Combating wildlife trafficking by strengthening Customs-led enforcement, intelligence sharing and contraband identification across the aviation sector.
A two-day capacity-building workshop brought aviation stakeholders together to reinforce prevention, detection and disruption of wildlife trafficking by enhancing Customs-led enforcement at entry and exit points, improving intelligence sharing and databases, providing hands-on identification training for wildlife contraband, and promoting investigative measures including disruption of financial networks; presenters also noted that a new, broader law with multi-agency powers was in development to strengthen enforcement.

Physical verification of export documents required to prevent ante dated letters of credit and trigger enforcement under FT(D&R) Act.
Regional Authorities must physically verify all applicant documents, including Letters of Credit already approved, before issuing wheat export Registration Certificates; professional agencies may be engaged. Verification must confirm recipient bank endorsement and investigate instances where LC dates precede but message exchanges post date the regulatory cutoff. Suspected ante dating will lead to full investigation and initiation of proceedings under the FT (D&R) Act, with examination for referral to investigative agencies and action where banker complicity is found.

Prohibited export enforcement: Red sanders seized and detained under Customs Act, export ban enforced and investigation ongoing.
DRI seized a container at ICD Sabarmati after scans showed concealed logs; examination revealed 840 Red Sanders logs (14.63 MT) hidden under declared toiletries. Preliminary forest officer identification confirmed Red Sanders, a species whose export is prohibited under the Foreign Trade Policy, and the goods were seized under the Customs Act. Operation Rakth Chandan led the interception; investigations into the domestic movement, transport and exporter are continuing.

Inflation management: RBI prioritises withdrawal of accommodation and calibrated rate rises to restore price stability.
The Reserve Bank has reprioritised policy to tackle elevated inflation, implementing rate actions (including an off-cycle May meeting) and signalling calibrated repo increases while planning liquidity normalisation over two to three years. The RBI will use a range of instruments-SDF, CRR adjustments, OMOs, operation twist, currency swaps and HTM changes-to remove surplus liquidity, manage the yield curve and ensure orderly government borrowing, while preventing excessive exchange-rate volatility and monitoring banking-sector stress; crypto activity remains a regulatory concern conveyed to the government.

Digital Export Marketplace expands exporters' global discoverability and trade facilitation through a B2B portal for Indian suppliers.
The Indian Business Portal is a B2B digital export marketplace launched by FIEO with GlobalLinker to digitize and promote Indian exporters-especially SMEs, artisans, farmers and GI product producers-by enabling digital catalogues, virtual buyer seller meetings, direct purchase options for smaller quantities, and an exclusive, integrated ecosystem to improve discoverability and international market access.

Drug seizure operation intercepts imported consignment, cocaine detected and NDPS Act enforcement initiated, investigation ongoing.
DRI, acting on intelligence under "Op Namkeen," examined an imported consignment of declared common salt at Mundra port; forensic analysis by the Directorate of Forensic Sciences confirmed cocaine in sampled bags and 52 kg was seized. Seizure and examination proceedings are being carried out under NDPS Act, 1985 while investigations continue into the persons and concealment methods involved.

Container tracking enhances customs monitoring and speeds timely clearances to improve trade facilitation.
Project NIGAH implements the ICD Container Tracking Module (ICTM) at ICD Garhi Harsaru to provide granular visibility of container movements inside the ICD, enabling customs to monitor movement, conduct lead preventive checks, expedite long standing containers, and support timely clearances to enhance Ease of Doing Business; the ICTM was developed with custodian M/s. GRFL and its replication at other ICDs was encouraged.

Compulsory registration for paper imports introduced to curb dumping and control rerouting; online registration required.
Import policy for a broad range of paper products is amended to Free subject to compulsory registration under Paper Import Monitoring System for consignments arriving on or after 1 October 2022, excluding currency and security printing papers. The measure targets dumping, under invoicing, mis declaration and rerouting. Importers must obtain an automatic registration number via an online interface, pay a registration fee, apply within the prescribed pre arrival window, and may use the registration to file multiple bills of entry within the registration validity period; online registration opens mid July 2022.

Investment promotion: India spotlights reforms and openness at global forum, seeking deeper trade ties and FTA progress.
India promoted itself at the World Economic Forum as a stable investment destination through high-level bilateral and corporate engagements, highlighting reforms-national infrastructure planning, asset monetization, Start Up India, investment corridors and logistics initiatives-aimed at improving ease of doing business. The delegation sought closer economic integration, reassured partners about limited global impact of a recent wheat export regulation while committing to exports for vulnerable countries, and advanced ongoing market-access talks including a timeline-driven India-UK free trade agreement dialogue.

Sugar export restrictions require specific government permission and limit shipments, with exceptions for EU and US commitments.
Export of raw, refined and white sugar is placed in the restricted category from 1 June 2022 to preserve domestic availability and price stability; exports to the EU and US under CXL and TRQ are exempt. Exports are allowed up to an overall ceiling of 100 LMT for the season and, until 31 October 2022 or further order, require specific permission from the Directorate of Sugar, Department of Food and Public Distribution.

