DRI busts pan-India gold smuggling network and seizes around 6.6 kg of foreign-origin gold worth more than Rs. 10 crore; 11, including a mastermind, a...
DRI seizes over 125,000 kg foreign-origin smuggled areca nuts and 41,000 kg poppy seeds worth around Rs. 20.31 crore in Assam and Mizoram in a crackdo...
Rules-based multilateral trade engagement supports bilateral agreement negotiations, enterprise opportunities, investment partnerships, and developing-country policy space. India's G20 trade engagement promotes a rules-based, open and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system while preserving policy space for developing countries. Bilateral discussions seek to expand opportunities for farmers, fishermen, women entrepreneurs, startups, MSMEs and other enterprises. India-United States engagement is intended to advance a balanced Bilateral Trade Agreement and an interim trade deal, alongside investment and industry outreach promoting manufacturing partnerships with Indian enterprises.
Cross-border investment facilitation under CEPA supports local-currency settlement, payment integration, joint projects and timely resolution of investor concerns. Financial-sector cooperation covers local-currency settlement, integration of payment and messaging systems, and central-bank digital currencies, with steps to support timely implementation for more efficient, accessible and resilient bilateral trade and investment. The UAE-India Fast Track Mechanism remains available for addressing outstanding concerns affecting investments and companies in both jurisdictions, and the parties agreed to support timely resolution of such matters.
Income-tax return filing deadline for audit-subject persons is extended, with the audit-report filing deadline extended correspondingly. For persons subject to audit and covered by serial number 2 in the table below Explanation 2 to section 139(1) of the Income-tax Act, 1961, the income-tax return filing due date for Assessment Year 2026-27 is extended to 21 November 2026. The specified date for furnishing the audit report for the same persons is correspondingly extended to 21 October 2026.
Courier-based gold smuggling enforcement targets concealed distribution through paper entities and foreign-origin gold consignments nationwide. Coordinated customs enforcement targeted an organised gold-smuggling network that used courier consignments to distribute foreign-origin gold after cross-border entry. The operation led to seizure of 6.61 kg of gold bars under the Customs Act, 1962, and arrests of eleven associated persons. The network allegedly split gold into small consignments and used paper entities or persons without legitimate gold transactions to conceal distribution through courier channels.
Anti-drug awareness and cultivator outreach combine prevention, direct grievance redressal, and safeguards against illicit narcotics diversion. Jan Sunwayi programmes provide direct, prompt and accessible grievance redressal for opium cultivators, including name corrections, Namantaran, and eligibility connected with the upcoming Settlement Operation. Cultivators are advised to avoid middlemen or intermediaries and seek clarification or assistance directly. These measures complement anti-drug awareness and preventive outreach aimed at preventing illegal trafficking, diversion and abuse of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
NDPS enforcement targets concealed poppy straw, opium and cannabis trafficking through seizures, arrests, and continuing supply-chain investigation. Narcotics enforcement operations in Rajasthan led to seizures of poppy straw, opium, hydroponic cannabis, cash, vehicles and a loaded country-made pistol, with four arrests. Poppy straw was recovered from vehicles and premises, including a truck where it was concealed beneath cement bags. Opium and cash were recovered from residential premises, while hydroponic cannabis concealed in an international parcel was recovered at the Foreign Post Office, Jaipur. The seized articles were taken under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, and supply-chain investigation continues.
Free trade agreement market access is positioned to expand export opportunities and international investment for local entrepreneurs. Free Trade Agreement-led market access is positioned to expand international opportunities for entrepreneurs in Uttar Pradesh by supporting exports, investment inflows and access to overseas markets. International trade engagement is supported through direct business access to global markets, buyer-seller meetings and promotion of the State's products, cuisines and services. Export expansion, international investment, tourism and global recognition of State brands form the stated next phase of economic development, supported by coordination between governments and trade and industrial stakeholders.
Multilateral infrastructure cooperation guides annual development bank participation and bilateral engagement on sustainable investment and economic connectivity. The official visit includes participation, as India's Governor, in the Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, alongside bilateral meetings and engagement with governmental leadership, business leaders and investors. The AIIB focuses on sustainable infrastructure and productive-sector investment in Asia to promote sustainable economic development, wealth creation and infrastructure connectivity.
