Trade facilitation through single window and IT reforms improving customs clearance and taxpayer-facing processes under CBEC reforms.
CBEC implemented procedural and digital reforms to improve taxpayer experience, including the Single Window Interface for multi-agency customs clearance, electronic delivery orders, digitally signed documents, expanded 24x7 clearance, deferred duty payment for select importers, warehousing liberalisation and simplified refund and credit procedures. Administrative changes targeted dispute resolution and audit selection-raising appeal thresholds, mandating pre-show-cause consultation in higher-value cases, adopting risk-based integrated audits, and amending Cenvat Credit and e-payment mechanisms to reduce litigation and accelerate refunds.

Tax compliance: focus on trust, digitization and RAPID charter to broaden voluntary participation and modernise administration.
The Prime Minister urged tax administrators to strengthen voluntary tax compliance and expand the tax base by building public trust, modernising processes through digitization, improving taxpayer facilitation and infrastructure, and adopting a five-point operational charter RAPID-Revenue, Accountability, Probity, Information and Digitization-to convert conference ideas into concrete administrative action.

Exchange rate determination sets official conversion rates for import and export goods under the Customs Act.
Under authority of section 14 of the Customs Act, 1962, the Central Board of Excise and Customs notifies official conversion rates for specified foreign currencies into Indian rupees for imported and export goods, effective 17 June 2016, superseding the earlier notification; Schedules I and II prescribe separate rupee equivalents for imports and for exports, with Schedule I listing per-unit rates and Schedule II listing rates per 100 units.

Trade Balance improved as combined merchandise and services deficit narrowed on yearly comparison.
Merchandise exports fell slightly in dollar terms while imports declined markedly, driven by substantial reductions in oil and lower non oil imports; non petroleum exports rose modestly for the month but fell cumulatively. Services receipts were essentially flat and payments declined, producing a positive net services balance. Combined merchandise and services flows produced a materially narrower overall trade deficit for the April-May period, as reflected in provisional dollar and rupee figures and comparative growth rates.

Border trade as a strategic tool to advance Act East policy by enabling normal trade and essential trade facilitation measures.
The study recommends converting India-Myanmar border exchanges into sustained normal trade to advance the Act East policy by investing in infrastructure, trade facilitation and banking, and by operationalising measures such as laboratory testing, warehousing, certificate of origin services, integrated check posts and Border Haats. It frames employment generation and improved security as enabling conditions, urging a fast-track, integrated approach across goods, services and cross-border investment to unlock the border region's development potential.

Ease of Doing Business reforms streamline registrations and single-window digital clearances for faster permits and compliance.
Reforms concentrate on digital integration and single-window clearances to streamline registrations, permits and approvals. Centralised e-platforms and composite forms (e.g., INC-29, eBiz) provide real-time issuance of PAN/TAN and employer registrations, consolidate VAT and profession tax processes, and integrate multiple central and state services. Municipalities introduced unified building bye-laws, online NOC workflows, digital signing of plans, risk-based fast-track approvals and self/third-party certification to reduce inspections, time and cost for construction permits.

Monetary policy stance maintained with unchanged rates while liquidity operations are adjusted toward neutrality to support transmission.
The Reserve Bank maintains the policy repo rate and standing facility rates unchanged and holds the cash reserve ratio steady while committing to provide liquidity as required and progressively reduce the average ex ante liquidity deficit toward neutrality. This operational approach uses open market operations, variable rate repos and term instruments to anchor short-term rates to the policy rate amid tighter liquidity from currency demand and government cash balances. The Bank retains an accommodative monetary stance, citing upside inflation risks from food and commodity prices and noting supportive demand factors including public capital expenditure and a likely normal monsoon.

Customs cooperation: bilateral agreement enables information sharing to prevent and investigate customs offences and facilitate trade.
Approval was given to sign and ratify a bilateral agreement on Co operation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters establishing a legal framework for exchange of information and intelligence to assist in the application of customs laws, prevent and investigate customs offences, and verify declared customs value, certificates of origin, and goods descriptions to facilitate legitimate trade and efficient clearance.