National Investment and Manufacturing Zones approval requires state development of zones before private investment can occur, clarifying precondition.
In-principle approval was accorded for National Investment and Manufacturing Zones (NIMZs) in Chittoor, Medak and Prakasam, subject to the State Government developing the zones before any private investment may take place; this information was provided in a written reply by the Minister of State.

Preferential Market Access paused pending recalibration over private procurement and security concerns affecting implementation.
The government suspended implementation of the Policy for Providing Preference to Domestically Manufactured Electronic Goods (Preferential Market Access) pending recalibration after concerns were raised, especially about private-sector procurement of security-sensitive electronic products; the pause is administrative and does not set out substantive amendments or timelines.

Industrial Infrastructure Upgradation Scheme enables cluster funding and common infrastructure to strengthen small and medium industries' competitiveness.
Setting up of industrial clusters under the Industrial Infrastructure Upgradation Scheme involved sanctioning and central grant approvals/releases to multiple sector-specific projects with indicated shares of small and medium industries; some sanctions were withdrawn for non implementation. The Scheme provides need based common infrastructure such as R&D labs, skill upgradation centres, modern testing and prototype facilities to enable cluster access to modern technology and accelerate enterprise development.

Wholesale Price Index signals higher wholesale inflation, led by food, fuel and mixed manufactured product movements.
The statement reports July 2013 Wholesale Price Index (Base 2004-05=100) at 175.4 (provisional) with monthly inflation of 1.6% and an annual rate of 5.79%, and financial year build up inflation of 3.12%. It summarises detailed index movements across Primary Articles, Fuel & Power, and Manufactured Products, identifying key contributors (e.g., fruits & vegetables, petroleum products, tea leaf, polymers, basic metals) and provides annexed tables with weights, monthly changes, year on year rates and six month trends for selected commodities.

Index of Industrial Production shows year on year contraction driven by mining and manufacturing; mixed use based trends emerge.
The Quick Estimates of the Index of Industrial Production for June 2013 show a year on year contraction of industrial output, with declines in mining and manufacturing and no growth in electricity; use based breakdown shows negative growth in basic goods, capital goods and consumer durables, while intermediate goods and consumer non durables grew.

State land acquisition requirement for NIMZ approvals ensures state-level implementation of national manufacturing policy and zone proposals.
Government granted in-principle approval to NIMZs outside the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, subject to state land acquisition before projects can be considered. Multiple proposals for NIMZs outside the DMIC have been received and candidate locations identified. The NIMZ initiative is framed within the National Manufacturing Policy, which establishes an enabling central policy while assigning implementation and preparatory responsibilities, including land assembly, to state governments.

Single-window government-to-business portal streamlines licensing and permit compliance with online applications, payments and interdepartmental routing.
The eBiz portal establishes a single-window system for licenses and permits, offering one-stop access to information and forms, online submission and payment, and automated routing of applications and fees to relevant departments for approvals, registrations, clearances and periodic compliance throughout the business life-cycle, with phased integration of central and state services from pilot to national expansion.

Market-based pricing now governs cement after deregulation and removal from essential commodities; WPI movements disclosed.
Control over cement pricing and distribution was withdrawn in 1989, the industry was de-licensed in 1991 and cement removed from the list of essential commodities, so prices are governed by market forces; specific prices are treated as commercial secrecy and not disclosed, while published Wholesale Price Index movements by cement category show relative annual price changes.

Trade balance: deficit widened as exports edged up while imports grew, driven by oil and non oil movements.
Exports rose in July 2013 and cumulatively for April-July showed modest year-on-year growth, while July imports fell in dollar terms but increased slightly in rupee terms and cumulative imports for April-July rose; oil imports fell in July but were higher cumulatively, non-oil imports fell in July but rose cumulatively, and these patterns produced a larger trade deficit for April-July 2013-14 compared with the same period last year.

Bid rigging and market allocation found; anticompetitive agreements led to penalties and orders to cease such conduct.
The Commission found suppliers to a government tender guilty of bid rigging and market allocation, constituting anticompetitive agreements under the Competition Act, 2002, based on identical or near identical bids that fixed rates and restricted supply; it imposed penalties on each firm at five percent of average gross turnover for specified years, required payment within sixty days, and directed cessation of such conduct.

