IBC process efficiency enhanced through streamlined filings, NeSL default recognition, and mandatory bank monitoring of large accounts.
Lenders must establish systems to efficiently assign eligible debt to NARCL and address inter creditor issues caused by differential security structures and additional or exclusive collateral. To expedite insolvency resolution under the IBC, banks should simplify filings, engage more experienced counsel, and ensure regular senior management monitoring of high value cases. Record of default from NeSL was proposed as sufficient evidence of default to facilitate admission of insolvency applications, and enhanced collaboration among banks' legal teams, NeSL and the insolvency regulator was recommended; MDs will closely monitor top accounts.

Economic Census approval delayed as multiple states withhold or await provisional results, preventing nationwide finalization.
Field operations for the 7th Economic Census are complete but nationwide results remain unfinalized because several States and UTs have either not approved provisional findings or have pending approval decisions; West Bengal did not participate in the census but supplied sectoral agriculture and mining data used for GDP compilation.

Per capita income disparity across States highlights uneven development and prompts focus on inclusive growth measures.
Per capita Net State Domestic Product (NSDP) varies markedly across States and Union Territories for 2020-21 to 2022-23, with State/UT-wise figures at current and constant (2011-12) prices tabulated in Annexures I and II. The release attributes differences to differing economic development levels and outlines Government measures aimed at inclusive growth-targeted schemes for income support, agricultural credit and insurance, infrastructure and liquidity support, and rural livelihood and social assistance programmes. Data are sourced from State Directorates of Economics & Statistics; some UT estimates are not compiled.

Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting reframes ESG disclosures as strategic investment and a compliance framework for responsible corporate conduct.
BRSR and ESG disclosure obligations are framed as strategic frameworks for corporate transparency and accountability, with disclosures serving as a roadmap to engage stakeholders and integrate sustainability into corporate strategy. The workshop linked ESG with NGRBC principles, emphasizing materiality and saliency approaches, human rights due diligence, DE&I, and women- and children-friendly policies as operative elements for legal compliance and responsible business conduct.

Investor protection: workshop promotes claiming unclaimed funds and simplifying procedures to return financial assets to rightful claimants.
The IEPFA-NCAER workshop concentrated on enhancing investor awareness and procedures for claiming unclaimed financial assets (provident funds, shares, dividends, deposits/debentures). It outlined IEPFA's administrative role in securing and facilitating refunds from the Investor Education and Protection Fund and identified claim settlement obstacles-incomplete or mismatched documentation, legal issues, delayed discrepancy responses, and lack of claimant awareness-while promoting youth engagement, grassroots outreach, and procedural steps to simplify recovery and improve financial inclusion.

Responsible Business Conduct: national conference to promote embracing ESG and showcase stakeholder initiatives for sustainable business practices.
National Conference on Responsible Business Conduct 2023, organized by the School of Business Environment at the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs, will promote adoption of Environmental, Social and Governance practices by addressing challenges such as climate change, resource depletion, human rights and resilience, and by facilitating engagement among government, corporate and civil society stakeholders on implementing ESG in business strategy.

Independent director certification promoted to strengthen board governance and improve director effectiveness through targeted capacity-building.
A two-day familiarisation programme for independent directors concluded in Goa to strengthen corporate governance through capacity-building on board responsibilities, oversight, sustainability, regulatory compliance and fiduciary accountability. Over forty-five directors from diverse sectors attended sessions led by senior governance practitioners. IICA, as the Ministry of Corporate Affairs' think tank, emphasised its Independent Director Databank & Certification initiative as a mandatory certification intended to improve board composition, discourse and director effectiveness.

BRSR reporting requirement strengthens non financial disclosure obligations for large listed companies under SEBI's mandated ESG framework.
The document describes the shift from the Business Responsibility Report to the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting framework, which mandates more comprehensive quantitative and qualitative non financial disclosures. It emphasises that large listed companies are required to submit non financial performance data under a regulatory reporting mandate, and that BRSR reporting is intended to evidence ESG commitment, improve stakeholder engagement, and elevate disclosure quality on themes such as diversity, materiality, and occupational health and safety.

Memorandum of Understanding empowers corporate and women entrepreneurs through training, mentorship and enhanced workforce diversity.
A Memorandum of Understanding establishes a formal collaboration between the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs and Lean Campus Startups & WEICI India to co design and deliver workshops, training sessions, networking events, and mentorship aimed at strengthening entrepreneurship competencies, business management skills, and workforce diversity. The agreement focuses programme delivery for women entrepreneurs and students, with IICA providing institutional backing and sectoral expertise and the partners responsible for outreach and implementation.

Energy sector regulatory collaboration to enhance capacity-building, research and advisory services through a formal institutional partnership.
A memorandum creates a formal partnership between the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs and FSR Global to jointly design and deliver capacity-building, research, and advisory services to enhance operational capabilities within the energy sector regulatory landscape, using pragmatic, actionable approaches and knowledge co-creation to support governance and sustainable practices.

