Sovereign Gold Bond digital payment discount: online applications with digital payment receive a reduced issue price during subscription.
Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme 2020-21 (Series XII) fixes the issue price for the March subscription and provides a conditional digital payment discount for investors who both apply online and make payment through digital modes; the discount is available only for purchases completed during the specified subscription period and follows Government of India consultation with the Reserve Bank of India.

Central government receipts and spending: tax, non tax and capital receipts and revenue versus capital expenditures tracked.
The Union Government's monthly accounts to January 2021 detail central receipts dominated by Tax Revenue (Net), supplemented by Non Tax Revenue and Non Debt Capital Receipts (loan recoveries and disinvestment), with a significant portion transferred to States as Devolution of Share of Taxes. Total Expenditure is categorised into Revenue and Capital Expenditure, with interest payments and major subsidies as major components of Revenue Expenditure, indicating the composition and pace of budget execution for the financial year.

Government banking access: private banks may now be authorised to handle government transactions, broadening authorised banking participation.
The embargo has been lifted so private sector banks may be authorised by the Reserve Bank of India to conduct Government-related banking transactions, including taxes, revenue receipts, pension payments, small savings schemes and Government agency business; the Government has communicated its decision to the RBI and there is no longer a bar on RBI granting such authorisations to private banks.

Accommodative stance maintained; policy repo rate unchanged to support recovery while keeping inflation within target.
The Monetary Policy Committee unanimously decided to keep the policy repo rate unchanged and to maintain an accommodative stance to support a durable growth revival and mitigate COVID 19 impacts while ensuring inflation remains within the target, citing a recovering economy, large surplus liquidity, moderation in headline CPI driven by food disinflation, persistent core inflation risks, and upside pressures from commodity and crude oil prices that warrant close monitoring.

Credit derivatives directions invite stakeholder feedback from banks and market participants, prescribing comment submission procedure to RBI.
The Reserve Bank of India has issued the Draft Reserve Bank of India (Credit Derivatives) Directions, 2021 under Section 45W to implement a revised regulatory framework for credit derivatives and invites comments from banks, market participants and other interested parties, directing submission of feedback to the Chief General Manager, Financial Markets Regulation Department, at the Central Office address or by email with the specified subject line and within the stated deadline.

Government securities auction: mixed price- and yield-based sale with non-competitive allocation and when-issued trading eligibility.
Sale and re-issue of four central government securities will be conducted by the central bank on a specified date using the multiple price method: three securities via price-based auctions and one via a yield-based auction, with an option for the issuer to retain additional subscription against each. Up to five percent of each notified amount is reserved for eligible individuals and institutions under a non-competitive bidding facility; bids must be submitted electronically on the central bank's auction platform within prescribed time windows, and the securities qualify for when issued trading under central bank guidelines.

Company incorporation increase supported by MCA COVID relief measures easing filings, meetings, and compliance to facilitate registrations.
Company incorporations rose about 21% in April-December 2020 versus the same period in 2019, accompanied by MCA reliefs that eased filings and governance obligations. Key measures included the Companies Fresh Start Scheme, 2020 allowing belated filings without extra fees and immunity from prosecutions, condonation and filing deadline extensions for charge and restoration forms, deferral of Companies (Auditor's Report) Order applicability, relaxations for Board/EGM/AGM conduct via video conferencing with e voting, extended timelines for deposit and debenture investment requirements, waiver of certain residency and independent director meeting requirements, and classification of CAPF/CPMF related expenditure as CSR.

Kisan Credit Card expansion increases farmer access to timely agricultural credit and simplified ATM-enabled features nationwide.
A nationwide drive since February 2020 resulted in sanction of 187.03 lakh Kisan Credit Cards up to 29 January 2021 to provide eligible farmers timely credit for agricultural inputs. The Kisan Credit Card Scheme, simplified since 2012, features ATM enabled debit cards, one time documentation, built in cost escalation in limits and unlimited withdrawals within sanctioned limits, with issuance data reported by RBI and NABARD in annexures.

Basic Savings Bank Deposit accounts guarantee free minimum services and no minimum balance, with deposit and withdrawal rights.
Accounts opened under the scheme are classified as Basic Savings Bank Deposit (BSBD) accounts. Banks must provide specified minimum banking facilities to BSBD holders free of charge and without any requirement of minimum balance, including cash deposits at branches and ATMs/CDMs, electronic credits and government cheque collections, unrestricted monthly deposits, at least four monthly withdrawals including ATM use, and issuance of an ATM or ATM cum debit card.

Government securities auction rules: price-based multiple-price auction with competitive and non-competitive bids and allocation limits.
Announcement of a re-issue auction of multiple central government securities by the Government of India using a price-based, multiple price method; the Government may retain additional subscriptions and a fixed percentage of each issue is reserved for eligible investors under the Non-Competitive Bidding Facility. Bids must be submitted electronically via the Reserve Bank's E-Kuber system within prescribed time windows for non-competitive and competitive bids; results are announced on the auction day, payment follows, and the securities are eligible for When Issued trading under Reserve Bank guidelines.

Government Security Auction: re-issue of two dated securities via price-based multiple-price auction with non-competitive facility.
The Government announced re-issue auctions of two dated Government Securities via the Reserve Bank of India using the multiple price method, with an option to retain additional subscriptions. Up to five percent of each notified amount is reserved for eligible bidders under the Non-Competitive Bidding Facility. Bids must be submitted electronically on the RBI E-Kuber system within prescribed windows, results will be declared on auction day, settlement will follow on the scheduled payment date, and the securities are eligible for When Issued trading under RBI guidelines.

Accommodative monetary stance maintained to support durable economic recovery while ensuring inflation converges to target.
The MPC kept the policy repo rate unchanged and decided to continue an accommodative stance to revive growth while ensuring CPI inflation converges to the medium term target of 4 per cent within a +/-2 per cent band; this decision reflects assessments of a softened global recovery, domestic GDP contraction with nascent revival, moderating food inflation but elevated core inflation, large systemic liquidity, and risks from commodity and petroleum price pressures, and it endorses supply side measures alongside continued policy support until recovery is durable.

FDI increase in insurance sector encourages long-term capital inflows, competition, consolidation, and more affordable consumer products.
Amendment to the Insurance Act, 1938 raises the permissible foreign direct investment limit in insurance companies while imposing safeguards: majority resident Indian directors, at least 50% Independent Directors, and mandated profit retention as general reserve, to allow greater foreign ownership and strategic participation alongside protections for domestic governance.

Seed funding for startups enables proof of concept to commercialization through incubators, expanding access under a national scheme.
A national seed funding scheme funds proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry and commercialization for eligible startups via accredited incubators, with a multi year corpus phased over the scheme period. Complementary Atmanirbhar measures address liquidity through loan moratoriums, deferment of interest, recalibration of working capital drawing power, and supervisory review; and provide MSME support via subordinate debt, equity infusion, revised MSME thresholds, procurement preferences, production linked incentives, and temporary EPF contribution reliefs.

Decriminalisation of LLP compliance breaches shifts minor violations to administrative adjudication, easing compliance and funding options.
Proposed decriminalisation under the Limited Liability Partnership Act shifts minor, non malicious compoundable offences to an In house Adjudication Mechanism, retains criminal treatment for serious fraudulent or public interest harms, and includes complementary measures: creation of a Small LLP category with reduced compliance, permission for LLPs to raise capital through fully secured Non Convertible Debentures from regulated investors, and reduction of additional late filing fees to promote timely compliance.