Promotion of India as a MICE destination to expand market access for MSMEs and artisanal value chains through mega expos.
The Government is positioning India as a global MICE destination to advance market access and visibility for MSMEs, artisans, weavers and manufacturers through a sequenced programme of large trade events designed to create direct producer-buyer interfaces, promote value added agricultural and textile sectors, and support employment and income enhancement in processing and cottage industries.

Minimum Support Price for Copra raised to ensure remunerative returns and sustain procurement under the Price Support Scheme.
The Cabinet approved revised Minimum Support Prices for milling and ball copra for the 2024 season, set above 1.5 times the all India weighted cost of production to provide remunerative returns. The increases continue a multi year rise in MSPs and aim to incentivize greater copra production. Procurement under the Price Support Scheme recorded a marked increase in volumes and beneficiaries, with NAFED and NCCF retained as Central Nodal Agencies for procurement of copra and de husked coconut.

Determination of turnover or income: draft regulations invite stakeholder comments on calculation methodology under the amended law.
The Competition Commission of India published a draft regulation to prescribe the methodology for the determination of turnover or income required by the Explanation to clause (b) of section 27 and the Explanation to section 48 of the Act following the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023, and has invited written stakeholder comments via a prescribed form on its website during the consultation period.

General government debt profile largely rupee denominated with low rollover risk; IMF worst case scenario remains conditional.
General Government Debt is primarily composed of central and state borrowings and is overwhelmingly rupee denominated, with domestically issued medium to long term bonds implying low rollover risk and limited exchange rate exposure. The IMF Article IV presents an extreme hypothetical shock that could raise the debt to GDP ratio, but that is a worst case scenario; under favourable assumptions the ratio may decline, while domestic fiscal consolidation targets and state Fiscal Responsibility Legislation support a medium term downward debt trajectory.

Tax devolution additional instalment authorised to bolster state financing for social welfare and infrastructure support.
An additional tax devolution instalment has been authorised by the Union Government to bolster State finances for social welfare and infrastructure, stated to be in addition to the instalment due on 10 January 2024 and the instalment released on 11 December 2023, with an aggregate amount provided and a state-wise breakup of allocations.

Government support for trade promotion enables expansion of Indus Food, broadening exporter access and industry engagement.
The Department of Commerce is supporting the Trade Promotion Council of India to organize an expanded Indus Food trade fair at the India Expo Centre, Greater Noida, with a substantially larger exhibition area, increased global and domestic buyer and exhibitor participation, additional product and machinery categories, and integrated Knowledge Sessions, an International F&B Standards Conclave, Masterclasses, and Innovation Awards to support industry capacity and market access.

Climate finance must be scaled and accessible to enable the Global South's just transition and international cooperation on sustainable growth.
A Green and sustainable growth agenda emphasizes scaling climate finance and technology transfer to enable an equitable transition for Global South economies. The report advances the principle that accessible and affordable climate finance and technology are prerequisites for a swift, just and equitable shift to renewable energy and deep emissions reductions, framing finance and technology as essential to redress disproportionate historical contributions to the climate crisis and to operationalize international commitments.

PM GatiShakti National Master Plan promotes integrated area development planning, data governance, and district-level implementation support.
Three guidance documents for the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan were released: a Volume II compendium of use cases showcasing integrated NMP adoption across sectors and jurisdictions; a Handbook for District Collectors to operationalise Area Development Planning at district/local level; and a Compendium of Roles and Responsibilities detailing stakeholder accountabilities and data management standards, including data quality, interoperability, updating, sensitivity and cybersecurity for the NMP platform.

Technical partnership for PM GatiShakti enables GIS platform operation and a training centre to build stakeholder capacity.
BISAG-N is the technical partner for the GIS-based PM GatiShakti NMP platform and has established an Office cum Training Centre to conduct workshops, provide hands on training to stakeholders to update portal databases for real time analysis and monitoring, showcase use cases for visiting delegations, and build capacity of PM GatiShakti cells across central and state entities, supported by dedicated IT infrastructure and staffing as an extension of its headquarters.

Logistics performance improvement via LEADS report encourages state reforms and adoption of digital and sustainable logistics.
LEADS 2023 combines perception and objective data from a pan India survey and stakeholder consultations to assess logistics performance across States/UTs, classifying jurisdictions and evaluating three pillars: Logistics Infrastructure, Logistics Services, and Operating and Regulatory Environment. The report highlights multimodal connectivity, PM GatiShakti, City Logistics Plans, digital platforms, and the need for State Logistics Policies, industry status for logistics, monitoring frameworks, skill development, and promotion of green logistics to guide targeted reforms and improve competitiveness.