Protection and Indemnity entity proposed to strengthen maritime liability cover and boost maritime arbitration and ship finance options.
A proposal for a full-fledged Protection and Indemnity (P&I) entity aims to reduce vulnerability to international sanctions, provide liability protection for coastal and inland vessels, secure India's presence in the specialized P&I insurance segment, and encourage maritime arbitration. Complementary measures include IRDAI-backed Marine Cargo Pool and reinsurance reforms, the IFSCA Framework for Ship Leasing with IFSC tax incentives, establishment of ADR mechanism SAROD-Ports, and an International Arbitration Centre in GIFT City to speed dispute resolution.

Memorandum of Understanding: Collaboration to strengthen academic research and capacity building across corporate and telecom governance.
A Memorandum of Understanding establishes a structured academic and research collaboration between IICA and NICF to pool professional capabilities for advocacy, research support, technical assistance and capacity building across finance, corporate and competition law, corporate governance, insolvency and bankruptcy law, leadership, and telecommunication policy. The MoU foresees exchange of knowledge and resources, jointly conducted research, and coordinated training programmes to up skill officers and strengthen institutional expertise, formalising reciprocal commitments to provide technical and training support and create sustained institutional linkages.

Antitrust enforcement: international cooperation urged to prevent regulatory arbitrage and preserve contestability in digital markets.
Strong antitrust enforcement and international cooperation are central to preserving competitive digital markets by addressing platform gateway power, data control and market access. Capacity building in artificial intelligence, blockchains and algorithms is necessary for authorities to detect anti-competitive conduct. Incorporating sustainability into competition policy can stimulate cleaner innovation while avoiding anti-competitive barriers. BRICS joint documents on Leniency Programmes and the Digital Economy support coordinated cross-border cartel investigations, improved merger control responses, and the use of soft-law tools and market studies to foster pro-competitive environments.

World Bank evolution urged to align MDB procedures and mobilise new concessional finance for country-led climate and development priorities.
India endorses MDB evolution to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity on a liveable planet, insisting Bank engagement be rooted in national development priorities and that climate action respect common but differentiated responsibilities with stronger adaptation finance. It urges alignment of MDB processes to ease client burden, an enhanced approach to mobilise private capital while recognizing limits, conditional support for Global Challenge Programs based on country demand and concessional finance, and mobilisation of new additional resources through concessional replenishments and general capital increases to meet expanded development objectives.

Competition cooperation across BRICS to advance leniency and digital economy collaboration and harmonise enforcement approaches.
An international conference convenes competition authorities and experts to advance cooperation on enforcement and policy responses to emergent competition challenges, emphasising joint work on leniency programmes and competition issues in the digital economy. Delegates will review joint reports on Leniency Programme and Digital Economy, participate in plenary and breakout sessions, and pursue dialogue on harmonising investigatory and enforcement practices across BRICS jurisdictions, including soft law tools, market studies, sustainability considerations, and cross border merger control challenges.

Certificate course completion highlights institutional research training and issuance of digital certificates after a virtual research methodology programme
Conclusion of the first batch of the three month virtual Certificate Course in Research Methodology by IICA, delivered online, culminating in a valedictory programme with digital certificate issuance; the course featured faculty led instruction, participant engagement in research methodology and proposal writing, and positive participant feedback.

Competition clearance for minority acquisition in eyewear company by private equity fund, with detailed order pending under merger review.
Approval was granted for Kedaara Capital Fund III LLP's proposed acquisition of approximately 1.74% of the fully diluted issued share capital of Lenskart Solutions Private Limited. The acquirer is a Category II Alternative Investment Fund engaged in investments; the target manufactures and retails and wholesales eyewear products, including eyeglasses, sunglasses and accessories. A detailed regulatory order will follow.

Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting promotes integrating ESG into corporate compliance, disclosure practices and capacity building.
Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) is presented as a practical reporting and corporate-governance mechanism aligned with international frameworks to advance Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) integration. The workshop focused on materiality assessment, disclosure of carbon footprints, occupational health and safety reporting, social policies, and linkages between BRSR and national voluntary guidelines. Participants were urged to embed ESG within core compliance practices and to use BRSR for risk mitigation, reputation management and value creation, supported by capacity building and technical guidance.

InvIT unit and manager equity acquisitions cleared, permitting foreign pension-plan controlled entities to increase infrastructure holdings.
Approval concerns acquisitions by OTPP-controlled entities: additional unit holdings in Highways Infrastructure Trust and an equity stake in Highway Concessions One Private Limited. The Target Trust is a SEBI-registered InvIT owning road assets and HC One is its investment manager performing investment-decision and oversight functions under the InvIT Regulations. The transactions are separate combinations involving unit acquisition in the Trust and equity acquisition in the investment manager, and CCI approval has been granted with a detailed order to follow.

Competition approval for acquisition of minority stake in TVS Credit by PI Opportunities Fund and affiliated individual investors.
The Competition Commission of India cleared the proposed acquisition of a minority shareholding in TVS Credit Services Limited by PI Opportunities Fund I Scheme II, a SEBI registered Category II Alternative Investment Fund owned and controlled by Premji Invest, together with certain individual acquirers who are senior management, partners and consultants of Premji Invest and its affiliates. The target is an India incorporated retail focused NBFC NDSI engaged in vehicle and consumer lending. A detailed CCI order will follow.