Strengthening Collaboration to Preserve Sovereignty: Collaborative Cash Ecosystems - Global Strategies to Preserve Trust and Sovereignty - Keynote Add...
Port connectivity obligations shape Vizhinjam export-import operations, logistics integration, infrastructure acceleration, and scrutiny of prior stakeholder notification. Vizhinjam port concession obligations include road and rail connectivity to maximise the benefits of export-import operations. The State government proposes land acquisition funding for a ring-road project, is engaging with central ministries on rail connectivity, and is seeking to expedite national-highway construction. Mission Samudra is intended to connect Cochin port and 18 mini ports with Vizhinjam to support lower-cost, faster exports. Concerns were also raised over the State government not receiving prior intimation of a proposed stake transfer in the port project company.
Public sector banking competitiveness requires distinct institutional strengths, early capability building and strategic support for economic growth priorities. Public sector banks are urged to use their customer base, branch networks, geographic reach, institutional experience and digital capabilities to build stronger competitive positions and leadership. Each bank may develop distinct areas of excellence based on geography, customer relationships, sectoral expertise, technology capabilities or international presence. Strategic priorities include deposit mobilisation, banking for youth, support for investment and global capability centres, agriculture and horticulture infrastructure, credit-card business reorientation and priority sector lending.
Youth-focused banking requires public sector banks to deliver personalised digital services, financial awareness, and responsible credit engagement. Public sector banks are urged to implement sustained youth-focused banking through campus outreach, simple personalised round-the-clock services, dedicated youth support and financial awareness. Engagement should develop long-term relationships beyond account opening while preserving prudential standards. Youth should receive guidance on the formal credit ecosystem, including credit scores, credit history, bank credit products and government credit schemes, to support responsible credit discipline and future financial needs. A dedicated portal may provide a single access point for banking awareness and suitable financial opportunities.
Taxpayer service improvement and litigation reduction guide administrative planning for stronger infrastructure, systems, coordination and future tax department functioning. Improvement of taxpayer services, reduction of tax litigation, infrastructure strengthening and preparation of an actionable roadmap for future Income Tax Department functioning were considered as operational priorities. Deliberations covered e-HRMS, service matters, reservation policy, systems administration, capacity building, expenditure budgeting, TDS administration, inter-agency coordination, and office infrastructure. Officials identified institutional challenges and priorities for strengthening taxpayer-facing and internal departmental functions.
Duty-free UK market access strengthens export opportunities for Indian goods and services, supporting MSMEs, agriculture, manufacturing and global value-chain participation. India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement provides duty-free access to the UK market for nearly all Indian exports and may improve the competitiveness of Haryana's manufacturing, agricultural, MSME and services sectors. Preferential access covers products including textiles, engineering goods, auto parts, processed foods and pharmaceuticals, while agricultural exports remain subject to exceptions for sensitive products. The agreement also provides market access across 137 UK services sub-sectors, supporting IT, digital, professional, financial and technical services and facilitating global value-chain participation.
Youth banking outreach promotes campus engagement, financial awareness, responsible credit discipline and long-term access to formal banking services. Public sector banks are urged to conduct a month-long "Banking for Youth" outreach campaign from 2 October 2026 for persons above 16 years of age. Outreach through educational and skill-development campuses should combine account opening, financial awareness and direct engagement. Banks should develop tailored youth strategies to build long-term banking relationships. Proposed measures include online learning content, lifestyle-linked benefits, dedicated youth banking support, and awareness of credit scores, credit products and government credit schemes. A dedicated youth banking-awareness portal may serve as a single access point for appropriate banking services and financial opportunities.
Competition approval for Prudential's acquisition of equity shareholding in an Indian life insurer supports the proposed insurance-sector combination. Competition approval has been granted for Prudential Corporation Holdings Limited to acquire certain equity shareholding in Bharti Life Insurance Company Limited. The acquirer is the holding company for its group's insurance and asset-management operations in Asia and supports operations in Asia and Africa. The target is an IRDAI-licensed Indian life insurer.
Foreign remittance certification due diligence faces nationwide verification targeting shell entities, their controllers, and certifying professionals. Nationwide verification of suspicious outward foreign remittances targets entities with little or no reported business activity, their controllers, and professionals issuing tax determination certificates. Scrutiny concerns remittances disproportionate to reported turnover, inconsistent with stated purposes, or linked to entities not operating from declared addresses. Form 15CB, or Form 146 under the corresponding framework, requires certifying accountants to assess taxability from books of account and relevant records, supporting tax deduction at source and treaty compliance through due care, diligence and professional judgment.
Fair Price Shop regulation introduces graded stock-shortage penalties, mandatory FIRs for major discrepancies, and restructured licensing requirements. Fair Price Shop regulation introduces quantity-based penalties for stock discrepancies, ranging from performance-guarantee forfeiture and replenishment obligations to interim suspension, cancellation-related action and mandatory FIR registration for major shortages. Repeated or deliberate diversion or manipulation of public distribution supplies may lead to cancellation, blacklisting and FIR registration. Licensing now includes continuing regular licences and short-term temporary licences, with wider eligibility, points-based selection, card-linked performance guarantees and compulsory approved e-PoS, weighing-scale and iris-scanner use.
Priority sector lending strengthened rural credit access through agricultural, micro-enterprise and weaker-section finance, reinforcing financial inclusion and sustainable development. Regional Rural Banks expanded rural credit delivery while maintaining strong Priority Sector Lending performance during FY 2025-26. Almost all Regional Rural Banks met the prescribed overall priority-sector target. Agriculture and allied activities remained the largest priority-sector component, with farm credit accounting for nearly all agricultural lending. MSME finance predominantly supported micro enterprises, rural entrepreneurs, artisans and small businesses. Lending to weaker sections and finance for housing, education, renewable energy and social infrastructure promoted inclusive access to institutional credit and sustainable rural development.
