Foreign capital inflows supported the rupee despite geopolitical uncertainty, oil-price pressures, and volatile global market sentiment. Foreign capital inflows supported a marginal strengthening of the rupee against the US dollar despite global risk aversion arising from uncertainty surrounding negotiations affecting the Strait of Hormuz. Higher crude oil prices and weak domestic equity sentiment remained relevant pressures. Near-term currency movement was expected to depend on developments in the negotiations, weekend decisions, US employment data, the dollar index, crude oil prices, and the reported increase in foreign exchange reserves.
Energy security through diversified sourcing protected fuel supplies during Hormuz disruption and supports domestic exploration and alternative fuels. Energy security measures based on diversified crude oil and LPG sourcing, expanded infrastructure, increased domestic LPG production and alternative fuels were presented as maintaining fuel availability during disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Domestic resilience is also linked to support for private deep-water oil and gas exploration, opening offshore acreage, and expansion of compressed biogas and ethanol blending. Ethanol-blended petrol testing identified limited contamination instances rather than a systemic issue, while excise duty reductions were described as cushioning consumers against global fuel-price volatility.
Credit valuation adjustment framework revises derivative capital requirements through flexible basic approaches, hedge recognition, and risk-sensitive counterparty treatment. Credit Valuation Adjustment framework revisions align CVA capital treatment with final Basel III standards. Eligible banks may use the full or reduced basic approach, while banks with an insignificant volume of non-centrally cleared derivatives may calculate their CVA capital charge at 100 per cent of the counterparty credit risk capital charge. The draft also clarifies CVA hedge recognition, introduces risk weights sensitive to sector and credit quality, and separates systematic and idiosyncratic CVA risk in the full basic approach.
Leverage ratio framework amendments propose Basel-aligned capital adequacy standards, with public feedback invited on the draft directions. Proposed amendments to the leverage ratio framework would revise Chapter VII of the 2025 Commercial Banks Prudential Norms on Capital Adequacy Directions to implement the Basel Committee's Leverage Ratio 2017 Standard. Public comments and feedback on the draft Eleventh Amendment Directions, 2026, are invited until August 28, 2026, through the designated online platform, postal submission, or email.
BHAVYA Scheme project selection uses challenge-based evaluation of infrastructure, industrial ecosystems, and policy enablers under prescribed eligibility criteria. BHAVYA Scheme Phase-I proposals submitted by State and Union Territory governments will be evaluated and scored under prescribed eligibility and evaluation criteria. Challenge-based project selection considers connectivity and site suitability, quality of core, value-added and social infrastructure in the detailed project report, and the industrial ecosystem and policy enablers. The Scheme guidelines provide for completion of the first-phase selection process within one year from notification.
Multilateral trade cooperation preserves developing economies' policy space while advancing MSME finance, diversified value chains and digital services. BRICS ministers adopted measures supporting a development-centred multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, preservation of Special and Differential Treatment, binding two-tier dispute settlement, and developing economies' policy space for food security and public stockholding. MSME measures include study of an invoice discounting mechanism and credit-assessment principles focused on cash flow rather than collateral. Value-chain measures provide for a GVC Action Plan, technical cooperation, Special Economic Zone cooperation and digitised trade documents, alongside principles for trusted cross-border digitally delivered services.
Digital public procurement promotes transparent sourcing, reduced seller charges, competition monitoring and evidence-based spending oversight through an integrated marketplace. Government e-Marketplace digitises public procurement through a unified platform promoting transparency, efficiency, good governance and wider supplier participation. Seller-facing measures include reduced transaction charges, exemption of smaller orders, a cap on maximum transaction fees and reduced vendor assessment fees. The platform uses Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning tools to identify suspected cartelisation, collusion and order splitting, while its digital transactional trail supports expenditure monitoring, identification of inefficiencies and evidence-based policy interventions.
Criminal justice, extremist-material regulation and administrative schemes feature in reports on prosecutions, demolition practices, loan waivers and fuel policy. Criminal justice reports cover bail and an expedited trial in an assault prosecution, arrest for allegedly sheltering an accused, allegations of rape and murder of a minor, and claimed irregularities in a police recruitment examination. Regulatory developments include a ban on extremist literature associated with proscribed organisations and judicial disapproval of coercive demolition. Administrative coverage includes farmer loan-waiver transfers following Aadhaar authentication and debate over the E20 fuel-blending programme.
