Trade imbalance mitigation: Russia to boost purchases of Indian agricultural and pharmaceutical goods to rebalance bilateral trade.
President instructed the government to mitigate the Russia-India trade imbalance by increasing purchases of Indian agricultural products and pharmaceuticals and by developing proposals for cooperation that address financing, logistics, and payment bottlenecks; he also endorsed joint technology initiatives such as a proposed AI development fund.

F-35 parts exports to Israel must be re-evaluated; export suspension remains while government reassesses the license.
The Supreme Court ordered the government to re-evaluate the export license for F-35 parts to Israel within six weeks, kept the export suspension in place during that reassessment, and found that an appeals panel had exceeded its authority by previously ordering a halt to transfers; the ruling frames courts' role as legality review without supplanting executive foreign policy discretion.

Cultural and religious compliance in funeral services ensures dignified rites while handling administrative permits and logistical coordination.
Funeral service providers in Singapore must manage culturally and religiously sensitive rites while handling practical administrative obligations-transportation, preparation of remains, casket or urn selection, coordination with burial grounds and crematoria-and assist families with required documentation and permits. Providers should facilitate pre funeral arrangements to formalise wishes, ensure transparent pricing and offer emotional support, sourcing appropriate officiants and supplies in accordance with ritual expectations and practical constraints such as limited burial land.

TVS Motor Company achieved record quarterly sales and reported strong two and three wheeler and export growth.
TVS Motor Company recorded a record quarterly sales milestone of 15.07 lakh units in Q2 FY26 driven by a 22% increase in two wheelers and a 41% rise in three wheelers; total exports grew 30%. In September 2025, monthly sales were 541,064 units (12% growth), with two wheelers up 11%, EVs up 8% amid magnet availability challenges, and three wheelers up 60%.

Trade rebalancing: Russia to boost purchases of Indian agricultural and medicinal goods to address bilateral imbalance.
Russian executive action directs development of measures to rebalance bilateral trade with India by increasing Russian purchases of Indian agricultural products and medicinal goods to offset asymmetric crude exports. The government is tasked with preparing proposals addressing financing, logistics and payments to smooth the trade deficit and unlock fuller economic cooperation, while political trust and a privileged strategic partnership underpin prospects for expanded collaboration including joint technology initiatives.

Indian coffee gains premium market access under India EFTA TEPA with tariff preferences and export diversification.
The India-EFTA TEPA grants EFTA zero import duty on coffee HS lines while India retains Chapter 0901 on exclusion but phases preferential access for HS 210111 and HS 210112 using staging categories ('E7' for Iceland; 'E5' for Norway and Switzerland) to extend duty preferences in equal annual instalments from the agreement's entry into force, creating a predictable tariff pathway for exporters to access premium EFTA markets.

Trade and investment partnership opens market access and mobility pathways, boosting investment commitments and sectoral cooperation.
Entry into force of the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement establishes reciprocal market access for goods, services and mobility with a firm investment commitment, pairs tariff and non tariff liberalisation with standards cooperation and sector roadmaps, and provides mechanisms for investment facilitation, MSME onboarding, logistics efficiency and pathways for Mutual Recognition Agreements to deepen exports and services delivery.

Export partnership expands market access through strategic MoU, buyer-seller engagements, and startup export enablement programs.
APEDA, as Export Partner at World Food India 2025, organized a Reverse Buyer Seller Meet to enable extensive B2B engagements between Indian agri food exporters and international buyers. APEDA signed a strategic MoU with LuLu Hypermarket under the BHARTI Initiative to provide shelf space, sampling campaigns, consumer engagement, and access to LuLu's export division, while BHARTI advances startup export enablement through mentorship, branding, technology adoption, and market intelligence.

Trade imbalance: Russia to increase purchases of Indian agricultural and pharmaceutical goods and tackle financing, logistics, payment bottlenecks.
The Russian president ordered government measures to soften the bilateral trade imbalance by increasing purchases of Indian agricultural products and selected medicinal and pharmaceutical goods, and identified financing, logistics and payment bottlenecks as principal obstacles to expanding trade. He framed the measures within the existing strategic partnership and endorsed a proposed joint fund for AI and advanced technology cooperation to further economic ties.

Cultural heritage: Syncretic Durga Puja traditions continue with tribal governance and symbolic plantain deity rites.
The Nartiang Durga temple maintains syncretic worship combining Hindu rites with Khasi-Jaintia customs: a banana plantain trunk serves as the non sculptural representation of the Goddess due to local prohibitions on idols; devotees perform traditional prayers, offerings, chants and drum rituals; the Dalloi chieftain functions as chief patron and leads the ceremonial removal and immersion of the plantain trunk; archaic oral hymns in an otherwise unintelligible chant language are recited by ritual performers and elders, reflecting enduring regional liturgical and custodial practices.

