Marching ahead with Responsibility and Growth - Keynote Address[Contributions by RBI colleague Shri Mohammed Majidullah, General Manager] delivered by...
CCI directs Trustees’ Association of India, IDBI Trusteeship Services Ltd, Axis Trustee Services and SBI CAP Trustee Company to cease and desist fro...
IPO regulatory clearance enables further public issue preparations, with existing shareholders proposing a complete offer for sale. SEBI's final observations on the proposed initial public offering enable the National Stock Exchange to undertake further public-issue preparations, subject to applicable regulatory requirements. The proposed issue is structured entirely as an offer for sale, under which existing shareholders would divest a portion of their holdings rather than the exchange issuing new shares. The draft red herring prospectus contemplates sale of 14.89 crore shares, representing nearly 6 per cent of the exchange's stake.
Personal security frameworks evolved from elite guards into intelligence-led protection systems, while VIP culture can distort their necessity. Personal security evolved from elite guards into structured systems combining physical protection, intelligence, technology and specialised protocols. Prime Ministerial security in India was reorganised after the 1984 assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her bodyguards. A commission recommended a single protective agency, leading to the formation of the Special Protection Group in 1985. Statutory parameters introduced in 1988 sought to rationalise and scientifically streamline protection arrangements. Advanced technology, training, intelligence and protocols do not eliminate personal-protection vulnerabilities, and security is characterised as a necessity rather than a status symbol.
Rupee exchange-rate movement reflects foreign-currency deposit inflows, central-bank intervention, oil-price risks and changing market risk appetite. Foreign-exchange liquidity measures, including a special central-bank programme for foreign-currency deposits, generated substantial inflows that supported the rupee. Inflows from foreign-currency deposits, overseas foreign-currency borrowings and external commercial borrowings strengthened market conditions. Rupee appreciation was also supported by foreign equity inflows and risk appetite, but remained vulnerable to higher crude-oil prices, US-Iran tensions, safe-haven demand for the US dollar and possible disruption to oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
Trade agreement consultations safeguard farmer, worker, MSME and sectoral sensitivities while phased bilateral tariff negotiations continue. India-US bilateral trade agreement negotiations are being pursued on the stated basis that Indian sensitivities will not be compromised. The agreement's text remains non-public, while the government position identifies farmers, fishers, micro, small and medium enterprises, workers, handloom and handicrafts sectors, and the automobile industry as protected considerations. The arrangement is described as a first tranche, with further engagement contemplated following changes in the United States tariff landscape.
Unauthorised toll collection apps allegedly generated fake receipts, concealed non-FASTag collections, and triggered a money-laundering investigation. Unauthorised digital applications allegedly enabled toll collection from vehicles without FASTag stickers outside the official reporting system. Mobdata and Any were allegedly used to generate unauthorised or fake toll receipts, conceal collections from NHAI, and monitor such collections through dedicated portals. A PMLA investigation followed an FIR alleging fraudulent toll collection, with digital forensic material indicating use of the mechanism across around 100 toll plazas. Searches resulted in seizure of financial and digital records and freezing of bank accounts.
Economic offence investigations: cross-border training strengthens officers' practical skills in investigation, prosecution, procedures, and handling complex financial crimes. Capacity-building training under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme equipped officers from member countries with practical skills for investigating economic offences. It covered varied forms of financial and economic crime, cross-border impact, challenges in investigation and prosecution, standard operating procedures, and investigative best practices. The specialised law-enforcement engagement aims to strengthen international cooperation and investigative capacity in economic-offence matters.
Unauthorised Aadhaar credential use triggers blacklisting and procurement debarment following alleged post-termination enrolment and update transactions. Alleged unauthorised use of Aadhaar Registrar/EA Code credentials after termination of an operational engagement led the Delhi Construction and Other Workers Welfare Board to blacklist MDS Solution Pvt Ltd. UIDAI communication indicated that Aadhaar-related activity allegedly continued after cancellation through the Board's credentials. The Board lodged a police complaint, barred the firm from its tenders, procurement processes, empanelment and contract awards, and recommended consideration of action under applicable rules and policies.
