CCI approves acquisition of up to 100% equity shareholding of Apollo Fertility Centre (AFCPL) and Apollo Specialty Hospitals (ASHPL) by Kids Clinic In...
Rupee depreciation in early trade reflected oil-price pressures, risk aversion, higher Treasury yields and broad dollar strength. Early foreign-exchange trading saw the rupee weaken against the US dollar amid renewed US-Iran tensions, risk aversion, higher Brent crude prices, and a stronger dollar. Safe-haven demand, inflation concerns linked to potential oil-supply disruption, expectations of a September Federal Reserve rate increase, and higher US Treasury yields supported the broad dollar rally. RBI monitoring of the rupee's decline was noted.
Responsible AI governance requires ethical safeguards, privacy protection, accountability and adaptive oversight to build lasting corporate stakeholder trust. Responsible artificial intelligence governance requires continuous innovation, inclusive development, responsible deployment and trust-based governance. AI systems should be ethical, safe, transparent, fair and human-centric, with safeguards for privacy, bias, security and accountability. Proportionate and adaptive regulation should provide clear accountability, standards, monitoring, auditability and grievance redressal. Good governance, cybersecurity, personal data protection and responsible AI together strengthen organisational resilience, stakeholder trust, transparency and sustainable innovation.
E-auction of surplus public land enables transparent outright sale of RINL parcels through registered, KYC-verified bidding. National Land Monetization Corporation will facilitate the e-auction and outright sale of 459 encumbrance-free RINL land parcels, including residential plots and parcels suited for commercial and logistics use. Competitive bidding will occur through the RailTel E-Nivida e-procurement platform. Participation requires online registration, KYC verification, and plot-wise submission of an earnest money deposit within prescribed timelines. The process supports transparent monetisation of surplus land and non-core public assets.
Competition approval for infrastructure finance restructuring covers acquisition, minority transfer, investment divestment, and merger of regulated NBFCs. Competition Commission of India approval applies to the acquisition of Aseem Infrastructure Finance Limited by TPG Nicobar SG Pte. Ltd., a subsequent minority share acquisition by ICICI Bank Limited, and Aseem's divestment of its shareholding in NIIF Infrastructure Finance Limited to National Investment and Infrastructure Fund II. Following the acquisition, Climate Finance India Private Limited is intended to merge into Aseem as the surviving entity. The entities involved include RBI-registered non-deposit taking NBFCs operating in infrastructure finance, investment and credit, and infrastructure debt financing.
Healthcare merger approval enables KCIL to acquire fertility and specialty hospital businesses alongside related equity issuances and investment. Competition Commission approval covers KCIL's acquisition of up to 100% equity shareholding in AFCPL and 100% equity shareholding in ASHPL. The combination includes KCIL issuing equity shares and optionally convertible debentures to AHLL, representing 9.9% fully diluted shareholding as partial consideration, together with a further KCIL equity investment by Arvon Investments Pte. Ltd. KCIL operates mother and baby care hospitals, while AFCPL provides assisted reproductive treatment and reproductive-medicine services.
Money-laundering investigation into alleged District Mineral Fund diversion examines purported liaison activity and asset acquisition through proceeds of crime. Money-laundering proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act concern alleged diversion of District Mineral Fund resources through the Chhattisgarh Seed Corporation. The investigation alleges siphoning of public funds by contractors in collusion with government officials and political executives. A businessman was identified as an alleged liaisoner and financial coordinator between public servants, district authorities and private vendors. Allegations also include receipt of commissions, acquisition of immovable assets from purported proceeds of crime, non-production of records, and contradictory statements during questioning.
Foreign exchange market dynamics: rupee appreciation reflected portfolio inflows, domestic growth, and possible central-bank intervention amid external pressures. The rupee appreciated against the US dollar, supported by domestic growth, controlled fiscal slippage, portfolio-related inflows and possible Reserve Bank of India intervention. Its gains were limited by weak equity markets, rising crude oil prices and a stronger dollar. External geopolitical tensions and hawkish US monetary signals remained potential pressures. Domestic indicators showed strong economic activity, while the current account deficit widened because of a higher merchandise trade deficit. Foreign portfolio inflows continued despite investors remaining net sellers during the year.
