Exchange of tax information enables cross border sharing and mutual collection assistance to combat tax evasion and avoidance.
The bilateral Agreement establishes a framework for cross border exchange of taxpayer information, including banking and ownership data, and for mutual assistance in collection of tax claims. It permits both on request and automatic exchange of information and aligns cooperation procedures with international tax transparency standards to support tax assessment, recovery, and efforts to prevent evasion and avoidance.

Electoral Bond Scheme regulates purchase and encashment through authorized bank branches, with strict validity and party eligibility rules.
The Electoral Bond Scheme 2018 allows Indian citizens and entities incorporated/established in India to purchase bearer electoral bonds, while only political parties registered under the Representation of the People Act that secured at least one per cent of votes in the last relevant election may receive and encash them. Issuance and encashment occur solely through 29 designated State Bank of India branches during specified windows in March, April and May 2019. Each bond is valid for fifteen calendar days from issue; late deposits are not payable and eligible party deposits are credited the same day into the party's authorised bank account.

Bilateral swap arrangement expands foreign exchange access, granting India flexible short term liquidity support under the agreement.
The Bilateral Swap Arrangement between the Reserve Bank of India and the Bank of Japan permits India to draw on agreed foreign exchange resources to support domestic currency needs for balance of payments management and short term liquidity; draws may be made in part at India's discretion to supplement official reserves when judged necessary.

Government fiscal position: consolidated receipts and higher expenditure up to January, with increased tax devolution to states.
Consolidated central receipts to January 2019 comprise Tax Revenue (Net to Centre), Non-Tax Revenue and Non-Debt Capital Receipts including loan recoveries and disinvestment; the release quantifies each component as a share of the revised estimates. It records the amount transferred to states as Devolution of Share of Taxes and the year-on-year increase. Total expenditure is broken into Revenue Expenditure and Capital Account, with interest payments and major subsidies singled out within revenue expenditure.

Auction of government securities by price-based multiple-price method; electronic competitive and non-competitive bids with reserved allotment.
The Government announced re-issue auctions of specified Government Stocks using the multiple price method with a capped total notified amount and an option to retain additional subscriptions. Auctions will be conducted electronically on the central bank's core banking bidding system, accepting competitive and non-competitive bids within prescribed time windows. Up to five percent of notified amounts is reserved under the Non-Competitive Bidding Facility for eligible individuals and institutions. Results will be announced on the auction date and successful bidders must remit payment on the designated settlement date. Stocks are eligible for When Issued trading under prevailing central bank guidelines.

Trade integration as the core driver: deepen India ASEAN links via RCEP engagement, connectivity and investment reforms.
The inauguration emphasised trade as the central integrative mechanism between India and ASEAN, India's constructive engagement in RCEP negotiations and the need to review the ASEAN India Trade in Goods Agreement, while presenting domestic reforms-FDI liberalisation, GST, flagship programmes and connectivity projects-as enablers to attract ASEAN investment and deepen regional value chains.

Centralised stamp duty collection for securities: single point levy, remittance to states based on buyer domicile, preventing double taxation.
Amendments to the Indian Stamp Act, 1899 create a centralised mechanism authorising stock exchanges, clearing corporations or depositories to collect stamp duty on securities at one place on behalf of States, allocate proceeds to States based on buyer domicile, limit duty to one side of a transaction, define taxable bases for different instruments, exclude government securities, prevent multiple incidence on secondary records, grant rulemaking and penalty powers, provide commission to collectors, and propose an Article 263 Coordination Council for inter state coordination.

Regional Trade and Investment Integration to deepen India ASEAN commercial ties through ministerial engagement and B2B platforms.
A Department of Commerce flagship India-ASEAN Expo and Summit, organised with FICCI, convenes Trade Ministers, the ASEAN Secretary General and business delegations for plenary sessions and a multi-sector exposition with national pavilions. The programme pairs sectoral dialogues across key industries with structured B2B and B2G buyer seller meetings to promote business engagement and integrate Indian and ASEAN firms into regional value chains, thereby advancing trade and investment cooperation.

Government securities auction using price based multiple price method, with non competitive retail allotment and when issued trading eligibility.
Sale by re issue of four dated Government securities is announced with an aggregate notified limit and an option for additional retention; the offers will be conducted by the Reserve Bank of India on a price based auction using the multiple price method on February 22, 2019, with settlement on February 25, 2019. Up to five percent of the notified amounts is allotted under the Non Competitive Bidding Facility to eligible individuals and institutions; bids must be submitted electronically via E Kuber within prescribed time windows, and the stocks are eligible for When Issued trading under RBI guidelines.

Committee of Creditors capacity workshop advances financial creditors' understanding of insolvency governance and creditor decision-making.
IBBI convened a two-day capacity-building workshop titled Committee of Creditors: An Institution of Public Faith to strengthen financial creditors' understanding of insolvency governance and the role of creditor collectives under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. The program targeted senior officers from major scheduled commercial banks who serve as members of the Committee of Creditors, and focused on enhancing decision making, procedural familiarity, and public trust responsibilities incumbent on creditor institutions.