Foreign exchange reserves rose as foreign currency assets, gold holdings, Special Drawing Rights and IMF reserve position increased. India's foreign exchange reserves increased during the week ended July 31, principally because of higher foreign currency assets and gold reserves. Foreign currency assets include US dollar valuation effects arising from movements in currencies such as the euro, pound and yen. Special Drawing Rights and India's reserve position with the International Monetary Fund also increased. The movement followed measures to attract foreign exchange inflows, including an FCNR(B) measure, after earlier reserve declines associated with rupee pressure and dollar sales for foreign exchange market intervention.
Farm loan waiver eligibility depends on verified beneficiary status and Aadhaar authentication for direct credit of eligible crop-loan relief. The farm loan waiver scheme covers eligible short-term crop loans within the prescribed ceiling and eligibility period. Waiver amounts are credited to verified bank accounts after field verification and completion of Aadhaar authentication. Aadhaar authentication is the operative condition for automatic processing of benefits, while eligibility rules and technical conditions have raised concerns about exclusion of distressed farmers.
Corporate agency distribution expands access to life insurance products, supporting insurance awareness, financial inclusion and long-term household financial protection. A corporate agency arrangement enables J&K Bank to distribute SBI Life Insurance protection, savings, retirement and child-oriented life insurance plans through its branch network. The partnership aims to improve insurance access, awareness, financial literacy and long-term financial planning for households, particularly in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. It is intended to expand insurance penetration, strengthen household financial protection and support financial inclusion in line with the IRDAI vision of "Insurance for All by 2047".
Cross-border smuggling controls target narcotics, poppy seeds and areca nuts entering through the Indo-Myanmar border region. Cross-border smuggling enforcement targeted methamphetamine, foreign-origin poppy seeds and areca nuts allegedly brought from Myanmar. Methamphetamine concealed in an ambulance was seized under the NDPS Act, 1985. Poppy seeds and areca nuts recovered in separate operations were seized under the Customs Act, 1962. Poppy-seed imports are restricted to designated countries and require registration to ensure traceability and prevent illicit produce entering legitimate supply chains. The enforcement action addresses circumvention of customs controls and regulated import requirements.
Direct benefit transfer for welfare pensions replaces cooperative-bank doorstep delivery, while retaining limited home service for excluded beneficiaries. Direct Benefit Transfer for social security and welfare pensions is to be made through Aadhaar-linked bank accounts, replacing cooperative-bank doorstep delivery. Home delivery remains available for bedridden persons and others who cannot be excluded. The change is associated with delays in remitting undistributed amounts, record-update failures, reconciliation issues, duplicate payments, and incomplete Aadhaar-based payment implementation. Concerns have been raised that mandatory bank-account credit may disadvantage beneficiaries dependent on doorstep delivery.
Direct Benefit Transfer for welfare pensions replaces doorstep cooperative-bank delivery, while home delivery remains for bedridden beneficiaries. Direct Benefit Transfer of social security and welfare pensions is to be made mandatory through Aadhaar-linked bank accounts, replacing cooperative-bank doorstep distribution. Home delivery continues for completely bedridden beneficiaries and others who cannot be excluded. The change addresses delays in remitting undistributed amounts, record-update and reconciliation deficiencies, duplicate payments linked to incomplete Aadhaar-based payments, delivery incentive costs, and the need to comply with Direct Benefit Transfer norms to avoid loss of central financial assistance.
Customs trade data show moderating July growth while high-technology exports, vehicles and advanced manufacturing supplies remain strongly supported. Customs and trade data showed that China's July export and import growth moderated and its trade surplus narrowed from the preceding month. Typhoon-related port disruptions affected trade flows, but demand for electronics and green technology products supported elevated values. High-technology items, vehicles, electronics and machinery recorded strong January-July export growth, while trade performance varied among the United States, the European Union and Southeast Asia.
