National economic transformation plan prioritises privatisation and investment facilitation to drive export led growth and institutional delivery.
A national economic transformation plan establishes a coordinated programme to accelerate sustainable growth through enabling investment, privatisation and outsourcing, and export led expansion; it prioritises lowering industrial input costs and reducing reliance on external financing. An implementation architecture including a delivery unit at the prime minister's office will coordinate sectoral roadmaps, performance targets for GDP growth and job creation, and a pillar structure (exports; e infrastructure; environment and resource security; energy and infrastructure; equity, ethics and empowerment) to guide policy and monitoring.

Customs Brokers Licensing Examination: computer based bilingual MCQ test with written and oral qualifying criteria for licensing.
Customs Brokers Licensing Examination 2025 will be a bilingual computer based MCQ test allowing answers in English or Hindi; the paper has 150 questions in a two and a half hour session, uses positive and negative marking, and requires sixty percent to qualify. Candidates who clear the written test must attend an oral examination under the Customs Brokers Licensing Regulations, which also requires sixty percent to pass. Official websites and a contact email are provided for queries.

Export policy to boost state export share and economic growth through incentives, logistics upgrades and artisan upskilling.
The State will introduce a five year export policy for 2025-30 to raise its share of national exports and promote economic growth and job creation. The policy focuses on enhancing exporter capabilities through incentive schemes (Marketing Development Assistance, Gateway Port, Air Freight Rationalisation), improving logistics and air connectivity via a new airport to reduce freight time and cost, and scaling the One District One Product programme with training and toolkits for artisans to support district specific enterprise development.

MRL compliance and quality standards underpin export growth as reduced production and climate impacts reshape tea markets.
Production contracted due to erratic weather and early closures, raising costs, while exports rose through merchant risk taking and market diversification. Agronomic recommendations include soil health improvement, rainwater harvesting and shade enhancement to mitigate climate impacts. Regulatory actions-heightened testing, stricter food safety compliance, attention to MRL issues and auctioning adjustments-aim to protect export access and quality, supporting prices amid low inventories and uneven regional profitability.

Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement expands bilateral market access and advances deeper integration through CECA negotiations.
The India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) has expanded bilateral merchandise trade and diversified export and import lines through implementation measures such as exchange of preferential import data and high utilization of preferential treatment; sectors like textiles, chemicals and agriculture have benefited while CECA negotiations progress to deepen integration and pursue an enhanced bilateral trade target by 2030.

Trade agreements driving market access and digital trade facilitation to boost exports and MSME integration.
The Department's 2024 review emphasizes expansion and implementation of Free Trade Agreements and negotiation rounds (bilateral, regional and plurilateral) to secure market access, services commitments, investment and rules of origin reform; active multilateral engagement at the WTO defending developing country positions on agriculture, SPS/TBT and fisheries subsidies; operational use of trade remedies and export quality upgrades to protect domestic industry; and digitally enabled trade facilitation measures (Trade Connect, JanSunwai, e BRC, auto IEC) alongside targeted supply side initiatives such as Bharat Mart, E Commerce Export Hubs and enhanced credit/insurance support for MSME exporters.

Free trade agreement negotiations seek political guidance to resolve non-tariff barriers and pursue a balanced India EU FTA.
Ministers held an introductory conference to advance a Free Trade Agreement, urging strategic political guidance to conclude negotiations, address long pending non tariff barriers as a confidence building measure, and pursue a balanced, equitable, mutually beneficial agreement; they agreed further structured engagement, including a bilateral visit and coordination via High Level Dialogue and a Trade and Technology Council.

Product Linked Incentive scheme expanding domestic manufacturing capacity and supply chains while streamlining approvals to boost investment.
Product Linked Incentive schemes across 14 sectors provide targeted fiscal support to enhance domestic manufacturing, deepen supply chains in the MSME sector, and increase domestic value addition, complemented by Greenfield industrial corridor projects and infrastructure readiness measures. Integrated logistics and infrastructure planning is advanced through the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan and the National Logistics Policy, supported by a National Single Window System using PAN as a Single Business ID, while regulatory reforms-including FDI liberalisation and Jan Vishwas decriminalisation-streamline approvals and reduce compliance burdens to facilitate investment and ease of doing business.

Corruption investigation: arrests and recoveries following alleged bribery and middleman-facilitated collusion at a SEZ office.
Seven SEEPZ-SEZ Mumbai public servants were arrested on allegations of bribery and collusive corruption involving middlemen; searches recovered cash, property documents, luxury vehicles and incriminating records indicating collections and distribution of bribe proceeds tied to space allotment, disposal and illegal sale of imported goods, and favoritism to contractors. Investigation continues to trace additional evidence and participants.

Export competitiveness urged through quality standards and sustainability to boost global market access and industry scale.
The Council for Leather Exports' National Export Excellence Awards promote export competitiveness by encouraging higher quality standards, sustainable production (including proper effluent treatment and zero pollution targets), brand creation, and support for MSMEs and women entrepreneurs; the awards are structured across export slabs and product segments to recognise overall exports and to catalyse innovation, ethical practices, digital transformation, and scale-driven global market access.

