Government and RBI Strengthen Digital Lending Ecosystem Through New Regulatory Framework, Digital Lending App Directory and Enhanced Customer Safeguar...
A First for India: EbixCash World Money's Perpetual RBI Licence Brings Trade and Family Remittances Within Reach of Millions - Unlocking Opportunities...
Generic medicine import tariffs are designed to encourage domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing while preserving policy for patented, branded and innovative drugs. Generic medicine imports into the United States are proposed to remain duty-free for two years, followed by escalating tariffs. The structure is intended to encourage pharmaceutical companies to establish manufacturing plants and equipment in the United States, with higher duties applying where companies do not do so within the stated period. The policy is confined to generic drugs, while the approach for patented, branded and innovative medicines is stated to remain unchanged.
Oil-driven inflation pressures may prompt higher interest rates, despite equity gains led by artificial-intelligence and semiconductor shares. Asian equity markets largely rose following Wall Street gains led by artificial-intelligence and semiconductor shares. Rising crude oil prices are identified as a renewed inflation risk that could encourage central banks to raise interest rates, slowing economic activity and affecting equity valuations. Japan's reliance on imported energy and the effects of a weaker yen on trade values and energy costs are also highlighted.
Foreign exchange market volatility pressures the rupee as oil-linked geopolitical risks boost safe-haven dollar demand and prompt market monitoring. Foreign exchange market movement saw the rupee depreciate against the US dollar amid higher crude oil prices, geopolitical tensions affecting oil-shipment security, and safe-haven demand for the dollar. RBI measures intended to attract overseas deposits were reported to support market confidence through foreign-currency inflows. Dealers were monitoring possible RBI participation through state-owned banks to moderate currency volatility while permitting gradual exchange-rate adjustment and preventing disorderly market movements.
Rules-based multilateral trade engagement guides India's policy review, highlighting digital reforms, trade facilitation and clarification of market measures. India's WTO Trade Policy Review reaffirms commitment to a transparent, rules-based, inclusive and development-oriented multilateral trading system. It identifies reforms in trade facilitation, digital customs, logistics modernisation, quality infrastructure, Digital Public Infrastructure, innovation, sustainability, agricultural resilience and regional trade agreements. WTO Members recognised India's economic resilience and customs and digital modernisation, while seeking clarification on trade and investment regimes, Quality Control Orders, trade-remedy measures and WTO reforms.
Financial inclusion expands universal banking, social insurance, pensions and collateral-free credit for underserved households and entrepreneurs. Financial inclusion is pursued through universal banking under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, social-security coverage through life, accident and pension schemes, and credit access for underserved borrowers. Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana provides collateral-free institutional finance to micro and small business units for income-generating activities. The Stand-Up India Scheme supports Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and women entrepreneurs through loans for greenfield projects in manufacturing, trading, services and agriculture-allied activities.
Foreign exchange contravention liability requires evidence that the person was responsible for the overseas transfer in question. Foreign exchange transfer for the 2009 South Africa cricket tournament was examined under the Foreign Exchange Management Act after funds were moved to an overseas entity without prior Reserve Bank approval. The appellate tribunal set aside the penalty imposed on Lalit Modi, finding no material establishing that he was in charge of the relevant affairs or personally responsible for the alleged contravention. Liability for a foreign-exchange contravention must rest on evidence connecting the person proceeded against with responsibility for the impugned transaction.
Rural infrastructure financing under RIDF supports irrigation, roads, water supply, cooperative digitisation, producer organisations and climate-resilient livelihoods. Rural Infrastructure Development Fund financing supports rural infrastructure in Haryana, including irrigation, roads and drinking-water assets. Rural cooperative strengthening includes digitisation and financial viability of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies, alongside promotion and financial support for Farmer Producer Organisations. Climate-resilient measures include watershed development, groundwater management, micro-irrigation, direct seeding of rice and vegetable clusters, supplemented by livelihood training for rural women and agricultural lending and project-appraisal support.