Current account deficit widened as merchandise trade deficit increased, notwithstanding stronger services receipts, remittances, and foreign direct investment inflows. India's current account deficit widened in the first quarter of 2026-27 as the merchandise trade deficit increased. Higher net services receipts, increased personal transfer receipts and lower net primary-income outgo partly supported the external account. Financial-account movements included higher net foreign direct investment inflows, a shift in foreign portfolio investment from net inflow to net outflow, and lower net inflows through non-resident deposits and external commercial borrowings. Foreign exchange reserves declined on a balance-of-payments basis during the quarter.
Technology-enabled tax compliance and enforcement supported higher commercial tax collections, while GST rate reductions moderated sectoral net GST growth. Technology-enabled tax administration supported commercial tax and net GST collection growth in Andhra Pradesh during August 2026 and the cumulative period through August. AI-based analytics and scrutiny, IGST reversals, UPI-based enforcement, registration verification, Aadhaar authentication, digital payment enablement, predictive analytics and data sharing strengthened compliance, scrutiny and revenue mobilisation. Petroleum VAT, professional tax, liquor VAT and IGST settlement also increased, while GST rate reductions moderated net GST performance in specified product sectors.
Windfall gains tax on petroleum exports rises for petrol and diesel while aviation turbine fuel levy is reduced. Special additional excise duty and road and infrastructure cess on petroleum-product exports are revised with effect from 1 September 2026. The export duty on diesel is increased, the levy on aviation turbine fuel is marginally reduced, and a duty is imposed on petrol exports. Existing duty rates for petrol and diesel cleared for domestic consumption remain unchanged. The windfall-tax framework seeks to support domestic fuel availability and deter exporters from benefiting from domestic and international price differences.
Automated Free Sale and Commerce Certificate issuance reduces manual scrutiny while preserving risk-based review for eligible exporters. DGFT has enabled automated issuance of Free Sale and Commerce Certificates through its portal for eligible exporters of items not covered by the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940. Applications satisfying prevailing framework and automated processing parameters may be issued without manual scrutiny. Applications requiring verification or not meeting those parameters may be routed for manual processing, while auto-approved applications may be flagged later for risk-based review. The mechanism seeks faster, more transparent and predictable processing while retaining necessary oversight.
Five-day banking and equitable performance incentives drive planned nationwide bank union strike amid unresolved pension demands. United Forum of Bank Unions has proposed nationwide strike action over delayed five-day banking, the performance-linked incentive framework, and unresolved pension demands. Five-day banking was agreed under the 12th Bipartite Settlement/9th Joint Note with extended Monday-to-Friday working hours, but remains pending for implementation. Unions challenge the incentive scheme for departing from a uniform, bank-performance-linked approach and for disproportionately benefiting senior officers. The dispute is under conciliation and pending before the Delhi High Court, while pension updation, a uniform dearness allowance formula, and an old pension scheme option remain unresolved.
Equity market volatility intensified as higher crude prices, geopolitical tensions and tighter monetary expectations weakened domestic investor sentiment. Indian equity markets closed marginally lower as higher crude oil prices, US-Iran tensions, and expectations of prolonged tight United States monetary policy weakened risk appetite. The phased Closing Auction Session contributed to a late recovery in the benchmark index. Rising crude prices and global bond yields triggered broad-based selling across several domestic sectors, while foreign institutional equity sales and weakness in overseas markets added to pressure despite stronger-than-expected domestic economic growth.
GST revenue collections show higher gross and net receipts alongside increased refunds and state-level settlement data. GST revenue collections for August 2026 recorded total gross GST revenue of Rs. 1,99,853 crore, reflecting 14.8% growth over August 2025. Total refunds were Rs. 31,795 crore, including domestic refunds and export IGST refunds processed through ICEGATE. After adjustment of refunds, total net GST revenue was Rs. 1,68,057 crore, representing 8.3% growth. SGST collections and the SGST component of IGST settlement were separately identified for States and Union Territories, with post-settlement SGST aggregating Rs. 95,531 crore.
