Smuggling of narcotic drugs: concealed hashish recovered from vehicles leading to arrests and ongoing criminal investigation.
Enforcement officers intercepted two vehicles in October 2021 and seized high quality hashish concealed in specially constructed cavities accessible only with hidden tools; arrests included the vehicle owner in one case and a delivery dealer with prior criminal history in the other, and further investigations to trace supply chains and accomplices are ongoing.

Empowered Group of Secretaries to monitor PM Gati Shakti NMP, synchronising infrastructure projects and logistics across ministries.
A 20-member Empowered Group, chaired by the Cabinet Secretary with the Logistics Division as Secretariat and Convenor, will monitor and coordinate implementation of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. Its terms of reference include reviewing Plan implementation for logistics efficiency, adopting frameworks for amendments, coordinating project changes, setting procedures and timeframes for area-based synchronisation of transport and utilities on a pilot basis, aligning initiatives toward a common integrated portal, issuing directions for compliance, and addressing demand-side transport needs for bulk goods.

FinTech development through quantum computing training leads to competitive model evaluation and global showcase opportunities for students.
The programme provides structured training on quantum computing fundamentals with a self assessment component, requires participants to build quant models or solutions, and conducts a competitive evaluation by an industry expert panel that selects leading models for recognition and opportunities to showcase to the global investment community.

Non profit governance for a digital commerce network to build infrastructure, enforce conduct rules and enable SME participation.
A private sector led non profit company will be set up to develop and govern ONDC, adopting a start up mindset for population scale deployment while removing profit maximisation incentives to ensure ethical conduct. The entity will build enabling technology, operate foundational digital infrastructure and a common registry, certify participants and agencies, provide grievance redressal, run reference applications for market activation, and supply SME integration tools. It will establish and enforce a code of conduct and network rules based on consumer protection, fair trade and regulatory conformity, and implement trust building and dispute resolution mechanisms.

Alternate Dispute Resolution techniques promoted to strengthen insolvency resolution through capacity-building and trainer enablement programme.
A two-day Train-the-Trainer programme promoted the use of Alternate Dispute Resolution techniques in the insolvency resolution process, providing practical training in mediation, soft evaluation and dispute management to enable insolvency professionals to act as trainers and strengthen the insolvency ecosystem through capacity-building.

Repayment of government securities maturing requires registered holders to provide bank account mandates or tender securities for payment.
Outstanding principal of the 7.75% OMC GoI Special Bonds 2021 is repayable at par on maturity with no further interest; statutory holidays shift repayment to the previous working day. Payment to registered holders in SGLO/CSGL or as Stock Certificate will be by pay order with bank particulars or electronic credit; holders must submit bank account mandates in advance or, lacking these, tender duly discharged securities at Public Debt Offices, Treasuries/Sub-Treasuries, or designated bank branches twenty days before the due date to enable repayment.

Integrated infrastructure planning drives multimodal connectivity through a three-tier institutional framework to improve logistics efficiency.
Approval establishes a three-tier institutional framework for the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan: an Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGOS) to review, monitor and prescribe norms and synchronization procedures integrating infrastructure initiatives onto a common digital platform; a Network Planning Group (NPG) of network planning heads to assist EGOS; and a Technical Support Unit (TSU) providing domain and subject-matter expertise to optimize networks, avoid duplication, and reduce logistics costs through integrated multimodal and last-mile connectivity planning.

Dearness Allowance adjustment: additional instalment approved increasing benefits for central employees and pensioners.
Approval to release an additional instalment of Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief, effective 01.07.2021, increasing the rate by 3 percentage points over the existing 28% of Basic Pay/Pension pursuant to the Seventh Central Pay Commission formula; the adjustment is an administrative pay and pension indexation measure with a recurring exchequer impact.

Water supply scheme under Jal Jeevan Mission expands access to tap water and supports tourism development.
The Union minister inaugurated a 250mm Seer water supply scheme under the Jal Jeevan Mission to provide tap water to around 10,000 people within three months, praised rapid project execution and frontline workers, and noted signing of MOUs to attract investment. The visit also included inauguration of a tourist hut, a one lakh Deodar sapling plantation drive with post plantation safeguards, engagement with local artisans to promote Kashmiri handicrafts, and directions to publicise the Martand Sun Temple and other heritage sites to boost tourism.

Merger control approval: private equity acquisition of an IT/ BPO group notified and cleared under competition law.
Merger control clearance under the Competition Act is recorded for a proposed acquisition by a private equity owned purchaser of the entire issued share capital of an entity active in the IT and ITeS sector, principally providing Business Process Outsourcing services, with the target present in India through multiple subsidiaries; the combination was notified under the Act's pre merger notification framework concerning the transfer of share capital and a detailed regulatory order will follow.

Competition clearance for acquisition of healthcare BPO business enables transfer of assets, contracts and employees to purchaser.
The Competition Commission of India approved the acquisition by Betaine B.V. of HGS's worldwide healthcare BPO business, encompassing specified assets, contracts and employees. Betaine is a Netherlands entity newly organized for the transaction and is ultimately owned and controlled by funds affiliated with a Baring Private Equity Asia fund; Betaine currently has no business operations in India. The fund sponsor holds investments in entities providing IT and ITeS, including BPO services, which the CCI noted during its assessment. A detailed order will follow.

