Multidimensional poverty monitoring as a policy tool: Nodal agency to coordinate data, state ranking and reform plans.
NITI Aayog is the nodal agency for using the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index as a policy monitoring and reform tool under the Global Indices initiative. It has formed a Multidimensional Poverty Index Coordination Committee (MPICC) with mapped line ministries and technical experts to develop a parameter dashboard to rank States and UTs and to prepare State Reform Action Plans (SRAP), and will organise a workshop with States and UTs to advance SRAP implementation.

Public-private partnership for startup support provides SaaS credits, onboarding, training, and mentorship to AIM-affiliated innovators.
Atal Innovation Mission and Freshworks will provide Freshworks SaaS product credits and white-glove onboarding to AIM-affiliated incubators and startups, including functional training in sales, marketing, and customer support, mentorship via office hours with Freshworks leaders, and joint webinars and workshops to strengthen startup capacity and accelerate cloud technology adoption.

Tax devolution strategy must be nuanced to permit temporary borrowing and enable later fiscal consolidation amid revenue shocks.
The Finance Commission and its Advisory Council discussed responses to pandemic-related revenue shocks, prioritizing mechanisms for tax devolution, intergovernmental transfers, and short-term financing of expenditures. The Council advised treating the base year and the first year differently, permitting temporary borrowings and targeted transfers to manage immediate fiscal strains, while aiming for fiscal consolidation subsequently. It expected an initial increase in general government debt-to-GDP because of revenue-expenditure imbalances, with a later reduction as growth and revenues recover.

Merger control: incremental acquisition approval by SABIC in Clariant under competition law; approval without prejudice to Section 43A.
The Competition Commission of India approved an incremental acquisition by SABIC International Holdings B.V. in Clariant AG under Section 31(1) of the Competition Act, 2002, granting regulatory clearance for the notified shareholding increase. The approval is without prejudice to proceedings under Section 43A of the Act, and a detailed order will follow.

New-age entrepreneurship urged as engine for innovation; mentorship and partnerships needed to scale India's startup ecosystem.
New-age entrepreneurship is urged as the primary driver for growth and integration into global supply chains, with calls to build platforms with trusted international partners and for senior business leaders to mentor young entrepreneurs. The minister advocates curricular and vocational reforms to nurture entrepreneurial talent, links the startup ecosystem to India's goal of becoming an innovation hub, and cites railway innovations and solar projects along tracks as examples of combining private investment, infrastructure improvement and sustainability under the broader Aatmanirbhar Bharat strategy.

Fiscal consolidation and revenue transfers refined after final advisory discussion on GDP, tax buoyancy, GST compensation and grants.
The Fifteenth Finance Commission convened a day long meeting with its Economic Advisory Council for a final discussion on GDP growth projections, tax buoyancy of the Centre and the States, GST compensation, revenue deficit grant design and fiscal consolidation strategies, chaired by the Commission Chairman and attended by named Economic Advisory Council members to refine analytical inputs on revenue dynamics and intergovernmental fiscal transfers.

Innovation policy performance drives national competitiveness, urging intensified R&D and coordinated policy action to raise global rankings.
India's Global Innovation Index improvement is attributed to a stronger R&D ecosystem, knowledge capital, a vibrant startup sector and coordinated contributions from public and private research organisations, with scientific ministries playing pivotal roles. NITI Aayog's policy coordination-via the India Innovation Index and sectoral policy initiatives in areas like biotech, space, nanotechnology and alternative energy-is identified as central to optimising innovation outcomes and monitoring global rankings, coupled with a national call to intensify efforts to achieve higher standing in future indices.

Digitalisation of government printed materials mandates cessation of physical calendars and diaries in favour of online alternatives.
Directive ordering the discontinuation of physical printing of calendars, diaries, schedulers and similar materials across Ministries, Departments, PSUs and PSBs, requiring those materials to be produced and distributed by digital or online means. Publication of coffee-table books is to be stopped and replaced with E-Books. Responsible agencies are directed to prioritise and implement innovative digital solutions that achieve the same functional results as printed items.

Public awareness on Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code: national quiz awards medals and certificates to top performers.
A national online quiz on the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 targeted Indian citizens over 18 (with specified exclusions) and received broad nationwide participation. Per the Guidelines, the top 10% of participants earn Certificates of Merit (to be emailed), and the highest-ranked entrants receive medal awards with cash prizes; three best performers are named and awards will be presented at an appropriate IBBI function. The top cohort's state, age and stakeholder composition is reported to illustrate outreach impact.

Supply chain resilience initiative strengthens Indo Pacific cooperation to enhance critical trade openness and invite regional participation.
Supply chain resilience in the Indo Pacific is the primary policy objective, pursued through a new trilateral initiative between Australia, India and Japan to strengthen regional supply chains in response to COVID 19 and shifting economic and technological conditions, with officials instructed to promptly develop operational details for launch and with an emphasis on collaboration with business, academia and additional regional partners.