Taxpayer services modernization expands service standards and digital engagement to improve transparency and voluntary compliance.
CBIC launched four taxpayer-focused initiatives: a revised Citizen's Charter with updated timelines and service standards covering key services and grievance mechanisms; an Ease of Doing Business tab to gather taxpayer suggestions for procedural and policy improvements; a revamped Citizen's Corner as a one-stop portal to support self-compliance; and a digital CBIC Archives hosting interactive historical and educational resources. These measures are overseen by the Directorate General of Taxpayer Services to strengthen transparency, accountability, and digital taxpayer engagement.

Intellectual property awareness expanded through national programs and institutional schemes to strengthen enforcement and IP protection nationwide.
DPIIT has implemented a nationwide intellectual property awareness and enforcement framework combining capacity-building programs across academia, law enforcement and industry, public outreach campaigns and institutional reforms. Key measures include NIPAM outreach, training for judiciary, customs and police, IPR enforcement guidance, modernisation and digitisation of IP offices with AI tools and virtual hearings, SIPP and TISCs for startup facilitation, SPRIHA university IPR Chairs, fee rebates for eligible entities, and administrative safeguards for application confidentiality and cloud-based data security.

Digitalisation and monetary policy: evolving tech shocks reshape inflation, labour markets and transmission requiring new data and models.
The address highlights four research frontiers: digitalisation as a long-term technology shock altering productivity, labour markets, inflation and monetary transmission-necessitating big data and machine learning methods; climate change creating non-linear supply, demand and financial-stability risks that call for interdisciplinary macro-financial models; reassessment of the unobservable natural rate of interest in light of post-pandemic and global shifts; and changing digital consumption patterns that transform household saving, borrowing and policy transmission, motivating agent-based and behavioural modelling.

Exports growth and trade balance: stronger merchandise and services exports alongside a widening trade deficit due to higher imports.
India's total exports for April-November 2024 are estimated at USD 536.25 billion (7.61% growth) and total imports at USD 619.20 billion (9.55% growth), producing a wider trade gap. Merchandise exports were USD 284.31 billion and merchandise imports USD 486.73 billion, increasing the merchandise trade deficit versus the prior year. Services exports strengthened to USD 251.94 billion with a services surplus partly offsetting goods deficits. November 2024 estimates show higher exports and substantially higher imports; services data for November are provisional and will be revised upon RBI release.

Supply chain resilience focus: collaborative APTs and standards to strengthen pharma and critical sector supply chains across the Indo Pacific.
India, as Vice Chair of the Supply Chain Council under the IPEF Pillar II Agreement and Chair of the Pharma/Healthcare Action Plan Team, participated in SCC discussions advancing Action Plan Teams and Sub Committees to strengthen supply chain resilience. Key operational items included diversification of sources, technical standards for cold chain logistics, development of monitoring and data analysis systems, and collaborative measures-such as technology transfer, skills development, and reduced import dependence for APIs-to bolster domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing. The SCC also reviewed the Crisis Response Network and a Labor Rights Advisory Board.

Free Trade Agreement negotiations aim for a balanced, ambitious deal to integrate economies and strengthen supply chains.
India and the EU are negotiating a balanced, ambitious, comprehensive and mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement after nine rounds of engagement, requiring political direction to reach a commercially meaningful deal. Negotiations should accommodate sustainability discussions consistent with the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibility (CBDR), recognising differing development paths; the FTA aims to deepen integration, diversify exports, and enhance supply-chain resilience, supported by the India-EU Trade and Technology Council.

Free Trade Agreement momentum to drive bilateral investment and cooperation in logistics, energy, connectivity and technology.
The India-Norway roundtable seeks to operationalize the Free Trade Agreement with EFTA by focusing on attracting EFTA investment and identifying collaboration across logistics, supply chains, maritime, energy, circular economy, food and agriculture, infrastructure, and technology, while reviewing reforms and measures to strengthen cross border infrastructure, connectivity and trade facilitation and planning follow up high level engagement.

Investment cooperation: Russia signals manufacturing ties and BRICS platform backing to boost SME growth and cross border investment.
President Putin praised India's India First orientation and the Make in India initiative as creating a stable investment environment, stated Russia is ready to set up manufacturing operations in India, linked India's policy to Russia's import substitution program and the rise of domestic Russian brands, and urged BRICS cooperation-including an investment platform and a rapid dispute resolution mechanism-to support SME growth and mobilise financial resources for partner countries.

Anti-smuggling enforcement cooperation: DRI to release national smuggling report and host a regional customs enforcement meeting.
DRI will release the annual Smuggling in India report and convene a Regional Customs Enforcement Meeting to strengthen operational coordination and information sharing under Customs Mutual Assistance Agreements and in partnership with international agencies for enforcement-related matters. The agency serves as the central anti-smuggling enforcement body under the tax and customs authority, responsible for intelligence-led prevention, detection and investigation of smuggling, commercial fraud and customs duty evasion across a range of prohibited and sensitive goods.

Domestic certified reference material boosts import substitution and supports Make in India, aiding cement industry standards.
National Awards recognized energy, environment, total quality and circular economy excellence in cement plants and grinding units, reaffirming commitments to water positivity and plastic negativity. The conference released an Indian Certified Reference Material for gypsum to substitute imported CRMs and support domestic manufacturing, issued the 8th edition of cement plant operational guide norms, and announced carbon footprint quantification and offsetting through an NCB incubated StartUp, while hosting technical papers, posters, an exhibition, and StartUp interactions.