DRI busts pan-India gold smuggling network and seizes around 6.6 kg of foreign-origin gold worth more than Rs. 10 crore; 11, including a mastermind, a...
DRI seizes over 125,000 kg foreign-origin smuggled areca nuts and 41,000 kg poppy seeds worth around Rs. 20.31 crore in Assam and Mizoram in a crackdo...
Rules-based multilateral trade engagement supports bilateral agreement negotiations, enterprise opportunities, investment partnerships, and developing-country policy space. India's G20 trade engagement promotes a rules-based, open and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system while preserving policy space for developing countries. Bilateral discussions seek to expand opportunities for farmers, fishermen, women entrepreneurs, startups, MSMEs and other enterprises. India-United States engagement is intended to advance a balanced Bilateral Trade Agreement and an interim trade deal, alongside investment and industry outreach promoting manufacturing partnerships with Indian enterprises.
Cross-border investment facilitation under CEPA supports local-currency settlement, payment integration, joint projects and timely resolution of investor concerns. Financial-sector cooperation covers local-currency settlement, integration of payment and messaging systems, and central-bank digital currencies, with steps to support timely implementation for more efficient, accessible and resilient bilateral trade and investment. The UAE-India Fast Track Mechanism remains available for addressing outstanding concerns affecting investments and companies in both jurisdictions, and the parties agreed to support timely resolution of such matters.
Return filing and tax audit deadlines are extended for the identified taxpayer category under the applicable statutory framework. CBDT extends the Assessment Year 2026-27 Return of Income filing deadline for persons identified at serial no. 2 in the Table below Explanation 2 to section 139(1) of the Income-tax Act, 1961, from 31 October 2026 to 21 November 2026. The specified date for furnishing the audit report for the same class is extended from 30 September 2026 to 21 October 2026.
Courier-based gold smuggling enforcement targets concealed distribution through paper entities and foreign-origin gold consignments nationwide. Coordinated customs enforcement targeted an organised gold-smuggling network that used courier consignments to distribute foreign-origin gold after cross-border entry. The operation led to seizure of 6.61 kg of gold bars under the Customs Act, 1962, and arrests of eleven associated persons. The network allegedly split gold into small consignments and used paper entities or persons without legitimate gold transactions to conceal distribution through courier channels.
Anti-drug awareness and cultivator outreach combine prevention, direct grievance redressal, and safeguards against illicit narcotics diversion. Jan Sunwayi programmes provide direct, prompt and accessible grievance redressal for opium cultivators, including name corrections, Namantaran, and eligibility connected with the upcoming Settlement Operation. Cultivators are advised to avoid middlemen or intermediaries and seek clarification or assistance directly. These measures complement anti-drug awareness and preventive outreach aimed at preventing illegal trafficking, diversion and abuse of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
NDPS enforcement targets concealed poppy straw, opium and cannabis trafficking through seizures, arrests, and continuing supply-chain investigation. Narcotics enforcement operations in Rajasthan led to seizures of poppy straw, opium, hydroponic cannabis, cash, vehicles and a loaded country-made pistol, with four arrests. Poppy straw was recovered from vehicles and premises, including a truck where it was concealed beneath cement bags. Opium and cash were recovered from residential premises, while hydroponic cannabis concealed in an international parcel was recovered at the Foreign Post Office, Jaipur. The seized articles were taken under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, and supply-chain investigation continues.
Free trade agreement market access is positioned to expand export opportunities and international investment for local entrepreneurs. Free Trade Agreement-led market access is positioned to expand international opportunities for entrepreneurs in Uttar Pradesh by supporting exports, investment inflows and access to overseas markets. International trade engagement is supported through direct business access to global markets, buyer-seller meetings and promotion of the State's products, cuisines and services. Export expansion, international investment, tourism and global recognition of State brands form the stated next phase of economic development, supported by coordination between governments and trade and industrial stakeholders.
