International Investment Position shows widening net external liabilities as liabilities grew faster than assets, lowering asset to liability ratio.
IIP at end September 2012 shows net claims of non residents on India increased as liabilities rose more than assets; reserve assets dominated external assets while direct, portfolio investment and loans were principal liability components. Equity liabilities expanded in US dollar terms partly due to exchange rate valuation, and the non debt share of liabilities increased. The asset to liability ratio declined. The release specifies data sources and compilation conventions and notes quarterly dissemination consistent with IMF SDDS with a one quarter lag.

Export duty increase on iron ore conserves domestic resources and incentivises beneficiation and pelletisation measures
Export duty on iron ore (except pellets) and on chrome ore and concentrates was increased while basic customs duty on equipment for iron ore beneficiation and pelletisation was reduced to promote domestic value addition; concurrent administrative reforms include ISO:9001 certification planning, a revised Sevottam Citizen's Charter and an anti corruption action plan aimed at strengthening governance.

Infrastructure loan definition harmonisation revises NBFC eligibility and sectoral list for infrastructure lending, with transitional protection for existing exposures.
The Reserve Bank harmonised the definition of infrastructure loan for NBFCs with the Government's Master List by replacing paragraph 2(1)(viii) in the Prudential Norms Directions; the revised definition lists five categories (Transport, Energy, Water & Sanitation, Communication, Social and Commercial Infrastructure) and their constituent sub-sectors. Existing exposures that qualified under the prior definition but are excluded under the revised list remain eligible until project completion, while fresh lending to omitted sub-sectors after the circular's date will not qualify as infrastructure lending.

Inclusive growth as Plan priority: accelerate reforms, GST, direct transfers via Aadhaar, and address energy and water pricing.
The Twelfth Five Year Plan focuses on achieving faster, inclusive and sustainable growth by removing domestic constraints, expediting stalled large projects through institutional measures, and increasing fiscal resources via tax reforms including early GST implementation. It prioritises agricultural productivity, manufacturing and infrastructure expansion (notably via PPPs), rationalisation of subsidies and Centrally Sponsored Schemes, and migration of beneficiary schemes to direct transfers using Aadhaar to improve targeting. Energy pricing reform and comprehensive water management are highlighted as critical systemic priorities, with States bearing primary responsibility for many actions.

Interest subvention scheme extended to exporters, SMEs and engineering sub sectors, plus pilot project export credit via EXIM Bank.
The interest subvention on rupee export credit is extended through March 2014 and eligibility expanded to SMEs and specified engineering sub sectors; a pilot interest subvention for project exports will operate through EXIM Bank linked to the Buyer's Credit mechanism to provide concessional long term co financing for infrastructure projects.

Wheat export authorization permits additional central pool shipments under tender with government reimbursement for shortfalls.
Approval authorises export of 25 lakh tonnes of wheat from FCI central pool via CPSUs under competitive tenders subject to a floor price of US$ 300 per tonne to be completed by June 2013, with the Government reimbursing FCI for losses measured as the difference between economic cost and net realisation after port expenses and a 2.5% commission, and providing additional funds beyond the budget estimate to cover such reimbursement.

Interest rate channel dominates monetary transmission; rate hikes reduce aggregate demand, hitting investment and imports hardest.
An interest rate increase contracts aggregate demand in India, peaking within two quarters and dissipating over about eight quarters; SVAR impulse responses and variance decompositions show policy rate shocks reduce GDP and, with a lag, inflation, induce REER depreciation, and explain a substantial share of output fluctuations, while investment and imports bear the largest declines and government consumption shows negligible cumulative effect.

Drought relief measures expanded with subsidies, credit incentives, employment and import duty relief to protect foodgrain production.
To manage monsoon shortfalls and sustain production, the Centre and States coordinated through an inter ministerial forum and an Empowered Group of Ministers to implement drought contingency plans, monitoring and a package of relief measures including diesel subsidy, higher seed subsidy ceilings, scaled up feed and fodder programmes, import duty waivers on oilcakes, additional allocations to fodder and protein supplement schemes, rescheduled crop loans with reduced interest, and expanded rural wage employment in drought declared areas.

Industry support for the coir sector through modernisation and market-promotion schemes to counter competition and sustain exports.
Coir production and exports have shown year-to-year variation, with exports increasing overall but recent year-to-date figures lower than prior annual totals. Facing competition from cheaper synthetic and natural fibres, the Coir Board is implementing measures including Science and Technology programmes, Skill Upgradation and Quality Improvement, Development of Production Infrastructure, Domestic and Export Market Promotion, REMOT modernisation, and the SFURTI regeneration scheme, as reported in a ministerial written reply to a parliamentary question.