Supreme Court proceedings address juvenile adult trials, insolvency, electoral representation, environmental funds and foreign-exchange complaint requirements. Supreme Court proceedings covered election representation, criminal justice, insolvency and regulatory compliance. The Court considered challenges concerning political-party merger approval, separate insolvency proceedings for group entities, and espionage charges. It sought responses on an appeal mechanism for persons excluded from the National Register of Citizens and alleged non-utilisation of environmental relief funds. Criminal matters included medical assessment for interim bail, a fresh trial in a blast case, and the principle that a juvenile accused of murder may face adult trial where statutory conditions for a heinous offence are met.
Digital lending safeguards require verified app associations, responsible recovery, data privacy, grievance redressal and reporting channels against illegal loan apps. Digital lending safeguards include a public directory enabling customers to verify a digital lending app's association with a regulated entity. The Digital Lending Directions, 2025 impose mandatory requirements on recovery practices, data privacy and customer grievance redressal for regulated entities, lending service providers and digital lending apps. Measures also include blocking illegal loan applications following due process, cybercrime reporting channels, complaint facilities for unlawful money collection, and public awareness programmes on fraud prevention and risk mitigation.
Authorised Dealer Category-II remittances expand to specified trade and family-maintenance payments under the revised FEMA framework. FEMA framework revisions described as effective from May 2026 expand Authorised Dealer Category-II activities to include specified trade remittances and family-maintenance remittances, subject to the applicable RBI and FEMA framework. EbixCash World Money Limited states that its perpetual AD-II licence carries this expanded scope. The release describes a non-bank channel for MSME and SME cross-border payments, supported by Nostro-account settlement, remittance and travel-card services, and technology-enabled compliance measures including document verification, sanctions screening, fraud detection and transaction monitoring.
Foreign investment regulation: Draft rules propose simpler, principle-based compliance and clearer separation of procedural requirements from investment policy. Draft Foreign Exchange Management (Foreign Investment) Rules, 2026 propose a simplified, principle-based foreign investment framework. The proposals rationalise provisions, harmonise definitions, and separate procedural foreign-exchange requirements from foreign direct investment policy and sector-specific conditions. They aim to streamline procedures, reduce compliance burdens, enhance operational flexibility, and apply investor-neutral and investee-neutral provisions while preserving regulatory safeguards. The draft Rules remain subject to public consultation before finalisation.
Prepaid payment instrument programme adds mobility and gift card capabilities with digital servicing subject to applicable programme conditions. Prepaid payment instrument programme launched for Indian Overseas Bank through CARD91's technology stack, incorporating RuPay National Common Mobility Card and Gift Card capabilities. The programme was implemented following requisite approvals, testing and compliance validation. The RuPay NCMC facility supports prepaid, tap-based payments for metro, bus and parking transactions, subject to the bank's programme conditions and user eligibility. Digital card servicing may include balance enquiry, transaction history, reload or top-up functions, and customer support, subject to applicable programme terms.
Free trade agreements and e-commerce export reforms expand preferential market access, address non-tariff barriers, and support small exporters. Export market diversification is advanced through trade agreements, export-promotion measures and capacity building. Free Trade Agreements seek preferential market access, increased trade and investment, and support for labour-intensive exports, while technical barriers to trade provisions and engagement mechanisms address standards, regulatory requirements and non-tariff barriers. Cross-border e-commerce exports are supported through trade-finance and compliance assistance, E-Commerce Export Hubs, District Export Hubs, simplified courier-export procedures, reverse-logistics facilitation, logistics planning, duty-and-tax remission, and MSME export facilitation.
Production Linked Incentive Schemes strengthen domestic manufacturing through investment support, export growth, employment generation, monitoring and eligibility reforms. Production Linked Incentive Schemes for 14 sectors promote domestic manufacturing, investment, exports, employment and global competitiveness. Overall coordination and monitoring rests with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, while sector-specific implementation is undertaken by the relevant ministries and departments. Implementation is periodically reviewed, with scheme modifications, rationalised guidelines, relaxation of specified eligibility conditions, project monitoring, stakeholder consultation and inter-ministerial issue resolution used to improve uptake and strengthen domestic manufacturing ecosystems.
