Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Electronics & Information Technology Shri Jitin Prasada Concludes Official Visit to Morocco; Co-Chairs...
Cyber fraud awareness promotes safe digital banking by teaching customers to verify communications, protect credentials, and report suspicious transactions. Cyber-fraud awareness and digital banking safety were promoted through community sessions addressing phishing, impersonation, OTP and UPI fraud, QR-code scams, digital-arrest fraud, and fraudulent customer-care calls. Participants were guided to identify authentic banking communications, avoid sharing confidential credentials, verify callers and links before acting, and promptly report suspected unauthorised transactions. Customer vigilance, financial literacy, and institutional security measures were emphasised as complementary safeguards against digital financial fraud.
Personal insolvency repayment plans may be approved despite minimal creditor recovery when requisite voting support and comparative valuation support them. Personal insolvency repayment plan approval was granted under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, despite objections that creditor recoveries were negligible and the proposed payment uncertain. The plan received 80.81 per cent voting support, while dissenting creditors held less than 20 per cent voting share. Valuation showed that the debtor's personal estate was materially below the offered amount, and rejection could result in bankruptcy and lower recovery. Assessment of settlement adequacy was treated as a matter of creditor commercial wisdom.
Prison escape security lapses prompt coordinated tracing measures, transport monitoring, inter-state alerts, and a detailed custodial-security inquiry. Prison escape and custodial-security lapses arose after a detainee escaped from Aluva Sub Jail, allegedly by using an under-construction structure within the premises to cross the compound wall. Following his later appearance at a police station seeking return of his Aadhaar card, search measures included a lookout circular, information sharing with police stations, railway-security coordination, and alerting police in Assam. A detailed inquiry has been initiated into the prison-security deficiencies enabling the escape.
Women's savings account selection depends on practical benefits, charges, eligibility, and banking needs rather than the account label. Women's Savings Accounts may provide standard banking facilities together with additional services or benefits for eligible women. Their suitability depends on practical use of digital banking, transfers, payments, alerts, debit-card facilities, accessibility, security features, charges, and minimum-balance conditions. Since regular Savings Accounts may offer comparable facilities, the additional benefits should be assessed against associated costs and conditions. Selection should be based on comparison of eligibility, facilities, balance requirements, benefits, customer support, and authentication safeguards rather than the account's women-focused label alone.
Retirement annuity selection prioritises payout structure, taxation, insurer strength and flexibility over brand comparison for informed retirement decisions. Retirement planning may combine market-linked accumulation during working years, deferred annuities that lock future guaranteed income, and immediate annuities that convert retirement savings into regular payments. Annuity choice depends on whether the priority is higher income, continuation for a surviving spouse, or return of capital on death. Product comparison should consider market-linked growth versus income certainty, taxation of annuity income at applicable slab rates, insurer strength, and flexibility in deferment, payout frequency and policy loans.
Foreign exchange inflows through deposit and borrowing measures provided near-term rupee support amid lower crude prices. Reserve Bank special measures relating to FCNR(B) deposits, Overseas Foreign Currency Borrowings and External Commercial Borrowings were identified as attracting foreign-exchange inflows and providing near-term support to the rupee. The Reserve Bank became a net dollar buyer in June after two months of sales to support the rupee. The FCNR(B) window remained open until August 31, while the market outlook anticipated broader rupee depreciation over subsequent weeks.
Preferential trade agreement exploration advances bilateral market access, pharmaceutical cooperation, investment partnerships, and diversified trade. India-Morocco economic cooperation is expanded through the seventh Joint Commission framework, targeting deeper and more diversified trade, investment, industrial collaboration and market access across goods and services. An India-Morocco Joint Working Group is to examine bilateral trade opportunities and the feasibility of a preferential trade agreement, including tariff and non-tariff barriers, improved market access and trade facilitation. Cooperation also addresses pharmaceutical market authorisation and approval timelines, food safety, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, healthcare, and phosphates and fertilisers.
