CCI approves acquisition of certain equity share capital of Great White Global Pvt Ltd by ISAF III Onshore Fund, India Special Assets Fund III, Specia...
CCI approves acquisition of three professional cricket franchises: Rajasthan Royals (India), Paarl Royals (South Africa) and Barbados Royals (Barbados...
Zero forex markup on credit cards applies automatically to international transactions without conditions while preserving applicable rewards. Zero Forex Markup applies automatically to international transactions made through all existing and new credit cards, without a new-card application, upgrade, spending threshold or other stated condition. International card spends do not attract forex markup charges. Reward Points or Cashback, where applicable to the relevant card, continue on international transactions. Existing credit cards may be used for overseas and cross-border payments without requiring a separate forex card solely to avoid such charges.
Foreign exchange reserve valuation reflects currency movements as foreign currency assets and gold holdings decline. India's foreign exchange reserves declined to USD 780.782 billion for the week ended September 11, driven by reductions in foreign currency assets and gold holdings. Foreign currency assets fell to USD 645.796 billion, with their dollar value reflecting movements in reserve currencies against the US dollar. Gold reserves also declined, while Special Drawing Rights increased to USD 18.845 billion. The reserve position with the IMF stood at USD 4.916 billion.
Bulk sugar stockholding limits now allow expanded inventories only where additional supplies derive from designated import channels. Bulk sugar consumers using more than 10 tonnes monthly as a raw material may hold up to 30 days' requirement instead of 15 days. Holdings above 15 days must consist exclusively of sugar imported under the Tariff Rate Quota or Advance Authorisation Scheme; sugar obtained from the open market remains restricted to 15 days' consumption. Bulk consumers must declare and disclose their sugar inventories every Friday through the food ministry's online portal.
Trade facilitation and digitalisation support regional economic cooperation through simpler customs procedures, paperless exchange, resilient supply chains, and MSME access. Priority measures included expanded intra-SCO trade, lower trade costs, resilient and diversified supply chains, trusted multimodal connectivity, greater market access, simplified customs processes, paperless trade and electronic document exchange. Digital and cross-border payments and accessible trade finance were identified to enable MSMEs and start-ups to participate in trade and value chains. Ministers agreed an Action Plan for 2026-2030 for further approval and approved regulations for a special working group on creative-economy development.
Customs cooperation and trade facilitation advance electronic origin verification, pre-arrival information exchange, and safeguards against preferential trade misuse. Customs cooperation and trade facilitation measures included pre-arrival information exchange, electronic verification of Certificates of Origin, and Customs automation and digitalisation. These measures are directed at facilitating legitimate trade while ensuring compliance with applicable rules and preventing misuse of preferential trade arrangements. Rail and road connectivity, freight movement, Integrated Check Posts and land-port infrastructure were reviewed to improve infrastructure utilisation and address operational bottlenecks affecting bilateral and transit trade.
Preferential equity issuance approved to strengthen capital, support digital lending expansion, and fund subsidiary operations subject to required approvals. OnEMI Technology Solutions Limited has approved a preferential issue of equity shares to identified investors, subject to shareholder and requisite regulatory and statutory approvals. The issuance is proposed under the Companies Act, 2013, the SEBI capital-issue and disclosure framework, other applicable SEBI regulations, and applicable law. Seventy-five per cent of the additional capital raised is proposed for infusion into its wholly owned subsidiary to support lending, technology, digital capabilities and product expansion, while the remaining twenty-five per cent is proposed for general corporate purposes.
Fraudulent input tax credit claims through bogus invoices prompted arrest over alleged invoicing without actual supply of goods. Alleged fraudulent availment, utilisation and passing on of inadmissible input tax credit involved invoices from purported suppliers found to be non-existent, non-functional, suspended or cancelled. Input tax credit was allegedly claimed without actual receipt of goods and passed on through invoices unsupported by corresponding supplies. Following investigation and recorded statements, the proprietor of an iron and steel trading firm was arrested under statutory arrest powers, while further investigation remains in progress.
Direct tax collections: stronger advance tax payments support growth in corporate, non-corporate, and securities transaction tax receipts. Direct tax collections grew through September 17, supported principally by increased advance tax payments from corporate and non-corporate taxpayers. Gross collections exceeded Rs 14.32 lakh crore, while net collections, after refunds, exceeded Rs 12.12 lakh crore. Corporate tax collections grew more strongly than non-corporate tax collections, and Securities Transactions Tax receipts recorded significant growth. The trend indicated broad-based tax buoyancy, supported by underlying economic activity, taxpayer confidence and business performance.
Reusable consent-based KYC enables integrated onboarding, reporting, record updates and periodic re-verification for regulated financial institutions. Central KYC-based onboarding enables regulated financial institutions to reuse a customer's existing verified identity record through the Central KYC Registry with customer consent. The integrated solution supports onboarding, KYC reporting, unsolicited notifications and re-KYC. It retrieves consented KYC records through CKYC APIs, uses facial matching or video-based customer identification for authentication, and applies AI-based duplicate detection. Reporting automates validation, image correction and real-time registry submission, while record updates and simplified periodic re-verification support the currency of institutional KYC information.
Benchmark interest rate normalisation raises borrowing costs while monetary policy monitors inflation, wage growth, currency risks, and economic recovery. The Bank of Japan increased the uncollateralised overnight call rate from 1.0 per cent to 1.25 per cent, advancing monetary-policy normalisation after a prolonged period of near-zero or negative rates. The increase was assessed against gradual economic recovery, inflation near its target, wage growth, currency fluctuations, elevated crude oil prices, and external risks. Further tightening remains contingent on stable price increases, wage developments, and monitoring of other risks.
