Red Sanders export prohibition and misuse of self-sealing facilities feature in an alleged smuggling attempt involving concealed logs.
Red Sanders exports from India are prohibited under the Foreign Trade Policy. The species is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. At Chennai Port, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence intercepted a container destined for Malaysia and seized 12.87 metric tonnes of Red Sanders logs and cover cargo under the Customs Act, 1962. Preliminary investigation into the smuggling attempt indicated that a syndicate used a manufacturer-exporter's self-sealing facility, diverted the container to a private godown and replaced the declared cargo with Red Sanders before export.

Diplomatic courier claims and apparently forged credentials featured in an airport cocaine seizure involving a passenger arriving from abroad.
She claimed to be a diplomatic courier and produced apparently forged documents identifying the consignment as belonging to a United Nations diplomatic courier. Following examination of the box, officers recovered 22 packets concealed within layers of plastic wrapping. The white, brick-shaped contents tested positive for cocaine in a field test, with a reported net weight of 22 kg. The cocaine was seized and the passenger arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985; she was subsequently produced before the competent court.

Trade fair admission reserves initial days for business visitors and offers eligible seniors and persons with disabilities free general-day entry.
The first five days, from 14 to 18 November, are reserved for business-to-business visitors; the general public may attend from 19 to 27 November. Fair hours are 10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., with general public entry until 5:30 p.m. Senior citizens and persons with disabilities may enter free on General Days upon producing valid government-issued identification. Food court operations will be monitored around the clock, and food safety, hygiene and food-handling standards apply to all outlets, including State-operated stalls.

Lithium-ion battery black mass exports are prohibited to retain recycling feedstock and support domestic critical mineral recovery.
Export of lithium-ion battery black mass under ITC(HS) code 85491400 is prohibited with immediate effect from 10 November 2026 until further orders, replacing the earlier free export policy. Transitional arrangements under paragraph 1.05 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023 apply. The prohibition is intended to retain domestic feedstock for recycling and refining, improve capacity utilisation, support investment and employment, and reduce reliance on imports of critical minerals.

Clandestine mephedrone manufacturing prompted seizures of drugs and precursor chemicals, arrests, and an investigation into interstate networks.
The Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) dismantled a clandestine mephedrone manufacturing laboratory in Mau, Uttar Pradesh, on 8 November 2026 under Operation Vajra 3.0. The seizure included 11.7 kg of mephedrone at different stages of processing, 20.9 kg of 2-bromo-4-methylpropiophenone, 3.5 kg of acetic anhydride and approximately 119.9 kg/L of other chemicals, solvents and processing reagents. Laboratory equipment, including mixers, vessels, heating equipment and distillation apparatus, was also seized. Two suspects were arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, under which the seizure and further proceedings were conducted following prescribed legal procedures. The investigation continues into the wider interstate network, sources of precursor chemicals, financial links and intended distribution channels.

Entrepreneurship finance for women and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe borrowers supports greenfield enterprises through guaranteed loans.
Eligible women, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe entrepreneurs may obtain loans to establish new or greenfield enterprises in manufacturing, services, trading or agriculture-allied activities. Loans may be term loans or composite loans combining working capital and term finance, for amounts above Rs. 10 lakh and up to Rs. 1 crore, covering up to 85% of project cost. Credit guarantee coverage is 85% of the loan amount, with a standard guarantee fee of 0.50%. A credit guarantee corpus of Rs. 4,111 crore has also been approved.

Microloan credit guarantees cover eligible lending against default, with risk-based coverage and reduced fees supporting collateral-free financing.
The fund covers lending institutions against default risk through the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited. Eligible facilities include PMMY loans of up to Rs. 20 lakh to microenterprises, bank overdrafts of up to Rs. 10,000 in Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana accounts, and self-help group loans where the portfolio is between Rs. 10 lakh and Rs. 20 lakh. Guarantee coverage is linked to the disbursement amount for working capital limits and the outstanding amount for term loans, reflecting lending institutions' risk exposure. The guarantee fee decreases from 1% to 0.75% per annum. For self-help group loans, the fee remains 0.25% for the first year and 0.50% in subsequent years.

Mobility manufacturing and export growth strategy highlights global partnerships, prospective market access and production-linked incentives for industry.
He expected Indian businesses to obtain zero-duty access to European Union markets by March or April and said negotiations with other countries could further expand preferential market access. He indicated that, once these opportunities materialise, preferential access could cover markets representing nearly 75 per cent of global GDP. The Minister highlighted the Production Linked Incentive schemes for auto components and specialty steel and the Export Promotion Mission as initiatives supporting industry and exports. He urged businesses to use the export initiative to market products and build industry brands.

Foreign currency smuggling allegations followed airport searches that uncovered concealed cash in baggage and led to passenger arrests.
Searches of their persons and baggage resulted in the seizure of US dollars and British pounds collectively valued at Rs. 3.12 crore. The currency was concealed in notebooks, hidden trolley-bag compartments, shoes and clothing, or packed deep inside baggage. The passengers could not produce documents establishing ownership or lawful possession. The seven passengers were arrested and charged with smuggling foreign currency out of India in contravention of the Customs Act and FEMA regulations. Searches of other passengers' baggage led to the recovery of foreign currency valued at Rs. 0.39 crore; those passengers were handed over to Customs for further proceedings.

Elephant tusk trafficking is prohibited under wildlife protection law, with seized tusks transferred for further investigation.
Intelligence-led enforcement intercepted an attempted elephant-tusk trafficking operation near Sonapur Toll Gate in Assam on 5 November 2026. Five suspects travelling on two two-wheelers attempted to flee, displaying a Khukri and a Dao, and escaped after abandoning a bag. Officers recovered two elephant tusks from the bag, seized them under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and handed them to the Assam State Forest Department for further investigation and action. Indian law prohibits trade and commercial dealings in articles derived from such protected species.