Transfer of surplus profit: central bank approves remittance of its annual surplus to the government as fiscal receipt.
The Reserve Bank's Central Board approved the transfer of surplus profit to the Government of India for the year ended June 30, 2013, reflecting the central bank's appropriation and remittance of net surplus to the sovereign as a fiscal receipt and an exercise of its distribution authority.

Assistance for heavy industry: support limited to sick/loss-making CPSEs for salaries, statutory dues and revival schemes.
The Ministry of Commerce & Industry does not provide assistance for setting up heavy industries; the Department of Heavy Industry limits support to sick/loss-making CPSEs under its administrative control for payment of salaries, statutory dues, and implementation of Government approved revival schemes, as shown by selected disbursements in Rajasthan for investment in a photovoltaic module line and for meeting pension liabilities.

Civilian aircraft development strategy announced; steering group to develop modalities for a new manufacturing programme boosting competitiveness.
A government manufacturing policy initiative directed focused interventions in textiles and steel to boost competitiveness and production and set a long term approach for civilian aircraft manufacture, electric and hybrid vehicles, and advanced materials and composites. A programme decision was made to commence civilian aircraft development, and a High Level Steering Group under the NMCC chairman was tasked to work out the modalities of the programme.

Manufacturing policy measures bolster industrial growth via FDI rationalisation, infrastructure corridors and project monitoring, and incentives.
Policy measures combine regulatory reforms and infrastructure initiatives to boost manufacturing: adoption of the National Manufacturing Policy, rationalisation of the FDI Policy, the e-biz Mission Mode Project, and targeted incentive schemes for difficult regions and sectors. Complementary steps include major industrial corridors (Delhi-Mumbai and proposed Chennai-Bengaluru, Bengaluru-Mumbai, Amritsar-Delhi-Kolkata) and establishment of a project monitoring cell to address stalled high-investment projects, with the Index of Industrial Production cited as the output indicator.

Infrastructure project monitoring ensures central projects meet completion targets through oversight and accountability.
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation monitors Central Sector infrastructure projects above the monetary threshold via the Online Computerised Monitoring System (OCMS), relying on implementing agencies' uploads to track delays caused by factors such as land acquisition, rehabilitation, funding constraints, environmental clearances, right-of-way issues, material supply and contractual problems. Project approving authorities fix completion targets; the Planning Commission and Ministries set annual and quarterly targets with high-level quarterly performance reviews. Standing Committees in each Ministry assign responsibility where cost overruns exceed twenty percent accompanied by time overruns over ten percent.

MPLADS fund allocation must comply with scheme guidelines; only permissible works executed under state technical and administrative rules.
Allocation of MPLADS funds for calamity-affected areas must be applied only to works expressly permitted under the MPLADS guidelines, and execution of such works is to be undertaken by State Government departments or agencies in accordance with State technical, financial and administrative rules.

FDI in pharmaceuticals: 100% allowed; greenfield automatic, brownfield subject to government approval with conditions.
FDI up to 100% is permitted in pharmaceuticals: Greenfield projects are allowed via the automatic route, while Brownfield/existing entities are routed through government approval, with the government empowered to impose conditions to protect availability of essential medicines and ensure reasonable research and development expenditure.

Divisional applications dismissed due to improper filing and failure to request examination, after procedural hearing opportunities were given.
Controllers disposed of three divisional applications related to a granted patent for Herceptin on procedural grounds: one was treated as withdrawn for failure to file a request for examination within the prescribed period and the others were deemed improperly filed divisional applications (including an impermissible divisional to divisional chain), after applicants were given opportunities to be heard but did not attend.

Bilateral Investment Agreement talks restarted, prompting a Trade Policy Forum meeting to advance trade and investment discussions in India.
Negotiations concern a proposed Bilateral Investment Agreement with the United States, with multiple rounds held on treaty text and recent high-level engagement reinvigorating dialogue; both parties have agreed to convene the next session of the Trade Policy Forum in India to advance trade and investment discussions.

Scheme continuation of food processing subsidies to clear committed liabilities under central funding and state implementation oversight.
Approval was granted to continue the Technology Upgradation/Establishment/Modernization of Food Processing Industries scheme to permit sanction and disbursement of back-ended subsidy by way of grant-in-aid for committed/spillover liabilities from the 11th Plan. The scheme has been subsumed w.e.f. April 1, 2012 into the National Mission on Food Processing, under which eligible applicants will receive financial assistance from their State/UT governments, while central responsibility remains for clearing carried-forward liabilities.