LEAPS 2025 recognizes logistics excellence and invites registrations for 13 categories by 15 November on awards portal.
LEAPS 2025 is a government recognition initiative to benchmark logistics excellence, emphasise sustainability and ESG practices, and align with the National Logistics Policy and PM GatiShakti. It invites applications across thirteen categories-covering air, road, maritime, rail, multimodal, warehousing (industrial, consumables, agriculture), MSME and startup providers, education institutes and special e commerce and multimodal service categories-with registrations open on the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal and entries due by the stated deadline.

Integrated data-driven infrastructure planning improved by district master plans and centralized knowledge and data management systems.
PM GatiShakti institutionalises integrated, data-driven infrastructure planning by rolling out District Master Plans supported by sector-specific tools and capacity building, and by deploying a Knowledge Management System, a Decentralized Data Uploading and Management System with a three-stage data workflow, and an integrated NMP Dashboard within a Comprehensive Multi-Sector Reporting System to ensure uniformity, accountability, transparency, and cross-sectoral coordination.

Integrated geospatial planning enables holistic offshore development and streamlines approvals for sustainable blue economy projects.
PM GatiShakti - Offshore is a unified digital geospatial platform that consolidates verified datasets from multiple central ministries to enable integrated offshore planning and whole-of-government decision-making for projects such as renewable energy, hydrocarbon exploration, and coastal infrastructure. It provides layered domain data-covering energy potential, bathymetry, coastal regulation zones, marine ecosystems, infrastructure locations, and oceanic hazards-to facilitate coordinated technical feasibility assessments, environmental risk screening, streamlined clearance processes, and selection of environmentally and technically suitable infrastructure alignments.

PM GatiShakti Public provides regulated access to curated geospatial infrastructure data with secure self-registration for planning analyses.
A publicly accessible, query-based platform provides regulated access to a defined catalogue of non-sensitive geospatial infrastructure datasets, offering multi-layer visualization and analytical tools for site suitability, connectivity mapping, alignment planning, compliance checks, and report generation. Access requires self-registration with strong authentication and data security protocols, and the platform will be expanded in phases with new data layers and analytic modules.

PM GatiShakti opens geospatial databases and analytics to public and private users for integrated, area based planning.
PM GatiShakti has been expanded into a multi sectoral, data driven national planning platform by opening the Unified Geospatial Interface and PMGS NMP to public and private query based analytics, deploying real time data uploading and management (DUMS), and launching a PMGS NMP Dashboard and Knowledge Management System to support decentralized, evidence based area based planning, transparency, and cross jurisdictional coordination across Ministries, States/UTs and stakeholders.

Gold smuggling ring busted; 10.5 kg seized and 13 arrested involving airport staff and transit passengers.
A coordinated enforcement operation at an international airport seized 10.488 kg of foreign origin 24 karat gold and resulted in 13 arrests; the syndicate used transit passengers as internal carriers, complicit airport meet and greet staff to remove the contraband from the departure area, and multiple handlers and receivers managed distribution, with further investigation ongoing.

Rules-based multilateral trading system: call for restored appellate body and development-centred Special & Differential Treatment for developing members.
On multilateral trade policy, the Minister urged preservation of a rules-based, transparent, and inclusive trading system anchored in the Most-Favoured-Nation principle and non-discrimination, calling for restoration of a fully functional two-tier dispute settlement with an operational appellate body. He advanced a development-centred reform agenda requesting meaningful Special & Differential Treatment tied to capacity gaps and development needs, safeguarded policy space and adequate transition periods for developing members, and a permanent solution for Public Stockholding for food security.

NPS and APY assets cross Rs.16 lakh crore, reforms expand pension inclusion and provide flexible payout options.
Combined AUM of NPS and APY has crossed Rs.16 lakh crore with subscribers above nine crore. The Multiple Scheme Framework effective 1 October 2025 widens investment choice and an NPS Platform Workers Model targets gig workers. A consultation paper on an NPS Overhaul proposes graded payouts and flexible annuity options, and targeted outreach aims to expand coverage among farmers, MSME workers, self help groups and informal sector participants.

India-UK trade ministers reposition JETCO to implement CETA, focusing on regulatory cooperation and supply chain integration.
Ministers agreed to reposition the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) as the principal mechanism to oversee and deliver implementation of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, committing to swift, coordinated, results-oriented action focused on regulatory cooperation, addressing non-tariff barriers, and promoting supply chain integration to realise commercial benefits for businesses and consumers.

India-Qatar economic partnership advanced with CEPA ToR finalization, trade expansion goal, investment commitments, and UPI launch.
The upgraded India Qatar Joint Commission set a goal to double bilateral trade by 2030 and agreed to expedite finalization of the Terms of Reference to begin formal negotiations on an India Qatar Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), while acknowledging Qatar's USD 10 billion investment announcement and identifying priority cooperation across energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, finance, technology, green growth and the digital economy, alongside facilitation measures including UPI launch in Qatar to support cross border transactions.

