Regulatory simplification: call for suggestions to ease and reduce compliance costs under insolvency regulations and streamline review
Invitation for suggestions to simplify, ease and reduce compliance costs of regulations under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, with comments to be submitted online through the Board's consultation portal. The process follows the IBBI (Mechanism for Issuing Regulations) Regulations, 2018, and an announced dual-review mechanism comprising Annual Review and Triennial Review, the former conducted after public comment and the latter assessing regulations against intended objectives and outcomes.

Bond repayment at par on maturity; holders must provide bank details for electronic credit or tender securities early.
Outstanding principal of the 8.20% OIL MKN GOISPL BOND 2023 is redeemable at par on the maturity date with no interest payable thereafter; if a State Government holiday occurs under the Negotiable Instruments Act, repayment in that State will be made on the preceding working day. Payment to the registered holder will be by pay order incorporating bank particulars or by electronic credit to a bank account able to receive funds; holders must submit bank account particulars in advance. Absent such particulars, holders may tender discharged securities at Public Debt Offices, Treasuries/Sub Treasuries, or specified bank branches twenty days before maturity to enable repayment.

Cost-Plus pricing adoption replaces CUP for captive and intra-group supplies, altering arm's length pricing and investment eligibility.
The PLI Scheme for White Goods amends operational rules: adopts the Cost-Plus method for captive and intra-group pricing with a revised arm's length definition; treats tool rooms for moulds and dies as eligible capital investment; extends the notification period by one year for additional manufacturing facilities; revises claim submission and excess incentive refund timelines where statutory compliance discrepancies arise; and provides for administrative site visits, bank guarantee rollover, and updates to scheme annexures to streamline implementation and compliance.

Competition approval granted for automotive components and electric motor systems acquisitions consolidating shareholdings and governance rights.
The Competition Commission of India approved a proposed combination comprising JICC-01 Limited Partnership's acquisition of 20% voting rights in Hitachi Astemo Ltd. with certain control rights and board representation; Honda Motor Co. Ltd.'s acquisition of an additional 6.6% voting rights in Hitachi Astemo Ltd. resulting in Honda holding 40% of voting rights; and Hitachi Astemo Ltd.'s acquisition of 49% shareholding in Hitachi Astemo Electric Motor Systems resulting in Hitachi Astemo Ltd. holding 100% of HAEMS.

Environmental cleanliness campaign mobilises agency units for nationwide cleanups and commits to disposal of obsolete records and e-waste.
Directorate General of GST Intelligence conducted nationwide cleanliness and public-engagement drives mobilising its Sub National, Zonal and Regional Units to clean public and office spaces, promote tree plantation and reduce single-use plastics, and committed under Special Campaign 3.0 to disposal of old records, obsolete goods including e-waste, and condemned vehicles.

Investment facilitation: government support for UAE companies expanding into India and deeper food-sector trade ties.
Government commitment to investment facilitation was reaffirmed when the Union Minister met UAE corporate leaders to discuss their India investment plans and promote bilateral economic ties, while separate engagements advanced food-sector trade and supply-chain cooperation with GCC countries and Egypt, and outreach to Indian chartered accountants in the UAE aimed to support professional contributions to India's development agenda.

Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement implementation advances, paired with accelerated bilateral investment treaty talks and new mechanisms to facilitate cross border investment.
Review of implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement emphasised tariff reductions, expanded non oil trade and the Joint Task Force's role in sustaining market access. Parties agreed to accelerate Bilateral Investment Treaty negotiations, promote incentives for UAE sovereign investment into Indian priority sectors, and strengthen a Fast Track Mechanism to facilitate Indian investment into the UAE. Operational initiatives include the India UAE Start Up Bridge, the Abu Dhabi-India Virtual Trade Corridor for paperless trade, progress on a food security corridor, and institutional arrangements including an industry and advanced technology MoU and a domestic card scheme partnership.

Memorandum of Understanding on industrial and advanced technology cooperation enabling joint R&D, tech transfer and standards harmonization.
A memorandum of understanding establishes a bilateral framework to promote industrial investment, technology transfer and sustainable industrial development across seven priority areas - supply chain resilience, renewable energy, health and life sciences, space systems, artificial intelligence, Industry 4.0 and standardization - through collaborative R&D, joint deployment of advanced technologies, exchange of information and efforts to harmonize standards and mutual recognition of conformity assessment.

Trade Monitoring Mechanism advances India Brazil commercial integration and sets a roadmap for enhanced trade and investment ties.
The visit implemented bilateral trade governance through the 6th meeting of the Trade Monitoring Mechanism, where officials and industry stakeholders reviewed trade facilitation measures, investor support commitments, and a cooperative roadmap to deepen commercial ties. Discussions focused on promoting participation of Brazilian investors in India's supply chains, advancing technology transfer, and operationalising sectoral follow-up including continued TMM consultations and targeted initiatives to integrate firms into global value chains.

PM GatiShakti planning tool expanded through MoU with GatiShakti Vishwavidyalaya to deliver national logistics curricula and capacity building.
The MoU designates GatiShakti Vishwavidyalaya as the national nodal institution to develop and deliver curricula, training and research aligned with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan and the National Logistics Policy. GSV will establish state-level knowledge centres, build a public-private repository of resource persons, deploy a hub-and-spoke model with central and state training institutes, and operationalise competency frameworks to formalise logistics professionals while leveraging the PM GatiShakti digital GIS portals and integrated ministry/state datasets for planning.

