Introduction of e-Invoicing Facility for Recipient Generated Self Invoices under Reverse Charge Mechanism for Domestic Supplies from Unregistered Pers...
Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman participates in the 114th meeting of the Development Committee Plenary of the W...
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) destroy 2.87 Hectares (7.08 Acres) of illicit cannabis (ganja) cultiva...
The cumulative exports (merchandise & services) during April-September 2026-27 are estimated at US$ 476.20 Billion, as compared to US$ 418.31 Billion ...
Narcotics trafficking enforcement led to airport and road interceptions, baggage concealment detection, seizures, and arrests under the NDPS framework. Narcotics trafficking enforcement under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, involved intelligence-led interceptions at Bengaluru and Delhi airports and near Nagpur. Passenger baggage and a backpack were examined, leading to the seizure of amphetamine and cocaine and the arrest of three passengers. The recoveries included amphetamine concealed in baggage, a ladies' suit and a backpack lining, and cocaine contained in transparent packets within baggage.
Gold smuggling syndicate enforcement traces concealed imports through airport handlers, illicit melting, and jewellery-market disposal under customs law. Directorate of Revenue Intelligence enforcement action identified an organised gold-smuggling syndicate importing foreign-origin gold through Ahmedabad and Surat airports, followed by handover to handlers, intermediary routing, illegal melting, and cash-based supply through an Ahmedabad jewellery outlet. Further searches recovered undocumented foreign-origin gold bars and records concerning smuggled gold linked to a Dubai-based financier. The investigation identified interconnected roles across the movement, processing, and disposal of smuggled gold; three persons were arrested under the Customs Act, 1962.
Free trade agreement utilisation requires origin compliance, product standards, and documentation to secure preferential export market access. Effective FTA utilisation requires businesses to identify eligible products and markets, assess tariff preferences and rules of origin, and meet applicable quality, certification, documentation and importing-country requirements. Preferential access under agreements with the UAE, Australia, EFTA countries and the United Kingdom remains subject to each agreement's provisions and implementation status. Tariff preferences may improve price competitiveness and facilitate participation in international supply chains where product- and partner-specific conditions are satisfied.
Drug prevention awareness initiatives engage students through health education, interactive activities and pledges supporting a drug-free society. Mission Yuva Raksha advances preventive drug awareness and demand-reduction efforts among students through programmes at educational institutions in Madhya Pradesh. Sessions addressed the harmful effects of substance abuse on physical and mental health, education, family life and careers, supported by interactive learning activities. Participants were encouraged to avoid drugs, adopt healthy lifestyles, take pledges and support awareness initiatives in their schools, families and communities. Preventive education and youth engagement complement enforcement-oriented work through informed choices and community-based resistance to substance abuse.
Coastal narcotics trafficking enforcement addresses suspected maritime methamphetamine smuggling through seizure, asset recovery, and arrests under drug-control law. Intelligence-led narcotics enforcement addressed suspected coastal storage and maritime transfer of methamphetamine to Sri Lanka. Searches recovered crystal methamphetamine concealed in foil packets within duffel bags, which was seized under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. Searches also recovered suspected drug-sale proceeds and vehicles allegedly used in transportation. Persons allegedly involved in organising coastal export, transport, storage and logistics were arrested and remanded to judicial custody.
Centralised audit framework targets lower physical branch audit coverage while preserving regulatory oversight and maintaining remuneration. For FY 2026-27, audit remuneration is to remain at existing levels. Member banks are advised to accelerate a centralised audit framework to improve cost efficiency while retaining comprehensive risk oversight. Physical statutory branch audit coverage should be reduced to cover 50% of total business, apart from centralised treasury audits. Audit coverage must align with SEBI listing and disclosure requirements and RBI guidelines, supported by a Board-approved policy for the centralised audit roadmap.
