Monetary policy recalibration restored the interest rate corridor and tightened liquidity stance to curb inflation while supporting gradual growth.
The Reserve Bank recalibrated the interest rate corridor by reducing the marginal standing facility rate and raising the LAF repo rate while expanding 7 and 14 day term repos to supply liquidity; banks are urged to mobilise deposits and flexibility in reserve requirements is retained as the central bank monitors elevated inflation risks alongside modest external and domestic growth improvements.

Company deposit rules and NFRA drafts set limits, deposit insurance, trustees, SFIO procedures and audit enforcement structures.
The drafts set a detailed regime for acceptance of deposits: definitions and exclusions; eligibility thresholds; limits on deposit amounts and maturities; mandatory deposit insurance and/or security over Schedule III assets excluding intangibles; trustee appointment, duties and conflict restrictions; advertising, filing and disclosure requirements; Deposit Repayment Reserve maintenance; registers and receipts; audited annual returns; penal interest and fines for defaults; and procedural safeguards for premature repayment. Parallel drafts govern SFIO investigation procedures and the constitution, selection, functions and enforcement powers of NFRA with three committees for standards and enforcement.

Expansion of tribunal benches to improve case disposal and reduce pendency by adding member posts and supporting staff.
Approval to create six additional CESTAT benches aims to decentralise appellate work and reduce pendency by adding twelve Members of the Tribunal (six Technical, six Judicial) in Higher Administrative Grade and 98 supporting posts, with associated one time and recurring expenditures to enable increased case disposal and reduced travel burden for litigants within the tribunal's jurisdiction over customs, central excise, service tax and anti dumping appeals.

Trade negotiations: push for positive Bali outcome to safeguard multilateral trade and advance food security and investment.
Negotiations aimed at concluding an early-harvest agreement to preserve the multilateral trading system and advance trade facilitation, with both ministers supporting a favourable WTO decision on the G33 food security proposal. They agreed to begin talks on a bilateral free trade agreement, arrange a ministers' forum, and address restrictive import regimes on pharmaceuticals, bovine meat and textiles, with Indonesia agreeing to review policies and welcoming Indian pharmaceutical investment.

Inflation control and current account stability are essential precursors to restoring higher potential growth and attracting investment.
The address contends that sustainable higher growth requires the real sector to drive productivity and efficiency while the financial system facilitates it; policy priorities include inflation control and reduction of the current account deficit for currency stability, fiscal consolidation, infrastructure financing, calibrated liberalisation of FDI to attract foreign inflows, stronger banking governance and risk management to repair asset quality, and targeted measures to boost entrepreneurship financing and ease of doing business.

Retail banking: transparent pricing and consumer protection are essential to secure fair access and operational efficiency.
Retail banking for the mass market requires scalable, technology enabled delivery, robust MIS and analytics, credit scoring for transparent and efficient retail lending, and non discriminatory, risk based pricing. Banks must implement consumer protection safeguards against mis selling, disclose effective rates, and meet comprehensive KYC/AML obligations for both bank and third party products. Operational resilience against technology driven fraud, vendor and internal control failures, and investment in 24x7 reliable platforms are essential. Board commitment to innovation, efficiency and transparent practices underpins sustainable expansion of retail mass banking and financial inclusion.

Food security safeguards: push for updated WTO rules to protect developing countries' public stockholding programmes.
A core operative focus was the G-33 proposal on public stockholding for food security; existing WTO rules constrain developing countries from operating public stockholding and domestic food-aid programmes, and updating those rules is necessary so such programmes can be carried out without breaching commitments. The Minister urged adherence to the mandate on special and differential treatment and support for developing countries and LDCs in implementing trade facilitation measures.

Bilateral trade target between India and Africa promoted, urging trade agreements, LDC market access and food security protections.
India and African ministers reaffirmed a development oriented trade partnership focused on expanding bilateral commerce and investment, promoting value addition, and strengthening institutional and human resource capacity. They urged early conclusion of an India SACU Preferential Trade Agreement, endorsed India's Duty Free Quota Free market access scheme for LDCs, and called for balanced trade facilitation outcomes that account for African resource constraints. Ministers advocated recognition of public stock holding for food security within the multilateral framework and support measures for LDCs and regional integration to boost value added exports.