Amalgamation approval confirms consolidation of multiple pharmaceutical entities into a single surviving animal health company after regulatory review.
The Competition Commission approved the proposed amalgamation of Sequent Research Limited, Viyash Life Sciences and its group companies, Geninn Life Sciences and Vindhya Organics with Sequent Scientific Limited as the ultimate surviving entity. The parties' principal activities are identified (SSL in animal healthcare with APIs, FDFs and analytical services; SRL as a contract research/analytical subsidiary; Viyash group in APIs and FDFs for human healthcare; Geninn as a holding company). The combination is effected through a series of interconnected amalgamation steps and a detailed Commission order will follow.

Proposed combination: ATFL to acquire DMFPL with consideration via preferential equity issuance to sellers.
The Competition Commission of India approved a proposed combination in which Agro Tech Foods Limited will acquire 100% of Del Monte Foods Private Limited, making DMFPL a wholly owned subsidiary, and ATFL will discharge consideration by a preferential allotment of equity shares to Bharti and DMPL India.

Startup funding mobilisation driving private investment and procurement-linked challenges to scale and support startups nationwide.
The PRABHAAV Factbook and Bharat Startup Challenge were launched to document ecosystem growth and to present sectoral challenges that link startups to procurement, funding, mentorship, networking and capacity building. The Fund of Funds for Startups is identified as a catalytic government instrument that mobilised private investment for Tier II and Tier III enterprises, while private equity and venture capital partnerships supply capital, expertise and global networks. Complementary measures target women entrepreneurs and large-scale convenings to connect startups with market opportunities.

Startup ecosystem policy strengthens inclusive entrepreneurship and expands access to funding, capacity building, and international linkages.
The Startup India initiative establishes a policy framework combining startup recognition, streamlined compliance, targeted tax benefits, and dedicated funding mechanisms including a Fund of Funds and seed financing to reduce regulatory friction and expand access to capital. Complementary capacity building, regional outreach, sectoral policies, and digital platforms are deployed to strengthen state and non metro ecosystems, improve stakeholder connectivity and promote international collaboration to support formation, scaling and employment generation.

Disaster relief claims should be settled faster through factual assessments and streamlined administrative mechanisms to ensure timely aid.
Advocate expedited administrative settlement of disaster relief claims through factual, correct assessment and analysis to avoid judicial recourse, coupled with public awareness against exaggerated claims. Maintain and augment relief financing via the State Disaster Relief Fund and National Disaster Relief Fund; recent budget increases strengthen response capacity. Implement the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 to establish national and state disaster databases. Adopt a whole-of-government approach integrating armed forces, meteorological services and civil agencies, and pursue a ten-point agenda-including risk mapping technology, capacity building and international cooperation-to develop climate resilient infrastructure and early-age disaster management education.

Governance principles guide policy design and delivery, shaping accountability, transparency and service access across core sectors.
Ten foundational principles of governance-including decisive leadership; root cause analysis; outcome-oriented action; rule of law & transparency; time-bound execution; prioritization; accountability and monitoring; technology adoption; innovative financing; and stakeholder partnership-are described as operative mechanisms directing policy design, resource allocation, and delivery across six domains: global engagement, economic growth, innovation, infrastructure, soft power, and women-led development, and as enabling universal access to essential public services while addressing implementation challenges and resilience needs.

Competition approval for strategic acquisitions of equity and convertible instruments in road infrastructure projects enabling consolidation of concession interests.
The Competition approval covers a proposed combination in which an infrastructure group entity will acquire a minority equity stake in its concessionaire and, together with a second purchaser, acquire certain convertible instruments in that concessionaire; separately, the second purchaser will acquire a minority stake in a BOT toll-road company. The acquirers operate in EPC and O&M of roads across EPC, BOT and Hybrid Annuity delivery models, while the targets operate BOT-based road assets and a state highway BOT concession. A detailed order will follow.

Wholesale price inflation signal: provisional WPI shows mixed component trends and a month on month contraction.
Annual WPI inflation for December 2024 is provisional at 2.37% YoY and month over month WPI declined by 0.38%. Primary Articles recorded provisional annual inflation of 6.02% with a monthly fall due to lower food articles and crude petroleum & natural gas; Fuel & Power showed provisional annual deflation of 3.79% but increased month on month mainly on higher electricity; Manufactured Products posted provisional annual inflation of 2.14% with a flat month on month index and mixed sectoral movements. The WPI Food Index inflation is 8.89% (provisional). Figures are provisional (response rate 87.5%) and subject to revision.

Trade transit cooperation: bilateral measures to harmonize standards and enhance cross-border connectivity and customs facilitation.
Bilateral officials reviewed India-Nepal trade and transit relations, focusing on review and proposed amendments to the Treaty of Transit and the Treaty of Trade, harmonization of standards, synchronized development of trade infrastructure including rail electrification, operational facilitation for cargo in transit, addition of specific plant and processed items to quarantine/processing lists, and a commitment to form a Joint Working Group on acceptance of Online Certificates of Origin with Nepal and SAFTA to enhance regulatory coordination and connectivity.

