Hydroelectric project approval expands regional power capacity, includes central infrastructure support and state benefit provisions.
Approval authorises construction of a 186 MW hydroelectric project to be implemented through a Joint Venture Company between the national power corporation and the State, with central budgetary support for enabling infrastructure and central financial assistance towards the State's equity; the project will supply power regionally and assist grid balancing.

Hydro project approval expands regional power capacity and mandates joint implementation and local benefits under enabling infrastructure support.
Approval authorises construction of a 240 MW hydroelectric project to be implemented through a Joint Venture between a central power corporation and the State, with central budgetary support for enabling infrastructure and equity support to the State; project generation is designated to improve state power supply and balance the national grid while providing specified free power and Local Area Development Fund allocations and promoting local procurement and employment.

Payroll reporting using social security subscriber data shows formal-sector employment trends and scheme-wise subscriber changes.
Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation publishes monthly formal sector employment statistics derived from subscriber records of EPF, ESI and NPS, reporting scheme wise new contributing subscriber counts for September 2024 and comparing them with August 2024 to indicate short term movements in payroll participation.

Survey Data Quality ensured through digital CAPI protocols, validation, supervision and data sharing to prevent duplication.
NSO conducts nationwide socio-economic household and enterprise surveys on digital platforms using CAPI and web applications with built-in validation, supervisory scrutiny, regular training, data quality workshops, periodic instrument revision, pre-survey checks to avoid duplication, inter-ministerial consultations, digital monitoring, stakeholder Data User Conferences, and publication of unit-level data for transparency and research access.

Data Sharing and Accessibility expanded through a national portal enabling standardized metadata and API access for official statistics.
The Ministry launched the e-Sankhyiki portal to create a comprehensive data management and sharing system with an API for seamless access by platforms including the National Data and Analytics Platform; a separate Microdata Portal disseminates survey and census microdata. The Ministry has circulated a National Metadata Structure to ensure uniform data standards and consistency, while other Central Ministries/Departments continue to disseminate data via their own portals and publications.

Cocaine seizure at international airport prompts arrest and ongoing probe into transnational trafficking network connections.
A passenger arriving from Sierra Leone was apprehended after officers discovered packets of cocaine concealed in a false bottom of a trolley bag at an international airport; field tests identified the substance as cocaine, the passenger was arrested, and an investigation into trafficking connections is ongoing.

Data privacy framework and sustainable digital infrastructure: promotes trusted cross-border data flows and technology investment partnerships.
India advances a new data privacy framework to enable trusted cross-border data flows and attract technology investment, relying on a sustainable, interconnected energy grid and rapid telecom rollout to support reliable data centres. Public semiconductor investment, low-cost data, and abundant STEM graduates are presented as enablers. The statement proposes five collaboration areas with a partner country: AI education platforms, telemedicine, climate-modelling tools, precision farming technologies, and cooperation in organic chemicals, electronic goods, and food-industry technologies.

Commitments and settlements regime enables businesses to offer remedies to competition concerns, promoting quicker resolution and regulatory cooperation.
The report emphasizes trade associations' duty to operate within competition law and the Commission's proactive collaboration to secure compliance. It highlights that the Competition Amendment Act, 2023 introduced and the Commission implemented a commitments and settlements regime, allowing businesses to voluntarily offer remedies for competition concerns to achieve quicker market corrections, conserve enforcement resources, and avoid lengthy adversarial proceedings. The workshop also addressed collusive conduct and leniency and practical compliance guidance for enterprises.

Research funding mobilisation urged to foster industry-led innovation and streamline grant processes for outcome-oriented R&D.
Industry should utilise the Anusandhan National Research Foundation Fund to develop an outcome oriented, time efficient R&D and innovation ecosystem by integrating private sector institutions into industry academia government partnerships, proposing procedural reforms for fund allocation, and orienting youth toward experimentation to bolster research capacity and export competitiveness.

Cementing the Net Zero Future: conference to advance sustainable production and innovation in the cement and building materials sector.
The National Council for Cement and Building Materials will host the 18th International Conference and Exhibition at Yashobhoomi, IICC Dwarka, under DPIIT oversight, themed "Cementing the Net Zero Future." The programme includes keynote addresses, panel discussions, 220 technical papers, a technical exhibition of over 120 exhibitors, release of sector publications on alternative fuels and raw materials, and presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award to recognise contributions to the cement and concrete sector.

Treatment of free PDS items in CPI: consultations urged to refine inclusion methodology and enhance statistical literacy
MoSPI held a brainstorming session on the treatment of free PDS items in CPI and methods for capturing PDS and essentials in HCES. Presentations addressed CPI objectives, integration challenges and international practices. Key recommendations: continue consultations during CPI rebasing to develop robust, policy responsive methodology; assess market price effects of free PDS distributions and treat zero prices appropriately; engage a broader multidisciplinary and international expert group; and enhance statistical literacy through accessible dissemination of compilation procedures.