Separate corporate insolvency processes remain contested over foreign asset treatment, specialised resolution needs, and creditors' commercial decision-making. Separate corporate insolvency resolution processes for VIL and VOVL are disputed following reversal of an earlier consolidation direction. Independent processes were preferred because the entities operate in distinct sectors and may require specialised resolution, while creditors' choice was treated as commercial wisdom not ordinarily open to tribunal interference. The dispute also concerns whether foreign oil and gas assets should be treated as VIL assets, against the background of VIL's conversion from co-obligor to corporate guarantor to ring-fence those assets from domestic business liabilities.
Drone technology collaboration promotes joint manufacturing, technology transfer, rural entrepreneurship and global market access through an integrated industrial ecosystem. India-Russia industrial collaboration in drone technology is proposed through engagement on technology transfer, joint manufacturing, research collaboration, investment, exports and global market access. Drone City is presented as an integrated ecosystem covering manufacturing, research and development, testing, certification support, skill development, incubation, warehousing, startup acceleration and international technology partnerships. Its expansion and panchayat-level entrepreneurship programme are expected to create rural drone enterprises and employment in manufacturing, component production, quality control, maintenance, logistics and technical support.
WTO trade policy review will assess India's trade measures, transparency framework, reforms, and responses to member questions. India's eighth Trade Policy Review under the World Trade Organization framework examines its trade policies and developments during the 2021-2025 review period. The process uses a Government Report and a Secretariat Report and provides a comprehensive peer examination of border and behind-the-border trade measures to promote transparency, predictability and understanding. The review addresses trade agreements, Goods and Services Tax rationalisation, digital trade-facilitation measures, and Member questions on digitisation, MSMEs, women's economic participation, Viksit Bharat and the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
Fisheries subsidy disciplines promote sustainable marine resource use while excluding aquaculture and inland fisheries from their scope. The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies disciplines subsidies concerning marine wild-capture fishing and fishing-related activities at sea. It prohibits subsidies linked to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and fishing of overfished stocks, promoting conservation and sustainable use of marine resources. Aquaculture and inland fisheries remain outside its scope. India's fisheries management framework is identified as supporting implementation while preserving policy space and safeguarding the interests of traditional and small-scale fishers.
Revised Index of Core Industries adopts a new base year, adds iron ore, and revises sector measurement methodology. The revised Index of Core Industries series adopts 2022-23 as its base year, replaces the former series and expands coverage to nine industries by including iron ore. Steel is measured using gross production data, while only raw coal is retained to avoid double counting. Weights are derived from the corresponding Index of Industrial Production series and normalised to 100. A geometric-mean linking methodology connects the former and revised series. June 2026 provisional estimates show overall year-on-year ICI growth, led principally by iron ore and electricity.
Risk-based export controls exposed alleged pharmaceutical diversion, prompting NDPS enforcement against transnational illicit opioid trafficking networks. Risk-based export controls and intelligence-led enforcement under the NDPS Act, 1985 addressed an alleged attempt to divert an export consignment of high-strength Tramadol Hydrochloride tablets into illicit international channels. Enquiries with the International Narcotics Control Board and competent authorities indicated that the declared destination had been misrepresented. The action involved seizure of the consignment and arrests of persons alleged to be connected with the export arrangement and conspiracy. The operation emphasises risk-based profiling, export-control scrutiny, intelligence sharing, and international coordination against pharmaceutical diversion and transnational drug trafficking.
Huge Untapped Potential for Investment and Trade Between India and South Africa: Anand Sharma – Addresses India Business Forum – Meets South African President
January 11, 2011
Contents
Summary
Note
Bookmark
Share
✓ Copied successfully !
