Tenure extension of tax board chair grants short-term contract reappointment with recruitment rule relaxation and re-employment terms.
The executive order reappoints the tax board chair on a contractual basis for a defined period or until further orders, made in relaxation of the Recruitment Rule and on the usual terms and conditions applicable to re-employed Central Government officers, thereby enabling administrative continuity in tax governance.

Digital transformation of official statistics enhances data dissemination and cybersecurity to support timely, quality data for policymaking.
National statistical administration has advanced a digital transformation prioritising Data Dissemination and public-facing data collection through multiple portals, dashboards, and a forthcoming mobile application to expand access to official statistics. The programme identifies and pilots emerging-technology use cases with international collaboration to integrate proven tools into the statistical production system. Implementation follows a phased strategy that currently focuses on dissemination and collection, paired with strengthened Cybersecurity measures-including a Chief Information Security Officer and external expertise-to protect data integrity while planning subsequent enhancements to processing and timeliness of outputs.

Statistics Day celebration highlights National Sample Survey contributions and launches publications, coin, app, and awards recipients.
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation will mark Statistics Day under the theme 75 Years of National Sample Survey by holding an inaugural session with senior officials, releasing statistical publications and commemorative items, launching the GoIStat mobile application, awarding the Prof. C.R. Rao National Award in Statistics, and conducting a technical session on frontier technologies and official statistics, including felicitation of data visualization hackathon winners.

Export facilitation expands market access as India flags off first rose scented litchi consignment to Gulf markets.
APEDA facilitated the inaugural refrigerated export of premium rose scented litchi from Pathankot to Gulf markets, coordinating with the Department of Horticulture, a retailer, and a local grower to expand market access for FPOs, FPCs and individual farmers through cold chain shipment and regional production linkages.

Due application of mind in tax scrutiny: queries must be specific and justified, with supervisors ensuring compliance.
Assessing officers must issue only relevant, specific and justified scrutiny queries grounded in the taxpayer's circumstances, exercising due application of mind; assessment unit heads bear direct responsibility for the legal quality of notices and orders. Regional heads must supervise through periodic interactions, monthly reviews against selection criteria for scrutiny, and submission of monthly quality updates to ensure compliance and avoid irrelevant queries.

Project monitoring via PMG urged to expedite intergovernmental resolution of mega infrastructure project issues and improve investment climate.
Project monitoring via the Project Monitoring Group (PMG) was directed to expedite resolution of issues across multiple mega infrastructure projects in Jharkhand, Sikkim, Nagaland, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh through enhanced central-state and inter-ministerial coordination; the Secretary, DPIIT, urged proactive use of PMG, institutional strengthening, and state measures to prioritize and support both public and private projects, with detailed reviews of Patratu Thermal Power Station Expansion, Dibang Hydropower Project, Kohima Bypass Road, and a private GeoEnpro Petroleum Limited project.

Production Linked Incentive Scheme strengthens domestic manufacturing and export competitiveness while emphasising quality skilling and infrastructure reform.
The review of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme stressed achieving self-reliance and export competitiveness by resolving infrastructure bottlenecks, prioritising quality skilling, and preparing a five-year roadmap for investments and disbursements. The scheme, implemented across multiple priority sectors, has mobilised significant investment, production and employment, and disbursed cumulative incentives to sectors including electronics, IT hardware, bulk drugs, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, telecom products, food processing, white goods, automobiles and components, specialty steel, textiles and drones. Sectoral outcomes noted include higher pharma exports and domestic value addition, strengthened bulk drugs capacity, boosted local procurement in food processing, MSME participation, and growth in textile exports.

Combination approval: acquisition of Aakash Educational Services by Manipal entities cleared under merger control; detailed order to follow.
The Combination Approval concerns the acquisition of equity shares in Aakash Educational Services Limited by Manipal Health Systems Private Limited and Manipal Education and Medical Group India Private Limited, both resident Indian acquirers, by purchase from an individual shareholder. The acquirers operate in healthcare services and management consultancy respectively. The Target provides coaching and preparatory educational services across multiple class levels and competitive tests through classroom, online, distance and hybrid delivery. The Competition Commission of India has approved the combination and a detailed order will follow.

Merger control: competition authority approves Bain Capital acquisition structure in Manappuram group, subject to detailed order.
The Competition Commission approved a proposed combination under which Bain Capital-controlled investment vehicles will acquire equity in MFL via private placement and convertible warrants, trigger and conduct a mandatory open offer under applicable takeover regulations for a portion of MFL's expanded voting capital, and implement a downstream acquisition of MAFL by MFL; a detailed order will follow.

Export facilitation strengthened through trade finance, MSME support and market access initiatives to boost export competitiveness.
The statement presents a coordinated export promotion strategy centring on Exim Bank's Trade Assistance Programme (TAP) to bridge trade finance gaps and link exporters with overseas banks, together with expanded trade finance platforms, MSME support measures (revised definitions, Udyam registration, credit guarantee revamp, TReDS, Ubharte Sitaare), investments in transport and logistics, Districts as Export Hubs, FTA negotiations, PLI driven export growth, new Exim Bank offices, and technical partnerships to enhance export competitiveness.