BRICS industrial cooperation advances MSME, photovoltaic, startup and logistics frameworks alongside resilient trade and digital services collaboration. BRICS industrial cooperation under PartNIR was strengthened through a Joint Declaration and institutional measures addressing MSMEs, photovoltaics, startup-led innovation, and resilient transport and logistics. The measures include an SME cooperation framework, Terms of Reference and an Action Plan for photovoltaic industry cooperation, and a startup innovation action plan. Trade discussions focused on the multilateral trading system, MSME participation in international trade, resilient global value chains, and cross-border digitally delivered services within a rules-based trading framework.
Certified organic export promotion: BIOFACH INDIA facilitates buyer-seller engagement, certification awareness, traceability discussions and international market access. BIOFACH INDIA 2026 promotes certified organic exports by providing a platform for Indian organic enterprises to showcase diverse certified products and engage with overseas buyers through structured Buyer-Seller Meets. Technical sessions address organic certification, traceability, sustainability, quality standards, international regulatory requirements and export-market expectations. The initiative supports quality assurance, international market access, export linkages and sustainable agricultural practices across the organic value chain.
Device-based loan recovery restrictions protect essential mobile functions while permitting gradual locking only for lender-financed devices. Technology-based recovery mechanisms cannot restrict or disable a borrower's mobile device unless the bank financed acquisition of that device. Where permitted, banks must adopt a gradual approach and preserve essential functions, including incoming calls, SMS access, and emergency SOS features. Regulated entities and service providers must obtain manufacturer or operating-system certification for device-locking technology. Disclosure of borrower or guarantor information to recovery personnel must be limited to what is necessary for loan-recovery duties.
Bilateral trade agreement negotiations should secure tariff certainty, protect key exports, strengthen supply chains, and support vulnerable small industries. An early Bilateral Trade Agreement is proposed to protect Indian interests, secure tariff exemptions for key exports, reduce barriers affecting industrial products, and create predictable trade conditions. Recommended measures include financial and export-credit support for small industries, real-time monitoring of customs requirements, documentation assistance, and timely policy support against tariff and non-tariff barriers. Export strategy should develop knowledge services and critical supply-chain integration, while a National Fund should assist suppliers with redesign, tooling, certification and entry into new global supply chains.
Ethanol imports for fuel blending remain excluded from trade commitments, with domestic producers continuing to supply the blending programme. Ethanol imports for fuel blending remain outside concessions or commitments in India-US trade discussions. Under the Ethanol Blended with Petrol Programme, ethanol procurement is governed solely by domestic policy requirements and is sourced entirely from domestic producers. Claims of existing or intended large-scale ethanol imports from the United States for fuel blending, or of a policy change permitting them, are stated to be baseless.
TRAI Issues Unsolicited Commercial Communications Regulations, 2010 Regulations to take effect from 1st January, 2011 - No Commercial Communication between 9.00 PM To 9.00 AM
December 1, 2010
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The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today issued "The Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2010". This Regulation covers both Commercial calls as well as SMSs. It will be effective from 1st January, 2011.
It may be recalled that in June 2007, TRAI had notified the Telecom Unsolicited Commercial Communications Regulations, 2007. Despite various measures taken by the Authority for curbing Unsolicited Commercial Communications, dissatisfaction on this account among telecom consumers continues. Although the number of unsolicited commercial voice calls had decreased to some extent, the number of unsolicited SMS had increased significantly causing inconvenience to telecom customers.
In order to find a solution to this problem, TRAI initiated consultation process in May 2010. After extensive discussions with all stakeholders, TRAI has today issued "The Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations 2010".
Unlike the previous Regulations which provided only for a Do Not Call Registry, the Regulations issued today provide a wide choice to the customer. He may choose to be under the 'fully blocked' category which is akin to the Do Not Call Registry under the previous Regulations or he may choose the 'partially blocked' category, in which case he will receive SMSs in the category/categories chosen by him. There are seven categories from which the customer can choose - 1.Banking/Insurance/Financial products/credit cards; 2- Real Estate; 3.Education; 4.Health; 5.Consumer goods and automobiles; 6.Communication/Broadcasting/Entertainment/IT; 7-Tourism and Leisure. Wherever the customer is in the 'partially blocked' category, he shall not get any commercial calls. The 'partially blocked' category is like a Do Call Registry. Thus, the customer can either choose his categories (Do Call), or choose to be under the fully blocked category (Do not Call) or not to register at all.
