Investment incentives for North East industrialisation: zone-based capital, interest subvention and GST-linked production support.
The UNNATI scheme provides zone-differentiated incentives for new and expanding industrial units in the North East, comprising a Capital Investment Incentive based on eligible plant, machinery and building investment with zone-specific caps and GST considerations; a Central Capital Interest Subvention at prescribed zone rates for a fixed period; and a Manufacturing & Services Linked Incentive for new units linked to net GST payments where GST applies, subject to an overall per-unit benefit cap. Implementation is by DPIIT with national and state committees overseeing registration, monitoring and disbursement.

Increased financial assistance under Tea Development & Promotion Scheme expands support for small tea growers and value chain upgrading.
Financial assistance under the Tea Development & Promotion Scheme has been increased to scale up mobilization of small tea growers into SHGs and FPOs, fund common facilities and mini tea units for value addition, and provide soil testing and capacity building to raise productivity and quality. The scheme adds promotion, blending and packaging incentives, research on value added products, a dedicated Quality Assurance component for laboratory set up and sampling, and a technological intervention component for precision farming, traceability and Tea Board digitization, alongside replantation of old bushes and continued welfare and training programs.

Dearness Allowance increase for central employees and pensioners effective January 2024 under the Seventh Pay Commission formula.
An additional instalment increasing Dearness Allowance (DA) for Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners by 4 percentage points is approved effective 1 January 2024, raising the rate above the prior 46% of Basic Pay/Pension. The measure follows the formula based on the Seventh Central Pay Commission, covers about 49.18 lakh employees and 67.95 lakh pensioners, and has an annual fiscal impact of Rs.12,868.72 crore.

Fintech-enabled NPS access expands digital onboarding and subscriber reach, enhancing portability and inclusion in the pension system.
Inauguration of fintech-enabled access to the National Pension System (NPS) through a brokerage web application as a Point of Presence (PoP) expands digital onboarding and subscriber reach, facilitating early enrollment, account continuity and portability across employment, and confirming NPS availability to non-resident Indians.

Wildlife Protection Act enforcement: DRI intercepts illicit elephant tusk trade, seizes tusks and arrests suspects.
DRI officers intercepted an illicit elephant tusk consignment near Bengaluru, arrested seven suspects and seized two tusks (about 6.8 kg) under Section 50 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Recent amendments effective April 1, 2023, granted DRI enhanced enforcement powers, which have been used to conduct multiple seizures across India in the fiscal year 2023-2024 targeting domestic ivory trafficking.

Appointment of Economic Adviser on deputation/contract invited, with eligibility and application details available online for central post.
Invitation for applications to the post of Economic Adviser at the Senior Pay Matrix (Joint Secretary level) on deputation/contract basis, with detailed eligibility criteria, job responsibilities, emoluments and the application proforma uploaded online in an accompanying circular and annexure.

Logistics recognition highlights innovation and best practices after transparent multi stage evaluation by expert committees.
DPIIT conducted the LEAPS Valedictory Session to recognise twelve awardees across core logistics, warehouses, MSMEs, startups, institutions and special categories for ESG, safety and inclusivity. Aligned with the National Logistics Policy, LEAPS highlights leadership, innovation and best practices across transport modes and logistics subsectors. The selection process involved transparent evaluation of 171 entries by a 14-member Expert Screening Committee and a 13-member National Jury representing ministries, industry associations and private stakeholders, aiming to benchmark performance and acknowledge MSMEs, startups and ecosystem enablers advancing sustainability, safety and skills development.

Repayment of government security at par requires bank mandate for electronic credit or surrender of discharged certificate for payment.
Outstanding balance of the bond is repayable at par on the maturity date with no interest accruing thereafter; if a State-declared holiday falls on repayment day, payment will be made on the previous working day. Under Government Securities Regulations, 2007 sub-regulations 24(2) and 24(3), maturity proceeds will be paid by pay order with bank particulars or by electronic credit; holders must submit bank particulars in advance or, lacking them, tender duly discharged securities at designated paying offices twenty days before the due date.

Economics of Competition Law conference to address artificial intelligence challenges and enforcement implications for policy and research.
The Competition Commission of India is convening a national conference on the Economics of Competition Law featuring a keynote address, a plenary on Artificial Intelligence and two technical sessions, aimed to stimulate research, deepen understanding of domestic competition issues and draw inferences for enforcement of competition law.

Logistics Performance Index methodology shifts to data-driven KPIs, prompting coordinated action plans to improve trade speed and connectivity.
The workshop emphasized a shift to a data-driven Logistics Performance Index with new KPIs measuring actual trade speed, and endorsed the corridor approach-exemplified by Bharatmala and Sagarmala-to reduce logistics costs and enhance connectivity. State reforms and digital initiatives were shared, leading to consensus on developing focused action plans to tackle infrastructure and digital bottlenecks and coordinate implementation with DPIIT and stakeholders.

