Foreign investment ceiling in defence: government raises permitted equity cap and imposes Indian ownership, security and quality conditions.
The amendment raises the defence sector FDI cap and makes the cap composite of all foreign investments, retains Government route scrutiny beyond the permitted threshold with CCS approval for cases involving access to modern technology, and requires Indian ownership and control up to the prescribed limit. It mandates Indian majority management and a resident Chief Security Officer, obliges disclosure of directors and executives, permits prototype imports, prescribes security and quality assurance procedures, and restricts domestic sale of arms and ammunition subject to prior defence approval.

Indirect tax revenue increase driven by service tax growth, while customs and central excise remain subdued against budget targets.
Indirect Tax Revenue (Provisional) collections rose modestly year on year for April-July, with service tax showing comparatively strong growth while customs and central excise were muted or slightly negative; figures are presented month and year to date with percentage growth and Budget Estimate achievement, and certain cesses are excluded from central excise totals.

SEZ procedural timelines accelerate application disposal and introduce online filing for developers and units nationwide
The Department of Commerce will launch online filing for SEZ developers and units and has mandated uniform timelines for SEZ processes: 15 days for new SEZ proposals including site inspection and transmission, 7 days for sector change examination, 7 days for LOA extension and lease execution, 7 days for in-principle exit orders, and 5 days for issuance of Form-I for CST exemption; timelines are to be uploaded on the SEZ website and displayed in DC offices and zone websites.

Time limits for SEZ approvals imposed to expedite DC office disposals and enhance governance and transparency in SEZ administration.
The Department of Commerce has prescribed time limits for DC office disposals relating to SEZ developers/units-covering examination and forwarding of SEZ setting-up proposals, sector-change proposals, extension of LOA and lease deed execution, in-principle exit orders, and issuance of Form I for CST exemption. Zonal Development Commissioners must strictly follow these timelines; they have been uploaded to the SEZ website and are to be displayed at DC offices and on zone websites to enhance transparency and predictability in SEZ administration.

Domestic content requirement challenge in renewable procurement prompts WTO panel request and India readies legal defence.
A trade dispute challenges the domestic content requirement for procurement of solar cells and modules under specified portions of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission; the United States has requested a WTO panel, the Dispute Settlement Body has established a panel, and the WTO Secretariat is composing it in consultation with the parties while India prepares its legal defence. The release also references related WTO disputes concerning an import ban on poultry products for avian influenza reasons and countervailing duties on certain hot rolled steel products.

Minimum Support Price procurement triggers CCI obligation to buy offered FAQ seed cotton; duty free imports for inputs remain allowed.
The Cotton Corporation of India Ltd. is mandated to procure the entire quantity of FAQ grade seed cotton offered by farmers in nominated market yards whenever prevailing seed cotton prices reach the Minimum Support Price. Supportive measures include implementation of the National Food Security Mission-Commercial Crops programme and various textile competitiveness schemes. No fiscal export incentives are provided for cotton or cotton yarn, though these products are eligible for duty free importation of capital goods and raw materials; imports of cotton and cotton yarn are otherwise permitted subject to basic customs duty.

Labour law protection in SEZs remains fully applicable, preventing relaxation and ensuring worker rights under the SEZ framework.
The SEZ framework affirms that labour laws remain fully applicable within Special Economic Zones and the Central Government cannot relax welfare-related labour laws; the government periodically reviews SEZ policy based on stakeholder inputs and has amended SEZ Rules to reduce land requirements and streamline the policy framework.

Promotion of domestic electronics manufacturing through procurement preference and incentives, reinforced by fiscal duty changes.
The Government has implemented measures to promote domestic electronics and hardware manufacturing through procurement preference, M-SIPS, Electronic Manufacturing Clusters, Electronics Hardware Technology Parks, R&D promotion, and approvals for semiconductor fabrication facilities. The Union Budget announced customs and excise duty changes to support manufacture of electronics and solar inputs. The Department of Electronics and Information Technology has indicated there is no plan for a new hardware policy, so existing schemes and fiscal measures remain the operative framework.

Export infrastructure development drives regulatory support and funding to improve cargo movement and logistics connectivity nationwide.
Government policy prioritizes enhancement of export-related infrastructure through coordinated regulatory and funding mechanisms to reduce bottlenecks in sea, air, rail and road cargo movement. The Department of Commerce administers the ASIDE Scheme and an Export Development Fund to co-fund state and central infrastructure projects and regional promotion, while a Single Window Clearance mechanism and an Inter-Ministerial Committee streamline approvals for Inland Container Depots and Container Freight Stations.

Bilateral investment protection agreement negotiations paused while comprehensive economic partnership talks advance on trade and services.
Negotiations on a Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement with Canada are inconclusive and currently in abeyance pending review of the model BIPA text. Separately, India and Canada launched a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement negotiation, with eight rounds conducted and text chapters covering Trade in Goods, Trade in Services, Rules of Origin, origin procedures, trade remedies, customs and trade facilitation, and institutional provisions.

