MSME digital platform enables exporters to digitise operations and access global business networks and support services.
A government-endorsed digital platform enables MSME exporters to digitise operations and join a global network by creating electronic business profiles and free e-commerce storefronts to find clients, suppliers, and advisors. It supplies business knowledge, searchable listings, and common-interest groups, and integrates services to improve efficiency (intranet, email, calendar). The platform links to federation services for registration, endorsements, renewals and promotional programme participation, and is paired with an emphasis on registering geographical indications to support market access for artisans and producers.

Trade Deficit widened as merchandise imports grew faster than exports, raising overall trade imbalance for the year.
Merchandise exports for April-March 2017-18 were US$302.84 billion with positive year-on-year growth, while imports rose to US$459.67 billion, producing a widened merchandise trade deficit; oil and non-oil import values both increased, services receipts for February were below prior-period levels but services maintained a positive monthly trade balance, and combined provisional merchandise and services data show an overall trade deficit larger than the previous year.

Exchange Rate Notification sets official currency conversion rates for import and export valuation under the Customs Act, superseding prior notice.
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, under authority of the Customs Act, has fixed official conversion rates for specified foreign currencies for valuation of imported and export goods, superseding an earlier notification while preserving prior actions. The instrument contains Schedule I with per unit rates for imports and exports and Schedule II with rates per 100 units for currencies quoted accordingly, which are to be applied for customs valuation and administration.

Monetary policy: RBI keeps repo rate at 6.0% and stays neutral while revising inflation and growth projections.
The Monetary Policy Committee kept the policy repo rate unchanged at 6.0 per cent and maintained a neutral stance to achieve the medium term CPI inflation objective of 4 per cent ( 2%), while supporting growth. It revised CPI projections for 2018 19 (4.7-5.1% in H1; 4.4% in H2 including HRA impact) and projected GDP growth to strengthen to 7.4% in 2018 19, noting upside inflation risks from HRA/MSP changes, fiscal slippages, monsoon variability, input costs and crude price volatility.

Digital export facilitation: new EIC portals streamline certification, traceability and alert monitoring to reduce time and cost.
Digital initiatives by the Export Inspection Council create an integrated electronic platform linking primary production, processing units, testing laboratories, official controls and exports to provide end-to-end traceability, reduce transaction time and cost, support a paperless Go Green approach, and improve transparency in inspection and certification. The programme features a One Lab One Assessment portal to harmonise accreditation bodies, regulators and laboratories for joint certification, and an Export Alert Monitoring portal to track importing-country non compliances and analyse alert trends. Accredited Proficiency Testing providers are being developed domestically to strengthen analytical capacity.

Advance Pricing Agreements strengthen transfer pricing certainty by formalising agreed methodologies and reducing disputes.
Signing of multiple Advance Pricing Agreements in March 2018 comprised Unilateral and Bilateral APAs covering international transactions such as royalty payments, business and marketing support services, corporate guarantees, contract manufacturing, engineering and IT services, merchanting trade, and import/export of components across sectors including telecommunications, IT, automobile, pharmaceutical, beverage, trading, manufacturing and financial services, formalising agreed transfer pricing methodologies and treaty-based arrangements to provide certainty and dispute-avoidance.

Export liberalisation of edible oils with a mustard oil export constraint and empowered committee to manage export measures.
Removal of prohibition on bulk exports of edible oils except mustard oil, which remains restricted to consumer packs up to 5 kg with a Minimum Export Price; an empowered inter departmental Committee chaired by the Secretary, Department of Food & Public Distribution and including Secretaries of Commerce, Agriculture, Revenue, Consumer Affairs and DGFT will review export/import policy and may impose quantitative restrictions, prior registration, MEP or change import duties in response to domestic production, demand, prices and international trade volumes.

Trade imbalance: pursue expanded market access and a bilateral action plan linking agriculture, pharma, IT and regional cooperation.
Addressing the trade imbalance between India and China is the primary objective, pursued through the Joint Group on Economic Relations, Trade, Science and Technology via negotiated expansion of market access for Indian agricultural products, promotion of Indian pharmaceutical and IT/ITES exports, and enhanced cooperation in tourism and healthcare. Ministers committed to preparing an actionable bilateral plan, focused engagement on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, institutionalised e-dialogue, and facilitation of Indian investment into China to reduce the bilateral deficit.

Agriculture export policy consultation invites stakeholder feedback to align export promotion with farmer integration into global markets.
A draft Agriculture Export Policy has been published for public consultation to promote agricultural exports, integrate farmers and products into global value chains, and support increased farmer income. The Ministry placed the draft on the Department of Commerce website and invited stakeholder suggestions via designated contact points by a specified deadline, establishing a structured public consultation to inform the final policy.