Export duty on iron ore raised to restrict exports and improve domestic availability for industry.
NMDC sets distinct export (FOB port) and domestic (FOR/FOT mine) prices that are not directly comparable; pricing decisions are taken commercially by the company's Board of Directors within a deregulated sector. The Government increased the export duty on iron ore (except pellets) to improve domestic availability and affordability, while generally refraining from intervening in NMDC's commercial pricing decisions.

Mandatory steel quality standards require conformity for imports and domestic production, with deferred implementation to allow registration.
Notification under the Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control) Order, 2012 requires designated steel products, whether domestically produced or imported, to conform to prescribed standards and conditions. The Order uniformly applies to both large and small producers, does not prohibit imports, and includes phased implementation and deferrals to allow units to obtain BIS license/registration and register with the Bureau of Indian Standards.

Mandatory conformity to BIS standards now bars manufacture, import, sale or distribution of nonstandard steel products nationwide.
The Government has placed 16 products under the Steel & Steel Products (Quality Control) Order issued under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act and progressively enforced standards across applicable Indian Standards. An amended Second Order prohibits manufacturing, importing, storing for sale or distributing steel and steel products that do not conform to the standards or that do not bear the prescribed standard mark (BIS/ISI), with remaining standards phased into force by the announced enforcement date.

National roaming tariff review seeks stakeholder inputs on cost components, SMS/video tariffs and roaming voucher options
A regulatory review of national roaming charges has been initiated due to changes in cost regimes and policy direction. The Authority released a Pre Consultation Paper to gather stakeholder inputs to inform a detailed Consultation Paper, seeking views on cost components to include in roaming tariffs, cost recovery if incoming calls are free, tariff treatment for roaming video calls and SMS, and the role or regulation of Special Tariff Vouchers for roaming subscribers.

Bilateral trade data: country wise merchandise exports and imports reported, with promotion of EU market diversification and cooperation.
Country wise merchandise export and import values for India EU relations are presented for 2009-10 to 2011-12, with aggregate totals and detailed Annexure tables; services sector data are not available. India conducts regular Joint Commission Meetings with 28 European countries and supports Chambers of Commerce interactions and participation in major trade fairs to promote diversification toward Central and Eastern European markets.

ASIDE scheme oversight strengthened by state export committee, nodal officer and web-enabled monitoring, ensuring targeted export infrastructure support.
ASIDE scheme implementation in Jharkhand is administered by a State Level Export Promotion Committee chaired by the Chief Secretary, supported by a Nodal Officer at Joint Secretary level in the Department of Commerce; regional appraisal meetings and a web-enabled monitoring system enable stakeholder oversight. Over the past ten years funds totalling Rs.24.22 crore have been released for seven state projects under ASIDE, and Jharkhand's export contribution is recorded at 0.18% of national exports.

Senior citizen concession in telecom tariffs: mandatory reduced rural fixed-line rentals and PSU-linked installation and service discounts.
Concessions for senior citizens in rural fixed-line telephony include mandatory reduced monthly rentals by exchange capacity bands as part of the standard package, with providers permitted to offer alternative, non-discriminatory tariff combinations; government-controlled public sector undertakings provide additional senior-specific concessions such as priority registration, exemption from registration charges, and installation and monthly charge discounts.

SEZ processing area requirement defines land allocation and differing fiscal incentives between processing and non-processing zones.
Special Economic Zones are divided into processing, exclusive trading/warehousing, and non-processing areas; the Board of Approval authorises land allocation and permitted infrastructure uses, while fiscal concessions under SEZ legislation differ between processing and non-processing areas because units can be established only in processing areas.

Interest subvention scheme extended to support specified export sectors, alongside supplementary foreign trade policy incentives.
Extension of the interest subvention scheme for certain specified export sectors has been announced as a short-term administrative measure to maintain subsidised credit support for exporters, complemented by measures contained in the Annual Supplement to the Foreign Trade Policy.

Export promotion ASIDE oversight: state-level committees and nodal officers monitor implementation and enable targeted project support.
Certain states accounted for significant export shares in 2011-12 while Jharkhand's share was 0.18%. The Department identified export infrastructure bottlenecks and promoted best practices under the ASIDE scheme. Jharkhand's ASIDE implementation is overseen by a State Level Export Promotion Committee chaired by the Chief Secretary and monitored by a Nodal Officer at Joint Secretary level in the Department of Commerce; regional appraisal meetings and a web-enabled monitoring system support supervision. Central funds were released to seven state projects in Jharkhand under ASIDE during the last decade.

Preferential Market Access for domestically manufactured electronics to stimulate local ESDM through procurement and standards-based measures.
Initiatives expand domestic Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) through policy and incentives including the National Policy on Electronics, Electronics Manufacturing Clusters, M SIPS, semiconductor fabrication facilitation, and an Electronics Development Fund; complemented by market pull measures such as Preferential Market Access, DOT procurement notifications for government projects, mandatory product registration for safety standards, export promotion, and priority sector treatment for IT purchases.