The Government of India to launch the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in the Union Territories of Chandigarh ...
Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman delivers keynote address at Seminar on “Role of the New Development Bank in M...
Global Capability Centre banking support connects offshore and onshore operations to simplify financial management and enable cross-border expansion. Global Capability Centre banking support is positioned around connected offshore and onshore banking, international network access, digital banking platforms, and expertise in treasury centres, cross-border corporates, and evolving GCC operating models. The approach seeks to simplify financial operations and support GCC expansion across global markets. India's GCC ecosystem is characterised as a leading global capability hub, with capability centres evolving into strategic enterprise hubs requiring support for operational and financial complexities across markets.
Investment banking registration enables regulated cross-border offerings, listings, debt transactions and capital-market advisory through GIFT City. IFSCA registration under the IFSCA (Capital Market Intermediaries) Regulations, 2025 authorises Nexent Capital IFSC Private Limited to operate as an investment banker from GIFT City. Permitted activities include management of initial and follow-on public offerings, SPAC and secondary listings, depository receipt issuances, debt capital-market transactions, and other capital-market advisory mandates. The firm proposes to provide transaction structuring, listing-readiness, execution and post-listing capital-markets support for companies seeking capital raising and listing opportunities through GIFT City's exchanges.
Merchandise export growth was driven by petroleum, electronics, engineering and marine goods, while rising imports widened the trade deficit. India's merchandise exports increased in July, while imports also rose and widened the trade deficit. Export growth was attributed to higher overseas shipments of petroleum products, electronics, engineering goods and marine goods. Exports and imports both recorded growth during the April-July fiscal period, and exports to West Asian countries increased in July.
EXIM operations at international seaport to commence after customs clearance, bonded-area establishment, and temporary highway connectivity. Vizhinjam International Seaport is scheduled to commence EXIM operations after Customs clearance, issuance of Customs notifications, establishment of a Customs-bonded area, and temporary connectivity to NH-66. The port had previously handled transshipment operations. A proposed transfer of a stake in the port concessionaire to a foreign shipping company remains under committee examination and requires Central Government consideration of strategic and security aspects.
Renewable energy reliability requires storage, grid readiness and ancillary service markets alongside competitive clean-power procurement. Renewable energy procurement is shifting beyond lowest tariffs towards dependable, dispatchable and affordable clean power, assessed through capacity value, balancing capability and system economics. Storage-backed renewable and hybrid projects can improve renewable utilisation, reduce variability and curtailment, and support peak demand. Higher renewable penetration also requires supportive storage policies, timely approvals, aligned intrastate transmission planning, stronger distribution infrastructure, and market mechanisms for ramping reserves, frequency response and fast-response balancing services.
Accredited Investor certification facilitates eligible investors' access to alternative investment products, lower thresholds and applicable regulatory flexibilities. SEBI's Accredited Investor framework enables eligible investors and entities to obtain certification that may allow lower minimum investment thresholds for Portfolio Management Services, Alternative Investment Funds and other alternative investment products, along with applicable regulatory flexibilities. PMS Bazaar and NSDL Database Management Limited's Accreditation Agency facilitate end-to-end applications, subject to required documentation and prescribed payment. Assistance is available to individual investors and eligible clients of investment providers without additional platform, service or processing charges, while prescribed certification fees remain payable.
Manufacturing GVA growth under the revised national accounts series highlights stable sectoral contribution and resilience-focused industrial measures. Manufacturing performance is assessed under the revised National Accounts Statistics series using 2022-23 as the base year. Manufacturing's share of total Gross Value Added at current prices remained broadly stable through 2025-26, and Manufacturing GVA at constant prices achieved a compounded annual growth rate of 10.88% from 2022-23 to 2025-26. Production Linked Incentive schemes, logistics and industrial-corridor measures, semiconductor initiatives, and MSME support seek to strengthen domestic manufacturing, diversify supply chains, reduce import dependence, and improve resilience.
Electronic inspection and certified copies expand digital access to judicial records while supporting efficient case management and reduced delays. NCLT has launched e-Inspection and e-Certified Copy Services for faster and more convenient access to judicial records and certified copies by advocates, litigants and other stakeholders. The services support a technology-enabled Registry framework and transparent, efficient justice delivery. Pendency monitoring, workload redistribution, Special Benches, maximisation of court time, and registration and listing guidelines are intended to improve case management, optimise limited judicial resources and reduce avoidable delays.
CBDC-based food subsidy transfers enable eligible beneficiaries to use Digital Rupee wallet credits for traceable foodgrain purchases. CBDC-based Direct Benefit Transfer under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana will credit eligible beneficiaries' food subsidies as programmable Digital Rupee tokens directly into CBDC wallets. Beneficiaries may use these credits to purchase foodgrains from empanelled merchants through secure, real-time and traceable payments, replacing conventional bank-account transfers. The model is intended to improve traceability, reduce leakages and cash handling, enable real-time monitoring of subsidy use, and provide a scalable framework for CBDC integration with welfare schemes.
Preferential trade agreement negotiations begin under agreed terms covering market access, origin rules, trade remedies and dispute settlement. India and the Southern African Customs Union have signed Terms of Reference to commence negotiations for a Preferential Trade Agreement. Negotiations are envisaged on trade in goods and market access, rules of origin, customs procedures and trade facilitation, trade remedies including bilateral safeguards, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, dispute settlement, and legal and horizontal provisions. The Terms of Reference establish the negotiating framework only; preferential tariff treatment and other operative commitments depend on conclusion of a final agreement.