Local procurement strengthens domestic supply chains, urging industry to boost value added exports and support logistics reforms.
Indian industry is urged to procure locally to strengthen domestic supply chains, reduce over reliance on international suppliers, and boost value added exports and domestic job creation. The government links this procurement strategy to measures aimed at taming inflation and stabilising macroeconomic conditions, and to logistics and infrastructure reforms under a National Master Plan to lower costs. Trade agreements and active support from Indian Missions abroad are identified as mechanisms to open markets and promote Indian businesses, while digital and social reforms are cited as foundations for resilience.

Drug interdiction under NDPS Act prompts major mid sea heroin seizure by joint revenue and coast guard operation.
A joint operation by revenue intelligence and the coast guard, following months of intelligence and extended maritime surveillance, intercepted two Indian vessels at sea, escorted them to port, and recovered concealed heroin during searches and crew questioning; seizure proceedings are being undertaken under the NDPS Act and follow up investigations and searches are in progress.

Monetary policy rate hike; stance remains accommodative while focusing on withdrawal to anchor inflation expectations.
The MPC convened off cycle and, citing a broad based and persistent rise in headline and core CPI driven by global commodity and supply shocks, resolved to increase the policy repo rate and adjust the standing deposit facility and marginal standing facility/Bank Rate. The Committee unanimously voted to remain accommodative while focusing on withdrawal of accommodation to anchor inflation expectations and achieve the medium term CPI inflation target of 4 per cent, and signalled phased liquidity withdrawal and use of other instruments including an increase in the cash reserve ratio.

Wheat export exemptions: consignments registered before the restriction cutoff and prior commitments permitted, specific Egypt shipment allowed.
The government permitted export of wheat consignments handed to Customs and registered in Customs systems on or before the restriction cutoff, exempting such shipments from the general export ban; a specific consignment under loading at Kandla bound for Egypt was authorised to complete loading and sail. Exceptions include prior commitments under Letters of Credit and shipments authorised by the Government on request to meet other countries' food security needs.

Export Growth: merchandise and services exports rose sharply, boosting overall trade while widening the trade deficit.
Merchandise exports in April 2022 rose about 30% year on year to cross USD 40 billion, led by petroleum products, electronic goods, cereals, coffee, processed food and leather products, while merchandise imports increased by roughly 31%, widening the merchandise trade deficit. Services exports are estimated to have grown over 50%, producing a substantial services surplus; combined merchandise and services exports expanded near 39% with provisional and RBI estimation caveats noted.

Preferential Trade Agreement talks aim to deepen trade, boost pharma access, and encourage bilateral business and investment.
India is considering a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with Oman to deepen bilateral commercial ties and complement broader GCC trade talks. The government invites enhanced business engagement through the India-Oman Joint Business Council to expand trade and investment, with a particular emphasis on increasing pharma trade. Authorities have committed to fast-track approvals for Indian medicines cleared by strong regulatory regimes and to use a recently unveiled pharma market study to facilitate market entry, while encouraging opportunities in services, food security, sustainability, renewable energy and startups.

Wheat export promotion through trade delegations and outreach to expand market access and ensure importing countries' quality compliance.
The Government is undertaking a coordinated wheat export facilitation initiative to expand market access through trade delegations, exporter guidance on registration and accreditation with importing agencies, and a multi stakeholder task force to coordinate logistics and policy; domestic sensitisation meetings and stakeholder consultations aim to ensure compliance with importing countries' quality and phytosanitary norms and to strengthen the wheat value chain for reliable global supply.

Concealment in air cargo leads to major heroin seizure, importer apprehended and follow-up investigations ongoing.
DRI interdicted an imported air cargo consignment and seized a large quantity of heroin clandestinely concealed inside hollow metal tubes of multiple trolley bags; follow-up operations in two States recovered additional narcotics and cash, and the importer was apprehended while further suspects are being interrogated and investigations continue.

Gold smuggling by air cargo intercepted; concealed bullion seized and importer arrested following cargo inspections and document inconsistencies.
DRI intercepted organised gold smuggling by air cargo through intelligence-led inspections at Mumbai and Lucknow air cargo complexes, uncovering gold discs concealed inside motor rotors and machine components in consignments falsely declared as industrial machines; the Mumbai seizure led to the importer's arrest and judicial custody, and both detections mirror a recurrent concealment modus operandi previously encountered in courier and cargo consignments.

Export promotion of tissue culture plants through APEDA support expands market access by boosting quality, compliance and trade facilitation.
APEDA is promoting exports of tissue culture plants by offering market intelligence, facilitation and a Financial Assistance Scheme to help DBT accredited laboratories meet importing countries' phytosanitary and quality norms, solicit germplasm for crop diversification, and upgrade capacity. Exporters raised operational and regulatory constraints-power costs, workforce skills, contamination, transport costs, HS code mismatches and forest/quarantine objections-and proposed APEDA led exhibitions and trade delegations; APEDA committed ongoing support and market development to broaden export opportunities.