FCNR(B) deposits strengthen foreign-exchange liquidity and support rupee appreciation alongside foreign portfolio inflows into government securities. Foreign-currency inflows through FCNR(B) deposits, overseas foreign-currency borrowings and external commercial borrowings strengthened foreign-exchange liquidity and supported appreciation of the rupee against the US dollar. Foreign portfolio investment in government securities was linked to the abolition of withholding tax and long-term capital gains tax on such investment. Currency-market conditions were also influenced by foreign institutional equity purchases, global risk appetite, crude-oil prices and geopolitical tensions.
Electric vehicle adoption can reduce transport import dependence while domestic battery manufacturing increases projected long-term savings. Electric-vehicle adoption across road-transport segments is projected to reduce dependence on imported petrol and diesel, notwithstanding continuing battery imports. Accelerated electrification could reduce vehicle-related import expenditure substantially by 2050 because reduced oil imports are expected to exceed battery-import costs. Domestic cell-manufacturing capacity may further increase savings by combining rapid vehicle electrification with battery localisation.
Women's livelihood credit access will extend beyond self-help groups through standardised loan formalities and coordinated banking support. Women's access to credit for livelihood expansion is to extend beyond Self-Help Groups to individual women members. Loan accessibility concerns include distance from bank branches, repeated visits to complete formalities, and inconsistent banking procedures. Regular State Rural Livelihood Mission meetings, bank participation, training, helplines, process improvements and coordination with bankers are intended to reduce barriers. Loan formalities are to be standardised across banks through a uniform process involving RBI and NABARD.
Industrial development facilitation prioritises infrastructure, services, policy utilisation, and dry-port trade connectivity for businesses and agro-based farmers. Industrial development facilitation extends beyond allocation of industrial plots to infrastructure development, services, and a favourable business environment. Industry-support policies seek to encourage participation by entrepreneurs, promote growth across sectors, and improve investment conditions without distinction between small and large enterprises. Dry-port infrastructure strengthens national and international trade connectivity, supporting import and export expansion for industrial and agro-based businesses.
Regulated fintech infrastructure recognition highlights integrated payment, identity and collections capabilities across embedded financial product delivery. Decentro operates an integrated fintech infrastructure platform combining payment acceptance, identity verification, banking and AI-led collections through a unified integration layer. It holds Payment Aggregator authorisations for online and physical payments, a Payment Service Provider licence through its GIFT City entity, and certification for offline identity-verification workflows. These capabilities support embedded financial products, payment acceptance, lending collections and related financial workflows for enterprise users.
Debenture trusteeship fee fixing constitutes cartelisation by constraining independent pricing and restricting service availability in the market. Collective minimum-fee fixing for debenture trusteeship services prevented trustees from making independent commercial pricing decisions and constituted cartelisation. Prescription of a benchmark fee limited and controlled the supply or market for such services by directing association members and non-members not to serve debenture issuers below that fee. The conduct contravened Section 3(3)(a) and Section 3(3)(b) read with Section 3(1) of the Competition Act, 2002.
Digital textile printing enables flexible industrial production, shorter lead times, reduced screen dependency and sustainability-focused manufacturing for export markets. Digital textile printing is presented as an industrial alternative to conventional screen printing, allowing direct production from digital design files with faster design changes, shorter lead times and flexibility across varying order quantities. Single-pass systems support high-volume production through fixed printing units and continuous fabric movement, while multipass platforms provide flexible production across natural, synthetic and specialised textiles. Digital production is associated with printing closer to demand, eliminating physical screens, reducing unnecessary production, and addressing wastewater reduction, chemical compliance, traceability and responsible manufacturing expectations.
