Financial inclusion: banks urged to strengthen last mile outreach, Aadhaar integration, and branch expansion for unbanked areas.
Review of progress under Financial Inclusion schemes focused on implementation of deposit, insurance, pension and micro credit programmes, branch opening in unbanked villages, and operational issues including CKYC, Jan Samarth portal integration and Aadhaar seeding. Banks were urged to intensify last mile outreach, enhance customer experience, adopt a newly showcased Aadhaar authentication product to improve onboarding, and coordinate with agencies to deepen financial inclusion.

Old tax regime option requires filing Form 10-IEA for certain return types to opt out of the default new regime.
For assessment year 2024-25 the New Tax Regime is the default; taxpayers wishing to opt for the OLD TAX REGIME should either select the option in ITR when eligible to use ITR 1 or ITR 2 and file by the due date, or, if required to file under ITR 3, ITR 4 or ITR 5, must file Form 10-IEA before the applicable return filing due date; taxpayers should compare tax liabilities under both regimes before filing.

Direct tax revenue growth reflects stronger net and gross collections with increased advance tax and higher refunds issued.
Net and gross direct tax receipts for the financial year show significant year on year increases, with net collections comprising Corporation Tax and Personal Income Tax (including Securities Transaction Tax) net of refunds. Provisional gross collections are presented before refunds and broken down by major heads including Tax Deducted at Source, Advance Tax, Self Assessment Tax, Regular Assessment Tax and other minor heads. Advance Tax and refunds both show notable growth relative to the corresponding prior period.

Continuity of economic reforms affirmed, focusing on ease of living and coordinated stakeholder action to sustain macroeconomic stability.
The Union Finance Minister's assumption of charge reaffirms commitment to continuing reforms initiated since 2014 to sustain macroeconomic stability and growth; departmental briefings addressed ongoing policy issues and the Minister directed continuation of reforms and responsive policymaking. The Minister emphasised Ease of Living as a policy objective and called for coordinated action by departments, industry stakeholders, and regulators to advance the development agenda and implementation of inclusive, growth oriented policies.

Ministerial appointment: Minister of State for Finance assumes charge and meets senior finance officials to begin administrative oversight.
Shri Pankaj Chaudhary assumed charge as Minister of State for Finance for a consecutive term and held introductory meetings with the Finance Secretary, other senior secretaries of the Ministry and the Chief Economic Adviser; he is an experienced parliamentarian with prior municipal office and membership of multiple parliamentary committees relevant to public undertakings, rural development, environment, chemicals and railways.

Investment cooperation strengthens India-Qatar bilateral ties and identifies cross sector opportunities for accelerated growth and collaboration.
The Joint Task Force on Investment between India and Qatar convened its inaugural meeting to advance a bilateral framework for investment cooperation, co chaired by senior economic officials, aiming to identify and promote opportunities across infrastructure, energy, technology and innovation, and to strengthen institutional collaboration for accelerated mutual growth.

Central Excise Bill 2024 modernises excise law, sets levy, valuation, input credit, enforcement and appeal mechanisms.
The Central Excise Bill, 2024 modernises and replaces the Central Excise Act, 1944 to provide for levy and collection of central excise duty on excisable goods, enables designation of notified goods with alternative bases of levy, prescribes valuation, registration, invoicing and an input credit regime (Central Excise Duty Credit), and sets out assessment, refund, audit, demand, recovery, penalty, settlement, and appellate procedures, together with search, seizure and transitional repeal provisions and detailed tariff schedules.