Service tax clarity: seminars offer direct engagement with senior tax administrators to address compliance and procedural issues.
Announcement of a national seminar series to provide industry engagement with senior tax administrators for clarification on the service tax regime, covering interpretation of the definition of service, Cenvat Credit Rules, prosecution and arrest powers, negative list and declared services, place of provision, reverse charge mechanism, Point of Taxation rules, and practical handling of audits and investigations; events require prior registration, list invited government and private sector speakers, and target senior financial, legal and tax professionals.

Import duty adjustment on refined edible oils to preserve duty differential and protect domestic refining and farmers.
Increase of import duty on refined edible oils of vegetable origin from 7.5 percent to 10 percent has been approved to maintain a reasonable differential between import duty on crude and refined vegetable oils and to protect the domestic refining industry and domestic farmers.

Liberalization of FDI policy to attract foreign investment and boost manufacturing competitiveness through industrial corridor development and technology ties.
Policy emphasis on liberalization of the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy to attract foreign investment and technology collaboration, complemented by a push for manufacturing recovery through industrial corridor development (notably the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor), and highlighting export growth and a reduced trade deficit as indicators of improved external and fiscal resilience.

Industrial production index shows mixed sectoral growth with energy shortfall driven by natural gas decline.
Combined Index of Eight Core Industries (weight 37.90% in IIP) was 153.5 in November 2013, 1.7% higher than November 2012. Monthly and cumulative movements are reported across Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Petroleum Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement and Electricity. Natural Gas showed a sharp monthly and cumulative decline while Electricity, Steel and Cement recorded notable monthly and cumulative gains. Data are provisional with specified revisions and prorated reporting for RIL (SEZ).