Hybrid cyber fraud exploits stolen smartphones and intercepted verification codes to compromise digital banking and payment accounts. Hybrid cyber fraud combines physical smartphone theft with digital financial exploitation. Offenders obtain screen-lock credentials, steal devices and use control of the active SIM card to intercept verification codes and reset UPI and digital banking credentials. Preventive measures include withholding PINs, passwords and OTPs; avoiding storage of financial and identity records on phones; and immediately blocking the SIM card and freezing digital banking and UPI services after a theft.
CEPA review aims to expand bilateral trade engagement, address export barriers, and support regulatory registrations for exporters. India and Japan are considering a review of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to make the bilateral trade framework more contemporary and expand its scope, scale and commercial opportunities. The review is linked to balanced trade and to identifying export barriers arising from procedural requirements, language issues and time involved in market access. Regulatory compliance assistance may support product registrations required for overseas markets, including costly chemical registrations and pharmaceutical registrations.
Personal loan reward eligibility depends on successful campaign-period disbursal, alongside review of borrowing costs and repayment capacity. Loan Utsav 2026 provides a limited-period reward bundle to eligible customers whose personal loan is successfully disbursed during the campaign period, subject to applicable terms and conditions. Personal loans are collateral-free and available subject to eligibility, customer profile, documentation and applicable loan terms. Applicants may choose a loan amount and repayment tenure based on their requirements. Extended tenures can reduce monthly EMI obligations but may increase total interest payable. Customers should review interest rates, EMI, processing charges, other loan costs and repayment capacity before accepting a loan offer.
Deep-tech investment cooperation advances through capital corridors, innovation bridges, manufacturing integration and startup pitching platforms for cross-border growth. India-Japan startup cooperation is proposed to advance through a deep-tech capital corridor, a two-way innovation bridge, manufacturing and technology integration, and joint startup pitching platforms. Collaboration is directed towards patient capital, early-stage research, deep-tech commercialisation, technology validation, precision manufacturing, investment and market access. The partnership also emphasises MSME integration with startups and global supply chains, co-investment mechanisms, plug-and-play infrastructure, and institutional links among universities, research institutions, incubators and industry.
Sugar price-control measures combine raw-sugar imports, stockholding limits and export restrictions to curb retail price pressures. Sugar price-control measures combine authorised raw-sugar imports, stockholding limits for dealers and bulk consumers, and an existing export prohibition to address elevated domestic prices. Imports are permitted within the specified period, while stockholding restrictions seek to curb speculation and hoarding. Retail prices continued to rise despite lower ex-mill prices, and the regulatory approach focuses on augmenting supply, limiting stock accumulation, and preventing export-related pressure on domestic availability.
Alternative dispute resolution enabled settlement of long-pending disputes, alongside reporting on court administration and regulatory compliance concerns. Legal developments include resolution of long-pending tenancy, commercial and property disputes through a special Lok Adalat mechanism, including a digitally signed international settlement. Other matters concern a challenge to a riot-related murder conviction, allegations of administrative irregularities and selective case listing, fast-track court pendency, cancellation of a recruitment process following suspected examination malpractice, fraudulent identity documents used to claim citizenship, medical-qualification standards, and opposition to uranium exploration and mining.
MSME co-lending supports digital paperless credit delivery through rural banks for underserved rural and semi-urban enterprises. SIDBI-RRB MSME co-lending arrangement is proposed for expansion to increase credit access for micro, small and medium enterprises in rural and semi-urban areas. The arrangement combines SIDBI's understanding of MSME credit requirements with Regional Rural Banks' local reach. SIDBI's Co-Lending Origination Platform provides an end-to-end digital credit process intended to enable faster, paperless loan processing, in-principle sanction communication, documentation and direct account disbursement without branch visits.
Input tax credit mismatch alone cannot support fraud-based GST demand without an assessing officer's recorded satisfaction of fraud or suppression. Section 74 GST demand proceedings require the assessing officer's independent satisfaction of fraud, wilful misstatement or suppression of facts. An input tax credit mismatch or alleged short payment alone cannot establish these conditions. Unsupported assertions of suppression for invoking extended limitation are insufficient, and audit objections cannot replace the assessing officer's satisfaction. A show cause-cum-demand notice lacking factual allegations of a deliberate device to evade tax or avail excess input tax credit is vulnerable.