Prepaid plan restructuring eliminates mid-tier daily-data options and channels subscribers toward higher-priced plans with expanded data access. Bharti Airtel has discontinued prepaid plans combining 1.5 GB daily data allowances with unlimited calling, directing subscribers towards higher-priced plans with expanded data access, including unlimited 5G data. The restructuring reduces low-priced unlimited-data offerings and changes the pricing architecture for customers using discontinued mid-tier plans. Management links tariff repair to differentiated mobile-plan categories and sustained average revenue per user growth.
Insolvency professional conduct faces money-laundering allegations over re-admitted claims, creditor committee changes, and a connected resolution applicant. Enforcement action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act concerns allegations that an insolvency professional re-admitted claims earlier rejected as spurious and fraudulent during the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process. The alleged re-admission altered the Committee of Creditors' composition and facilitated consideration of a resolution plan allegedly submitted for, and funded through an entity controlled by, a company promoter under investigation for diversion of bank-loan funds. Adverse findings reportedly included acting beyond authority by relying on fabricated and improperly submitted material.
Identity document forgery allegations prompt investigation into fraudulent Aadhaar updates and falsified government and educational certificates. Alleged forgery and misuse of identity-related records are under investigation following operations at Aadhaar centres. Seized materials reportedly include forged birth, educational, residence, caste and citizenship certificates, records bearing forged signatures and seals, and equipment used for Aadhaar updates. Four persons were arrested in two operations for allegedly preparing forged records and using them to update Aadhaar cards. Cases have been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, with investigation continuing into the extent of the alleged network.
Holding-company governance succession follows leadership departure, requiring transition planning amid unresolved strategy, capital allocation, board representation and listing questions. Tata Sons' leadership succession and governance framework have become central following the chairman's decision not to seek reappointment when his term ends in February 2027. The board has been asked to decide on a successor promptly. Unresolved matters include the strategic roadmap, losses and capital requirements in newer businesses, board representation, capital allocation, an exit route for the Shapoorji Pallonji Group, and the possible listing of Tata Sons. Future leadership must manage these issues while improving returns from investment-intensive businesses and maintaining established operations.
Interest-rate regulation for loans and advances proposes harmonised fixed and floating loan-pricing principles across regulated entities. Interest-rate regulation for loans and advances is proposed to be harmonised across all regulated entities through a principles-based framework for fixed-rate and floating-rate loans. The framework would be calibrated to each entity's nature, complexity and scale, while supporting monetary policy transmission, credit-risk-based pricing, and fair, non-discriminatory borrower treatment. It addresses divergent commercial-bank practices in determining the marginal cost of funds-based lending rate and its components, alongside limited regulatory coverage of fixed-rate loans. Separate final directions are intended for each category of regulated entity after consideration of feedback.
Elevated crude oil prices and Tata leadership transition drove broad equity market selling amid inflation concerns. Indian equity markets declined amid elevated crude oil prices, inflation concerns and broad risk-off selling. Tata Group shares, particularly TCS, came under pressure after N. Chandrasekaran announced that he would not seek reappointment as Tata Sons Chairman when his current term ends. Crude oil prices approaching the USD 90-per-barrel level affected investor confidence because of potential inflationary effects, while uncertainty over United States-Iran negotiations and Strait of Hormuz shipping disruptions added to global energy market concerns.
Trade sovereignty and energy security underpin calls to resist tariff pressure and protect sensitive sectors in bilateral negotiations. Trade sovereignty and energy security are advanced as grounds for resisting tariff pressure linked to Indian purchases of Russian crude. Bilateral trade negotiations should proceed through equality, reciprocity and mutual respect without compromising agriculture, dairy, energy security or strategic autonomy. Concerns are also raised over removal of e-commerce inventory restrictions for foreign direct investment and over proposed Merchant Discount Rate charges on UPI transactions. Withdrawal of the inventory measure and opposition to payment-provider charges are urged, alongside possible restrictions on United States technology and social-media companies and consumer boycotts of American goods and services.
Fair trading practices and circular production are promoted to strengthen Make in India and expand global market participation. Trade and industrial policy messaging encourages businesses to digitise operations, adopt good manufacturing practices, follow fair trading practices, and promote recycling, reuse and a circular economy. Nine free trade agreements are identified as creating preferential market-access opportunities for Indian industry and businesses. MSMEs, entrepreneurs, farmers, fishermen, workers and the services sector are encouraged to expand Indian products and services globally, improve competitiveness through scale, and strengthen the quality, design and brand value associated with Make in India.
Private capital mobilisation requires credible long-term frameworks, risk-sharing mechanisms, and multilateral partnerships to strengthen infrastructure investment. Private capital mobilisation in infrastructure and development finance depends on credible long-term frameworks, investor confidence, project bankability, and balanced risk allocation. Public capital is intended to catalyse rather than replace private investment. Key financing mechanisms include Viability Gap Funding, the Hybrid Annuity Model, credit enhancement, and Infrastructure Investment Trusts. Long-term investment visibility and coordinated connectivity are supported through the National Infrastructure Pipeline and PM Gati Shakti framework, alongside investment measures for freight, rail, waterways, and coastal cargo.
Judicial allowance exemptions under the new tax regime remain disputed, with return processing and resulting demands kept in abeyance. Tax treatment of specified judicial allowances under the new income-tax regime is disputed. Statutory service-condition provisions are asserted to exclude allowances, including official residence, conveyance, sumptuary allowance and leave travel concession, from income computation and to override the Income-tax Act. Pending consideration, affected judges may show these amounts as receipts not in the nature of income, and their returns are not to be processed further. Any resulting demand remains in abeyance, while refundable amounts are withheld subject to the pending proceedings.
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.
Note: It is a system-generated summary and is for quick reference only.
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