Acquisition approval: clearance for purchase of compulsorily convertible preference shares converting into equity in Nxtra Data.
Approval was granted for the acquisition of compulsorily convertible preference shares and certain equity of Nxtra Data Limited by Comfort Investments II, with the CCPS to convert into equity upon completion of a valuation; Comfort Investments II is a Mauritius SPV owned by funds advised by affiliates of a global alternative asset manager, and Nxtra Data is an unlisted Indian subsidiary providing colocation, cloud and managed services across multiple data centres in India.

Strategic partnership between India and ASEAN to expand trade and deepen cooperation in critical supplies.
Strategic partnership emphasizes Cooperation, Collaboration and Commitment to deepen India-ASEAN economic and supply-chain ties, with Aatmanirbhar Bharat positioned as calibrated self-reliance enabling engagement on equal and fair terms. The statement prioritises expanding bilateral trade, addressing commercial concerns via business forums, and leveraging India's pandemic-era exports and scaled-up medical and testing capacity to support collaboration on health security, supply-chain resilience, and joint economic recovery measures.

Decarbonising transport: national programme to build dialogue, modelling, and policy support to advance electric mobility and emissions reductions.
The India component of NDC TIA is a four year programme implemented by NITI Aayog with a six member consortium to establish a multi stakeholder dialogue platform for decarbonizing transport, strengthen GHG and transport modelling, provide technical support on emission reduction measures, advise on financing and EV demand supply policies, evaluate EV business models, and support policies to advance EV charging infrastructure and widescale EV adoption.

Merger control approval: Competition nod granted for acquisition of a controlling stake in an Indian pharmaceutical company.
The Competition Commission of India granted approval for Tau Investment Holdings Pte. Ltd., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of KKR Asian Fund III L.P. and affiliate of KKR-managed funds, to acquire up to 64.90% of the share capital of J B Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Limited, an Indian listed pharmaceutical company; the CCI's detailed order will follow.

Merger control approval: private equity fund cleared to acquire equity stakes in multiple Indian healthcare and pharmacy firms.
The Competition Commission of India approved an acquisition by Lightstone Fund S.A., for and on behalf of Lightstone Global Fund, of equity stakes in 91Streets, Ascent, API, Aahaan and Lokprakash under Section 31(1). Lightstone is a reserved alternative investment fund managed by LGT Capital Partners (Ireland) Limited. 91Streets operates an e commerce and telemedicine platform and B2B pharmaceutical distribution; Ascent is engaged in pan India B2B pharmaceutical and nutraceutical wholesale and an order management application; API is presently non operational but its subsidiary develops healthcare software; Aahaan and Lokprakash carry out no business.

Innovation partnership expands startup support and scale up through shared programs, incubation, mentorship, and funding access.
AIM and the India Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre signed a Statement of Intent to coordinate AIM programmes-including innovation challenges, incubation, community innovation centers, tinkering labs and mentorship-with the Centre's open innovation platform, ecosystem partners and networks to provide seamless onboarding, access to funding, showcases and scale up support for startups.

Merger approval: CCI clears acquisition of C&S Electric by Siemens, defining retained and transferred business scopes.
CCI approved the proposed acquisition of 100% of C&S Electric Limited by Siemens India as a notified combination; the transferred scope at closing will include low-voltage switchgear components and panels, low- and medium-voltage power busbars, and protection and metering devices, while certain businesses (MV switchgear and package sub-station, lighting, diesel generating sets, EPC, and the "Etacom" busbars business) will be retained by C&S's existing promoters.

Guidance on Section 92E reporting: accountant reports, documentation (Local/Master/CbC), ALP methods, safe harbour and APA options.
Every person entering into an international transaction or a specified domestic transaction must obtain and furnish an accountant's report under Section 92E by the prescribed specified date and retain prescribed Local File and Master File documentation to enable determination of the arm's length price. The Guidance Note explains statutory definitions, methods for computing arm's length price (CUP, RPM, CPM, TNMM, PSM), documentation requirements (Local File/Master File/CbC), safe harbour and APA mechanisms, use of multiple year data and range concept, and accountant obligations on verification, disclosures and maintenance of working papers.

Healthcare self-reliance to boost domestic manufacturing, digital data use, and global medical services leadership through technology.
The release emphasizes healthcare self-reliance through strengthening pharmaceutical and medical devices sectors, leveraging technology and patient data to improve diagnosis and curated care, and promoting preventive care via wellness centres while positioning India to supply medicines and medical services internationally.

Concessional credit for farmers expanded through Kisan Credit Card special saturation drive, extending relief under Aatma Nirbhar measures.
A special saturation drive provided concessional credit to farmers via Kisan Credit Cards, sanctioning 1.22 crore KCCs with an aggregate credit limit of 1,02,065 crore to enable immediate working capital access and support rural economic revival; this measure forms part of the Aatma Nirbhar package's concessional agricultural credit allocation intended to benefit 2.5 crore producers including fishermen and dairy farmers.