International statistical collaboration: India joining UN expert committee to shape global standards for big data in official statistics.
India's accession to the UN Committee of Experts on Big Data and Data Science for Official Statistics positions the country to help set methodological guidance and international standards for using Big Data, machine learning, satellite imagery, IoT and private sector data in official statistical production, aligning domestic innovations such as the Data Innovation Lab with global priorities to modernize processes, improve timeliness and accuracy, and support evidence based policymaking.

Product linked incentives may hinder long term cleantech sustainability; a new manufacturing platform seeks to drive private innovation.
The Minister launched the Bharat Cleantech Manufacturing Platform to bolster domestic value chains in solar, wind, hydrogen and battery storage by promoting industry collaboration, co innovation, technology sharing and financing, with the aim of scaling manufacturing capacity and reducing dependence on government support. He warned that Product Linked Incentives and subsidies are short term stimuli detrimental to long term sector growth and urged a shift toward self sustaining private sector development supported by transparent procurement, speed, scale and skill.

Sustainable investment facilitation via AI and FDI collaboration highlighted, with government and state-led promotion driving international investment dialogue.
Promotion of sustainable investment and AI-driven investment facilitation is prioritized at WEF 2025, with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade coordinating sessions on investment opportunities and policy initiatives. A union ministerial delegation alongside six state delegations will pursue G2B and G2G dialogues and sectoral showcases to advance FDI attraction through regulatory outreach, multi-level governance coordination, and thematic advocacy on AI, sustainability, infrastructure, and supply-chain diversification.

Tax devolution to states increased to accelerate capital spending and finance development and welfare expenditures.
Union Government released tax devolution from the Net Proceeds of Union Taxes and Duties to State Governments for January 2025 to enable accelerated capital spending and to finance development and welfare-related expenditures. The release is larger than the previous month and is accompanied by a state-wise distribution itemising allocations to each state as fiscal transfers for capital and welfare spending.

Combination approval for inter connected securities swap and acquisition enabling investor to acquire significant shareholding in an automotives company.
The Competitition Commission of India approved a proposed combination effected through inter connected steps including a securities swap between a HIL shareholder and Roop Automotives Limited and the acquisition by CA Carob Investments of up to 68.9% shareholding in Roop Automotives Limited. The Investor is a Mauritius special purpose vehicle controlled by Carlyle affiliates; RAL and HIL are Indian public companies engaged in manufacturing and selling auto components. A detailed order will follow.

Merger approval granted for acquisition of renewable power SPVs, consolidating wind and solar generation assets.
The Competition Commission of India approved Gentari Renewables India Pte. Ltd.'s proposed acquisition of special purpose vehicles and certain holding companies owning wind and solar power generation plants, consolidating ownership of renewable generation assets under the Acquirer, an indirect subsidiary of Petroliam Nasional Berhad; a detailed order will follow.

Merger control approval: TEPL's acquisition and business transfer cleared, enabling consolidation in smartphone EMS supply chain.
The Competition Commission approved TEPL's acquisition of majority shareholding in Pegatron India in two tranches and the transfer of TEL Components Pvt. Ltd.'s business undertaking to Pegatron India. TEPL and its subsidiaries are engaged in manufacturing smartphone components and providing electronics manufacturing services (EMS), with TEL setting up a greenfield EMS facility. Pegatron India supplies EMS to a global smartphone brand and exports to multiple regions. A detailed order from the Commission will follow.

First Advance GDP Estimates show moderation in real growth, using indicator-based extrapolation with data revision caveats.
The First Advance Estimates of Annual GDP for 2024-25 present Real and Nominal GDP and GVA at constant and current prices, report headline growth rates and sectoral movements, and identify principal indicator sources used under the benchmark-indicator method (industrial production, corporate results, agricultural estimates, transport metrics, commodity outputs, GST and government accounts). The note explains compilation of taxes and subsidies, estimation of government consumption, and warns that improved data coverage or source revisions may lead to subsequent revisions.

Proposal deadline extension for empanelment of survey institutions, requiring physical submissions and no further extensions.
Extension of the proposal due date for empanelment of survey institutions under a published RFP; interested private survey agencies are invited to submit physical hard copy proposals to the designated address before the extended deadline. The empanelment aims to expand NSO's nationwide household and enterprise sample surveys on socio economic indicators by leveraging private expertise. The notice states no further extensions will be granted and provides contact details and portal references for the RFP and submission guidelines.

Open Network interoperability expands digital market access and platform neutrality, enabling MSME participation and reduced seller costs.
ONDC is an open network framework, incorporated as a Section 8 non profit and incubated at QCI, that uses standardized APIs and open protocols to enable interoperability among Buyer Applications, Seller Applications, Logistics Providers and Technology Enablers. It standardizes catalogue, inventory, order management and fulfilment across multiple commerce domains, facilitates MSME onboarding via Seller Network Participants, and is supported by government capacity building measures, multilingual resources, certification tools and targeted financial and operational assistance schemes.

Public-private collaboration to scale startups via venture debt, mentorship and market access for global expansion.
Public-private partnership between the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade and Stride Ventures to accelerate Indian startup growth by integrating financial instruments, strategic mentorship, and market access. The collaboration will curate dedicated programs, promote diverse fundraising mechanisms such as venture debt, identify high-growth ventures across manufacturing, consumer, B2B and cleantech sectors, and provide targeted support for startups from tier 2 and tier 3 cities through mentorship and global market connectivity.