Integrated infrastructure planning under PM GatiShakti evaluates road and rail projects to improve multi modal connectivity and regional development.
Network Planning Group evaluated five transport projects under PM GatiShakti to strengthen regional connectivity and socio economic development: upgrade of NH 216H in Andhra Pradesh for port and station linkages; a greenfield Indore bypass to decongest the city; a Guwahati ring road with elevated works and a new Brahmaputra bridge; a greenfield broad gauge line connecting Manmad and Dr. Ambedkar Nagar to enable a direct Mumbai-Indore route; and doubling of the Phaphamau-Unchahar line to improve efficiency. Reviews used PM GatiShakti mapping emphasizing multi modal and first/last mile connectivity.

Tax devolution boosts state financing for social welfare and infrastructure after additional instalments were released.
Union Government authorised an additional release of tax devolution to State Governments to strengthen their capacity to finance social welfare measures and infrastructure development schemes, making two instalments in February 2024 in addition to an earlier instalment, with a state-wise break-up of amounts and an aggregate federal disbursement provided to inform allocations for recipient States.

Restoration of the Appellate Body urged to secure a credible, inclusive and formalized dispute settlement reform process.
Restoration of the Appellate Body is the principal objective, with India urging transition of reform talks into WTO formal bodies under Dispute Settlement Body guidance, and demanding a genuinely multilateral, member-driven, open, transparent and inclusive process that permits new proposals, yields consensus-based texts, accommodates hybrid participation, and prioritises the Appellate Body's reinstatement.

Manufacturing promotion as national strategy to expand production, integrate into global value chains and boost exports and jobs.
Policy statement emphasising a tripartite strategy of macroeconomic strength, infrastructure expansion and social welfare to drive growth and advance a manufacturing promotion agenda. It seeks to expand domestic production footprints, integrate India into global value chains, and position the country as a preferred investment and sourcing destination, while targeting sectoral development in renewable energy, automobile and auto components, electrical and electronic goods, construction manufacturing, shipbuilding and semiconductors to boost exports, capacity and job creation.

Fisheries subsidies discipline urged to protect small-scale fishers and include CBDR RC and special treatment provisions.
WTO fisheries-subsidy disciplines should balance sustainability with fisher livelihoods by applying Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities and Special and Differential Treatment, assessing subsidy intensity relative to EEZ size and small-fisher populations rather than aggregate values, and extending disciplines to non-specific fuel subsidies, transfer-of-rights payments including G2G arrangements, and subsidies by distant-water fishing nations while protecting sovereign rights under UNCLOS.

Public Stockholding must be permanently resolved to safeguard food security and protect Special and Differential Treatment.
India urged finalization of a permanent solution to Public Stockholding at MC13, recalling mandates from Bali, the General Council and Nairobi, and emphasised prioritising food security and livelihoods over exporters' trade interests. It noted broad co sponsorship by G33, ACP and African Groups, highlighted large notified disparities in domestic support and called for a level playing field for low income farmers. India proposed a sequential approach: first deliver the PSH solution; then protect treaty embedded Special and Differential Treatment in the Agreement on Agriculture; and subsequently address domestic support reductions beginning with elimination of massive per capita subsidies.

GATS Article VI:4 multilateral approval secured for certification of updated services domestic regulation commitments, preserving WTO process.
India objected to certification of updated GATS schedules on the ground that development of domestic regulation disciplines is vested in the Working Party on Domestic Regulations under GATS Article VI:4. India required confirmations that certification would not create precedent for incorporating Joint Statement Initiative outcomes, that additional commitments remain subject to multilateral disciplines, and that such commitments would be MFNised without affecting rights or obligations of other Members. The WPDR reviewed and concurred with the procedural path and understandings, after which India withdrew its objections.

Regulatory eligibility expansion for retirement advisers streamlines registration, removes security deposit, and mandates expedited disposal.
The Retirement Adviser amendments expand eligibility to non individual applicants regulated by other financial regulators, eliminate the requirement for a security deposit, and mandate expedited processing of registration applications within a specified short period to simplify compliance and reduce costs.

Startup Mahakumbh highlights Bharat Innovates theme and launches a national startup registry to boost district-level participation.
Startup Mahakumbh establishes an annual national platform emphasising the Bharat Innovates theme, launches the Bharat Startup Ecosystem Registry with a website and logo, and seeks to aggregate diverse regional startup footprints. DPIIT is urged to enable district-level representation through financial and logistical support so that at least one startup from each district participates, while promoting youth entrepreneurship and leveraging national MICE infrastructure to scale the event and connect grassroots innovation to broader economic growth.

Multilateral trade integrity: Opposition to mixing non trade topics in trade negotiations to prevent fragmentation and preserve policy space.
India opposed inclusion of non trade topics in multilateral trade negotiations, warning that mixing issues like gender and environmental measures with trade rules risks trade fragmentation and trade distortive subsidies. It stressed the need for policy space and flexibility in existing WTO agreements to address industrialization constraints of developing countries, advocated that inclusion issues be dealt with by national measures and relevant international fora, and highlighted domestic initiatives using digital public infrastructure while reaffirming commitment to a rules based multilateral trading system.