Trade facilitation streamlines export-import documentation through electronic customs, banking certification, continuous port clearance, and online applications.
Export-import operations require key documents: Shipping Bills and Bills of Entry for Customs, Bills of Lading from carriers, and letters of credit or bank documents for foreign exchange. To facilitate trade, the Government has adopted electronic processing including Electronic Data Interchange for Customs, continuous customs clearance at major ports, an Electronic Bank Realization Certification system for secure bank-to-DGFT data flow, and online filing and payment for Foreign Trade Policy benefits.

Institutionalisation of bullion trade: regulated gold import channels and export-linked allocation expand under government policy.
Institutionalisation of bullion trade regulates gold imports by permitting consignment imports by nominated agencies and banks for exporters, banning coin and medallion imports, raising customs duty on gold, and implementing export-linked mechanisms including the 80:20 Scheme, Advance Authorization/Duty Free Import Authorization and special import permissions for Star/Premier Trading Houses, SEZ and EoU units to import gold exclusively for export production.

Trade facilitation and tax administration reform to reduce transaction costs and strengthen anti-evasion measures, enabling improved indirect tax revenues.
Revenue targets for indirect taxes are challenging but achievable through measures to revive manufacturing and infrastructure; tax administration will focus on trade facilitation to reduce transactional costs while strengthening anti evasion enforcement, expanding 24x7 customs clearance, implementing IT and Single Window initiatives, modernising border controls, reducing litigation via dispute resolution reforms, and instituting invoice level CENVAT credit verification to plug revenue leakages.

Price stability measures curb food inflation through import duty cuts, stock limits, export controls and targeted rice allocations.
Government announced supply- and market-management measures to ensure price stability and check food inflation, including zero import duties for key staples, imposition of stock holding limits, suspension of futures trading in selected commodities, maintenance of the Central Issue Price for rice and wheat under welfare schemes, open market sales and temporary export bans. Specific actions also include delisting fruits and vegetables from state marketing laws in some jurisdictions, fixing minimum export prices for certain vegetables, inclusion of onions and potatoes under stock limits via the Essential Commodities Act to enable de hoarding, and an additional targeted rice allocation for vulnerable households pending NFSA implementation.

Exemption from basic customs and excise duty on solar components expanded to cover specified inputs, aiding solar manufacturing.
Exemption from basic customs duty and CVD applies to solar panels and longstanding relief covered goods used in their manufacture. Excise duty exemptions are provided for solar cells/modules, machinery for initial solar projects, EVA sheets and backsheets and specified inputs, solar tempered glass for PV cells and modules, and flat copper wire for PV ribbon manufacture. Basic customs duty exemption has been extended to specified inputs for EVA sheets and backsheets and to flat copper wire for PV ribbons to maximise utilisation of solar power.

Central assistance under MIIUS conditions grant allocation and staged disbursement for state implemented industrial infrastructure projects.
MIIUS provides conditional central assistance for upgrading industrial infrastructure, requiring State Implementation Agencies to implement projects with mandatory counter-contribution and limiting central funding for physical infrastructure to a defined share and ceiling. Grants are released in three installments subject to upfront stakeholder contributions, with project sanctions limited per State. The Department has accorded in principle approvals and allocated grants (not yet released) to specified projects, while other proposals remain unapproved or under evaluation by the Project Management Agency for reasons including post cut off receipt or revisions by SIAs.

Customs duty protection for poppy seeds maintains import barriers and a minimum tariff value to shield domestic cultivators.
The Central Government licenses opium cultivation in specified states and, acknowledging domestic shortfall in poppy seed supply, protects domestic cultivators by imposing a customs duty on imported poppy seeds and by prescribing a minimum tariff value; annexed trade statistics show countrywise import and export quantities and provisional recent-year figures.

Import tender for onions: NAFED may procure imports to augment supplies, subject to state requirements and rate concurrence.
NAFED has issued a tender to import onions to augment domestic supplies, with actual imports contingent on requirements from State and Union Territory governments and their concurrence with tendered rates. Provisional historical import data are provided. The government treats trade measures for agricultural products as dynamic instruments, guided by buffer stock considerations, food security, international demand and supply, quality standards, price competitiveness, and the need to balance growers' remuneration with consumer affordability, and it reviews availability periodically to decide interventions.

Import controls on metallic scrap require safety certification and restrict unshredded consignments to designated ports.
Importation of metallic waste and scrap is permitted provided consignments do not contain hazardous, toxic, radioactive or explosive materials and are accompanied by a valid pre shipment inspection certificate (PSIC) certifying freedom from explosive and radioactive contamination. Imports from Hodaideh and Bandar Abbas must be shredded; shredded scrap may enter via all ports while unshredded, compressed and loose scrap is allowed only through 26 designated ports. Authorities will install portal monitors and radiological scanners and AERB is conducting stakeholder sensitisation. Annexes list eligible scrap categories and provide item and country wise import data.

Revenue targets for indirect taxes drive a conference to plan enforcement, audit, IT and compliance measures.
Assessment of departmental performance and formulation of measures to meet Revenue Targets for Indirect Taxes is the primary focus, with senior Customs, Central Excise and Service Tax leadership tasked to prepare an action plan emphasizing revenue analysis, scrutiny of returns, audit, enforcement, dispute resolution and recovery of tax arrears. The conference also addresses IT-enabled revenue measures, cadre restructuring, budgeting, training gaps, trade facilitation, vigilance management, Tax Administration Reforms Commission recommendations, and GST and GSTN implementation issues.