Trade facilitation and customs preparedness feature in AILBIEA's Silver Jubilee knowledge conference on liquid bulk commerce. AILBIEA's Silver Jubilee programme focuses on trade facilitation, customs modernisation, GST dispute preparedness and maritime-risk issues affecting liquid bulk trade. The Knowledge Conference includes sessions on the Authorised Economic Operator advantage, next-generation customs technology, GST Appellate Tribunal-era dispute preparedness, and geopolitical risks to sea-borne trade. It also marks the launch of AGS 360, integrating port information, vessel tracking, port-call estimates and maritime intelligence.
Personal guarantor insolvency: repayment plan stayed pending majority determination, with restraint on direct or indirect asset alienation. Personal-guarantee insolvency proceedings involve a stay on implementation of a repayment plan because the earlier members' views did not produce a clear majority capable of taking effect. The personal guarantor has been restrained from directly or indirectly alienating assets pending further hearing. The dispute follows split views on approval of the plan, claim admission and voting, followed by a third-member opinion that did not resolve the absence of a determinative majority. Creditors dispute the proposed recovery, claim treatment and declared net worth relevant to the guarantees.
Rupee exchange-rate movement reflects portfolio inflows, growth data and possible central-bank support, while crude oil prices constrain gains. Foreign-exchange market conditions strengthened the rupee by 28 paise to 94.94 against the US dollar, supported by domestic growth, controlled fiscal slippage and portfolio inflows. Possible Reserve Bank of India intervention was also identified as supportive. Higher crude oil prices, weak domestic equities and hawkish US monetary-policy signals were identified as constraints on further appreciation. Foreign investment flows, stronger-than-expected domestic growth and the fiscal-deficit position remained material factors affecting currency conditions.
Money-laundering probe into public service recruitment irregularities examines alleged question-paper leaks, selection manipulation, and laundering through purported CSR donations. Money-laundering investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act concerns alleged irregularities in Public Service Commission recruitment examinations. Allegations include question-paper leaks, manipulation of candidate selection, and illegal gratification for securing appointments of relatives and favoured candidates. Recruitment rules were allegedly amended to facilitate selection of relatives. Alleged proceeds of crime were collected in cash and routed through layered banking transactions, including through a family-controlled samiti presented as receiving corporate social responsibility donations for a non-existent college.
Personal guarantor settlement scrutiny intensifies as asset alienation is restrained pending review of a disputed creditor repayment proposal. A five-member special bench found that no clear majority view existed under section 419(5) of the Companies Act and stayed the third member's order that had permitted the proposed recovery. Notices were directed to all parties, and the guarantor was restrained from directly or indirectly alienating property pending further consideration. The dispute concerns approval of a personal guarantor's repayment proposal, treatment of guarantee claims, creditor voting support, assessment of the personal estate, and scrutiny of declared net worth.
Personal insolvency proceedings restrict property alienation while notices issue to parties in the debtor's case. A five-member special National Company Law Tribunal bench hearing Subhash Chandra's personal insolvency matter issued notices to all parties and restrained him from alienating property directly or indirectly. The restraint applies during the continuing insolvency proceedings and concerns dealings with the relevant property. The procedural measure requires the interested parties to participate in the matter.
In view of growth in production of perishable agricultural products, there is a need for creation of additional cold storage facilities in the country. Assistance is provided to entrepreneurs in setting up of new cold storage facilities in the country through the schemes of National Horticulture Mission (NHM), National Horticulture Board (NHB), Technology Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture in North Eastern States, Sikkim, J&K, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand (TMNE), National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MFPI).
As per extant FDI Policy, 100% FDI is permitted on automatic route in cold storage.
The Government has decided to establish the National Centre for Cold Chain Development (NCCD) as an autonomous centre of excellence in association with the industry and other Stakeholders for development of cold chain in India, for which funding through National Horticulture Board (NHB) to the extent of Rs.25.00 crore has been proposed.
This information was given by Prof. K.V. Thomas, Minister of State for Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.
Full foreign direct investment on automatic route allowed for cold storage, facilitating private investment and cold-chain development.
The policy permits full foreign direct investment on the automatic route in cold storage facilities to encourage expansion of perishable agricultural storage capacity, complemented by government assistance through horticulture and food-processing schemes and the establishment of the National Centre for Cold Chain Development with proposed public funding support.
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