Building plan approval advances IT campus development in Bengal, enabling phased job creation and infrastructure expansion.
A sanctioned building plan authorizes phased development of an IT office campus at Bengal Silicon Valley on a 20 acre site, with Phase I permitting nine lakh square feet including an 11 storey office tower and a later phase adding further built-up space; the phased land use and infrastructure approvals form the regulatory basis for substantial direct employment and for private-sector expansion within the designated technology hub.

Lifelong learning: continuous self education drives professional growth while questioning norms, ethics and trust guide leadership.
The address prescribes four guiding professional principles: lifelong learning as ongoing self education and skill renewal; questioning the status quo to foster process improvements and innovation; pursuing virtuous karma by acting decisively and ethically without overemphasis on immediate outcomes; and cultivating trust through integrity, accountability and humility. These interlinked principles are presented as practical foundations for leadership, public service and organisational efficiency.

Polygamy disclosure: truthful voluntary disclosure of multiple spouses does not invalidate election nomination under election rules.
The High Court held that truthful voluntary disclosure of both spouses, including PAN and income tax return status, by a candidate from a tribal community where polygamy is not prohibited does not render the nomination form defective or violate the Election Rules, and therefore polygamy alone is not a ground to challenge the election; the court did not decide the substantive validity of the second marriage.

GST disputes: guide empowers chartered accountants on representation, evidence, procedures, investigations, appeals and litigation strategy.
The Guide lays out a practitioner focused framework for GST disputes: roles and limits of Chartered Accountants as authorized representatives; stages of proceedings (self assessment, provisional assessment, scrutiny, audit, investigation, summary and best judgement assessment); the distinction between ordinary demand and demands premised on alleged evasion; procedural safeguards for exceptional powers (inspection, search, provisional attachment, credit blocking); and practical rules for summons, evidence (including electronic records and expert opinion), burden and onus of proof. It also provides detailed litigation strategy, representation protocol, drafting and hearing checklists, and ethical obligations for CAs.

Trade facilitation and policy reforms drive export growth and regulatory modernization under the Foreign Trade Policy framework.
The Ministry links Vanijya Bhawan to policy measures prioritising trade facilitation under the Foreign Trade Policy 2023-shifting from incentive schemes toward tax remission and digital facilitation-and advancing FTAs to expand market access. It foregrounds operational reforms: digital trade portals, automation of export processes, a trade facilitation helpdesk, GeM-based procurement democratization, decriminalisation of certain IP laws, streamlined compliances, quality control reforms, and measures to attract foreign investment and manufacturing.

Unified Lending Interface as Digital Public Infrastructure expands data integration to enable inclusive credit access.
The Government is scaling the Unified Lending Interface (ULI) as a Digital Public Infrastructure to unify technology, data and policy for data-driven, inclusive lending. Operational measures include digital integration of high value Central and State government datasets with ULI, nomination of nodal officers for coordination, state-led digitisation of land and other records, and alignment of existing lending initiatives with ULI as the anchoring platform.

Personal income tax introduced in Oman to diversify revenue and reduce hydrocarbon dependence, targeting top earners.
Oman will introduce a personal income tax at a five percent rate starting in 2028, applying only to income above a high threshold that captures the top one percent of earners; the levy is presented as part of Vision 2040 fiscal reforms to diversify revenue and reduce dependence on oil and gas receipts.

Appeal threshold revision prompts withdrawal of low-value departmental appeals, aiming to reduce litigation and expedite taxpayer relief.
The Finance Minister instructed tax officers to prioritise prompt, time-bound resolution of taxpayer grievances and timely processing of refunds, and directed Principal Chief Commissioners to accelerate disposal of disputed demands pending before faceless appellate authorities. She ordered identification and withdrawal of departmental appeals below the revised monetary thresholds within three months and targeted completion of a substantial number of pending appeals in the current fiscal year, while urging consolidation of recent administrative reforms and simplification of compliance processes.

GST tax evasion scheme uncovered after fake identity and firm registrations, leading to multiple arrests and ongoing probe.
An organized GST tax evasion scheme used forged Aadhaar and PAN documents, fake stamps, and approximately 240 sham firms to generate fictitious e-bills, open bank accounts, and show spurious transactions through GST-registered entities, resulting in an estimated revenue loss and ongoing multi-jurisdictional investigation with seven arrests.

Personal income tax introduced will apply to top earners from 2028 to diversify public revenue and reduce oil dependence.
Oman will introduce a personal income tax by royal decree: a five percent levy effective in 2028, directed at the top one percent of earners who exceed the announced income threshold, as a targeted rather than broad-based measure to diversify revenue.