Amphetamine trafficking: field testing identifies a controlled psychotropic substance concealed in passenger luggage, prompting seizure and arrest.
Intelligence-led enforcement under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 led officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence to intercept a bus passenger travelling from Delhi to Bhopal on 5 November 2026. Examination of the passenger's luggage uncovered three concealed packets containing 6.642 kg of a white crystalline substance. Field testing indicated the presence of amphetamine, a psychotropic substance controlled under the Act. The substance was seized and confiscated under its relevant provisions, and the passenger was arrested under the Act.

E-cigarette import prohibition underpins customs seizure of prohibited products concealed in an import consignment declared as mop rods.
Importation, production, manufacture, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement of electronic cigarettes and electronic nicotine delivery systems are prohibited in India under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Act, 2019. Acting on intelligence at JNPT Port, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence officers intercepted an import consignment misdeclared as mop rods and found 13,000 e-cigarettes concealed among the declared cargo. The e-cigarettes and cover cargo, collectively valued at over Rs 4 crore, were seized under relevant provisions of the Customs Act.

Government residential property e-auction requires bidder registration and earnest money deposits under specified eligibility and bidding terms.
Eligible bidders may submit bids through the designated digital auction platform in accordance with the request for proposal. A pre-bid meeting is scheduled for 20 November 2026 at 11:00 a.m. for clarifications on eligibility, documentation, payments and the auction process. Registration and earnest money deposit submission must be completed by 5:00 p.m. on 7 December 2026; the e-auction is scheduled for 11 December 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Detailed terms, eligibility requirements and bidding procedures are available at https://eauction.enivida.com.

Narcotics regulation combines licit poppy cultivation oversight, trafficking enforcement, digital trade licensing and youth-focused drug prevention.
The Central Bureau of Narcotics oversees licit opium poppy cultivation and imports and exports of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals, while conducting intelligence-driven enforcement against trafficking under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. Licences, permits, certificates and other documents are processed through the ICEGATE SWIFT 2.0 single-window system, which handles more than 15,000 import and export applications annually. Planned measures include advanced crop tracking, expanded alternative development and a dedicated division to monitor high-risk non-scheduled industrial chemicals.

Bilateral trade and investment cooperation spans electronics, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and emerging technologies, with business engagement exploring commercial opportunities.
Bilateral trade, investment and technological cooperation between India and Hungary were the focus of ministerial meetings and business engagements during a visit to Hungary from 4 to 6 November 2026. A meeting with Hungary's Minister of Science and Technology explored collaboration in emerging technologies, research and innovation between industries and research institutions. The accompanying Indian business delegation interacted with Hungarian trade and investment organisations and held business-to-business meetings with Hungarian companies to explore trade, investment and commercial opportunities.

Rooftop solarisation across feasible administrative buildings follows assessments of roof access, ownership, shadow profiles and load-bearing capacity.
Rooftop solarisation covers all 2,576 buildings identified as feasible among 4,144 buildings of organisations under the Department of Financial Services' administrative control. Fully commissioned solar photovoltaic plants provide an aggregate installed capacity of 61.50 MW. Feasibility assessments considered roof-access rights, building ownership, shadow profiles and load-bearing parameters. The Department received the PM Surya Ghar Excellence Award, second position in the category for maximum buildings solarised by central ministries and departments, on 5 November 2026.

Conflict diamond certification and responsible sourcing take centre stage in discussions on compliance, digitalisation and industry governance.
Working body chairs and vice-chairs discussed work plans and matters proposed for plenary consideration, including draft administrative decisions, responsible sourcing initiatives, improvements to statistical reporting, institutional governance and participant compliance. Further discussions addressed potential reform of the conflict diamond definition, digitalisation of certification and statistics, sustainable funding and continuity of the secretariat, and effective reporting and peer review. Participants also considered artisanal and alluvial production, the sustainability of producing countries and communities, and compliance with scheme minimum requirements.

Priority sector lending targets and classification face proposed consolidation across bank categories, with public feedback invited on entity-specific drafts.
Priority sector lending targets and classification are the subject of proposed consolidated directions following a review of existing instructions. Separate drafts are proposed for commercial banks, small finance banks, local area banks, regional rural banks and urban co-operative banks. The proposals consolidate existing instructions on an entity-specific basis; instructions omitted from the consolidated drafts are to be repealed following issuance of the directions, with the repeal to be notified separately. Public comments or feedback on the drafts may be submitted by 26 November 2026 through the Connect 2 Regulate section of the Reserve Bank's website, using the relevant link for each draft, or by email.

Tax devolution was advanced ahead of the festive season to support capital spending and development and welfare expenditure.
Regular tax devolution of Rs. 1,09,019 crore was released by the Union Government to State Governments on 5 November 2026, ahead of its normal monthly release date of 10 November 2026. The instalment was advanced in view of the festive season to enable States to accelerate capital spending and finance development and welfare expenditure.

Surplus public asset monetisation proposals require delegated approval and prescribed procedures, supported by valuation and competitive price discovery.
Monetisation proposals for surplus land and buildings of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs), involving assets valued at over Rs.1,100 crore, have been recommended by the Inter-Ministerial Group for consideration and approval by the Cabinet-delegated Alternative Mechanism. Further monetisation activities are to follow the requisite approvals in accordance with prescribed procedures. The programme aims to realise the economic potential of surplus and underutilised public assets through systematic assessment, professional transaction preparation and competitive price discovery.