Labour market indicators showed stable overall participation, employment and unemployment, with marginal urban improvement and softer rural unemployment.
Monthly labour-market estimates for persons aged 15 years and above, compiled under the Current Weekly Status approach, show stable overall labour-force participation, worker population ratio and unemployment rate in June 2026. Urban labour-force participation and worker population ratio improved marginally, while rural participation and employment remained stable. Female labour-force participation was broadly stable month-on-month. Rural unemployment eased slightly, urban unemployment rose marginally from the preceding month, and urban unemployment declined on a year-on-year basis.

Competition clearance governs full acquisition of a data-centre provider alongside co-investor economic interests in the transaction.
Competition approval concerns Opal Bidco Pte. Ltd.'s acquisition of the entire shareholding in STT GDC Pte. Ltd., a data-centre provider. The transaction also provides for specified co-investors to acquire economic interests in STT GDC on a see-through basis. STT GDC operates in India through an indirect subsidiary and is among multiple data-centre participants active in India.

Railway capacity augmentation strengthens multimodal connectivity, freight movement, operational reliability and lower-emission transport across Odisha and Jharkhand.
Railway capacity augmentation is approved through doubling of the Paradeep-Haridaspur route and construction of a fourth line on the Rajkharsawan-Dangoaposi route. The projects aim to reduce congestion, improve railway operational efficiency and reliability, and strengthen integrated multimodal connectivity. Enhanced capacity is intended to support freight transport of coal, iron ore, dolomite, limestone and gypsum, improve regional and tourist connectivity, promote logistics efficiency, and reduce oil imports and carbon emissions.

Urea investment policy promotes gas-based domestic manufacturing through transparent cost treatment, return-on-equity parameters, and foreign-exchange risk mitigation.
NIPU-2026 provides a framework for investment in new gas-based urea manufacturing units to increase indigenous production and reduce reliance on imported urea. It separates fixed and variable costs for transparency, provides a prescribed return-on-equity band, and mitigates foreign-exchange exposure through conversion of fixed costs into Indian rupees after four years at prevailing exchange rates. The policy supports self-sufficiency through additional domestic urea manufacturing capacity.

Greenfield elevated corridor development strengthens multimodal connectivity, urban decongestion, road safety and pilgrimage access through the Hybrid Annuity Model.
Development of a six-lane greenfield elevated connector corridor between National Highway-19 and the Varanasi Ring Road has been approved under the National Highways (Original) programme through the Hybrid Annuity Model. The access-controlled corridor includes elevated road infrastructure, bridges, loops, ramps, link roads and service roads, and is intended to divert through traffic from congested urban roads. Aligned with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, it integrates road, rail, air and inland-water connectivity while improving access to logistics, religious, educational and cultural destinations.

Hybrid annuity corridor development advances urban decongestion, multimodal connectivity, safer travel and efficient passenger and freight movement.
A predominantly elevated 6/4-lane link and connector corridor along the Varuna River Bank has been approved under the Hybrid Annuity Model. Comprising carriageways, flyovers, loops, ramps and service roads, it will connect NH-31 with the Varanasi Ring Road under the Varanasi Decongestion Plan. The corridor is intended to reduce congestion and travel time, improve safety and freight movement, and strengthen access to transport, economic, social and logistics nodes through multimodal integration.

Wholesale and producer price indices report rising June inflation, revisions to April estimates, and manufacturing input-price movements.
Provisional June 2026 and final April 2026 estimates are reported for the Wholesale Price Index, Output Producer Price Index, and trial Input Producer Price Index under the base year 2022-23. Wholesale inflation increased year-on-year, driven principally by mineral oils, food articles, basic metals, and chemicals and chemical products. April WPI and Output PPI estimates were revised upward, while the April trial Input PPI was revised downward. The release also provides group-wise monthly and cumulative index data, weighted response rates for WPI estimates, and provisional and final data classifications.

Bilateral economic cooperation expands through trade, investment, innovation, industrial partnerships and technology collaboration across priority sectors
India and Spain pursued deeper economic cooperation through discussions on trade, investment, innovation and industrial partnerships. Priority areas included renewable energy, green hydrogen, advanced manufacturing, digital technologies, infrastructure, clean energy, mobility, tourism, automotive, railways and smart infrastructure. The discussions addressed market access, resilient supply chains, technology partnerships, investment flows and business linkages. The India-Spain Business Forum examined opportunities in manufacturing, infrastructure, renewable energy, digital technologies, the digital economy and innovation, while the Fast Track Mechanism was discussed as a means of facilitating new investments and strengthening business confidence.

Synthetic drug trafficking enforcement exposes clandestine Mephedrone laboratories, leading to arrests and seizure of manufacturing equipment under narcotics law
Interstate synthetic drug trafficking enforcement under the NDPS Act, 1985 led to the dismantling of a sophisticated Mephedrone manufacturing laboratory and the arrest of two alleged chief conspirators during coordinated operations. Officers seized digital machinery, laboratory equipment, heavy glassware, precursor chemicals and safety gear used in illicit MD production. Sustained intelligence and interstate investigation identified a second facility financed and coordinated by a co-conspirator. Simultaneous searches resulted in the second arrest and seizure of the clandestine laboratory's equipment and chemicals, which were taken into possession under the NDPS Act, 1985. Further investigation remains in progress.

