Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) Post Highest-Ever Net Profit of Rs. 10,177 Crore in FY 2025–26, show consistent improvement in other key financial param...
Securitisation Note amendments seek stronger issuance efficiency, liquidity and transparency, with stakeholder consultation invited on proposed directions. Draft amendments to securitisation transaction directions seek to improve the efficiency, liquidity and transparency of issuing and subsequently transferring Securitisation Notes. The proposals apply to commercial banks, small finance banks, non-banking financial companies and all India financial institutions. Public and stakeholder comments are invited through the designated regulatory consultation platform or alternatively by post or email.
Rupee appreciation reflected weaker dollar conditions, equity inflows, crude oil movements and positive domestic market sentiment. Foreign exchange market conditions supported an early appreciation of the rupee against the US dollar. A weaker US dollar, lower crude oil prices relative to earlier levels, positive domestic equity sentiment, and foreign institutional investors' net purchase of Indian equities were identified as key influences. The dollar index weakened ahead of a monetary policy announcement, while crude prices rose amid renewed geopolitical tensions. Domestic benchmark equity indices also advanced in early trade.
Input Tax Credit unblocking allegedly involved illegal gratification, prompting a trap operation and apprehension of the officer and consultant. Alleged bribery connected with unblocking Input Tax Credit arose after an electronics trader received a show-cause notice and had its ITC blocked. A private tax consultant allegedly conveyed that a State GST officer demanded illegal gratification for unblocking the credit and encouraged the trader to settle the demand. Following a complaint, a trap operation allegedly led to the apprehension of the officer and consultant, with further legal action in progress.
Defence production licensing and Russian energy sanctions shaped discussions on Ukraine's security capacity, missile supply and diplomatic engagement. Ukraine-US discussions addressed licences for domestic Patriot defence-system production, wider defence-production cooperation, technology exchange and missile supply funded through European resources. Ukraine also sought support for a sanctions bill designed to increase economic pressure on Russia by imposing tariffs on goods from major purchasers of Russian oil and gas and by sanctioning Russian leaders, financial institutions and energy projects. The proposed defence-production licence was identified as a longer-term measure, alongside calls for renewed diplomatic engagement.
Cooperative-sector modernisation strengthens rural finance through expanded credit societies, online audits, institutional connectivity and technology-enabled cooperative banking. Cooperative-sector modernisation is presented as a mechanism for strengthening rural institutions, farmer prosperity and the rural economy. The separate Ministry of Cooperation provides an administrative, legal and policy framework for the cooperative movement. Key initiatives include establishing new primary agricultural credit societies and dairy cooperative societies, expanding business activities for primary agricultural credit societies, online auditing, and connecting cooperative institutions. District cooperative banks are described as important institutions for meeting the financial requirements of expanding service and dairy cooperative societies.
Direct containerised rail freight movement enables seamless Kolkata Port-to-Biratnagar cargo transport without border transshipment under revised transit arrangements. Direct containerised rail freight movement between Kolkata Port and Biratnagar Customs Yard has commenced under the revised India-Nepal Rail Transit Protocol. The service enables end-to-end commercial rail carriage without border transshipment through the Jogbani-Biratnagar broad-gauge connection. Implementation of the revised Letter of Exchange operationalises direct commercial rail access, intended to reduce transit time, logistics costs and cargo handling while improving supply-chain efficiency, reliability and cross-border trade.
State governance reforms expand housing relief, local audits, MSME support, property records, welfare measures and clean-vehicle tax incentives. The reforms provide concessional stamp duty and registration charges for eligible Economically Weaker Section housing beneficiaries, a statutory local-audit framework, and incentives for MSMEs and exports. They also establish rules for ownership records in Lal Dora areas and introduce a formula-based urban property-tax assessment framework with exemptions. Welfare measures cover compensation for specified unnatural custodial deaths, ex-Agniveer reservation, and compassionate appointments. Motor-vehicle tax measures provide a rebate for qualifying vehicles registered in women's names and exemptions for new electric vehicles.
