NIC 2025 introduces a 6 digit coding structure to classify emerging economic activities including digital and green economy.
The release of NIC 2025 establishes an updated national statistical standard aligned with ISIC Revision 5, adopts a new 6 digit coding structure for greater granularity, expands sections and subclasses to capture emerging and indigenous sectors, and formalises technology agnostic classification principles. It introduces enhanced intermediation services classes, distinct digital economy classifications, and expanded coverage of environmental and green economy activities to support statistical compilation, administrative datasets, national accounts and evidence based policymaking.

Proposed cement sector acquisition: regulator approves IndiaRF's stake in Digvijay and Digvijay's investment in Hi-Bond.
Regulatory action concerns approval of a composite proposed combination in the grey cement sector involving India Resurgence Fund's acquisition of shareholding in Digvijay Cement Company Limited, a proposed long-term business arrangement between Digvijay and Hi-Bond Cement (India) Private Limited, and Digvijay's proposed acquisition of shareholding in Hi-Bond, with a detailed order to follow.

Merger approval: Shelf Drilling to become wholly owned subsidiary of ADES International with cash consideration to shareholders.
The Competition Commission of India approved the merger of ADES International Cayman into Shelf Drilling, under which Shelf Drilling will be the surviving entity, shareholders of Shelf Drilling will receive cash consideration, and Shelf Drilling will become a wholly owned subsidiary of ADES International; ADES International is a holding entity consolidating oil and gas drilling subsidiaries, ADES Cayman is newly incorporated, and both groups provide offshore drilling and related services in India, with the Commission's detailed order to follow.

India's development pillars: manufacturing, skilling, investment and technology, with regulatory reforms and decriminalisation measures to boost investment.
The Government frames four pillars-manufacturing, skilling, investment and technology-to drive development by 2047, urging domestic manufacturing expansion, supply chain resilience, vocational skilling to address underemployment, and an investment friendly ecosystem. It commits to streamlining FDI/FII processes, reducing compliance burdens, decriminalising minor offences via the Jan Vishwas reforms, and eliminating obsolete laws to enhance ease of doing business, attract investment and technology, and support national security and innovation.

India-New Zealand FTA negotiations advancing; ministers to intensify efforts for an early, balanced conclusion and deepen trade and investment.
Negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement between India and New Zealand advanced with substantive progress and closure on several elements; ministers agreed to intensify efforts toward an early, balanced, and mutually acceptable conclusion, framing the FTA as a means to accelerate trade, deepen investment linkages, enhance supply chain resilience, and provide a transparent, stable framework for businesses.

Sixteenth Finance Commission submits recommendations on tax distribution, state allocations, grants and disaster financing for 2026-31.
The Sixteenth Finance Commission, constituted under Article 280, submitted its report for 2026-27 to 2030-31 recommending the distribution of the net proceeds of taxes between the Union and States, allocation of States' shares, grants-in-aid to States, and review of financing arrangements for disaster management; the report follows wide consultations and is in two volumes, with Volume I containing recommendations and Volume II annexures, and will be published when tabled in Parliament under Article 281.

Digital governance and cybersecurity: strengthen protections, adopt post quantum cryptography, and build indigenous digital security capacity.
The address highlighted India's DPI-Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker, BharatNet, Co WIN, UMANG, MeghRaj Cloud and GIS platforms-as transforming governance and inclusion. It called for stronger cybersecurity frameworks in light of AI enabled threats, stressed the relevance of the DPDP Act, urged adoption of post quantum cryptography and promoted indigenous solutions for digital sovereignty alongside capacity building in cloud security and future digital skills.

Just in Time fund flow reforms: integrate IFMS and PFMS with AI for timely, accountable Centre-State financial transfers.
Deliberations promoted Just in Time fund flow by integrating the Integrated Financial Management System with the Public Financial Management System to improve timely, synchronized Centre-State transfers and accountability. The session evaluated procedural bottlenecks, shared state practices for real-time reconciliation, and explored Artificial Intelligence applications for decision support. States/UTs also provided inputs on appraisal and approval processes for Centrally Sponsored Schemes requiring continuation beyond the current Finance Commission cycle, focusing on design, implementation and administrative transition issues.

Andhra Pradesh logistics digitisation via ULIP offers real time visibility and KPI analytics through API based platform integration.
Memorandum of Understanding commits the Government of Andhra Pradesh (through INCAP) and NLDSL/NICDC to develop and implement an integrated ULIP based digital platform and logistics dashboard delivering real time visibility, KPI monitoring, analytical insights, and API based data sharing to enhance coordination, efficiency and data driven governance aligned with the National Logistics Policy.

Reactivation of India Venezuela Joint Committee Mechanism to advance critical minerals cooperation and boost bilateral investment opportunities.
Reactivation of the India Venezuela Joint Committee Mechanism was proposed to restore a formal bilateral framework; ministers discussed diversifying engagement into critical minerals cooperation, mining and exploration, expanded Indian investment facilitation supported by existing state owned enterprise operations, acceptance of the Indian Pharmacopeia to ease pharmaceutical trade, and increased collaboration in the automobile sector.