Multilateral infrastructure cooperation guides annual development bank participation and bilateral engagement on sustainable investment and economic connectivity. The official visit includes participation, as India's Governor, in the Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, alongside bilateral meetings and engagement with governmental leadership, business leaders and investors. The AIIB focuses on sustainable infrastructure and productive-sector investment in Asia to promote sustainable economic development, wealth creation and infrastructure connectivity.
Reciprocal trade agreement negotiations face tariff and subsidy pressures as both governments pursue lower bilateral trade barriers. India-US bilateral trade negotiations seek completion of the first-phase Bilateral Trade Agreement through a reciprocal trade arrangement lowering trade barriers and tariffs. Further negotiations are required because of changed US tariff conditions, forced-labour tariffs on Indian goods, a possible investigation into excess industrial capacity and subsidies, and sanctions legislation relating to Russia. Ministerial and bilateral engagements will review progress on the proposed reciprocal arrangement.
Banking strike contingency measures direct customers toward advance transactions and digital channels as branch operations may be disrupted. Banking-service continuity measures anticipate possible disruption from a three-day employee strike. Customers are advised to complete essential transactions in advance and use ATMs/ADWMs, mobile and internet banking, UPI, business correspondent points and other digital channels. Branch and office operations at participating institutions may be affected, while essential services are to be maintained where possible. Union demands include a five-day banking week, pension improvements and transition options from the National Pension System to the old pension scheme.
Government borrowing calendar: Reduced dated-securities borrowing will use weekly auctions, green bonds, switches and buyback operations. Second-half dated-security borrowing will be completed through weekly auctions across maturities ranging from 3 years to 50 years, including Sovereign Green Bonds. Switching and buyback operations will continue to smooth the redemption profile, while a greenshoe option may permit retention of additional subscriptions. Treasury Bill borrowing will proceed through 91-day, 182-day and 364-day instruments. Auctions will offer non-competitive bidding for specified retail investors, and flexibility is retained to modify issuance terms or introduce non-standard maturity instruments, floating-rate bonds and inflation-indexed bonds.
Interest-free working capital assistance for FCV tobacco growers supports liquidity, institutional loan repayment, crop inputs, and reduced private borrowing. A one-time, interest-free working-capital loan of Rs. 50,000 per barn is approved for FCV tobacco growers in Andhra Pradesh under the Interest-Free Working Capital Assistance Scheme. Covering about 44,000 growers, the assistance is proposed to be delivered through direct benefit transfer. It is intended to provide liquidity for household requirements, institutional loan repayment and crop inputs, while reducing dependence on private borrowing.
Government securities auction calendar establishes retail bidding access, flexible issuance terms, greenshoe subscriptions, and periodic debt switch operations. Each auction carries a non-competitive bidding facility, under which five per cent of the notified amount is reserved for specified retail investors. The Government may modify indicated amounts, issuance periods and maturities, and may issue instruments with non-standard maturities, floating-rate bonds or inflation-indexed bonds, having regard to governmental requirements, market conditions and other relevant factors. It may retain additional subscriptions through a greenshoe option and conduct switch or buyback auctions of dated securities.
Market borrowing plan sets dated securities auctions, Treasury Bill issuance, redemption management, and temporary cash-flow support. Government market borrowing for the second half of FY 2026-27 is to be raised through weekly auctions of dated securities, including Sovereign Green Bonds, across maturities from 3 to 50 years. Debt-management measures include switching and buyback operations to smooth the redemption profile and a greenshoe option for additional subscriptions. Treasury Bills are to be issued through weekly auctions in 91-day, 182-day and 364-day maturities. The Ways and Means Advances limit is fixed to address temporary mismatches in government accounts.
GI-tagged agricultural exports expand farmer access to international markets through FPO-led value chains and higher price realisation. APEDA facilitated the export of a one-metric-tonne consignment of GI-tagged Gulbarga Tur Dal from Karnataka to the Maldives through an FPO-led brand. Gulbarga Tur Dal has held GI registration since 2019. The export-linked channel provides farmers a realisation of Rs.82 per kg compared with a prevailing market price of Rs.60 per kg, while supporting closer integration of FPOs and farmers into export-oriented supply chains.