Print
Print Options
For full text, please login
Login to TaxTMI
Verification Pending
The Email Id has not been verified. Click on the link we have sent on
Shri Anand Sharma, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, while addressing the India Business Forum, in Johannesburg last evening, said that there are huge untapped potential exists in the area of investment and bilateral trade between India and South Africa. Interacting with the captains of industry from both sides, Shri Sharma said that for Indian businessmen, Africa is an untested but potential huge trade and investment market for the future. South Africa could provide the key to unlocking this market. While it is hardly possible to see any better partner for Africa than India. He further added that India has become an important destination for investment and we are inviting foreign capital to fulfill our development requirements, at the same time many of our companies are expanding across the world and have earned a name for themselves as global challengers. "There is also a need to move into other sectors. Besides the business areas mentioned above, South Africa also offers enormous opportunities for Indian firms, especially in sectors like construction and engineering, mining, renewable energy and space science", the Minister said.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sharma said that Indian investment in South Africa has been substantially rising, at the same time there is a growing trend of South African investments in India. "India's involvement with Africa is and has been focused on helping African countries develop their own potential for human resource development. This has been an evolving process and India has, over the years, extended cooperation not just in IT, but also in agriculture, SMEs, transportation, infrastructure, health and education", he added.
During his visit, Shri Sharma participated in the commemorative celebrations of 150 years of arrival of Indians in South Africa. In his meeting with the President of South Africa, Mr. Jacob Zuma, Shri Sharma congratulated President Zuma on South Africa joining BRIC. He also conveyed India's desire to work together with South Africa in BRIC even as both the countries continue to deepen their partnership in the IBSA framework.
As regards India-SACU PTA, Shri Sharma said that India is now hoping for early conclusion of India - SACU Preferential Trade Agreement and added that this should provide an enormous boost to ongoing levels of bilateral trade—especially in products such as pharmaceuticals, machinery, automobiles, where India enjoys a competitive advantage.
Inaugurating the first-ever MMTC Office in Johannesburg, Shri Sharma said that this will allow us to enhance our direct purchases of key commodities from South Africa including gold and other metals and minerals. The Minister mentioned that MMTC would like to use this office for exploring vast opportunities for sourcing ferrous and non-ferrous metals i.e. nickel, aluminum, copper, tin, zinc, silicon, magnesium, titanium and cobalt from South Africa. The office of MMTC in South Africa could look at business opportunities in the entire African continent and would facilitate greater cooperation. Sourcing of Rough Diamonds and cooperation in the field of Precious Stones could be focus areas for both the countries. MMTC is looking for import of coal and joint ventures for coal exploration with African companies with a committed buy-back arrangement.
India is South Africa's largest trading partner in South and South-East Asia and one of South Africa's top-ten trading partners globally. Total trade has more than doubled since 2004-05 to cross $7.5 billion. The bilateral trade, has grown from US $ 3.18 billion in 2004-05 to US $ 7.73 billion in 2009-10. In the year 2009-10, India's exports to South Africa were US $ 2,058 million and imports from South Africa were US $ 5,674 million. Bilateral trade during this period (April-Sep. 2010) was to the tune of US $ 5,393 mn, up from US $ 3,757 mn in the corresponding 6-month period of April-Sep. 2009. Exports from India to South Africa during the 6-month period of April, 2010 to September, 2010 were US $ 2,267 mn, registering a growth of 118 % over the corresponding 6-month period of April-Sep. 2009. Imports from South Africa to India during the 6-month period of April, 2010 to September, 2010 were US $ 3,125 mn, registering a growth of 15% over the corresponding 6-month period of April-Sep. 2009.
India's exports to South Africa comprises mineral fuels, automobiles, iron & steel, machinery and instruments, organic and inorganic chemicals, drugs and pharmaceuticals, cotton yarn and fabrics and rice and other cereals. India's imports from South Africa were gold, aluminium, phosphoric acid, coal, pulp and waste paper, precious stones including diamonds, etc.
Investment and trade potential between India and South Africa urged to be unlocked, with PTA and sectoral cooperation driving growth.
Huge untapped investment and trade potential exists between India and South Africa, with calls to diversify sectoral engagement into construction, mining, renewable energy and space science. The note urges early conclusion of an India-SACU Preferential Trade Agreement to boost trade in pharmaceuticals, machinery and automobiles, and highlights MMTC's new Johannesburg office to strengthen direct sourcing of metals, minerals, rough diamonds and coal, including joint exploration ventures and pan African business outreach.
Note: It is a system-generated summary and is for quick reference only.
TaxTMI 
of 3353
Join Channel
TaxTMI 