Fraudulent Aadhaar procurement exposes identity-verification gaps and prompts disclosure, expedited investigation, deportation, and statutory review measures. Fraudulent procurement of Aadhaar and other identity documents by foreign nationals who infiltrate borders may undermine identity verification, immigration control and national security. Coordinated action is required to trace and deport such persons, prevent re-entry, strengthen document verification, and complete investigations without delay. Amendments to the Aadhaar Act are to be considered to assist investigating agencies, while a dedicated procedure is required to address border infiltration and human trafficking. Aadhaar enrolment records are to be supplied to police, followed by timely deportation proceedings.
Foreign investment liberalisation proposals receive industry support, subject to preserving AIF treatment, grandfathering, and prospective application. Proposed foreign-investment liberalisation, including treatment of stakes below 10 per cent and a greater role for market forces in valuation, is welcomed. Preservation of the existing treatment of Alternative Investment Funds under the IOCC framework is emphasised, together with grandfathering of transactions and funds undertaken under the current regulatory position. Newly introduced requirements should operate prospectively to support a simpler, predictable and investment-friendly foreign-investment framework.
India market expansion guides Nestle 's volume-led growth, export-hub development and long-term investment without compromising product quality. Nestle 's India strategy focuses on volume-led growth, wider consumer reach, portfolio development, efficiency improvements and sustained long-term investment. Growth is intended to combine increased household penetration with pricing, premiumisation, affordability and value offerings. India is also intended to develop further as a production and export hub for global markets, supported by manufacturing capacity and expanding overseas supplies. Product quality and consumer interests remain constraints on the pace of expansion.
Credit awareness through regular score and report review supports responsible borrowing, error detection, and informed credit management. Free online access to the Credit Pulse Report is available through the Bajaj Finance website. Users verify their registered mobile number through OTP authentication, provide identifying particulars including PAN and date of birth, and then view the available credit score. The report may be reviewed and downloaded to examine repayment history, active credit accounts, recent enquiries and other recorded credit information. Periodic review can help identify unfamiliar accounts, inaccurate repayment records, overdue amounts, unupdated information and changes in credit utilisation.
Credit lifecycle consistency requires facility-specific treatment so UPI-linked credit records, repayments and customer obligations remain aligned. CARD91's Credit Lifecycle Consistency Framework calls for facility-specific treatment of Credit Line on UPI transactions and continuing credit events. Credit limits, outstanding balances, repayments, refunds, reversals and EMI conversions should be accurately connected to the relevant customer account and applied according to the underlying facility's terms. Bank policy, customer consent, transaction controls and portfolio actions should remain aligned. Customer-facing applications, statements and alerts should consistently reflect available credit, outstanding obligations and repayment schedules, while disputes and manual corrections follow documented, reviewable processes.
Union Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee released the first Budget Manual of the Union Government, here today. Releasing the Manual, the Finance Minister said that the Union Budget has evolved over the past six decades to reflect the strength of India's democratic processes in shaping its economy, and has emerged as a crucial tool for Public Finance Management. He said that this Manual is an attempt to bring together the entire Budget related activities and procedures etc. which were hitherto available in a dispersed manner in the form of executive instructions and guidelines . The Manual has been prepared by the Budget Division of the Department of Economic Affairs. Finance Minister Shri Mukherjee congratulated the Division for taking this initiative.
The Finance Minister said Budget Manual is a comprehensive document explaining in detail the procedures and activities connected with the preparation of Budget. Mr Mukherjee said that Budget Manual will serve as a guidance document to the officials involved in Budget making in the Finance Ministry as well as in other Ministries/Departments. He said that it is also expected to act as a good reference document for interested readers and stakeholders. He said that this document is an effort in the direction of fostering greater transparency and better understanding about procedures and systems relating to making of Union Budget.