Public procurement digitisation via GeM boosts CPSE purchasing share and streamlines complex service procurements.
Central Public Sector Enterprises' adoption of the Government e Marketplace (GeM) has expanded their public procurement footprint, with CPSEs contributing a dominant share of platform Gross Merchandise Value and large year on year increases in procurement volume. GeM's tailored interventions, dedicated nodal officers and bid publishing support accommodated complex procurements and increased service procurement across energy, mining and heavy industry sectors.

Merger control: CCI approval for acquisition of equity and special rights in a health insurance company by a private fund.
Approval by the Competition Commission of India of a proposed combination where India Business Excellence Fund IV, a Category II AIF managed by MO Alternate Investment Advisors, will acquire certain equity shares and obtain specified special rights in Niva Bupa Health Insurance Limited, a standalone health insurer offering health and travel insurance products; a detailed CCI order will follow.

Competition clearance for proposed equity subscription in a health insurer by a foreign investment vehicle with additional rights.
Competition approval in principle for the proposed equity subscription by V-Sciences Investments Pte. Ltd. in Niva Bupa Health Insurance Company Limited, including certain additional rights as part of the combination; acquirer is an indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of a larger investment company and the target offers health indemnity, fixed-benefit and travel insurance products; a detailed regulatory order will follow.

Merger control clearance for acquisition creating sole control over a global flexible-packaging company; detailed order to follow.
The Commission approved a notified combination in which Capripack BidCo GmbH will acquire sole control of Constantia Flexibles Holding GmbH by purchasing 100% of its shareholding and voting rights from Constantia Lux S.a r.l. Capripack is an acquisition vehicle indirectly majority owned by funds managed or advised by One Rock Capital Partners; the seller is indirectly controlled by funds affiliated with the Wendel Group. Constantia is a global flexible-packaging producer whose products include aluminium foil, film and paper-based materials for food, pharmaceutical, household and other end uses. A detailed order will follow.

Protected species enforcement: seizure of illegally transported Indian Tent Turtles and transfer to forest authorities under wildlife law.
Seizure and enforcement action followed intelligence-led interception of interstate transport of baby Indian Tent Turtles, with arrest of the transporter and seizure under the Wild Life (Protection) Act; the species is listed as a protected species under Schedule I and the matter was handed over to the Forest Department for further investigation and management.

Social pension guarantee expands as Atal Pension Yojana widens coverage, ensuring lifelong pension and spousal benefit.
Under the scheme, subscribers who contribute until age sixty become entitled to lifelong monthly pension within a prescribed range determined by contribution levels and entry age. The scheme provides triple benefits: a guaranteed lifelong pension to the subscriber, continuation of the same pension to the spouse on the subscriber's death, and return of accumulated pension wealth to the nominee upon the death of both subscriber and spouse.

Investment promotion: global IPAs convene to advance policies, collaboration and sustainable foreign direct investment opportunities.
India will host the 27th World Investment Conference, gathering IPAs, multilateral organisations, the private sector and startups to advance investment promotion and facilitation under the theme "Empowering Investors: IPAs Pioneering Future Growth." The four day programme includes meetings of IPAs of G20 nations and WIDA, sectoral parallel sessions, policy roundtables, white papers on priority sectors, an Experience India Centre showcasing services and technology, and a Startup Investor Connect to facilitate funding and international engagement.

Open Network for Digital Commerce expands onboarding of small producers and enterprises, enabling transactions without central monitoring.
The Open Network for Digital Commerce operates as a decentralised facilitation network that does not directly onboard sellers or centrally monitor transactions, and has expanded participation by onboarding Farmer Producer Organisations, Self Help Groups, micro entrepreneurs and food sellers through seller network participants while pursuing MSME marketplace integration.

Multimodal connectivity promotes infrastructure projects to improve logistics, shorten travel times, and boost regional socio economic development.
Two rail projects-a Greenfield last mile link to coal blocks and a brownfield corridor upgrade to relieve congestion-plus two roads reducing travel distances and times were reviewed under PM GatiShakti to promote multimodal connectivity, increase rail and port cargo share, and support socio economic upliftment of tribal and industrial regions through integrated area development planning.

Quality Control Orders and product quality: industry urged to prioritise high standards and domestic sourcing to boost competitiveness.
The Minister urged the consumer electronics industry to prioritise product quality and adopt Indian-made components, noting the issuance of Quality Control Orders as a regulatory step to protect consumers and enhance industry competitiveness; he framed these actions as central to job creation, scaling domestic and global competitiveness, and aligning industry practices with broader economic and social development objectives.