Economic growth and infrastructure investment were presented as supporting exports, skilled employment, connectivity, and long-term development. Economic growth, export expansion and infrastructure investment are presented as interconnected drivers of India's development, global standing and employment opportunities. Infrastructure expenditure, railway expansion and improved transport connectivity are identified as measures intended to facilitate movement, simplify transportation, support trade and exports, and strengthen industrial and commercial activity. These measures are associated with the objective of a developed India by 2047 and enhanced employment, business and growth opportunities.
Co-location and dark fibre settlement addressed allegations of preferential market-data access and speed advantages in trading. SEBI's co-location and dark fibre matters involving NSE concerned allegations that certain stockbrokers obtained unfair preferential speed advantages to access market data and execute trades ahead of other investors. NSE pursued settlement applications covering both matters, and revised settlement terms increased the cumulative amount. Payments made by NSE together completed the agreed settlement amount.
Preferential tariff treatment remains the condition for finalising the bilateral trade agreement and improving Indian export competitiveness. Finalisation of the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement is contingent on the United States extending preferential tariff treatment to India relative to competing supplier countries. Further negotiations are required following changes in the United States tariff environment. A comparative tariff advantage is intended to improve the price competitiveness of Indian goods in the United States market, particularly against competitors benefiting from lower duties under least-developed-country preferences or trade agreements.
MSME secured lending equity capital, subject to regulatory approval, supports expansion without management-control change in operations. Business Nextgen Finance Private Limited, a non-deposit taking non-banking financial company registered with the Reserve Bank of India, has raised Rs 215 crore in equity capital to expand secured credit for micro, small and medium enterprises. The transaction received prior Reserve Bank of India approval. The capital base will support secured lending scale-up, geographic expansion, technology investment and wider access to formal credit in underserved markets. The investment does not involve a change in management or day-to-day control.
Money-laundering probes into narcotics trafficking rely on predicate police and narcotics cases and examine cross-border linkages. Money-laundering investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act involves coordinated searches in connection with multiple narcotics-trafficking matters. The investigation is founded on police and Narcotics Control Bureau FIRs and linked chargesheets concerning separate drug-trafficking allegations, including alleged trafficking in methamphetamine, marijuana and MDMA with suspected cross-border linkages.
26 new passenger services, 8 DEMU services and 5 MEMU services to be introduced
Run of 57 trains to be extended
Frequency of 24 trains to be increased
First AC EMU rake to be introduced on Mumbai suburban network in 2013-14
72 additional services to be introduced in Mumbai and 18 in Kolkata
Rake length increased from 9 cars to 12 cars for 80 services in Kolkata and 30 services in Chennai
500 km new lines, 750 km doubling, 450 km gauge conversion targeted in 2013-14
First ever rail link to connect Arunachal Pradesh
Some Railway related activities to come under MGNREGA
For the first time 347 ongoing projects identified as priority projects with the committed funding
Highest ever plan outlay of Rs. 63,363 crore
Loan of Rs. 3000 crore repaid fully.
A new fund-Debt Service Fund set up to meet committed liabilities.