Reseller cover bids and coordinated supplies sales treated as cartelisation, with penalties and cease-and-desist directions imposed
The Competition Commission of India addressed cartelisation in the sale and supply of toner, cartridges and other consumables used with print hardware products. Sixteen Tier-2 resellers were identified as having sought and submitted support or cover bids, contrary to Sections 3(3)(d) read with Section 3(1) of the Competition Act, 2002. HP India was identified as playing a central role in the arrangement. Monetary penalties were imposed on HP India, the resellers and relevant officials under Section 48, together with directions to cease and desist from the anti-competitive conduct.

Bid-price coordination and tender-participation manipulation in personal system products attract competition-law penalties and cease-and-desist directions.
HP India and five resellers were found to have engaged in cartelisation in the sale and supply of personal system products. The conduct included dictating bid prices and manipulating reseller participation in GeM tenders by withholding authorisation. The conduct was treated as contravening Sections 3(3)(d) read with Section 3(1) of the Competition Act, 2002. The resellers were found to have acted in collusion with HP India, while officials were treated as liable under Section 48. Penalties and cease-and-desist directions were imposed under the Act.

FCV tobacco marketing support reviewed with focus on procurement, exports, digital reforms and grower welfare.
Measures for the Andhra Pradesh Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco marketing season 2025-26 were reviewed in consultation with growers, manufacturers, exporters, dealers, trade associations and the Tobacco Board. The discussions focused on accelerating procurement, facilitating exports and strengthening the marketing ecosystem for FCV tobacco, while protecting growers' interests. The review also covered restructuring of the Tobacco Board, enhancement of the Growers' Welfare Fund, simplification of registration procedures, digital initiatives, AI-based grading, export market expansion and crop diversification.

MSME quality and market access get a boost through a joint certification, accreditation and digital commerce framework.
Quality Council of India and National Small Industries Corporation Limited entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen quality, competitiveness and market access for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises through a unified support framework. The collaboration integrates ZED Certification, MSME Global Mart, the TEAM Initiative and the Single Point Registration Scheme to expand digital commerce access, export promotion, testing and accreditation support, and capacity-building for MSMEs and training institutions. A Joint Coordination Committee will oversee implementation during the five-year tenure of the MoU.

Arbitration training and institutional dispute resolution take centre stage in IICA's expanded certified program.
The second batch of the Certified Arbitration Program was inaugurated as a flagship initiative aimed at building globally benchmarked arbitration professionals and strengthening institutional arbitration in India. The programme stresses enforceable arbitral awards, fairness of process, a code of conduct and sector-specific expertise as core elements of a robust arbitration ecosystem. It also reflects wider efforts to promote alternative dispute resolution, specialised training and practical arbitration skills through expanded module-based content and workshop-focused learning.

Digital logistics integration through ULIP aims to improve transparency, efficiency and data-driven coordination in Punjab's supply chain ecosystem.
NICDC Logistics Data Services Limited and the Government of Punjab entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to support the digital transformation of Punjab's logistics ecosystem through the Unified Logistics Interface Platform. The partnership focuses on seamless exchange of real-time logistics data across departments to improve logistics visibility, operational efficiency, inter-departmental coordination, transparency and data-driven decision-making for industry stakeholders. ULIP is described as a unified digital gateway based on API integration across government systems.

ASEAN-India trade agreement review advances as joint committee urges faster finalisation of pending negotiation chapters.
India hosted the 13th ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement Joint Committee meeting and related hybrid sessions in New Delhi to review progress under the AITIGA Review. The Joint Committee gave strategic guidance to sub-committees on customs procedures and trade facilitation, national treatment and market access, and rules of origin, and urged expeditious finalisation of outstanding review chapters through time-bound deliverables and close coordination within agreed timelines.

Merger approval under competition law for Malabar Group companies and Malabar Gold and Diamonds Limited in the jewellery sector.
Merger approval under competition law for the combination involving 51 Malabar Group companies and Malabar Gold and Diamonds Limited. The proposed transaction envisages the merger of 51 transferor companies with the transferee company, most of which are engaged in the jewellery business. The transferee company is engaged in manufacturing, trading, retailing, wholesaling, supplying, distributing, importing, exporting, buying, franchising and otherwise dealing in jewellery and allied products.

Competition approval for acquisition and merger in the education sector involving Sorting Hat Technologies and upGrad Education.
Competition approval was granted for the proposed combination involving acquisition of certain shareholding in Sorting Hat Technologies Private Limited and its merger with and into upGrad Education Private Limited. The combination concerns two Indian private limited companies with presence in the education sector, including formal and non-formal education for the acquirer and non-formal education for the target.

NPS investment flexibility expands as additional life cycle fund choices are extended to eligible Central Autonomous Body employees.
Additional NPS investment choices have been extended to employees of Central Autonomous Bodies covered under the National Pension System. The earlier notification introducing two life cycle funds for Central Government employees is now made available to eligible CAB employees under revised names and investment parameters. The choices provide greater flexibility in pension investment and are to be disseminated by administrative authorities and implemented in the Central Recordkeeping Agency system.

Risk-mitigation credit support under ECLGS 5.0 boosts liquidity for MSMEs and other businesses.
Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme 5.0 provides risk-mitigation support to lending institutions for extending additional credit to businesses affected by external geopolitical disruption. The scheme offers 100% guarantee coverage for additional loans to MSMEs and 90% coverage for other business segments, with the objective of improving liquidity, easing cash-flow disruption, and enabling member lending institutions to lend with greater confidence. A nationwide outreach programme is also underway to improve awareness and support implementation.