Promissory estoppel cannot prevent Government shareholding dilution where enacted legislation imposes no restriction on strategic disinvestment. Government shareholding in IDBI may be reduced or divested because the IDBI (Repeal) Act, 2003 contains no restriction on dilution of the Government's stake. A proposed amendment to limit dilution was rejected and not incorporated into the enacted law. Parliamentary statements cannot override statutory text, and promissory estoppel cannot be invoked on the basis of legislative debate statements to prevent dilution of Government shareholding. Successive Union Budget speeches also reflected a policy of transformation and strategic disinvestment of IDBI Bank.
Recipient-generated e-invoicing under reverse charge enables eligible taxpayers to obtain IRNs for domestic unregistered supplies and imported services. Eligible active registered recipients meeting the applicable aggregate annual turnover threshold may report recipient-generated self-invoices for specified reverse-charge domestic supplies from unregistered persons and imports of services. RCMDOM and RCMIMP must be selected as the relevant e-invoice supply types when reporting through an authorised Invoice Registration Portal. Submission and validation of prescribed invoice particulars would generate an Invoice Reference Number, subject to applicable GST provisions, notifications and e-invoice specifications.
Reservation Policy Implementation in public financial institutions was examined through capacity building, practical deliberations, and measures for consistent application. Implementation of the Government of India's Reservation Policy across public sector banks, public sector insurance companies, sectoral regulators and public financial institutions was addressed through capacity building to support uniform and effective application. Deliberations considered practical implementation issues, operational challenges and actionable measures for consistent policy application, alongside related welfare measures and interactive discussion of implementation questions.
Organic agricultural export certification supports overseas market access for Palmyra Jaggery Powder through export-oriented producer linkages. APEDA facilitated the maiden sea export of NPOP- and EU-certified organic Palmyra Jaggery Powder from Tamil Nadu to Bulgaria. The initiative seeks to diversify India's organic export basket, create market linkages for traditional Palmyra-based products, and improve producer access through export-oriented value chains. It covers organic cultivation and reports improved price realisation for participating farmers and the manufacturer compared with the domestic market. APEDA supports certified organic and value-added agricultural exports through market development, quality compliance, and overseas buyer linkages.
Data-driven trade governance enables integrated monitoring, application analysis and evidence-based policy inputs through the National Strategic Trade Command Centre. The National Strategic Trade Command Centre provides an integrated analytics and visualisation platform consolidating trade data to monitor trade indicators, scheme performance, application pendency, processing timelines, regional trends and compliance-related parameters. It enables analysis across national trade performance, Regional Authorities, schemes, products, destination markets and individual applications, subject to role-based access permissions. Initial dashboards cover key trade-facilitation and regulatory processes, including SCOMET, export promotion schemes, certificates of origin, importer-exporter registration and restricted imports and exports.
Private capital mobilisation should use competitive financing, guarantees and risk mitigation to expand productive employment and productivity. Private capital mobilisation is treated as essential to employment generation and productivity growth. Private enterprises, MSMEs and startups should remain central to job creation, with financing assessed by employment and productivity outcomes rather than volume. Guarantees, risk-mitigation instruments, local-currency financing and lower transaction costs are identified as means to expand affordable and predictable access to capital. Methodologies underlying governance indicators should be transparent, objective, evidence-based and responsive to diverse development experiences.
Narcotics smuggling through misdeclared air cargo triggered seizure, arrest, and ongoing investigation into concealed hydroponic weed imports. A Bangkok-origin air-cargo consignment declared as PU Tubes was examined on suspicion of mis-declaration. Plastic spools were found to contain concealed cavities holding polythene-wrapped packets of compacted green substance, preliminarily identified as suspected ganja/marijuana and described as hydroponic weed. The concealed substance, packaging and concealment material were seized under the NDPS Act, 1985. One person was arrested, and follow-up searches produced leads for continuing investigation.