Anti-dumping duty imposed on stainless steel imports from multiple countries under Customs Tariff Act provisions.
Anti-dumping duty was imposed by notification on imports of Cold Rolled Flat Products of Stainless Steel from specified countries following investigations and recommendations by the designated authority, under the procedural rules and the statutory power provided by section 9A of the Customs Tariff Act; duties are expressed as percentages of landed value, are country-specific, and apply for a five-year period unless revoked earlier.

GVA growth projection signals acceleration as RBI notes improving business sentiment and stabilising GST effects.
The Reserve Bank of India reported improved consumer confidence and manufacturing sentiment, lower CPI and food inflation in early 2018, and - citing an expanding PMI, stabilising GST, recovering investment (credit off-take and capital market mobilisation), and improving exports - projected an acceleration of GVA growth into the next fiscal year.

Trade deficit widened as imports, led by oil and key commodities, outpaced exports despite sectoral export gains.
February 2018 trade data show exports rose modestly in dollar terms with notable gains in petroleum products, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, rice and electronic goods, while imports grew more strongly-led by higher oil and a range of commodity groups-resulting in a widened merchandise trade deficit for the month and a larger cumulative deficit for April-February 2017-18; services recorded a surplus that partly offsets but does not eliminate the overall trade shortfall.

Exchange rate determination for import and export goods establishes specified foreign currency conversion rates and supersedes prior notification.
Determination under section 14 of the Customs Act fixes conversion rates of specified foreign currencies into Indian rupees for valuing imported and exported goods, superseding the prior notification except as to past actions. Two annexed schedules supply separate import and export rates: Schedule I lists per-unit rates for major currencies and Schedule II lists per-100-unit rates for certain currencies, to be used by customs authorities and traders for customs valuation and compliance.

Parliamentary adjournment halts consideration of Finance and Appropriation Bills amid protests over banking scam probe and state status.
Parliamentary proceedings were suspended after sustained protests by opposition and allied members who trooped into the Well, raised slogans and carried placards, preventing consideration of the Finance Bill and Appropriation Bills. The Deputy Chairman attributed responsibility for not taking up those measures to the disruptive members and adjourned the House; attempts to proceed with a statutory resolution on increased basic customs duty for chickpeas and a short duration discussion on public sector bank scams were curtailed by the disorder.

Urea subsidy continuation secures unchanged urea pricing and timely subsidy disbursement, ensuring farmer affordability and supply stability.
Continuation of the Urea Subsidy Scheme through 2019-20 maintains statutory urea pricing for farmers and ensures timely subsidy payments to manufacturers and importers. The subsidy covers the gap between delivered farm gate cost and the farmer's MRP, and expressly includes imported urea subsidy and freight subsidy to address shortfalls between assessed demand and domestic production and to support nationwide movement and availability of urea.

Tea export growth reached a multi-decade peak, underscoring trade promotion efforts and rising average unit prices.
Indian tea exports recorded a multi-decade high in 2017, with total shipments of 240.68 million kgs and an average unit price above three dollars per kg in key markets. The improved performance is attributed to sustained trade-promotion measures by the Tea Board and industry-buyer-seller meets, delegation exchanges, trade fair participation, and generic brand promotion-and to domestic market growth affecting the exportable surplus.

Gold import scheme changes eliminated preferential import privileges, restoring export-obligation rules and reducing import volumes.
The clarification explains that the 20:80 scheme required a portion of imported gold to meet export obligations to conserve foreign exchange and restrict domestic supply. Expansion in May 2014 to include Premier and Star Trading Houses created a de facto preferential position, increasing imports and allowing private traders disproportionate gains. The subsequent government review concluded the extension was unfair, abolished the scheme, observed reduced import volumes thereafter, and announced it would examine the circumstances of the earlier extension for possible action.

Intellectual Property Rights enforcement: conference advances enforcement capacity, inter-agency coordination and training to tackle counterfeiting.
A CIPAM-led national conference, with EU collaboration, focuses on counterfeiting and the role of enforcement agencies in protecting Intellectual Property Rights, stressing that counterfeiting causes economic loss, health risks and funds illegal activity. The conference aims to strengthen police, customs and prosecution capacity through exchange of best practices, inter-agency coordination and knowledge sharing, building on government measures such as a police toolkit for IP crimes, a national enforcement workshop and multiple training sessions.

Employer social security contribution support under Make in India provides government-paid EPF and pension assistance for textiles and leather sectors.
The Make in India campaign fosters manufacturing and job creation across twenty-five sectors and includes targeted employer social security contribution assistance: under special packages for the Textile & Apparel and Leather & Footwear sectors, the Government pays a portion of employers' Employees' Provident Fund contributions and provides Employees' Pension Scheme support for eligible new employees during their initial employment period to incentivise employment generation and export promotion.

Customs cooperation agreement expands information sharing to prevent and investigate customs offences and facilitate legitimate trade.
An international agreement establishes a legal framework for customs cooperation and mutual administrative assistance between India and Jordan, permitting exchange of information and intelligence to prevent and investigate customs offences and to verify customs value, tariff classification and origin of traded goods, while facilitating legitimate trade and more efficient clearance.