Investigation into alleged fund diversion faced scrutiny as agencies were required to disclose progress and decide on regular cases. Investigation into alleged dubious transactions and fund diversion involving Indiabulls Housing Finance Limited remained under scrutiny because investigating agencies did not provide an updated status or take a final decision on registration of regular cases. The Central Bureau of Investigation and Delhi Police Economic Offences Wing were required to file a comprehensive affidavit and status report. The allegations concern loans allegedly routed through corporate entities to promoter-linked companies, alongside inquiries involving financial, corporate-fraud and market-regulatory agencies.
MSME payment-delay reforms propose faster dispute resolution, enforceable settlement recovery, and invoice discounting to strengthen supplier liquidity. The proposed amendment strengthens delayed-payment dispute resolution for micro and small enterprise suppliers through prescribed adjudication timelines and possible interim payment of at least half the awarded amount where a setting-aside application remains pending beyond six months. Mediated settlements and arbitral awards may be recovered as arrears of land revenue and are proposed to be legally enforceable debts under the insolvency framework. Central public sector enterprises would be required to route MSME invoice settlements through the Trade Receivables Discounting System.
Regional rural bank oversight strengthens financial performance, technology adoption, diversified lending and financial inclusion in remote communities. Regional Rural Banks are regularly reviewed for financial performance, technology upgradation, MSME lending, loan diversification and financial inclusion in rural and remote areas. Their financial health improved over recent years, with growth in deposits, loans, credit-deposit ratio, net worth and capital adequacy, alongside improved asset-quality indicators. Financial-inclusion targets for bank-account access, micro-credit, insurance and pension schemes are set and periodically monitored to extend formal financial services.
Emergency credit guarantee support addresses business liquidity mismatches while public sector banks report stronger asset quality and sectoral lending growth. Public sector banks reported improved balance-sheet health, rising business and lending, higher profits, stronger capital adequacy, and lower gross non-performing assets through FY 2025-26. Credit expanded across retail, agriculture, MSME, and infrastructure segments. Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme 5.0 provides guarantee coverage to member lending institutions for eligible additional credit facilities addressing short-term liquidity mismatches, with full coverage for MSMEs and differentiated coverage for non-MSMEs and scheduled passenger airlines. Airline assistance is linked to peak credit outstanding and may require proportionate promoter or owner equity contribution above the applicable threshold.
Toy quality regulation and export support strengthen domestic manufacturing, safety compliance, market access, and competitiveness in the Indian toy sector. Toy-sector measures combine quality regulation, import-duty changes, domestic manufacturing support, export facilitation, and promotional initiatives. The National Action Plan for Toys covers toy design, learning-oriented toys, quality monitoring, restrictions on unsafe imports, indigenous clusters, and domestic production. A Quality Control Order and BIS licensing framework support compliance with toy-safety standards. Cluster assistance, startup recognition, export-duty remission support, and zero-duty market access under specified trade agreements seek to strengthen competitiveness, while stated measures are associated with improved quality conformity, lower imports, and increased exports.
Preferential market access under free trade agreements supports export diversification, labour-intensive sectors, and exporter use of tariff concessions. India's FTA framework is used to promote preferential tariff utilisation, export diversification and expanded market access. The Government monitors recently operationalised agreements through Certificates of Origin and partner-country trade data. Agreements with the UAE, Australia, Mauritius, Oman and EFTA are associated with increased product-line coverage, tariff preference utilisation and export opportunities. Labour-intensive sectors receive priority through preferential access, while calibrated tariff liberalisation and transition arrangements seek to protect sensitive domestic sectors. Trade e-Connect and the Trade Intelligence and Analytics Portal support exporters with market intelligence, rules of origin guidance, trade data and export-performance monitoring.
