FDI policy liberalisation expands sectoral caps and eases regulatory burdens, promoting greater foreign investment and streamlined compliance.
India's FDI Policy emphasises a transparent, predictable framework that opens most sectors under the automatic route and has liberalised sectoral caps in key sectors to attract foreign capital and technology. Concurrent regulatory reforms-decriminalisation measures, Jan Vishwas 2.0, a High-Level Committee for Regulatory Reforms, BRAP and LEADS reporting, and an Investment Friendliness Index-are designed to streamline approvals, enhance ease of doing business, and bolster investor confidence to promote FDI-driven economic growth.

Counterterrorism cooperation underpinning deeper economic partnership and proactive invitation for foreign investment into India's growing market.
India and Israel affirmed cooperative action against terrorism and pledged closer bilateral economic ties, with India inviting Israeli investment based on strengthened macroeconomic fundamentals, infrastructure development, public welfare gains, demographic advantages, and rising domestic demand; India was presented as a dependable partner for technology and appliance investments.

Economic cooperation frameworks to deepen bilateral trade and promote FDI and technology partnerships through government-business forums and policy reforms.
The India Israel business fora, organized by DPIIT and the Israeli Embassy with industry partners, aim to facilitate government to business engagement, sectoral B2B meetings, and policy reforms to promote foreign direct investment, technology transfer, and joint ventures across technology, manufacturing, defense, water, healthcare, agri tech, and clean energy.

International cooperation in logistics: bilateral MoU to enable knowledge exchange and technical support for national master planning.
A memorandum of understanding establishes a bilateral cooperation framework between the Logistics Division of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade and the Korea Transport Institute to support logistics and infrastructure development by creating a structured mechanism for knowledge exchange, institutional cooperation, joint working meetings, and research-driven programmes to inform infrastructure and logistics master plans and support the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan.

Artificial Intelligence and Copyright: competition underscores need for a robust regulatory framework to ensure ethical AI use and copyright adaptation.
The announcement inaugurates Vidhi Pragati: National IP Moot Court Competition, 2025, themed Artificial Intelligence and Copyright, noting sponsorship of selected students by the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks and calling for a robust regulatory framework to ensure ethical AI use while addressing challenges to copyright authorship and originality; it also stresses government innovation and education measures and a proposal to make IPR a mandatory law subject.

Merger control: approval of intra-group acquisition of shareholding in steel processing entity with overlapping value added steel product markets.
Merger control clearance was granted for POSCO India Processing Center Private Limited's acquisition of the entire LX International Corporation shareholding in POSCO - India Pune Processing Center Private Limited; both Acquirer and Target are subsidiaries of POSCO Holdings while the Seller is unrelated. Both parties operate in the processing and distribution of value added finished steel products including hot rolled, cold rolled, galvanised and specialty steel products, and the Commission reviewed the overlaps in these product markets; a detailed order will follow.

National Sample Survey anniversary highlights NSS data's role in evidence-based policymaking and future statistical innovation.
The NSO, MoSPI will hold a national inaugural event marking the 75th anniversary of the NSS to highlight NSS data's role in evidence-based policymaking, release two Diamond Jubilee publications on Household and Enterprise survey concepts and evolution, felicitate performers, screen a documentary, and stage fieldwork portrayals. The programme includes expert papers and panel discussions on a future-ready statistical system-addressing data gaps, real-time data, AI/ML use, public-private collaboration-and on integrating alternative data sources into the national statistical system to inform economic policy.

Estimation of informal sector: MoSPI advances administrative data integration and methodological reform for improved GDP measurement.
Estimation of the informal sector in GDP is being revised through methodological enhancements and integration of administrative and alternative data sources-GST, digital payments, PM SVANidhi, Pehchan Cards, sectoral boards and remote sensing-to supplement surveys. MoSPI will expand monthly employment statistics from the Periodic Labour Force Survey and use quarterly ASUSE estimates to better capture unincorporated activity; it plans a Statistical Business Register and invited stakeholders to provide administrative databases and undertake studies to improve coverage of seasonal activities, the digital economy, gig work and productivity measurement in informal enterprises.

Governance reforms drive ISI's transformation, implementing committee recommendations to strengthen autonomy, academic programs, and financial sustainability.
The 4th Review Committee proposed 61 recommendations under the ISI Act, 1959 to strengthen governance through performance-based evaluations and increased autonomy, expand academic programs into fields like data science and machine learning, build research infrastructure and digital administrative systems, and foster industry and government partnerships for revenue generation. The Council for 2024-26 has commenced phased implementation-short-term recruitment and infrastructure upgrades, medium-term program and financial enhancements, and a long-term vision to position ISI as a global leader by its centenary-supported by government facilitation.