Upper-layer NBFC listing compliance sharpens corporate governance conflict over public accountability, shareholder liquidity, and preservation of private ownership. Tata Sons' status as an upper-layer non-banking financial company has brought its proposed public listing into focus after the Reserve Bank of India rejected its application to voluntarily surrender core investment company registration. Tata Sons is required to take steps to comply with the enhanced regulatory framework applicable to upper-layer NBFCs, which includes stock-market listing. Classified in 2022, Tata Sons did not meet the original listing deadline and had pursued deregistration after repaying debt.
Upper-layer NBFC compliance places Tata Sons on a listing-oriented path emphasising transparency, governance, shareholder visibility, and philanthropic continuity. Reserve Bank of India rejection of Tata Sons' application to surrender its core investment company registration requires compliance with the upper-layer non-banking financial company regulatory framework. The resulting regulatory path is associated with public listing. Shapoor Mistry supports listing as a means to enhance transparency, shareholder visibility, and corporate governance accountability, while potentially clarifying the holding company's value and supporting a durable flow of value towards charitable activities without compromising Tata's philanthropic mission.
Duty-free market access will cover all covered exports upon entry into force under the bilateral free trade agreement. Upon entry into force, the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement grants duty-free access in New Zealand for 100 per cent of Indian exports, including textiles and apparel, leather and footwear, engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and processed food products. It also provides enhanced preferential access to the Indian market for specified New Zealand exports. The Agreement further covers services, investment, professional, student and youth mobility, and cooperation in agricultural productivity, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, traditional medicine and AYUSH, technology, and trade facilitation.
Competition clearance for additional shareholding acquisition facilitates increased investment in Azure Power's renewable energy business by OMERS Infrastructure. Competition approval has been granted for a proposed combination involving OMERS Infrastructure Asia Holdings Pte. Ltd.'s acquisition of certain additional shareholding in Azure Power Global Limited from CDPQ Infrastructures Asia Pte. Ltd. Azure Power Global Limited is the parent entity of the Azure group, which establishes and operates renewable energy plants and sells solar power in India.
Competition approval for interconnected acquisitions enables shared equity acquisition in Great White and sole control acquisition in ITVIS. Competition-law approval covers an interconnected combination involving acquisition of 50% of Great White Global Private Limited's issued and paid-up equity share capital by EAAA Acquiring Entities and the Continuing Promoter group, through inter-connected steps using an acquisition special purpose vehicle that will merge into Great White. The combination also includes Mr. Mehul Shah's acquisition of sole control over ITVIS Innovations Private Limited.
Competition approval for acquiring three Royals franchises covers cross-border professional cricket franchise ownership interests and related transaction arrangements. Competition Commission of India granted competition approval for the proposed combination involving Westview Cricket Limited and Poonawalla Sports and Fitness Private Limited acquiring the Rajasthan Royals, Paarl Royals and Barbados Royals professional cricket franchises. The franchises operate respectively in India, South Africa and Barbados, with Rajasthan Royals participating in the Indian Premier League T20 cricket tournament organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
Sanctions bill permits punitive tariffs on oil and gas trading partners, raising energy-market and bilateral relationship concerns. United States sanctions bill concerning Russia would authorize the President to impose sanctions on Russia and punitive tariffs of up to 100 per cent on nations importing Russian crude oil. The tariff mechanism may affect oil and gas trading partners, bilateral relations and global energy markets, with concern expressed over its implications for energy trade.
Secondary sanctions on Russian energy trade could expose major crude importers to punitive tariffs and economic pressure. Congressional legislation targeting Russia and Iran would authorise sanctions against Russia's leadership, energy sector, and vessels facilitating evasion of oil-delivery restrictions. It would also permit punitive tariffs of up to 100 per cent on leading trading partners continuing to import Russian oil and gas. India has identified possible effects on bilateral economic relations and the international energy market, while maintaining that diversified sourcing is necessary for energy security and that its trade and economic interests will be protected.
Trust-nominated director consent shapes the contested chairmanship reappointment as regulatory classification renews pressure to consider a stock-market listing. Validity of the reappointment is therefore contested under the company's internal governance framework despite the majority board vote, and the appointment is expected to be considered for ratification at the annual general meeting. The dispute also concerns the distinction between shareholder influence and directors' decision-making duties. A Trust sought to direct its nominee director to oppose a listing, but the director declined on the basis of independent director duties.
Net direct tax collections during first eight months of the present fiscal (up to November 2009) stood at Rs.1,83,822 crore, up from Rs.1,77,251 crore in the same period last fiscal, registering a growth of 3.71 percent. Growth in Corporate Taxes was 3.17 percent (Rs.1,13,210 crore as against Rs.1,09,735 crore), while Personal Income Tax (including STT, and residual FBT and BCTT) grew at 4.53 percent (Rs.70,262 crore as against Rs.67,215 crore).
During the month of November 2009, net direct tax collections was Rs.10,375 crore compared to Rs.10,346 crore during November 2008. While PIT growth was 23.8 percent (Rs.7,161 crore against Rs.5,785 crore last fiscal), Corporate Tax recorded a negative growth of 29.5 percent (Rs.3,214 crore against Rs.4,561 crore last fiscal).
Growth in Securities Transaction Tax (STT) stood at 4.44 percent during April-November 2009 (Rs.4,349 crore as against Rs.4,165 crore) compared to the corresponding period last fiscal.
Direct tax collections rose modestly overall, with personal income tax up but corporate tax falling in November.
Net direct tax receipts for the first eight months rose by 3.71 percent year on year, with corporate tax up modestly and personal income tax (including related levies) up 4.53 percent. November aggregate collections were broadly stable year on year, reflecting a substantial month on month increase in personal income tax contrasted with a pronounced decline in corporate tax. Securities Transaction Tax collections for April-November increased modestly over the prior year.
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