Preferential Market Access under free trade agreements supports export diversification, labour-intensive sectors, tariff utilisation and data-driven trade facilitation. Preferential tariff utilisation under recently operationalised trade agreements is monitored through Certificates of Origin and partner-country trade data. Increased certificate issuance and expansion in exported HS-level tariff lines are treated as indicators of export diversification and market penetration. Labour-intensive sectors receive improved market-access opportunities under FTAs, while calibrated tariff liberalisation and transition arrangements preserve policy space for sensitive domestic sectors. Trade e-Connect and the Trade Intelligence and Analytics Portal provide exporters and policymakers with market intelligence, Rules of Origin guidance, FTA advisory services and trade-performance analytics.
Sports-quota government recruitment recognised medal-winning student-athletes for public employment across defence, policing, railways and other government institutions. Sports-quota recruitment enabled medal-winning student-athletes to obtain government employment on the basis of sporting performances at state, national and international levels. Appointments covered armed forces, central armed police and paramilitary organisations, railways, police, the Income Tax Department, a public-sector bank, sports departments and other government institutions. The described sports framework provides scholarships, coaching, infrastructure, dietary support, travel, accommodation, equipment and selection-oriented physical, mental and personality-development training.
Sugar stock controls require dealers to limit inventory duration and quantity, declare holdings, and curb speculative buying. Sugar dealers may not retain stock beyond thirty days from receipt or hold sugar above 4,000 quintals at any time or place. Government-account stocks and authorised Public Distribution System stocks are excluded. State Governments and Union territory administrations may prescribe limits only within the national ceiling and holding period. Dealers must declare and regularly update stock positions on the designated portal. The temporary restrictions are intended to maintain domestic availability, discourage speculative buying and contain sugar prices.
Credit Profile Management requires timely repayments, controlled utilisation, selective borrowing and prompt correction of credit-report inaccuracies. A healthy credit profile depends on timely repayment of EMIs and credit-card dues, controlled credit utilisation and selective applications for new credit. Missed payments, sustained high utilisation and multiple hard enquiries may affect credit health and lender assessment. Individuals should periodically review credit reports for inaccurate personal details, closed loans recorded as active, missing repayment updates, duplicate loan entries or incorrect payment status, and promptly seek correction of discrepancies. Regular monitoring of credit score, repayment history, active accounts and enquiries supports informed credit-management decisions.
Gold loan repayment structures require borrowers to weigh EMI interest savings against bullet repayment cash-flow flexibility and maturity obligations. Gold loans may be repaid through EMIs, which reduce principal and interest through periodic instalments, or through Bullet Repayment, which defers principal and accrued interest until maturity. The stated framework imposes tiered loan-to-value limits and caps consumption-purpose bullet loans at 12 months, with bullet-loan collateral assessment including projected interest. EMI repayment may reduce overall interest cost for borrowers with predictable income, while bullet repayment may preserve cash flow for borrowers expecting a defined future inflow. Borrowers should compare costs and review the Key Fact Statement before choosing a structure.
Illicit trade prevention requires coordinated intelligence sharing, risk-based shipment controls and public-private cooperation to protect supply-chain integrity. Illicit trade prevention requires coordinated regional action through institutional intelligence-sharing, joint enforcement, regulatory alignment and public-private engagement. Proposed measures include risk-based pre-export assurance, shipment controls, digital customs tools and common principles adaptable to sector-specific risks. India is identified as a dialogue partner that can support secure regional trade through enforcement cooperation, intelligence exchange and risk-based governance. Analytical research, market intelligence, product-identification awareness and voluntary track-and-trace initiatives may assist in addressing illicit tobacco trade and strengthening lawful trade integrity.
Toy-sector competitiveness is advanced through a task force and playbook focused on manufacturing, innovation, quality compliance and exports. Toy-sector competitiveness is proposed to be advanced through a dedicated task force and a playbook addressing manufacturing ecosystems, value chains, standards and compliance, skills, innovation, intellectual property and exports. The task force is intended to strengthen manufacturing capability, resolve value-chain bottlenecks, enable design and innovation, develop employment and skills, improve ease of doing business and support global value-chain integration. The roadmap emphasises domestic production, quality standards, localisation, branding, cluster development and support for MSMEs and startups.
Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner launched the India-U.S. Financial and Economic Partnership to strengthen bilateral engagement and understanding on macroeconomic, financial sector and infrastructure-related issues, here today. The Partnership's launch affirmed the commitment of India and U.S. to cooperate on economic and financial issues - both critical in addressing shared challenges and achieving shared goals in this century.
"India and the United States are bound by common values of "democracy, market economies and pluralism", I am confident that this Partnership launch will unleash the energy and enterprise of people. It will make the relationship between two nations more vibrant and also help address global challenges", stated the Finance Minister Shri Mukherjee.
"This Partnership creates a framework that is commensurate with the growing importance of our economic relationship and the significant business and cultural ties that already exist between our two nations. Deepening our ties with India is critical to the broader global effort to develop a framework for a strong, sustainable and balanced growth and will facilitate more trade, investment and job creation in our two countries", said Secretary Geithner.
The newly-launched dialogue will encompass discussions of economic developments in both countries as well as bilateral policy actions in the broader context of the G-20 commitment to strong, sustainable and balanced growth. The ministers agreed that they, and their senior officials, will continue to consult closely on topics of mutual interest and concern.
Given the significant infrastructure needs in the years ahead, the Partnership will also serve as a forum to share experiences and engage in a robust and ongoing dialogue on infrastructure financing, including the potential of private-public partnerships to unlock private sector financing for critical investment.
The Partnership will meet next at the Cabinet level in the United States, led by Secretary Geithner and Minister Mukherjee. Working group meetings, at the level of senior officials and experts, will be held during the year to advance discussions on specific economic policy areas. At the inaugural Partnership session, working group discussions focused on macroeconomic policies needed to sustain growth in incomes and jobs; measures to reform financial regulation, deepen capital markets as a means to improve growth and increasing financing for infrastructure investment critical to future productivity and economic growth.
Following is the Joint Statement issued by the Finance Minister Shri Mukherjee and Secretary Geithner at the launch of India - U.S. Financial and Economic Partnership:
"Today, Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner launched the India - U.S. Financial and Economic Partnership, cementing the economic bonds between our two nations, and building a foundation for greater cooperation and economic growth in the future.
The ability and commitment of the U.S. and India to cooperate on Financial and Economic issues are important to the economic success of both nations, and the world, and will assist in addressing shared challenges and achieving shared goals in this century.
The Partnership between the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury intends to focus on three broad areas - macroeconomic policy, financial sector reforms, and infrastructure financing - and expects to meet at the Cabinet level once a year, alternating between the United States and India, led by Secretary Geithner and Minister Mukherjee. Working group and sub-cabinet level meetings are to be held during the year to advance discussions on specific economic policy areas.
Economic growth and stability are at the core of our engagement. India and the United States have a mutual interest in a strong recovery from the financial crisis and preventing the recurrence of similar crises in the future. Our dialogue is designed to encompass discussions of economic challenges in our two countries, as well as in the broader context of the G-20 commitment to strong, sustainable, and balanced growth.
Our expanded partnership will build on our existing dialogue on regulatory issues, and serve as a vehicle to discuss strategies to promote in both countries financial sector reforms, deepen capital markets, including more liquid debt markets, and increase financing for investments.
India and the United States have significant infrastructure needs. We aim to share experiences and intend a robust and ongoing dialogue on the potential for private-public partnerships to unlock financing for critical infrastructure investment."
Financial and Economic Partnership: bilateral coordination to strengthen macroeconomic policy, financial reform and infrastructure financing.
The launch of the Financial And Economic Partnership creates a bilateral framework for India's Ministry of Finance and the U.S. Department of the Treasury to coordinate on macroeconomic policy, financial regulation, and infrastructure financing. It establishes annual cabinet level meetings and working groups to promote financial sector reforms, deepen capital markets, and explore Public Private Partnership mechanisms to mobilise private finance for infrastructure investment.
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