Unified hedging facility for foreign exchange exposure allows residents and non residents to hedge valid and anticipated exposures.
The Reserve Bank's draft directions merge resident and non resident hedging regimes into a single unified facility, allow users with valid exposure to hedge using any available instrument, introduce a facility to hedge anticipated exposure, and simplify procedures for authorised dealers offering foreign exchange derivatives; the draft is open for public consultation and will replace Parts A, Sections I and II of the Master Direction on Risk Management and Interbank Dealings when finalised.

Financial benchmark administration: draft regulatory directions issued for public consultation to strengthen benchmark governance and oversight.
Draft directions on Financial Benchmark Administrators have been issued for public consultation, inviting market participants to submit feedback to the Reserve Bank via the designated contact or email. The draft, based on the Committee on Financial Benchmarks' report and international best practices, seeks to establish a regulatory framework to strengthen governance, oversight and supervisory expectations for benchmark administrators in markets regulated by the Reserve Bank.

Security clearance: ministry processed proposals across critical sectors, while FDI automatic route data remain unavailable.
Security clearance by the Ministry of Home Affairs has been granted for numerous proposals in critical infrastructure sectors, with the Ministry disposing of over 4,600 security clearance proposals and reporting an average processing time of about 71 days in 2018. FDI is subject to either an automatic route, which requires no separate administrative approval under foreign exchange regulations, or a government approval route that requires Ministry security clearance; data on the share of FDI entering via the automatic route are not available.

Unified IFSC regulatory authority to govern financial services in IFSCs with central regulator nominees and coordinated oversight.
The Bill establishes a Unified Regulatory Authority for IFSCs to regulate financial products, services and institutions within IFSCs, consolidating oversight to enable inter regulatory coordination. Composition rules allocate one nominee from each regulator (RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, PFRDA), two finance ministry nominees, and up to two government appointed members on selection committee recommendation. Chairperson and members hold three year terms and are eligible for reappointment.

Government securities auction: re issue conducted by central bank via multiple price bidding with non competitive allotment facility.
Re issue of five central government stocks will be offered through price based multiple price auctions conducted by the central bank on the stated auction date; the government may retain additional subscriptions within a stated limit. Up to 5% of each issue is reserved under the Non Competitive Bidding Facility for eligible individuals and institutions. Competitive and non competitive bids must be submitted electronically via the RBI E Kuber system within prescribed time windows. Auction results and payment occur on specified subsequent dates, and the stocks qualify for "When Issued" trading per RBI guidelines.

Priority Sector Lending targets reinforce weaker sections credit allocation alongside insolvency and governance reforms to strengthen bank recovery mechanisms.
A regulatory target requires banks to allocate a specified proportion of Adjusted Net Bank Credit to lending for weaker sections, subject to quarterly and annual monitoring. A fourfold framework of recognition, resolution, recapitalisation and reforms directs operational measures in public sector banks-digital access, segregation of sanction roles, ring-fencing of cash flows, risk appetite frameworks, stressed asset management verticals, one-time settlement platforms and faster MSME receivables realisation. Statutory changes enable an insolvency resolution framework with creditor-driven management takeover at the outset, bar wilful defaulters from resolution, allow supervisory directions to initiate insolvency proceedings, and strengthen securitisation and recovery procedures.

Relaxation of external borrowing end use rules permits resolution applicants to use ECBs for repayment of rupee loans.
The Statement proposes targeted regulatory changes including relaxation of External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) end use restrictions to allow resolution applicants under the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process to use ECB proceeds for repayment of rupee term loans; revision of the threshold and supervisory recording requirements for bulk deposits; consideration of an Umbrella Organization (UO) for urban cooperative banks; risk weighting of rated bank exposures to NBFCs in line with accredited ratings while retaining uniform treatment for Core Investment Companies; harmonisation of major NBFC categories into a single activity based category; and near term issuance of guidelines for these measures.

Ban on unregulated deposit schemes criminalizes promotion and operation, enabling asset attachment and restitution to depositors.
A central legislative scheme imposes a ban on unregulated deposit-taking by prohibiting promotion, operation, advertisement or acceptance of deposits in Unregulated Deposit Schemes, creates distinct offences for running such schemes, fraudulent default and wrongful inducement, and provides for deterrent punishments. It establishes mechanisms for disgorgement and repayment, attachment and realization of assets by a designated Competent Authority, clear timelines for restitution, a central database for deposit information, and state-led implementation with a list of Regulated Deposit Schemes that the Central Government may alter.

Treasury bill auction schedule adjusted: notified issuance amounts set for the quarter but remain subject to modification.
Modified auction calendar and notified issuance amounts for Treasury Bills for the remainder of the quarter ending March 2019, detailing scheduled auction and issue dates with per auction allocations across 91 day, 182 day and 364 day tenors and aggregate totals; the Government, in consultation with the Reserve Bank, may revise amounts or timing due to financing requirements, market conditions or intervening holidays, with changes to be announced by press release, and all auctions subject to the terms of the applicable General Notification as amended.

Auction of government securities: re-issue via multiple-price method with competitive and non-competitive bidding and allotment.
Re-issue auctions of specified government stocks will be carried out by electronic auction using the multiple price method, with both competitive and non-competitive bids allowed, up to five percent of notified amounts reserved for eligible individuals and institutions under the non-competitive bidding scheme; the government may retain additional subscriptions up to the overall notified cap, and the stocks are eligible for when issued trading under existing guidelines.