Government security repayment due - holders must provide bank account mandates or tender certificates for payment.
The Government stock is repayable at par on the maturity date and no interest will accrue thereafter; repayment will be made by pay order with bank account particulars or by electronic credit under sub regulations 24(2) and 24(3) of the Government Securities Regulations, 2007. Holders must submit bank account particulars in advance, or, lacking those particulars, tender duly discharged certificates at Public Debt Offices, Treasuries/Sub Treasuries or designated bank branches twenty days before the due date to enable repayment.

Investment facilitation via the India UAE High Level Joint Task Force to address cross border investment issues and advance CEPA implementation.
The 11th meeting of the High Level Joint Task Force on Investments (HLTFI) will review and address issues affecting UAE investments in India and Indian investments in the UAE, assess outcomes since the Task Force's 2013 establishment, and identify measures to facilitate investment in sectors with mutual growth potential. The visit includes bilateral engagements to strengthen trade and investment cooperation and to advance implementation following the first anniversary of the India UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

India-Japan Fund collaboration focuses on environmental sustainability, low carbon investments and enhancing Japanese private investment into India.
The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund and JBIC established the India-Japan Fund, a bilateral vehicle anchored by the Government of India and JBIC to finance environmental sustainability and low carbon projects. NIIF Limited will manage the Fund while a JBIC subsidiary will promote Japanese investment into India, using anchor public commitments to catalyse private and institutional capital into eligible sustainable infrastructure and low emissions sectors.

Merger control approval: regulator clears majority acquisition and amalgamation in fertility services market led by an investment group.
The competition regulator approved a combination consisting of acquisition of a majority stake in Indira IVF by Zonnebaars Netherlands B.V. and the amalgamation of Spaceway Wellness Private Limited into Indira IVF, effecting a change in control and consolidation of a promoter entity into the target fertility services operator; the CCI's detailed order will follow.

Innovation ranking strength: India retains its global innovation position, driven by market scale, tech outputs and startup finance.
India retained the 40th position in the Global Innovation Index 2023, driven by strengths in Market Sophistication and Knowledge and Technology Outputs, high placements in Infrastructure and Institutions, and improved innovation outputs. Key indicators supporting this position include domestic market scale, ICT services exports, venture capital and startup finance, domestic industry diversification, unicorn valuation and intangible asset intensity, alongside growth in patents and citable-document impact.

Trade and economic cooperation advanced through SCO initiatives, digitalisation, green economy focus and new working groups for innovation and medicine.
The meeting promoted trade and economic cooperation by highlighting India's support for domestic manufacturing across key sectors, the push for digitalisation and cross border payment systems to strengthen supply chains, and the need to protect the Multilateral Trading System while avoiding trade restrictive climate measures. It records institutional steps: creation of a permanent Special Working Group on Startups and Innovation chaired by India and an Expert Working Group on Traditional Medicine, with an invitation to the inaugural Traditional Medicine meeting at Jamnagar's Global Centre for Traditional Medicine.

Global Innovation Index ranking: India retains top 40 position through policy reforms and strengthened innovation ecosystem.
India retains 40th place in the Global Innovation Index 2023, driven by knowledge capital, a vibrant start up ecosystem and work by public and private research organisations. Central scientific and sectoral departments, together with the Atal Innovation Mission, have strengthened the national innovation ecosystem. NITI Aayog has coordinated policy led innovation across sectors and provided monitoring and evaluation of India's global innovation standing. The GII is presented as a policy tool for assessing innovation led socio economic change, and the India launch of GII 2023 will be hosted virtually by NITI Aayog in partnership with CII and WIPO.

Multimodal infrastructure integration under PM GatiShakti promotes coordinated planning, faster DPRs and regional socio economic development.
Assessment of six infrastructure proposals under PM GatiShakti emphasized integrated multimodal connectivity, logistics efficiency and region centric development. Planning priorities included use of the National Master Plan portal, digital surveys to expedite DPRs, visualization of intersections with forests and economic zones, and alignment optimization. An Area Development Approach aimed to secure socio economic uplift of aspirational and tribal districts and enable new industrial corridors and improved port access through coordinated, cross ministerial project appraisal.

Extension of FCRA registration validity pending renewal allows continued status until disposal, but lapses upon refusal of renewal application.
Extension of FCRA registration validity is directed for entities with pending renewal applications and for those applying before expiry; certificates are extended until the earlier of the administrative cut off or disposal of the renewal application, and a refusal of renewal causes the certificate to be deemed expired on the date of refusal, rendering the association ineligible to receive or utilise foreign contribution.

International Congress hosting: India to host the International Congress on the Chemistry of Cement in 2027, highlighting cement research leadership.
India will host the 17th International Congress on the Chemistry of Cement in New Delhi in 2027 after a successful bid by national research and academic institutions. The event will gather global experts to strengthen academia industry linkages, showcase domestic research and conference infrastructure, and focus on themes including decarbonisation, circular economy practices, sustainable development, and low carbon cement technologies.