Freight loading of 1047 MT, 40 MT more than 2012-13
Passenger growth 5.2% in 2013-14
Gross Traffic Receipts – Rs. 1,43,742 crore i.e. an increase of 18,062 crore over RE, 2012-13
Dividend payment estimated at Rs. 6,249 crore
Operating Ratio to be 87.8% in 2013-14
Supplementary charges for super fast trains, reservation fee, clerkage charge, cancellation charge and tatkal charge marginally increased
Fuel Adjustment Component linked revision for freight tariff to be implemented from 1st April 2013
Enhanced reservation fee abolished
Elimination of 10797 Level Crossings (LC) during the 12th Plan and no addition of new LCs henceforth
Introduction of 160/200 kmph Self Propelled Accident Relief Trains
‘Aadhar’ to be used for various passenger and staff related services
Internet ticketing from 0030 hours to 2330 hours
E-ticketing through mobile phones
Project of SMS alerts to passengers providing updates on reservation status
Next –Gen e-ticketing system to be rolled out : capable of handling 7200 tickets per minute against 2000 now, 1.20 lakh users simultaneously against 40,000 now
Introduction of executive lounge at 7 more stations: Bilaspur, Visakhapatnam, Patna, Nagpur, Agra, Jaipur and Bengaluru
Introduction of ‘Azadi Express’ to connect places associated with freedom movement
Four companies of women RPF personnel set up and another 8 to be set up to strengthen the security of rain passengers, especially women passengers
10% RPF vacancies being reserved for women
1.52 lakh vacancies being filled up this year out of which 47000 vacancies have been earmarked for weaker sections and physically challenged
Railways to impart skills to the youth in railway related trades in 25 locations
Provision of portable fire extinguishers in Guard-cum-Brake Vans, AC Coaches and Pantry Cars in all trains
Pilot project on select trains to facilitate passengers to contact on board staff through SMS/phone call/e-mail for coach cleanliness and real time feedback
Provision of announcement facility and electronic display boards in trains
Providing free Wi-Fi facilities on several trains
Upgrading 60 stations as Adarsh Stations in addition to 980 already selected
Introduction of an ‘Anubhuti’ coach in select trains to provide excellent ambience and latest facilities and services
179 escalators and 400 lifts at A-1 and other major stations to be installed facilitating elderly and differently-abled
Affixing Braille stickers with layout of coaches including toilets, provision of wheel chairs and battery operated vehicles at more stations and making coaches wheel-chair friendly
Centralized Catering Services Monitoring Cell set up with a toll free number (1800 111 321)
Complimentary card passes to recipients of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna & Dhyan Chand Awards to be valid for travel by 1st Class/2nd AC
Complimentary card passes to Olympic Medalists and Dronacharya Awardees for travel in Rajdhani/Shatabadi Trains
Travel by Duronoto Trains permitted on all card passes issued to sportspersons having facility of travel by Rajdhani/Shatabadi Trains
Facility of complimentary card passes valid in 1st class/2nd AC extended to parents of posthumous unmarried awardees of Mahavir Chakra, Vir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra, President’s Police Medal for Gallantry and policy medal for Gallantry
Policy Gallantry awardees to be granted one complimentary pass every year for travel along with one companion in 2nd AC in Rajdhani/Shatabadi Trains
Passes for freedom fighters to be renewed once in three years instead of every year.
Setting up of six more Rail Neer bottling plants at Vijayawada, Nagpur, Lalitpur, Bilaspur, Jaipur and Ahmedabad
Setting up of a multi-disciplinary training institute at Nagpur for training in rail related electronics technologies
Setting up of a centralized training institute at Secunderabad--Indian Railways Institute of Financial Management
Five fellowships in national universities to be instituted to motivate students to study and undertake research on Railway related issues at M.Phil and Ph.D. levels
Fund allocation for staff quarters enhanced to Rs. 300 crore
Provision of hostel facilities for single women railway employees at all divisional headquarters
Provision of water closets and air conditioners in the locomotive cabs to avoid stress being faced by loco pilots
MKP/Samir/BS
(Release ID :92504)
Railway infrastructure and service expansion announced, including new lines, enhanced services, safety upgrades and digital ticketing improvements.
Railway policy for 2013-14 emphasises expansion of services and infrastructure, including new express and passenger trains, suburban AC EMU introduction, extended and increased frequencies, new lines, doubling and gauge conversions, and first rail link to Arunachal Pradesh. Financial measures include the highest plan outlay, full loan repayment, creation of a Debt Service Fund, projected traffic receipts and operating ratio, and marginal fare and freight tariff adjustments via a fuel adjustment component. Safety, accessibility and passenger amenities are advanced through accident relief trains, elimination of level crossings, station accessibility works, digital ticketing upgrades, and targeted recruitment and training initiatives.
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