Reciprocal trade agreement negotiations face tariff and subsidy pressures as both governments pursue lower bilateral trade barriers. India-US bilateral trade negotiations seek completion of the first-phase Bilateral Trade Agreement through a reciprocal trade arrangement lowering trade barriers and tariffs. Further negotiations are required because of changed US tariff conditions, forced-labour tariffs on Indian goods, a possible investigation into excess industrial capacity and subsidies, and sanctions legislation relating to Russia. Ministerial and bilateral engagements will review progress on the proposed reciprocal arrangement.
Banking strike contingency measures direct customers toward advance transactions and digital channels as branch operations may be disrupted. Banking-service continuity measures anticipate possible disruption from a three-day employee strike. Customers are advised to complete essential transactions in advance and use ATMs/ADWMs, mobile and internet banking, UPI, business correspondent points and other digital channels. Branch and office operations at participating institutions may be affected, while essential services are to be maintained where possible. Union demands include a five-day banking week, pension improvements and transition options from the National Pension System to the old pension scheme.
Government borrowing calendar: Reduced dated-securities borrowing will use weekly auctions, green bonds, switches and buyback operations. Second-half dated-security borrowing will be completed through weekly auctions across maturities ranging from 3 years to 50 years, including Sovereign Green Bonds. Switching and buyback operations will continue to smooth the redemption profile, while a greenshoe option may permit retention of additional subscriptions. Treasury Bill borrowing will proceed through 91-day, 182-day and 364-day instruments. Auctions will offer non-competitive bidding for specified retail investors, and flexibility is retained to modify issuance terms or introduce non-standard maturity instruments, floating-rate bonds and inflation-indexed bonds.
Interest-free working capital assistance for FCV tobacco growers supports liquidity, institutional loan repayment, crop inputs, and reduced private borrowing. A one-time, interest-free working-capital loan of Rs. 50,000 per barn is approved for FCV tobacco growers in Andhra Pradesh under the Interest-Free Working Capital Assistance Scheme. Covering about 44,000 growers, the assistance is proposed to be delivered through direct benefit transfer. It is intended to provide liquidity for household requirements, institutional loan repayment and crop inputs, while reducing dependence on private borrowing.
Government securities auction calendar establishes retail bidding access, flexible issuance terms, greenshoe subscriptions, and periodic debt switch operations. Each auction carries a non-competitive bidding facility, under which five per cent of the notified amount is reserved for specified retail investors. The Government may modify indicated amounts, issuance periods and maturities, and may issue instruments with non-standard maturities, floating-rate bonds or inflation-indexed bonds, having regard to governmental requirements, market conditions and other relevant factors. It may retain additional subscriptions through a greenshoe option and conduct switch or buyback auctions of dated securities.
Market borrowing plan sets dated securities auctions, Treasury Bill issuance, redemption management, and temporary cash-flow support. Government market borrowing for the second half of FY 2026-27 is to be raised through weekly auctions of dated securities, including Sovereign Green Bonds, across maturities from 3 to 50 years. Debt-management measures include switching and buyback operations to smooth the redemption profile and a greenshoe option for additional subscriptions. Treasury Bills are to be issued through weekly auctions in 91-day, 182-day and 364-day maturities. The Ways and Means Advances limit is fixed to address temporary mismatches in government accounts.
GI-tagged agricultural exports expand farmer access to international markets through FPO-led value chains and higher price realisation. APEDA facilitated the export of a one-metric-tonne consignment of GI-tagged Gulbarga Tur Dal from Karnataka to the Maldives through an FPO-led brand. Gulbarga Tur Dal has held GI registration since 2019. The export-linked channel provides farmers a realisation of Rs.82 per kg compared with a prevailing market price of Rs.60 per kg, while supporting closer integration of FPOs and farmers into export-oriented supply chains.
Gold smuggling through powdered gold concealed in food products led to seizure and arrests under customs law. Intelligence-led interception and baggage examination identified foreign-origin gold converted into fine powder and mixed with packaged food products of similar colour, texture and consistency. Segregation and assaying yielded 9.40 kg foreign-origin gold, which was seized under the Customs Act, 1962. Questioning linked the passengers to the same organised gold-smuggling syndicate, and they were arrested under that Act.