Customer registration will be effective within seven days of registration unlike in the past when it used to be 45 days. The customer can register by ringing up 1909 or sending SMS to 1909. This service will be toll free and the customer will be given a Registration number. Customer currently on the NDNC register will continue to be registered under the 'fully blocked' category and need no re-registration.
The procedure for registration of telemarketers with TRAI has also been simplified. All telemarketers now have the facility of registering online. They can also make payment of the necessary fees either online or offline. The registration will be immediate on payment of registration fee. Telemarketers currently registered with DOT should reregister.
The scrubbing of numbers which used to be done by a centralised agency earlier, causing delays and other difficulties, has now been replaced by a system where telemarketers are required to scrub the data before sending the SMSs/making the calls through their service providers' network. In addition, it has also been made mandatory for the service providers to filter the data. This two-stage screening is designed to stop any unsolicited calls/SMS.
The defaulting telemarketers will be liable to pay heavy penalties. The telemarketers are required to enter into an agreement with the service provider before they get telecom resources. As part of the agreement, the telemarketers are required to commit that the following amounts would be deducted from the security offered by them.
First offence Rs. 25,000/-; Second offence, 75,000/-; Third offence Rs. 80,000/-; Fourth offence Rs.1,20,000/-; Fifth offence Rs. 1,50,000/-; and Sixth offence Rs.2,50,000/-. The Service Providers are required to deduct these amounts and deposit the same with TRAI. In addition to being liable for deduction of security as indicated above, the telemarketer will be blacklisted on commission of the sixth offence. The telecom resources of the blacklisted telemarketer will be disconnected by all the service providers and will not be restored for a period of two years.
The Regulations also provide for an aggrieved customer to lodge complaint with his service provider who is required to take appropriate action and inform the customer of the action taken within seven days.
Concerns have been expressed about the telemarketing calls/SMSs from unregistered telemarketers, who can be any of the 700 million subscribers. With a simpler registration process, it is expected that all telemarketers will register themselves with TRAI. Nevertheless, in order to minimise such instances, the Regulations provide that no service provider shall provide packages containing more than 100 SMS per day. The Regulations also provide that in the event of such an Unsolicited Commercial Communication (from an unregistered ordinary subscriber) he will be warned on the first offence and his telephone disconnected on commission of the second offence.
TRAI also expects that all industry and services associations will impress upon their members not to utilise the services of unregistered telemarketers.
In order to facilitate communication between agencies having commercial transactions with their clients, the Regulation provide for transactional messages to be exempt. Transactional messages are typically from banks/insurance companies or telecom service providers giving information relating to their customers' accounts, or from airlines/railways to their passengers regarding flight/train schedules, or from educational institutions to the parents. Transactional messages will however be only in the form of SMSs and that too restricted to relevant information. Promotional content in transactional messages will not be permitted.
A separate numbering series 70XXXXXXXX will be allocated for telemarketers, so that all telemarketing calls can be easily identified. Any call that comes from any number beginning with 70 will be a commercial call and the customer has the choice of receiving or not receiving the call. Therefore, even a customer who chooses not to register at all, has a choice. Likewise, a unique SMS header has been mandated for easy identification of commercial SMSs.
The Regulations mandate that no commercial communication, even for unregistered customers, shall be sent between 9.00 PM to 9.00 AM, so as not to disturb the customers at night.
Commercial communication restrictions: night-time ban plus customer-controlled opt-in/opt-out, mandatory registration, scrubbing and penalties for telemarketers.
Regulations create a customer-controlled regime allowing either full blocking or restricted category-based receipt of commercial communications, with simplified toll-free registration and immediate activation; telemarketers must register and use a dedicated numbering series and SMS headers. The rules require two-stage scrubbing-telemarketer-side data cleansing and service-provider filtering-provide for transactional-message exemptions, impose graduated penalties and blacklisting for repeat default, limit daily messaging packages, and mandate a night-time prohibition on commercial communications.
Note: It is a system-generated summary and is for quick reference only.
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