Free trade agreement progress: India EU talks target comprehensive market access, IP and tariff frameworks to boost commerce.
Negotiations toward a free trade agreement between India and the European Union are progressing with a target to conclude by year end; talks address market access, tariff and tax concessions, a strengthened intellectual property regime, and a comprehensive set of negotiation chapters covering goods, services, investment, customs and trade facilitation, dispute settlement, geographical indications and sustainable development.

Trade liberalisation under the India EFTA TEPA enables phased tariff removals and an investment linked safeguard for rebalancing concessions.
The Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement between India and EFTA entered into force, granting extensive tariff concessions across most tariff lines and phasing out duties on specified goods over ten years while preserving exclusions for sensitive agricultural and related sectors. The pact includes a linked investment commitment from EFTA, and authorises India to rebalance or suspend duty concessions if the pledged investments fail to materialise. It also sets out reciprocal services market access commitments and customs facilitation measures to enhance trade and investment.

Railway exports expand globally as India supplies critical rolling stock and propulsion systems to multiple countries.
Indian Railways is exporting a range of rolling stock and components - metro coaches, bogies, passenger coaches, propulsion systems, and locomotives - to more than sixteen countries under the 'Make in India, Make for the World' initiative. The Marhowra Locomotive Manufacturing Plant has exported locomotives to the Republic of Guinea and secured a strategic order for Evolution Series locomotives for African markets, with officials citing public-private partnership, engineering capacity, and skill development as drivers of export growth.

Appointment of Secretary of Commerce positions senior civil service leadership to direct trade policy, FTA negotiations and export promotion.
An administrative appointment names a senior career civil servant as Secretary of the Department of Commerce to lead customs, DGFT and SEZ policy oversight and to direct trade negotiations, FTA engagement and export promotion within the department's regulatory and policy framework.

Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement boosts market access via tariff liberalisation and a major investment commitment between parties.
The Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) commits parties to tariff liberalisation across most product categories and targets substantial private investment in India, focusing on technology, manufacturing, textiles, leather, food products and services. Implementation emphasizes regulatory cooperation, skills development, innovation partnerships and streamlined mechanisms to facilitate faster investment decisions; EFTA has expressed interest in a bilateral investment protection treaty to support the investment framework.

Self-sufficiency in pulses through a mission combining assured procurement, seed programmes, and value chain strengthening.
Cabinet approves a six-year Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses establishing targets for area and yield expansion and a cluster-based implementation model, backed by large-scale certified seed distribution, multi-location trials, state rolling seed production plans and a seed authentication portal. A central operational feature is assured procurement of designated pulses under a price support mechanism, with full procurement by designated agencies from registered farmers entering procurement agreements, alongside subsidies for processing units and measures to strengthen the value chain and reduce post harvest losses.

Tariff agreement preserves elevated duties on most Japanese exports while securing reciprocal terms and investment commitments.
A bilateral tariff agreement fixed duties on most Japanese exports to the United States at fifteen percent while Japan did not reduce its tariffs on US goods and concurrently pledged a significant investment program in US projects; protracted, sometimes tense negotiations produced the pact, reached after sustained diplomatic engagement.

Free trade agreement expands tariff liberalisation and services access, tied to an enforceable investment commitment and remedial duty measures.
The FTA with EFTA creates reciprocal market access through extensive tariff concessions and a staged tariff phase out for listed goods, while preserving protections for specified sensitive sectors. It pairs comprehensive services commitments with an EFTA investment pledge that excludes portfolio investment; failure to meet the investment obligation permits India to temporarily withdraw customs duty concessions under the agreement after the implementation and grace periods.

Trade disruption: call to resume iron ore imports to restore unhindered export access and protect national trade interests.
Reports that a state-run Chinese buyer suspended purchases of dollar denominated seaborne cargo from a major Australian miner prompted Australian leaders to urge resumption of imports and to characterise the matter as commercial negotiations. The prime minister called for unhindered export access and the treasurer proposed meeting with the miner's chief executive, emphasising government advocacy for exporters, workers and investors while refraining from regulatory escalation.

Cold chain infrastructure expansion will facilitate export-standard storage and market access for horticultural producers and higher farm incomes.
The state will develop cold storage and air cargo warehousing infrastructure at the airport to ensure controlled-temperature preservation and transport of horticultural produce, enabling export-standard handling and reducing post-harvest losses; the State Warehousing Corporation is to establish modern cold chain and air cargo facilities on airport premises to align storage and shipment with international standards and strengthen market access for producers.