Paperless Budget: Interim Budget to be delivered digitally with full Budget documents accessible via a bilingual mobile app.
The Government marked the final preparatory stage for the Interim Union Budget with the Halwa ceremony and confirmed the Budget will be presented in paperless form; all constitutional Budget documents, including the Annual Financial Statement, Demand for Grants and Finance Bill, will be published bilingually on a mobile application and the Budget web portal for access after the Budget speech.

Direct listing on international exchanges expands fundraising options for public Indian companies, enabling dual market access.
Amendments and a new scheme enable public Indian companies to directly list equity on prescribed GIFT IFSC international exchanges, presently permitting unlisted public companies to list on India International Exchange and NSE International Exchange; operational guidelines for listed companies remain to be issued. The framework complements Companies Act enabling provisions and amended foreign exchange rules to allow issuance and listing in permissible international venues, facilitating dual access to domestic INR and IFSC foreign currency capital markets and aiming to broaden investor base and enhance liquidity.

Public private partnership structuring toolkit improves project viability assessment and contingent liability estimation for solid waste management.
The Infrastructure Finance Secretariat held a two-day workshop to train Project Sponsoring Authorities on the PPP Structuring Toolkit for Solid Waste Management projects, demonstrating five tools-Suitability Filter, Family Indicator Tool, Mode Validation Tool, Financial Viability Indicator, and Value for Money Indicator-and a Contingent Liability Toolkit to estimate probable PSA pay-outs, aimed at improving project structuring, attracting private investment, and building a pipeline of viable PPP projects.

Stamp duty reform: Draft Indian Stamp Bill proposes repeal and replacement of old Act; public comments invited for consultation.
The draft Indian Stamp Bill, 2023 proposes repeal of the Indian Stamp Act, 1899 and enactment of a modernised statute to update the stamp duty regime, while preserving its fiscal character and central enactment/state appropriation framework. The Department of Revenue has published the draft and invited public suggestions in a prescribed proforma to a designated email address within the consultation period.

GST and faceless assessment reforms driving enhanced tax administration and capacity building through a new national training academy.
The new NACIN campus at Palasamudram is a national apex training institute, recognised by the World Customs Organisation as an Institute of National Importance, to build capacity in customs, indirect taxes and narcotics control for IRS officers, allied services, state officials and partner nations; it links tax-administration reforms-GST, simplified income tax and faceless assessment-with expanded taxpayer confidence and mandates integration of emerging technologies into professional training.

Direct tax collections show significant year-on-year growth and constitute a substantial proportion of the fiscal year's budget estimate.
Direct tax receipts show year-on-year increases in both gross and net collections, with net collections after refunds rising more sharply and comprising 80.61% of the fiscal year's budget estimate; refunds issued during the period are substantial and are explicitly deducted to report net growth. Corporate Income Tax records moderate gross growth and higher net growth after refunds, while Personal Income Tax records stronger growth in both gross and net terms, with figures presented provisionally up to the stated date.

Tax evasion exposed through search and seizure revealing unrecorded cash sales and distributor-facilitated false transactions.
Search and seizure operations uncovered documented and digital evidence indicating systematic tax evasion by a manufacturing group and certain authorised distributors, including unrecorded cash sales, distributor-paid unaccounted cash purchases, fabricated transport and subcontracting expenses, issuance of bills without genuine supply, seizure of physical unaccounted cash, and restraint on multiple bank lockers, with forensic examination and further investigation ongoing.

Tax filing compliance strengthened by prefilled returns and TIN 2.0, boosting e filing efficiency and taxpayer support.
The Income tax Department reported increased ITR filings for A.Y. 2023-24 driven by enhanced prefilled data in returns and taxpayer access to Annual Information Statement and Taxpayer Information Summary, alongside a rise in audit reports and forms filed. Operational changes included deployment of the e pay platform TIN 2.0 enabling multiple e payment options and near real time tax crediting, extensive targeted outreach campaigns, and expanded Helpdesk support; taxpayers are advised to verify unverified ITRs within thirty days to avoid consequences.