National Logistics Policy advances integrated multimodal infrastructure and digital interoperability, accelerating project evaluation and last mile connectivity under PM GatiShakti.
The National Logistics Policy establishes an integrated framework to lower logistics costs by coordinating multimodal infrastructure planning and digital interoperability. The Network Planning Group evaluates and prioritizes rail, road and other infrastructure projects according to PM GatiShakti principles to close last mile and intermodal connectivity gaps. Operational tools include the Service Improvement Group, Sectoral Plans for Efficient Logistics, State Logistics Policies, the Unified Logistics Integrated Platform for system integration, and the Logistics Data Bank for container tracking, supported by capacity building and city planning guidance.

Treatment of PDS items in CPI compilation to be re-evaluated to strengthen CPI methodology and robustness.
Re-evaluation of the treatment of free items distributed through the Public Distribution System in CPI compilation is being pursued to enhance revised CPI methodologies. A brainstorming session will convene economists, academicians, subject-matter experts and senior central and state government officers to examine how PDS items should be recorded within the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey and CPI framework, with the objective of ensuring the new CPI series is methodologically robust and resilient.

Public procurement access expanded through GeM onboarding drive at trade fair, enabling SMEs and artisans to join government marketplaces.
GeM is running an onboarding and registration drive at the 43rd India International Trade Fair to bring pan-Indian sellers and service providers into the government procurement ecosystem, with emphasis on enabling small and medium enterprises and artisanal participants under the One District, One Product initiative through free catalogue photography, on site registration support, and stall-by-stall outreach to promote portal adoption and access to government procurement marketplaces.

Intellectual property growth signals India's rising global innovation role as patents, trademarks and designs surge.
India's filings across patents, trademarks and industrial designs have expanded markedly, with rising resident filings, increased patent grants and a higher patent to GDP ratio indicating stronger domestic innovation and improved patent office processing. Industrial design growth-led by textiles, tools and health products-signals a shift to design driven manufacturing. Trademark activity also rose, dominated by resident filings in health, agriculture and clothing, supported by the National Intellectual Property Rights Policy, procedural and digital reforms, education and commercialization initiatives and start up and incubation programmes.

Industrial production growth rises, driven by manufacturing and intermediate goods, signalling broader output expansion.
Index of Industrial Production rose 3.1 percent in September 2024 to 146.7 from 142.3 year on year. Manufacturing led with 3.9 percent growth (index 147.0), Electricity grew 0.5 percent (index 206.9) and Mining 0.2 percent (index 111.7). Within manufacturing, top contributors were coke and refined petroleum products, basic metals and electrical equipment. Use based gains were led by Intermediate goods, Consumer durables and Primary goods. August received a first revision and June a final revision; the quick estimates and revisions were compiled at weighted response rates of about 91-96 percent.

Statistical coordination aims to reform support scheme and strengthen state-level national accounts, price and production indices.
A central nodal agency will convene State Secretaries to strengthen statistical coordination, revamp the Support for Statistical Strengthening sub-scheme, prepare for the Economic Census, and define methodologies and responsibilities for producing state and district-level estimates for National Accounts Statistics, Consumer Price Index and Index of Industrial Production, alongside establishing a Data Innovation Lab and coordinating State participation in national sample surveys.

System Integrator procurement for website overhaul seeks bidders to design, implement and maintain a modular digital platform.
Procurement invites bids for a System Integrator to study the existing website and provide end to end services: design, development, customisation, implementation, deployment on an empanelled Virtual Private Cloud, ongoing maintenance, and a future development roadmap, with submission and communication governed by the published RFP and designated procurement channels.

Intellectual property filings surge as domestic patent, trademark, and design activity bolster India's innovation ecosystem.
India recorded marked expansion in intellectual property activity in 2023, with patent applications growing fastest among top origins and resident filings forming a majority. Patent grants rose substantially and the patent-to-GDP ratio increased over the past decade. Industrial design and trademark filings also grew markedly, concentrated in specific sectors, and trademark registrations form a large active pool, reflecting strengthened domestic innovation and government measures to bolster the national IP ecosystem.

Knowledge on FTAs enables market access and trade expansion, urging graduates to leverage trade agreements and innovation.
IIFT conferred degrees to over 650 students across international business, economics and doctoral programmes; speakers urged mastery of free trade agreements and emerging technologies, promoted ethical business practice and CSR, and announced institutional advances including a Dubai campus, a Centre for International Negotiations, an IIFT Case Centre, strong NIRF ranking, extensive research and consulting activity, and full placement outcomes.