding and state takeover for operation.
The Cabinet Committee approved construction of a 220kV transmission line from Alusteng to Leh with 66kV interconnections, to be implemented by the central transmission utility within 42 months. Project costs will be shared by the Government of India and the State in a 95:5 ratio. After commissioning the system will be transferred to the State Government, which will undertake operation and maintenance under a Memorandum of Understanding.

Rural water supply expansion with community governance and integrated sanitation, backed by phased user fee recovery and external financing.
Approval of a World Bank-assisted six year Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project expands piped household connections and sanitation in low coverage districts through GP level implementation and direct community involvement, integrated sanitation, pilots for continuous supply and solar technology, household metering, water quality monitoring, IEC/BCC and capacity building; financing combines central and state shares, external IDA credit and a one time community contribution with phased achievement of full O&M cost recovery by user fees, supported by audits, M&E and multi tier grievance redressal.

Leather sector development programme approved to continue, expanding skill development, artisan support, infrastructure and environmental modernisation assistance.
Approval of the Central Sector Indian Leather Development Programme for the Twelfth Plan consolidates six sub schemes-Integrated Development of Leather Sector; Human Resource Development; Support to Artisan; Leather Technology Innovation and Environmental Issues; Mega Leather Cluster; and Establishment of Institutional Institutes-with a total outlay of Rs.990.36 crore, focusing on placement linked skill training, artisan support via common facilities and microfinance, mega cluster infrastructure, environmental protection projects, and assistance for modernization and technology upgradation of leather units.

Appointment of professional body president strengthens regional accountancy leadership and coordination across SAARC member institutes.
ICAI nominee assumed the SAFA presidency effective on the announcement date, having been SAFA Vice President previously and served on SAFA committees on transparency, accountability and governance, professional accountants in business, professional ethics and independence, and quality control; this appointment follows an eight year gap for ICAI. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka was appointed SAFA Vice President. SAFA is the SAARC regional forum of professional accountancy bodies with ten member institutions and observer states, and ICAI hosts its Permanent Secretariat.