Fixation of tariff value for specified imports fixes valuation rates and clarifies category definitions for import assessment.
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs amends the principal customs notification by substituting TABLE-1, TABLE-2 and TABLE-3 to fix tariff values for specified imports. The amendment establishes US dollar per metric tonne values for edible oils, brass scrap and areca nut, and unit-based US dollar values with definitional clarifications for specified categories of gold and silver. The substituted tables are the operative reference for import valuation and the amendment is effective from the stated effective date.

Guaranteed pension entitlement under Atal Pension Yojana strengthened as enrolments rise and digital onboarding expands nationwide.
Atal Pension Yojana enrolment expanded with increased assets under management and targeted outreach; digital onboarding and awareness initiatives were implemented. The scheme provides a lifelong minimum guaranteed pension from age 60, variable by contribution and age at entry; the spouse inherits the same pension on the subscriber's death, and on death of both the accumulated pension wealth up to age 60 is payable to the nominee.

Sustainable development cooperation urges SCO IBC members to deepen banking partnerships, share expertise, and support climate finance.
The SCO IBC Council agreed to deepen interbank cooperation by expanding engagement, exchanging experience and personnel training, strengthening partnerships, and creating an electronic collection of signed SCO IBC documents; it proposed the Development Bank of Kazakhstan as Chair for 2023-24. The Council emphasized sustainable development and climate finance, reaffirming support for aligning infrastructure financing with sustainability objectives, endorsing a net-zero carbon emissions target by 2070, and promoting member banks' roles in supporting green hydrogen and related green energy initiatives.

Taxpayer reporting expansion strengthens compliance and prompts directives for faster disciplinary and application disposal processes.
The Finance Minister reviewed data-driven measures that expanded reporting through the Statement of Financial Transactions and new TDS codes, noting these increased taxpayer identification and contributed to a rising Personal Income Tax to GDP ratio. She directed reduction of administrative delays in disciplinary proceedings, prompt disposal of taxpayer applications for condonation and exemptions, and enhanced taxpayer awareness and compliance outreach.

Financial markets cooperation strengthens India UK regulatory collaboration on banking, cryptoassets, insurance, capital markets, asset management and sustainable finance.
The India UK Financial Markets Dialogue brought senior government and independent regulators together to advance bilateral cooperation across banking, payments and cryptoassets, insurance, capital markets, asset management and sustainable finance, exchanging regulatory developments and identifying areas for technical collaboration-including CBDC research, cryptoasset policy coordination, insurer regulatory reforms, pension fund frameworks, fintech and equity capital markets connectivity-and committing to follow up workstreams, industry engagement through the IUKFP, a Sustainable Finance Forum and a future ministerial Economic and Financial Dialogue.

Financial inclusion schemes saturation campaign urges banks to intensify outreach and enroll eligible beneficiaries promptly.
The Secretary, Department of Financial Services reviewed progress of central financial inclusion and social security schemes administered via Public Sector Banks, urging timely achievement of targets, use of Banking Correspondents for outreach, and regional language awareness campaigns. The meeting also endorsed a three month saturation campaign for PMJJBY and PMSBY, and reviewed issuance of Kisan Credit Cards for animal husbandry and fisheries, expansion of the account aggregator ecosystem, and operational issues relating to Debt Recovery Tribunals and digital document execution.

Micro-insurance enrolment campaign to boost life and accidental coverage at gram panchayat level for vulnerable groups.
Department of Financial Services initiated a three-month nationwide micro-insurance schemes saturation campaign from 01.04.2023 to 30.06.2023, directing Central Ministries and departments to prioritise outreach at Gram Panchayat level and target groups such as Self-Help Group members, Anganwadi and health workers, unorganised labour, street vendors, urban local body staff, MNREGA workers and PM Kisan beneficiaries to increase enrolment under the life and accidental insurance schemes.

Tax evasion via cheque discounting uncovered; cooperative banks and societies used to mask cash withdrawals.
Search and seizure operations found Cooperative Banks and societies routing funds to enable tax evasion by discounting bearer cheques in fictitious names without KYC, crediting proceeds to cooperative society accounts whose cash withdrawals were returned to business entities to mask payment sources and permit bogus business expenditure; investigations also uncovered layering of unaccounted money through bank-related real estate and business dealings, misuse of funds for management-owned firms, unvouched cash-backed loans, and seizure of unaccounted cash and gold.

Micro insurance enrolment drive expands PMJJBY and PMSBY coverage through State coordination and bank led outreach.
An intensive three month national campaign will expand coverage under the micro insurance Schemes PMJJBY and PMSBY via Gram Panchayat level enrolment drives. The DFS Secretary chaired consultations with Chief Secretaries to secure State commitment for outreach, monitoring and saturation enrolment, and will meet Public Sector Bank heads to align banking channels with campaign objectives. The schemes provide defined life and accidental insurance benefits to marginalised subscribers and the meeting stressed inter agency coordination to increase active enrolments.

G20 Finance Track advances multilateral action on global debt, MDB reform, sustainable finance and international taxation.
The Union Finance Minister will lead India's delegation at the IMF World Bank Spring Meetings and the Second G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting to advance the G20 Finance Track, concentrating on global economy and international financial architecture, sustainable finance and inclusion, and international taxation, while coordinating multilateral initiatives on sovereign debt, MDB strengthening, climate finance mobilization, and policy dialogues on crypto assets and Digital Public Infrastructure.

Startup recognition enabling expedited IP, procurement relaxations and targeted financial and regulatory support for scale and market access.
DPIIT recognition as a 'startup' under the prescribed notification confers access to benefits including expedited IP processing with filing rebates, limited-period self certification under certain labour and environmental laws, exemption from a specified Income Tax Act provision, eligibility for income tax exemption upon Inter Ministerial Board certification, relaxed procurement conditions, and access to credit guarantees under a dedicated scheme; these measures operate alongside funding instruments, seed funds, regulatory reforms, and institutional platforms to promote capital access, market linkages and capacity building.

Sikkimese definition limited to income tax law, clarified that it does not apply beyond the Income-tax Act.
The amendment clarifies that the term "Sikkimese" as defined for clause (26AAA) by the Finance Act, 2023 is confined exclusively to the purposes of the Income-tax Act, 1961 and is not to be applied for any other purpose.

Direct tax collections exceed budget and revised estimates, driven by corporate and personal income tax growth affecting net revenue.
Provisional direct tax receipts for FY 2022-23 exceeded the Union Budget Estimates and Revised Estimates, with net and gross collections both recording year on year growth. Corporate tax and personal income tax were the main drivers of gross collection growth, while increased refunds materially affected net realizations, yielding an operational revenue profile comparing gross receipts, refunds and net collections against prior year and budget projections.

Public debt management: issuance, maturity profile and market trading shaped debt and liquidity dynamics in Q3 fiscal review.
Quarterly review of Public Debt Management for October-December (Q3 FY23) reports that the Central Government issued dated securities above the borrowing calendar, repaid scheduled redemptions, experienced a rise in weighted average yield and elongation of weighted average maturity of new issuances, saw no cash management bills or Reserve Bank open market operations, and recorded liquidity absorption under central bank facilities; it also summarises secondary market concentration in the 7-10 year bucket, investor trading patterns, and the maturity and ownership profile of outstanding government securities.