At the outset, the Manual brings out the Constitutional provisions related to the Budget. It describes the contents of various Budget documents. The Finance Minister said that the Manual also deals with the Organizational aspects, roles and responsibilities of the Parliament, Parliamentary Committees and the responsibilities of various wings of the Executive in the Budget making process. The Union Government's accounting and classification systems have also been explained apart from the working of the Consolidated Fund of India, the Contingency Fund of India and the Public Account of India, the Finance Minister added.
Minister of State for Finance, Shri Namo Narain Meena alongwith the Secretaries of different departments of the Ministry of finance including Finance Secretary, Shri Ashok Chawla, Revenue Secretary, Shri Sunil Mitra, Expenditure Secretary, Smt. Sushma Nath, Secretary, Financial Services, Shri R. Gopalan, Secretary, Disinvestment, Shri Sumit Bose and Chief Economic Advisor, Dr. Kaushik Basu were also present on this occasion among others.
The core sections of the Manual explain the entire chain of activities related to Budget preparation right from the issue of Budget Circular in September to the Budget Day in February, including the processes of estimation of receipts and expenditure, their firming-up and finalization through the Pre-Budget Meetings and their compilation. The comprehensive calendar of Budget related activities, their timelines, details of the related duties and responsibilities of the officers and staff together with the Security and 'Lock-in' procedures have also been brought out. Finally the Manual deals with the Implementation and Reporting of various Budget announcements. There are also a series of Annexes which provide a holistic perspective on the related subjects. An attempt has been made to incorporate all the Budget related issues in the Manual so as to make it a self contained and one stop guidance document.
Text of the Finance Minister's address on the occasion is given below:
"I am pleased to participate in this function to release the Budget Manual for the Union Government. The Budget process of our country predates the Independence and has evolved over the past six decades to reflect the strength of our democratic processes in shaping our economy. It has emerged as a crucial tool for public finance management.
Budget was first introduced on 7th April, 1860, two years after the transfer of Indian administration from East-India Company to British Crown. The first Finance Member, who presented the Budget, was James Wilson. Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan, Member of the Interim Government presented the Budget of 1947-48. After Independence, India's first Finance Minister, Shri Shanmukham Chetty, presented the first budget of independent India on 26th November, 1947.
Toni Morrison, the famous author and winner of the Pulitzer and Nobel Prize for literature, had once stated, I quote-
"If there's a book you really want to read but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it".
~Toni Morrison
The Union Government Budget Manual is one such book, the need for which has been felt for long. I am happy to note that the Budget Division has brought out this Manual. Large areas of the Budget making procedures and processes have not been in public domain, leading at times to some misinterpretations and conjectures. The Budget Manual will shed such misconceptions. I am sure this Manual will bring about greater transparency and better understanding about the Union Government Budget making procedures and systems.
The Manual attempts to outline the entire chain of events leading to the Union Budget. The purpose of this Budget Manual is to provide guidance and a training tool for the officers and staff engaged in the Budget preparation, not only in the Finance Ministry but in other Ministries/Departments as well.
Finally, I would also like to express my appreciation to the officials of the Finance Ministry for taking this initiative and completing the task of preparing the Union Government Budget Manual.
With these words I would now like to release the Budget Manual for the Union Government."
DSM/GN (Release ID :66030)
Budget Manual consolidates Union Budget procedures and roles, standardising accounting, timelines and transparency for public finance management.
The Budget Manual consolidates dispersed executive instructions into a single guidance document describing Constitutional provisions, contents of budget documents, accounting and classification systems, and the operations of the Consolidated Fund of India, the Contingency Fund of India and the Public Account of India. It delineates roles of Parliament, parliamentary committees and executive wings, and outlines the full sequence of budget formulation from the Budget Circular to Budget Day, including timelines, officer duties, security and lock-in procedures, implementation and reporting, with annexes for related subjects.
Note: It is a system-generated summary and is for quick reference only.
TaxTMI 
TaxTMI 
of 3376 
Join Channel 