Startup ecosystem collaboration expands mentorship, market linkages and access to the national startup platform after a new MoU.
A Memorandum of Understanding between the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade and the Jammu & Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute establishes coordinated branding, outreach, and access to the Startup India ecosystem, focusing on mentorship, knowledge exchange, infrastructure support, market linkages, funding networks, and international expansion to strengthen the regional startup ecosystem.

Integrated multimodal planning ensures highway and railway projects conform to PM GatiShakti principles, improving connectivity and logistics.
Network Planning Group evaluated four transportation infrastructure projects under the PM GatiShakti Principles for integrated multimodal planning and synchronized implementation: two railway capacity augmentation works (Vadodara-Ratlam quadrupling; Murarai-Barharwa third line) to relieve congestion and strengthen freight links, and two road projects (NH 539 upgrade and a greenfield access controlled highway on NH 330 under HAM) to bypass built up areas, improve safety, enhance last mile connectivity and spur regional economic and tourism benefits.

CEPA negotiations to advance India-Oman trade ties during ministerial visit, Joint Commission Meeting with business delegation.
A ministerial visit to Oman on 27-28 January 2025 will host the 11th Joint Commission Meeting to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties, advance CEPA negotiations, and include a business delegation for Joint Business Council engagement and meetings with Omani ministers and investment and special economic zones officials.

Government procurement digitisation boosts public procurement efficiency as GeM crosses a major GMV milestone and expands services.
Government e Marketplace (GeM) registered a new Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) milestone within the first ten months of fiscal 2024-25, driven mainly by rapid expansion of the services segment and introduction of new service categories. Central government entities were major procurers, placing substantial high value bids, while platform reforms and scaling enabled high daily order volumes and broader supplier participation, consolidating GeM's role in streamlining public procurement.

Public-private collaboration promotes manufacturing startup incubation and international market linkages to strengthen entrepreneurial competitiveness.
A public-private collaboration via an MoU establishes incubation programmes for manufacturing and related startups, linking them with international ecosystems. The private partner will provide market insights, guidance on foreign markets, and operational support throughout the startup lifecycle to strengthen entrepreneurship and global competitiveness.

SDG monitoring frameworks strengthen capacity for evidence-based policymaking through workshops on environment accounts and gender statistics.
A two-day capacity-building workshop seeks to strengthen institutional capacity on SDG monitoring frameworks, compilation of environment accounts, and enhancement of gender statistics to support evidence-based policymaking. It focuses on harmonizing core and sub-national SDG indicators, integrating SDGs into local governance, methods for ecosystem accounts and valuation of ecosystem services, and the production and use of gender-disaggregated data. The event brings central and state statistical and planning bodies together with international technical partners to share methodologies, challenges, best practices, and to release a report on ocean ecosystem accounts.

Narcotics enforcement disrupts organised smuggling with major methamphetamine and cannabis seizures and arrests under the NDPS framework.
Enforcement actions in the North Eastern Region resulted in large seizures of methamphetamine, heroin, ganja and hydroponic cannabis, arrests of suspected traffickers, and seizure of vehicles; operations involved interception of concealed consignments transported via specially built vehicle cavities and dashboard concealments, with investigations and prosecutions pursued under the NDPS Act in competent courts.

Presumptive taxation for non-resident cruise operators applies subject to prescribed vessel capacity, voyage and operational conditions under new rules.
A presumptive taxation regime for non-resident cruise ship operators applies only where the operator runs passenger ships for leisure meeting prescribed size and capacity criteria, conducts scheduled voyages or shore excursions touching at least two Indian seaports (or the same port twice), carries passengers primarily rather than cargo, and complies with procedures or guidelines issued by the Ministry of Tourism or Ministry of Shipping; an exemption covers lease rental income of a foreign company from a related operator of such ships in India.

Minimum Support Price for raw jute approved, ensuring support above production cost and continuation of price support operations.
Minimum Support Price for raw jute for marketing season 2025-26 is fixed for TD-3 grade at Rs.5,650 per quintal, ensuring a return above the all India weighted average cost of production and applied in line with the government principle of setting MSP at not less than 1.5 times that cost. The Jute Corporation of India will remain the Central Government nodal agency to undertake price support operations, with any losses fully reimbursed by the Central Government.

Hiring credits for registered startups expand access to tailored talent pools and AI driven recruitment, enhancing hiring efficiency.
A government-platform alliance provides each DPIIT registered startup standardized hiring credits on a private jobs platform, enabling job postings, AI assisted candidate matching, access to tailored talent pools, and coordination between the registry program and the platform to align talent with industry needs.

Legal education reform: integrate clinical training in international economic law to build capacity for social and economic justice.
Law education should prepare lawyers to address complex social and economic justice issues within international economic law by integrating practical, pro bono clinical training. TradeLab's hub-and-spoke clinic model, supported by a government centre, provides supervised student projects, negotiation skill development, and research opportunities to build capacity in trade and investment law, while pedagogic priorities include expanding clinical practicums and using technological tools to enhance teaching.