Logistics Policy and infrastructure reforms boost national logistics efficiency, improving multimodal connectivity and supply chain visibility.
India's rise in the Logistics Performance Index is attributed to integrated planning and digitisation that improve logistics efficiency. The PM GatiShakti Master Plan aligns Central and State infrastructure through a GIS-based platform to enhance first- and last-mile connectivity and inter-agency data sharing. The National Logistics Policy focuses on upgrading and digitising logistics services, streamlining regulatory processes, promoting multimodal transportation and logistics parks, and reducing cargo dwell time at ports and terminals to lower logistics costs.

Export promotion strengthened through trade agreements and government-backed infrastructure to modernize industry capacity.
Government support and trade facilitation for the gems and jewellery export sector are reinforced through coordinated policy measures, infrastructure investment, and negotiated market access. A government-backed Common Facility Centre at SEEPZ, supervised by the Council and Ministry, is intended to modernize capacity and support small and medium enterprises. The GJEPC, established by the Commerce Ministry and granted autonomous status, functions as the apex export promotion body coordinating outreach, member services, and initiatives aligned with ease-of-doing-business objectives.

Bilateral trade expansion through market access resolution and sectoral cooperation, plus payment system integration for local currency settlements.
The meeting focused on expanding bilateral trade by targeting new products and priority sectors, addressing market access issues and technical barriers-with India noting restrictions on marine, poultry and meat exports-and agreed to resolve these through sustained bilateral discussions. It identified cooperation areas including value added marine products, smartphones, electric vehicles, food processing and pharmaceuticals, explored mutual recognition arrangements in services such as nursing and accounting, and reviewed progress on connecting UPI with PromptPay to enable local currency trade settlements.

Bilateral economic cooperation promoting trade and investment in infrastructure, renewable energy and technology through strategic partnerships.
Bilateral economic cooperation emphasized aligning India's Make in India and Italy's Made in Italy initiatives to promote trade, investment and technology exchange across manufacturing, space, defence, IT, energy and agriculture; India's infrastructure plans including the National Infrastructure Pipeline and PM GatiShakti were advanced as investment opportunities in ports, airports, freight corridors and high speed rail; renewable energy expansion and sustainable mobility were highlighted as priority domains for project cooperation, technology transfer and private sector engagement, supported by cultural and people to people links to deepen the strategic partnership.

Exports growth led by services expands surplus while merchandise imports outpace exports, widening the overall trade deficit.
Combined merchandise and services exports expanded notably, led by a strong rise in services exports that generated a larger services surplus while merchandise imports outpaced merchandise exports, widening the merchandise and overall trade deficits. Sectoral results were mixed: electronic goods and several agricultural/processed food categories recorded strong export growth, whereas textiles and certain plastics segments declined. Non petroleum and non gems & jewellery exports held broadly steady for the year but imports rose. Shifts in import sourcing reduced reliance on a principal partner, and some data remain provisional pending RBI revisions.

Strategic partnership elevated; ministers committed to pursuing a balanced free trade agreement and joint working groups on key sectors.
Elevation to a Strategic Partnership anchors commitments to deepen trade and economic cooperation, pursue a free, balanced and fair Free Trade Agreement, convene the Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation to follow up on negotiations, and establish a Joint Working Group for strategic sectors including space, technology, defence and agriculture.

Controlled substances licensing becomes faceless and contactless, enabling a unified portal for streamlined compliance and trade.
A unified digital portal centralizes licensing and authorizations for narcotic and controlled substances-import, export, no-objection certificates, manufacturing licenses and quota allocations-on a faceless, contactless, round-the-clock platform. Integrated with government databases and cloud services, it aims to streamline processing, enhance transparency and accountability, support secure transactions and communications, and balance availability of essential medicines with regulatory compliance under the NDPS Act and related international obligations.

Monetary policy pause signals assessment of cumulative tightening while remaining ready to tighten further if warranted.
The Reserve Bank signalled a pause, not a pivot, pausing rate hikes to assess the cumulative impact of prior tightening while remaining ready to act further; it prioritises price stability and progressive alignment of inflation toward the 4% target, manages liquidity through a multi year withdrawal framework with operations shifting toward repo, and maintains supervisory emphasis on multi scenario stress testing, uniform prudential requirements, provisioning guidance, and measured steps on payments reform including UPI operable pre sanctioned credit lines and rupee internationalisation.

Monetary policy pause: repo rate held steady while focus remains on withdrawal of accommodation and financial stability.
The Monetary Policy Committee kept the policy repo rate unchanged and maintained a stance focused on withdrawal of accommodation, ready to act if warranted, citing resilient growth, elevated inflation and global financial volatility. The statement underscores strengthened macro- and micro-prudential supervision, agile liquidity management through two-way operations, and measures to ensure orderly government borrowing and exchange rate stability. Concurrently, operational reforms and consumer-protection initiatives were announced, including onshore INR non-deliverable derivative access for residents via IFSC Banking Units, a centralised regulatory portal (PRAVAAH), a unified search portal for unclaimed deposits, enhanced grievance redressal for credit information, and UPI-enabled pre-sanctioned credit lines.

Public procurement reform via a digital marketplace enhances transparency, efficiency and supplier onboarding while realising government savings.
Government procurement is digitalised via the Government e Marketplace (GeM), an inclusive, efficient and transparent public procurement platform that enables multiple procurement modes, integrates authentication through domain databases for contactless, paperless and cashless transactions, and implements automated market adjustments and end-to-end digital processes. GeM provides stakeholder-driven functionalities-such as Push Button Procurement, Single Packet Bidding, Annual Procurement Plan and AI/ML decision support-to reduce cycle times, foster competition, ensure timely payments, realise savings and enhance overall procurement quality and ease of doing business.