Unaccompanied baggage gold smuggling: concealed hardware and insider coordination triggered interception, seizure, and arrests under customs law. Foreign-origin gold smuggling through the unaccompanied baggage channel involved concealment of gold within hardware items and coordinated retrieval through warehouse personnel and intermediaries. Intelligence-led interception resulted in recovery and seizure of foreign-origin gold concealed in a floor spring, metal locks, a grease gun and a door closer. The arrangement used a trolley secured by a pre-decided number-lock combination, with a warehouse staff member, mediator and receiver allegedly involved in delivery of the concealed gold.
Opium cultivation licensing grievance redressal advances through public hearings, administrative remedies, policy recording, and a planned cultivator helpline. Opium cultivation licensing grievances were addressed through a public hearing where cultivators raised irrigation, climatic, single-plot licensing, and village-wise allocation concerns. Participants were informed of available legal provisions and administrative remedies. Requests for more licences and larger cultivation plots were considered, with policy matters recorded. A helpline is intended to assist cultivators during the 2026-27 licensing operation.
Illicit cannabis cultivation: crop destruction followed legal formalities, while investigation continues in a remote wildlife sanctuary. Illicit cannabis cultivation was located by a joint DRI and CBN team across five stretches of remote, densely forested wildlife-sanctuary land near village Jamniapani, Shirpur, District Dhule, Maharashtra. The cultivation covered 2.87 hectares. Following requisite legal formalities, the cannabis crop was destroyed using a rotavator in the presence of Police and Forest Department officials. Investigation remains in progress.
Merchandise and services trade estimates show export growth, import expansion, and a wider combined trade deficit over the reporting period. Combined trade estimates for April-September 2026-27 show exports of US$ 476.20 billion and imports of US$ 551.13 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of US$ 74.93 billion. Merchandise exports rose to US$ 259.89 billion, while merchandise imports reached US$ 437.53 billion. Estimated services exports were US$ 216.31 billion and services imports were US$ 113.60 billion, producing a services trade surplus of US$ 102.71 billion. September services figures are estimates, and specified earlier-period data were revised using quarterly balance-of-payments data.
Emerging technology skills and resilient supply chains are positioned as foundations for investment competitiveness and inclusive economic growth. Ministerial policy priorities for India's trade, investment and technology agenda emphasise artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, technology adoption, manufacturing investment and lifelong skill development. Investment competitiveness is linked to political stability, resilient supply chains, and fair and transparent trading practices. The first tranche of a bilateral trade agreement with the United States has been finalised, while final contours and legal drafting continue before operationalisation.
Majority stake acquisition in the jewellery sector receives competition clearance for GRT Jewellers' purchase of Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri. Competition Commission of India approved GRT Jewellers (India) Private Limited's proposed acquisition of a majority stake in Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri Limited. The transaction concerns entities operating in the Indian gems and jewellery market, including a private limited acquirer and a publicly listed target engaged in manufacturing and sale of gems and jewellery.
Minority shareholding acquisition in mother and baby healthcare receives competition clearance for a private equity-backed investment. Competition Commission of India clearance authorises NuageLux BidCo S.a r.l. to acquire approximately 23% of the fully diluted shareholding in Kids Clinic India Ltd. The transaction constitutes an acquisition of a minority equity interest in a healthcare provider operating under the Cloudnine brand. NuageLux BidCo is a Luxembourg-incorporated private limited special purpose vehicle, ultimately controlled by Permira Holdings Ltd.
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, launched the mobile portability across India at a function in Vigyan Bhawan today. Following is the text of the Prime Minister's address on the occasion:
"Many years ago, someone asked me to define development and I thought about it and the simplest answer I could improvise was that development is about widening human choices and in the Telecom Sector, what we are witnessing today and what we have witnessed in the last decade, is a shining example of how our telecommunications services have helped to widen human choices in a very important area of nation's economic activity. I am therefore very happy to participate in this function to launch the Mobile Number Portability service all over our country. Today's occasion marks a very important milestone in the evolution of telecommunications in our country. I compliment Shri Kapil Sibal, Minister of Telecommunications and his talented team, the telecom service providers and the Mobile Number Portability operators for this great innovative step forward.