Gold smuggling through powdered gold concealed in food products led to seizure and arrests under customs law. Intelligence-led interception and baggage examination identified foreign-origin gold converted into fine powder and mixed with packaged food products of similar colour, texture and consistency. Segregation and assaying yielded 9.40 kg foreign-origin gold, which was seized under the Customs Act, 1962. Questioning linked the passengers to the same organised gold-smuggling syndicate, and they were arrested under that Act.
Customs seizure of suspected smuggled areca nuts and restricted poppy seeds followed intelligence-led cross-border enforcement operations. Intelligence-led customs enforcement in Mizoram and Assam resulted in seizure, under the Customs Act, 1962, of suspected foreign-origin areca nuts and poppy seeds believed on preliminary inquiry to have been smuggled from Myanmar. Searches of locked, unattended godowns near the Indo-Myanmar border recovered the commodities, while interception of two trucks carrying poppy seeds without valid import documents led to seizure of the consignments and vehicles. Four persons connected with transportation of the poppy seeds were arrested.
Industrial control system cybersecurity certification validates system-level protection across wind farm controls, networks, and lifecycle security services. IEC 62443-3-3 Security Level 2 certification applies to a wind farm control system covering SCADA, PPC, PLC and industrial network devices. It assesses system-level security requirements, including the interaction of components, networks and security mechanisms within an overall industrial control environment. The cybersecurity framework also spans secure development, certified core control components, system-level protection, and security integration and maintenance services across the lifecycle of wind energy technologies.
Foreign exchange reserve composition reflects a weekly decline driven by foreign currency assets despite a modest gold increase. India's foreign exchange reserves declined by USD 14.881 billion to USD 765.901 billion for the week ended 18 September 2026. The contraction was principally driven by a reduction in foreign currency assets, which also reflect valuation effects from movements in non-US reserve currencies. Gold reserves increased, while Special Drawing Rights decreased and the reserve position with the International Monetary Fund remained reported separately.
The total import of sensitive items for the period April-July 09 has been Rs.18061 crore as compared to Rs.13424 crore during the corresponding period of last year thereby showing an increase of 34.5%. The gross import of all commodities during same period of current year was Rs.382422 crore as compared to Rs.488668 crore during the same period of last year. Thus import of sensitive items constitutes 2.7% and 4.7% of the gross imports during last year and current year respectively.
Imports of automobiles, products of SSI and alcoholic beverages have shown a decline at broad group level during the period. Imports of all other items viz. edible oil, Pulses, fruits & vegetables (including nuts), cotton & silk, rubber, spices, marble & granite, milk & milk products, tea & coffee and food grains have shown increase during the period under reference.
In the edible oil segment, the import has increased from Rs.3682.91 crore last year to Rs.7150.81 crore for the corresponding period of this year. The imports of both crude edible oil as well as refined oil have gone up by 94.6% and 91.6% respectively. The increase in edible oil import is mainly due to substantial increase in import of crude palm oil and its fractions.
Imports of sensitive items from Indonesia, Myanmar, United States of America, Malaysia, Canada, Ukraine, Brazil, Argentina, Benin, Cote D' Ivoire, Australia, Thailand etc. have gone up while those from China P RP, Korea RP, Japan, Germany, Czech Republic etc. have shown a decrease.
Import of sensitive items rose significantly, increasing their share of gross imports and driven by edible oil imports.
Import of sensitive items rose by 34.5% in April-July 2009, increasing their share of gross imports from 2.7% to 4.7%. Automobiles, small-scale industry products and alcoholic beverages declined, whereas edible oil, pulses, fruits and vegetables, cotton and silk, rubber, spices, marble and granite, milk products, tea and coffee and food grains increased. Edible oil imports surged, driven mainly by higher crude palm oil and its fractions. Imports rose from suppliers such as Indonesia, Myanmar, the United States and Malaysia, and fell from China, Korea, Japan, Germany and the Czech Republic.
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