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.

State Support and Shareholder Agreements enable industrial cluster development under AKIC, advancing manufacturing investment and jobs.
State Support Agreement and Shareholder Agreement between NICDC, the Government of Uttar Pradesh and UPSIDA establish governance and implementation arrangements to develop Integrated Manufacturing Clusters in Agra and Prayagraj under the Amritsar Kolkata Industrial Corridor, facilitating infrastructure development, investment attraction, and alignment with the Make in India initiative.

Equity infusion converting Ways and Means Advance to equity strengthens working capital and lowers interest burden.
Conversion of a Ways and Means Advance into equity is approved to bolster Food Corporation financing by strengthening working capital, reducing reliance on short term borrowings and associated interest costs, and enhancing the corporation's capacity to perform MSP procurement, stock maintenance, welfare distribution, and price stabilization.

Access to affordable credit expanded for agri-allied activities, urging banks and NABARD to boost targeted lending.
PSBs, NABARD and State/UT authorities were urged to accelerate credit disbursement to the agri-allied sector-animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries-and to meet current-year targets; banks must conduct regional assessments to address disparities, and NABARD is to coordinate with state departments and LDMs to identify fish farmers for inclusion under the KCC scheme, with an overarching emphasis on seamless access to affordable credit.

Competition approval granted subject to voluntary commitments in acquisition of STT GDC shares by Ruby Asia and Singtel.
Competition approval has been granted for the proposed acquisition of shareholding in STT GDC Pte. Ltd. by Ruby Asia Holdings II Pte. Ltd. and Singtel Interactive Pte. Ltd., conditional on the parties' compliance with specified voluntary commitments. STT GDC is a global data centre provider present in India through its indirect subsidiary STT Global Data Centres India Private Limited, which provides data centre colocation services across multiple Indian metropolitan areas.

Release time change for CPI and IIP moves earlier to align with market close and improve data access.
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has advanced the monthly publication time for the Consumer Price Index and Index of Industrial Production from 5:30 PM to 4:00 PM on the 12th of each month, retaining the contingency rules that move CPI releases to the next working day if the 12th is a CPI holiday and IIP releases to the previous working day if the 12th is an IIP holiday, and directing publication on the Ministry's official website.

Category-based procurement streamlines seed purchases, enhancing transparency and participation while aligning with regulatory procurement rules.
GeM introduced 170 seed categories on its portal, featuring nearly eight thousand varieties, to provide a procurement framework for Central and State PSUs and other government bodies. Developed after consultation with seed corporations and research bodies, the categories align with existing rules and regulatory parameters. The rollout promotes category-based procurement to reduce tendering time, enhance transparency and accountability, and increase seller participation, while inviting sellers and seed corporations to list offerings for cost-effective procurement of quality seeds.

Strategic economic partnership deepens to boost trade and investment through energy transition and digital transformation initiatives.
The Union Minister co chaired the Economy and Investment Committee of the Strategic Partnership Council where four Joint Working Groups reviewed progress and agreed actionable measures to deepen trade and investment, emphasising collaboration on energy transition, digital transformation, and the exchange of technical expertise to accelerate industrial and infrastructure projects.

Merger approval: intra-group consolidation of a holding company into its operating subsidiary and buyback-driven reorganization follow regulatory clearance.
The Competition Commission approved a corporate combination involving the merger of Diliigent Power Private Limited into its wholly owned subsidiary DB Power Limited and the reorganization of Decore Thermal Power Private Limited pursuant to a buyback of certain securities; Diliigent Power is the holding company of DB Power, which operates a coal-based power plant, and Decore Thermal holds interests in DB Power (Madhya Pradesh) Limited, which presently holds land in Singrauli District; a detailed order will follow.

Merger control approval for acquisition increasing diagnostic services control, enabling strengthened integration of healthcare and diagnostics operations.
The Competition Commission of India approved FHL's acquisition of an additional 31.52% of Agilus Diagnostics Limited, increasing FHL's shareholding from 57.68% to 89.2%, consolidating control of diagnostics activities conducted primarily through Agilus; the Commission's detailed order will follow.

Tolerance range for transfer pricing deems actual transaction price as arm's length where variation falls within notified tolerance.
Notification establishes a tolerance range under the proviso to sub rule (7) of rule 10CA, Income tax Rules, 1962 for AY 2024 25, prescribing that where the variation between the determined arm's length price and the actual transaction price falls within the notified tolerance range, the actual price shall be deemed the arm's length price. It differentiates tolerance treatment for transactions characterised as wholesale trading and for other transactions, and defines "wholesale trading" by reference to objective criteria relating to purchase cost composition and the relationship between inventory and sales.

Strategic economic partnership deepened through ministerial visits and investment dialogues to boost trade, investment and sectoral cooperation.
The ministerial visit to Saudi Arabia centers on deepening bilateral economic engagement through participation in an international investment forum, investor outreach, diaspora-focused cultural promotion including One District One Product, and bilateral and ministerial meetings to advance cooperation on renewable energy, digital infrastructure, manufacturing, agriculture, and trade facilitation to strengthen investment flows.