Memorandum of Understanding fosters international cooperation to enable Dubai investment in infrastructure, industrial and medical development in J&K.
A Memorandum of Understanding sets a framework for cooperation between Jammu & Kashmir and the Government of Dubai to facilitate and coordinate foreign investment in specified sectors, including real estate, industrial parks, IT and multipurpose towers, logistics, and medical education and super specialty hospital development; the MoU functions as a non-binding instrument to attract investor interest and guide subsequent project-level agreements and implementation arrangements.

Cooperation in startups and innovation to drive equitable trade growth and avoid climate measures becoming unnecessary trade barriers.
Proposes creation of a Special Working Group on Startups and Innovation and an Expert Working Group on Cooperation in Traditional Medicine to promote coordinated action and multilateral engagement. Stresses targeted digital capacity building to narrow technology gaps between developed and developing states and endorses environmental protection while warning that climate measures must not become unnecessary barriers to trade. Calls for solidarity and equitable, inclusive, development-oriented agendas and for participation in forthcoming multilateral startup forums.

Wholesale Price Index shows elevated annual inflation driven by fuel, metals and food categories; provisional figures subject to revision.
Release of provisional Wholesale Price Index numbers for September 2021 reports a provisional annual WPI inflation rate of 10.66% and attributes elevated inflation mainly to mineral oils, basic metals, non food articles, food products, crude petroleum and natural gas, and chemicals. The statement details month over month movements-marginal all commodities change, declines in Primary Articles and Fuel & Power, and a rise in Manufactured Products-provides weights and sub group indices, notes compilation response rates and the provisional figures' revision policy, and points to annexes with item level series for analytic use.

TRIPS waiver urged to secure equitable vaccine access and remove trade barriers impeding pandemic response and health services.
Shri Piyush Goyal urged a TRIPS waiver and removal of vaccine differentiations and COVID passports to secure equitable access to vaccines and health products, promoted free flow of health services including offering India's eSanjeevani telemedicine platform, called for cessation of high seas fishing subsidies and reduction of capacity for overfished stocks to protect livelihoods and food security, and pressed developed countries to fulfil commitments on Transfer Of Technology and Climate Finance, warning that environmental measures should not operate as new trade barriers.

Repayment of Government Stock at par; holders must provide bank particulars or tender securities for payment processing.
Repayment of the Government Stock is payable at par on the maturity date with no interest accruing thereafter; holiday in a State shifts repayment to the previous working day. Maturity proceeds will be paid by pay order with bank particulars or by credit through electronic means under the Government Securities Regulations, 2007. Holders must submit bank account particulars in advance, or, absent those particulars, tender duly discharged securities at designated paying offices twenty days before the due date to facilitate repayment.

Industrial Park Ratings guide investment decisions by classifying parks to improve infrastructure transparency and attract investors.
The Industrial Park Rating System (IPRS) 2.0 classifies nominated industrial parks as Leaders, Challengers, or Aspirers based on infrastructure, connectivity, business support services and environment and safety standards, using GIS-enabled data from the India Industrial Land Bank and tenant feedback to enhance transparency and guide investor location choices while supporting policy development for industrial infrastructure competitiveness.

Diaspora investment appeal: Indian expatriates urged to promote and invest in India to boost growth and ties.
The statement calls on the Indian diaspora in the UAE to promote and invest in India, citing improved economic indicators and policy reforms-rising exports, stronger manufacturing PMI, higher GST collections, gains in ease of doing business and innovation rankings, startup growth and increased FDI-as evidence of enhanced investment opportunity and a more favourable business environment, while linking this appeal to bilateral engagement at the Dubai Expo and the diaspora's role as cultural ambassadors supporting trade and diplomatic ties.

Digital innovation collaboration to prototype and scale cloud and AI solutions for public sector healthcare, agriculture and infrastructure.
NITI Aayog, AWS and Intel have launched an experience studio at the NITI Aayog Frontier Technologies Cloud Innovation Center to accelerate sectoral digital innovation by convening government stakeholders, startups, enterprises and experts to prototype, demonstrate and scale cloud, AI, IoT, AR/VR, blockchain, drone and robotics solutions for healthcare, agriculture and smart infrastructure using hybrid physical and virtual workspaces and collaboration with incubation and capacity building programs.

Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme extension increases collateral-free credit access for eligible businesses with revised percentage caps and deadlines.
ECLGS timeline and disbursement deadlines extended to continue support for businesses impacted by the second COVID-19 wave; NCGTC to issue operational guidelines. Existing ECLGS 1.0/2.0 borrowers may obtain additional credit up to 10% of credit outstanding measured at the revised cut-off. Previously unaided businesses may access up to 30% of credit outstanding, while specified sectors may access up to 40%, subject to a per-borrower ceiling. Incremental support is available where outstanding at the revised cut-off exceeds the earlier reference, all within the scheme's overall guarantee cap.