The telecom sector is one of India's known and praised success stories. Telecom services in our country have witnessed very rapid growth over the last decade and today we are the fastest growing telecom market in the world. The prices of our telecom services are among the lowest globally. We can be reasonably proud of our achievements in this very important sector, which has the potential to act as a catalyst for the growth of other sectors of our economy.
With a major contribution from mobile services we have already achieved a tele-density of about 65%. The Mobile subscriber base has today reached around 750 million from a mere 33 million in March 2004. On the average about 15 million new subscribers are being added each month. More of our countrymen have been touched by this revolution than by any other program, product or service in the history of our nation and that too at a pace unprecedented in the world at large.
Mobile Number portability (MNP) which is being launched today will allow customers to change their mobile operators in their Service Areas while retaining the mobile numbers originally assigned to them, thereby avoiding the inconvenience of switching to new numbers. It will enable a subscriber to exercise his or her choice and get products and services in accordance with his or her preferences. It is expected that this service will go a long way in enhancing customer satisfaction. Affordability has always been an issue for any new service. I have been told that keeping this in mind the service of Mobile Number Portability has been made accessible and affordable to all by keeping the charges as low as Rupees 19. Moreover, it is up to the service provider to charge or not to charge the incoming customer and so a customer may actually end up paying even less for this service.
Competition all over the world enhances the efficiency of businesses, it improves the availability and quality of products and services. The telecommunications sector is a prime example where the fruits of increased competition are visible to all. It is believed that Mobile Number Portability, besides enabling a subscriber to change operators without losing his or her original number, will also trigger greater competition. The telecom service providers will seek to improve the range and quality of their services in order to retain their existing subscribers and also to attract subscribers from other operators. This should further spur the growth of the Indian telecom sector.
Our efforts for inclusive growth will not be successful unless we bring about a socio-economic transformation of our rural areas. Telecommunications provide a key tool to make this happen. Indeed, access to affordable telecom services is the most important development that has happened in the rural areas of our country after the Green Revolution. Our government has taken the initiative for faster rural penetration of telecom services through the Universal Service Obligation Fund to set up towers and cell sites in rural and remote areas. I have been told that more than eleven thousand crore rupees have been spent on various schemes by the Universal Service Obligation Fund.
The advent of 3G and Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) Services will provide a further boost to the provision of affordable voice and broadband services in our country. We must therefore, work on strategies and steps to leverage broadband telecom in addressing persistent development challenges in the field of education, health and rural development. If we modify our approach to development issues and devise new strategies that leverage broadband to the maximum, I am confident that we will overcome many challenges and we will be able to usher in transformational change instead of incremental improvements. Indeed, ubiquitous telecom services have the immense potential to bring many more people from the periphery of the economy into the national mainstream and that should be our objective.
Our future generations will live in an increasingly globalised digital economy. Our ability to communicate and be in touch with others will be a major determinant of the pace of our progress. We must strive tirelessly in that direction. The introduction of Mobile Number Portability is an important step forward in further improving our telecom services. With these words, I once again congratulate all those who have contributed to this success. I wish you many more such achievements in the future."
Mobile Number Portability enables subscribers to change operators while retaining numbers, promoting consumer choice and telecom competition.
The launch of Mobile Number Portability permits subscribers to change mobile service providers within their service areas while retaining their existing numbers, enhancing consumer choice and reducing switching inconvenience. The scheme is intended to be affordable and may involve variable charging practices by providers. MNP is expected to intensify telecom competition by encouraging operators to improve service quality and offerings. The initiative is linked to broader policy measures to expand rural telecom through the Universal Service Obligation Fund and to leverage 3G and Broadband Wireless Access for inclusive development.
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