Customs seizure of suspected smuggled areca nuts and restricted poppy seeds followed intelligence-led cross-border enforcement operations. Intelligence-led customs enforcement in Mizoram and Assam resulted in seizure, under the Customs Act, 1962, of suspected foreign-origin areca nuts and poppy seeds believed on preliminary inquiry to have been smuggled from Myanmar. Searches of locked, unattended godowns near the Indo-Myanmar border recovered the commodities, while interception of two trucks carrying poppy seeds without valid import documents led to seizure of the consignments and vehicles. Four persons connected with transportation of the poppy seeds were arrested.
Industrial control system cybersecurity certification validates system-level protection across wind farm controls, networks, and lifecycle security services. IEC 62443-3-3 Security Level 2 certification applies to a wind farm control system covering SCADA, PPC, PLC and industrial network devices. It assesses system-level security requirements, including the interaction of components, networks and security mechanisms within an overall industrial control environment. The cybersecurity framework also spans secure development, certified core control components, system-level protection, and security integration and maintenance services across the lifecycle of wind energy technologies.
Foreign exchange reserve composition reflects a weekly decline driven by foreign currency assets despite a modest gold increase. India's foreign exchange reserves declined by USD 14.881 billion to USD 765.901 billion for the week ended 18 September 2026. The contraction was principally driven by a reduction in foreign currency assets, which also reflect valuation effects from movements in non-US reserve currencies. Gold reserves increased, while Special Drawing Rights decreased and the reserve position with the International Monetary Fund remained reported separately.
Government has made changes in the Investment Pattern for Non-Government Provident Funds, Superannuation Funds and Gratuity Funds. A Notification to this effect was issued by Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, here today. The Investment Pattern is reviewed from time to time and revisions are effected based on the developments in the financial market and economy. The investment pattern was last revised on 24th January, 2005. Subsequently, it was decided to revise the investment pattern to make it more flexible and give the trustees of these funds more autonomy and discretion. Accordingly, the proposed revised pattern was put up on the website of the Ministry of Finance in draft form in September, 2007 inviting comments. A large number of comments were received and these have been examined by the Government.
Based on this feedback, the revised investment pattern was finalised and notified today. It explicitly recognises the fiduciary responsibility of the Trustees and the need for the exercise of due diligence by them and gives them greater flexibility in terms of a wider variety of financial instruments as well as greater freedom to actively manage the portfolio. The changes suggested in the new investment pattern include:
(i) merger of Central Government Securities, State Government Securities and units of gilt Mutual Funds into a single category and allowing investment up to 55% of the investible funds;
(ii) providing a flexible ceiling for various category of instruments instead of fixed investment ceiling as at present;
(iii) providing new category of instruments, such as, rupee bonds of multilateral funding agencies, money market instruments ;
(iv) permitting investment in term deposit receipts of not less than one year duration issued by scheduled commercial banks subject to the specified financial criteria; and
(v) permitting direct investment up to 15% of the investible funds in shares of companies on which derivatives are available in the Bombay Stock Exchange or National Stock Exchange.
Further, it has been provided that,-
(i) The Trustees of these funds will have freedom to exit from a rated financial instrument when their rating falls below investment grade as confirmed by one credit rating agency;
(ii) The Trustees have been given freedom of trading of securities, subject to the turnover ratio (i.e., the value of securities traded in the year divided by average value of the portfolio at the beginning and end of the year) not exceeding two.
(iii) Though it is expected that throughout the year the investments are in conformity with the investment pattern, the same may be achieved by the end of the financial year. Trusts will have the flexibility of exceeding the investment ceiling up to 10% of the limit prescribed during the year.
This investment pattern would come into force from 1st April, 2009, that is, from the financial year 2009-10.
BSC/SS/GN-196/08
Investment pattern reform grants trustees greater fiduciary discretion and wider permissible instruments, with staged implementation.
Notification revises the investment pattern for Non Government Provident Funds, Superannuation Funds and Gratuity Funds, consolidating gilt instruments into one category with an elevated ceiling, replacing fixed category ceilings with flexible limits, and adding eligible instruments including rupee bonds of multilateral agencies, money market instruments and qualifying bank term deposits; limited direct equity investment in companies with listed derivatives is permitted. Trustees are recognised as fiduciaries with duties of due diligence and are granted powers to exit downgraded rated instruments, trade within a turnover limit, and temporarily exceed ceilings subject to year end compliance.
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