Investment incentives via escrow-backed GST refunds and capital reimbursement to attract drone and space manufacturing.
Foundation stones were laid for a Drone City at Orvakal Industrial Node and a Space City near Sriharikota to develop domestic drone manufacturing and space infrastructure. The state proposes investment incentives comprising an escrow account mechanism ensuring refund of state GST and a capital investment reimbursement, administered to limit political and bureaucratic interference and to promote self reliance in drone production.

GeM to host a full-service IITF pavilion offering on-the-spot onboarding, ODOP support and fast-track procurement listings.
GeM will run a full-service pavilion at IITF 2025 offering on-the-spot seller onboarding, an ODOP pavilion with a catalogue-shoot zone, live buyer experience and a query-resolution desk providing one-to-one support. Targeted networking and guidance sessions will assist women entrepreneurs, SC/ST-led MSEs, SHGs, FPOs and enterprises led by Divyangjan to access digital procurement. Exhibitors will receive fast-track listing and increased visibility to government buyers, while visitors can access live demonstrations and real-time support to enhance procurement efficiency.

Drone City at Orvakal launched to create an integrated drone ecosystem and generate over 40,000 jobs.
The 300 acre Drone City at Orvakal is a government backed integrated ecosystem for drone manufacturing, testing, research and repair, expected to host the world's largest common drone testing facility and generate over 40,000 jobs. NICDC, under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, is developing Greenfield Industrial Smart City nodes (Orvakal, Kopparthy, Krishnapatnam) and deploying digital platforms (ULIP, LDB, IILB) to integrate infrastructure, renewable energy, automation and data governance to attract investment and enhance manufacturing competitiveness.

Free trade agreements signal growing international confidence in India's stable policy and investment climate.
The note stresses India's pursuit of self-reliance and a technologically advanced, resilient economy supported by policy reforms, employment generation, and active engagement on Free Trade Agreements, which bolster international confidence in a stable policy and favourable investment climate. It also describes the fair as an ITPO-organised platform for business collaboration, technology exchange, and investment, with broad participation from government departments, PSUs, MSMEs, startups, partner and focus states, and international exhibitors.

Standardized hospital empanelment norms improve cashless access, reducing administrative burden and enhancing claim turnaround.
The Department of Financial Services urged insurers and hospitals to accelerate onboarding to the National Health Claims Exchange, adopt standardized treatment protocols, implement cashless claims processing, and establish standardized empanelment norms across insurers to secure consistent cashless access, reduce hospital administrative burden, and improve claim turnaround times to address medical inflation.

Trade and investment cooperation strengthened, prioritizing supply chain resilience and partnerships in critical minerals and clean energy.
The Ministers committed to deepen trade and investment cooperation by promoting an open, transparent and predictable investment environment, sustaining ministerial and private sector engagement, and maintaining momentum in bilateral dialogue. They identified priority domains-supply chain resilience, critical minerals, clean energy, aerospace and dual use capabilities-and agreed to encourage long term partnerships, domain level stakeholder collaboration, and diversification of supply chains to address disruptions.

Digital public procurement delegation studies platform's technology, transparency, and capacity-building measures for reform adoption.
A delegation visit under the MoU-based capacity building arrangement advanced international cooperation on digital public procurement reform by demonstrating the e-procurement platform's digital architecture, procurement procedures, and technology-led controls that promote transparent, efficient, and inclusive public purchasing, while highlighting mechanisms for procurement access, buyer-seller connectivity, Communities of Practice, and institutional capacity enhancement.

India-Russia trade cooperation advances with protocol, sectoral diversification, time-bound pharma pathways, services mobility, and payments solutions.
A forward-looking protocol was signed to advance trade cooperation and pursue a US$100 billion trade objective by 2030, emphasising expedited listing of Indian establishments, a systems-based FSVPS approach for agriculture and marine products, and a time-bound pathway for pharmaceutical registration with regulatory reliance and predictable timelines; sectoral cooperation spans engineering goods, chemicals and plastics, electronics, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, leather, textiles and related manufacturing, while services measures promote procurement of Indian IT BPM, healthcare, education and creative services, predictable professional mobility, exploration of a bilateral investment treaty, and payments solutions for MSMEs to support diversification and resilient supply chains.

India-Canada trade and investment dialogue commits to deepen market access, regulatory alignment and investment facilitation.
Ministers committed to strengthen India Canada trade and investment by fostering open, transparent and predictable business conditions, enhancing market access, promoting regulatory alignment, and active investment facilitation. They prioritised sectoral cooperation in nutritional security, supply chain resilience and the health sector, and agreed to convert discussions into tangible measures to expand two way trade and support sustainable, inclusive economic growth.

Transit agreement amendment expands rail freight connectivity enabling direct container and bulk movement between India ports and Nepal land customs.
Amendment to the Protocol to the Treaty of Transit via a Letter of Exchange broadens rail transit by permitting both containerized and bulk cargo on the Jogbani-Biratnagar rail link, and extends liberalised access along corridors including Kolkata-Jogbani, Kolkata-Nautanwa and Visakhapatnam-Nautanwa, enabling direct rail movement from Indian ports to the Nepal Customs Yard in Morang District.