Adjustable pallet racking systems support customised, scalable warehouse storage through configurable layouts, safety assessment, installation and lifecycle support. Adjustable pallet racking systems are configurable warehouse-storage solutions for varied inventory dimensions, weights and product types. They support bulk pallet storage, multi-level picking and high-density configurations through adjustable beams and shelves, load-bearing capacity, structural durability and space-efficient layouts. Storage configurations are customised after assessing inventory dimensions, payload requirements, available space and material-movement frequency, with support for design, installation, inspections and after-sales service.
Domestic consumption expansion targets lower-tier markets through improved retail channels, distribution networks, employment support and household income opportunities. China has introduced measures to strengthen domestic consumption in counties, smaller cities, townships and rural areas. The measures include upgrading township commercial centres, rural markets and local fairs; encouraging domestic and international brands to establish regional debut stores; and reusing existing land resources to improve services. They also seek better services for elderly persons and children, stronger urban-rural distribution networks, county-level employment and resident income channels. The strategy supports a shift towards household consumption amid weak domestic demand, property-sector pressures and subdued consumer sentiment.
Currency management preserves monetary sovereignty through clean notes, secure logistics, decentralised distribution, durable banknotes, and sustainable cash-cycle operations. Currency management supports trust in cash and monetary sovereignty through demand planning, secure production, distribution, replacement, and disposal. The Clean Note Policy requires good-quality banknotes to be available in required denominations and locations, with unfit notes continuously withdrawn and replaced. A decentralised Currency Chest network distributes fresh currency, processes returned notes, supports linked bank branches, and operates under licensing, real-time reporting, inspection, and audit requirements. Current priorities include managing uncertain cash demand, improving note durability, and reducing the carbon footprint of the cash cycle.
Independent investigation of alleged dubious transactions requires examination of all six allegations despite prior police conclusions. Investigation into alleged dubious transactions involving Indiabulls Housing Finance Limited and related entities must cover all six allegations identified by the Enforcement Directorate. The CBI must independently examine five allegations previously reviewed by the Delhi Police Economic Offence Wing, irrespective of its conclusion, and submit a comprehensive report. Further investigation into the sixth allegation depends on the special PMLA court deciding the CBI's pending application, after which the CBI must provide a progress or status report.
Boss scam prevention requires independent verification of payment requests and avoidance of malicious WhatsApp attachments that enable executive impersonation. Boss scam, or CEO impersonation fraud, uses malicious WhatsApp attachments and impersonation of regulatory officials or company executives to obtain control of WhatsApp sessions and issue fraudulent payment instructions. The alleged network supplied SIM cards, dummy SIMs, WhatsApp accounts and one-time passwords to cyber-fraud operators, illustrating a Cybercrime as a Service model. Preventive measures include avoiding suspicious ZIP, executable, library and APK files and independently verifying all financial-transfer requests.
Floating-rate personal loan prepayment protections prohibit charges and compulsory lock-ins for qualifying individual non-business borrowers from 2026. Prepayment charges are prohibited for part or full repayment of qualifying floating-rate loans availed by individual borrowers for non-business purposes and sanctioned or renewed on or after 1 January 2026. Compulsory lock-in periods cannot restrict prepayment of such loans. Fixed-rate personal loans may still attract prepayment or foreclosure charges under lender policy and contractual terms. Borrowers should check the loan's rate type, sanction letter, loan agreement and key fact statement, where applicable, and compare applicable charges with potential interest savings before early repayment.
Premium Basmati rice positioning drives Zeeba's packaging refresh and ambassador-led campaign focused on quality, authenticity and domestic expansion. Zeeba has refreshed its packaging and appointed Chef Vikas Khanna as global brand ambassador to support expansion in India. Its "Aisa Basmati Nahi Dekha" campaign positions the brand around export-quality Basmati rice, consistency, authenticity and a superior culinary experience. Promotional activity will extend across digital, retail and consumer touchpoints. The premium Basmati range is described as carefully sourced, naturally aged and processed according to global quality standards, with emphasis on grain quality, authentic taste, purity and consistency.
Silver-collateral lending creates a formal secured-credit channel for eligible borrowers, subject to regulatory requirements and lender policies. Loans against silver collateral have been introduced following the Reserve Bank of India's Lending Against Gold and Silver Collateral Directions, 2025, enabling eligible regulated lenders to accept silver as security. The offering provides a formal and transparent credit channel against eligible silver jewellery, ornaments and approved silver coins. It is intended for individuals, proprietors and MSMEs requiring liquidity for personal, business and other legitimate financial needs, subject to lending policies and applicable regulatory requirements.
Healthcare discount membership provides instant savings on out-of-pocket care at participating premium providers without insurance claims or paperwork. CarePass is a healthcare savings membership card providing instant point-of-billing discounts at participating premium healthcare providers across India. It covers out-of-pocket spending on hospital treatment, diagnostics, dental, vision, dermatology, hair and skin care, and IVF and maternity services, without claim processing, waiting periods or paperwork. Members present a digital CarePass at a participating provider to receive the applicable discount. Four membership tiers offer differing benefits, with higher tiers including tele-consultations and annual health checks. CarePass is a discount membership and not an insurance product.
EXIM operations at Vizhinjam commence with container movement, supported by investor facilitation, infrastructure backing and port-led logistics development. EXIM operations at Vizhinjam international seaport commenced with the flagging off of two containers after a successful trial export shipment. The state government proposes investor engagement, regulatory facilitation and infrastructure support to expand global export activities through the port. Mission Samudra is to operate as a port-led industrial and logistics development scheme. The deep-water port was developed under a public-private partnership model and had received commercial commissioning certification.
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.
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