Proposed combination: Jongsong to acquire 20% and IC Singapore 40% of targeted real estate holding entities.
CCI approved a proposed combination whereby Jongsong Investments would acquire 20% equity in each of the Proposed Transaction 1 and 2 Targets, and Ivanhoe Cambridge Singapore Investments II would acquire 40% equity in the Proposed Transaction 2 Targets; the parties are investment holding entities with the targets holding investments in the Indian real estate sector.

Acquisition of Thriveni Pellets: Lloyds Metals to acquire 49.99% equity stake in pellet producer involving iron ore mining, DRI, power.
The Competition Commission approved Lloyds Metals and Energy Limited's acquisition of 49.99% of Thriveni Pellets Private Limited, a minority equity acquisition in an Indian iron ore pellet producer. Lloyds Metals operates in iron ore mining, DRI production, captive power generation and pellet trading and supplies iron ore fines and pellets internationally. Thriveni Pellets, and its wholly owned subsidiary Brahmani River Pellets Limited, are engaged in the sale and production of iron ore pellets in India. A detailed order will follow.

Merger approval: acquisition of Imperial Brands' beverage business cleared, detailed order will be issued soon.
The Competition Commission has approved the acquisition by Tilaknagar Industries Limited of the business of production, bottling, marketing and sale of alcoholic and other beverages under the Imperial Brands from Pernod Ricard India Private Limited. The transfer includes operations such as the sale of whisky under the Imperial Blue brand in India and specified international markets and concerns an IMFL-sector Acquirer with a broad brand portfolio. The approval covers the Proposed Combination and the Commission's detailed order will be published subsequently.

Trade monitoring mechanism sets roadmap for expanded India Brazil bilateral trade and sectoral cooperation following comprehensive review.
The 7th meeting of the Trade Monitoring Mechanism between India and Brazil reviewed bilateral trade and investment relations and set a roadmap to address market access and regulatory impediments. The co chaired session prioritized expansion of the India MERCOSUR PTA and sectoral collaboration in pharmaceuticals, chemicals, MSME, banking and finance, industry promotion, internal trade, visa and mobility, and multilateral coordination, with outcomes to be reviewed by senior political leadership.

Collateral-free solar loans expand rooftop adoption via streamlined digital sanctioning and relaxed eligibility rules.
Public Sector Banks have sanctioned a large volume of retail loans under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana to finance rooftop solar installations through the JanSamarth Portal integrated with the national PM Surya Ghar portal. The financing model emphasises collateral-free loans, competitive interest rates, extended tenors linked to electricity cost savings, a moratorium period, lower borrower margins and digital sanctioning based on self-declaration, while administrative coordination with relevant ministries and banking committees supports implementation and outreach.

Audit quality strengthened through outreach urging SMPs to adopt best practices and comply with reporting obligations.
A national financial reporting regulator held a one-day outreach workshop in Indore for Small and Medium Audit Practitioners focused on strengthening audit quality by promoting professional scepticism, independence, and global best practices. The event provided practical guidance on Audit Strategy Documentation, Audit Sampling, and concluding audits, and the regulator urged timely filing of mandated returns and participation in its Audit Firms Survey to support systemic improvements in audit oversight.

India's economic policy focus: regulatory reform, fiscal consolidation, digital infrastructure and sustainable finance to bolster resilience.
The conclave urged a modernised regulatory framework and reduced compliance costs to attract long term foreign investment, while emphasising fiscal consolidation, quality capital expenditure, inflation control and exchange rate discipline as foundations of macroeconomic resilience. It highlighted digital public infrastructure, AI, 5G and digital finance as governance priorities requiring regulatory clarity, recommended legal and policy responses to trade fragmentation, and called for regulatory and market frameworks to mobilise sustainable finance instruments for climate and energy transition.

AI competition oversight urged to strengthen technical capacity and promote transparent, competitive AI markets with governance measures.
The study identifies AI-driven risks to competition-including market concentration, information asymmetry, and entry barriers-and proposes measures to mitigate them: bolster the Commission's technical capacity; hold stakeholder events and compliance workshops; create a think tank on digital markets with AI focus; enhance inter-regulatory coordination and international engagement; promote government policies to expand access to AI infrastructure; and encourage enterprise-level self-audits and transparency measures to identify and address competition concerns.

India Singapore partnership marks 60 years, focusing on trade, investment, digitalisation, sustainability and skills development.
Bilateral economic and strategic partnership between India and Singapore is advanced through a high-level business session emphasising expanded trade and investment linkages, technology and digitalisation cooperation, sustainable energy transitions, skills development, advanced manufacturing, and infrastructure financing, with senior officials and industry leaders identifying collaborative avenues in green energy, digital transformation, industrial parks, and finance.

India Qatar trade talks to advance CEPA ToR, tackle trade barriers, and boost sectoral cooperation and investment.
A ministerial India Qatar Joint Commission on Trade and Commerce will review bilateral trade, address trade barriers and non tariff issues, and advance the proposed Free Trade Agreement process by finalizing the Terms of Reference for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, while pursuing sectoral cooperation across finance, agriculture, environment, tourism, culture and healthcare.