Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal concludes successful visit to Spain, Belgium, Finland and Estonia; strengthens India's econo...
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal Engages with Leading Finnish Technology and Industrial Companies to Deepen India–Finland P...
India-EU economic cooperation advances through FTA implementation, investment facilitation, digital partnerships, manufacturing collaboration and market-access discussions across Europe. India advanced economic engagement with European partners through discussions on trade, investment, technology cooperation, manufacturing, digital infrastructure and market access. The engagements emphasised early signing and implementation of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, investment protection, geographical indications, regulatory cooperation and professional mobility. Cooperation initiatives included digital payments interoperability, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, cybersecurity, fintech, telecom, research and supply-chain resilience. European businesses were encouraged to establish India as a manufacturing, innovation and export hub, including through opportunities for MSMEs, startups and future-oriented sectors.
Russian oil purchase tariffs would target major buyers and sanctions-evasion facilitators, with specified energy, nuclear and cooperation exemptions. Proposed United States legislation on Russian sanctions would impose tariffs on imports from countries identified as major purchasers of Russian crude oil or natural gas or leading facilitators of Russian oil-sanctions evasion. It provides for periodic reassessment and tariff adjustment based on purchasing behaviour, while exempting specified reduced natural-gas imports, United States uranium purchases for nuclear and medical needs, and certain nuclear and space cooperation. The revised proposal also addresses sanctions-evasion fleets and Chinese support for Russia's defence industrial base.
Corporate governance and asset quality improvements accompany stronger banking profitability amid continuing leadership reappointment considerations. Banking-sector performance reporting records higher profitability, improved asset quality and lower provisions for bad loans, although operating profit declined and capital adequacy moderated. Corporate governance developments include appointment of a part-time chairman following the former chairman's resignation and concerns about internal practices. The chairman's prior financial-services role was associated with actions against shell companies and ponzi schemes targeting black-money structures. Reappointment of the managing director and chief executive officer remains subject to committee consideration.
Covid business loan fraud involved inflated turnover, duplicate applications, personal diversion, and criminal sentencing with recovery action. Covid business loan fraud involved false Bounce Back Loan applications based on inflated turnover, duplicate claims, and false declarations that funds would be used solely for business purposes. The loan proceeds were diverted to personal accounts for personal debts, personal finance, stocks and shares, and transfers between company accounts. The borrower pleaded guilty to fraud offences, received a custodial sentence, and faces recovery proceedings for the fraudulently obtained funds under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
Onion export infrastructure: growers seek a Nashik export hub, dedicated terminal and logistics link to global markets. Onion growers seek development of Nashik as a National Onion Export Hub linked to the proposed agricultural market near Vadhvan port. The proposed framework includes an onion export terminal, grading, sorting, packing, quality testing and customs-clearance facilities, and rail, container and cold-chain logistics. Additional requests include a stable national onion export policy, support for processing industries, direct farmer producer organisation participation in exports, an export promotion cell, and a training, research and export-guidance centre.
EXIM operations at Vizhinjam will establish an international cargo gateway while retaining open-access common-user port services. Full export-import (EXIM) operations at Vizhinjam International Seaport are scheduled to commence from August 18, transitioning the port from a transshipment hub into an international cargo gateway. The launch is intended to reduce logistics costs, improve supply-chain efficiency, enhance export competitiveness, and support investment and employment. The port will continue as an open-access, common-user facility serving shipping companies on an equal basis.
India-Finland technology cooperation expands across digital infrastructure, sustainable manufacturing, research partnerships, investment, and emerging industrial technologies. India-Finland cooperation was advanced through discussions on telecommunications, digital infrastructure, electronics manufacturing, research and development, innovation, clean technologies, advanced materials, and technology transfer. Further priorities included smart urban infrastructure, sustainable construction, advanced manufacturing, localisation, industrial machinery, clean industrial solutions, and investment. The engagements also explored EV charging infrastructure and reinforced business-to-business linkages for long-term cooperation in technology, sustainable manufacturing, research, and investment.
Alternative oil export routes aim to reduce Iraq's reliance on the Strait of Hormuz through pipeline investment and regional transit. Alternative oil export routes from Iraq are being pursued through agreements to develop pipeline capacity that can reduce reliance on the Strait of Hormuz. Planned pipelines would support larger-scale exports through Syria and Turkey and strengthen energy-security options amid disrupted maritime shipments. Their timing and viability remain uncertain because cross-border construction requires substantial development and coordination. Existing overland shipments through Syria offer a temporary, but less efficient and more costly, route to European markets. Iraq has emphasised its preference for long-term investment partnerships over project-based contracting.
Consolidated fraud investigation requires specialised inquiry where an investor complaint forms part of an alleged shell-company network. A fraud investigation concerning an alleged real-estate investment scheme was transferred to the Serious Fraud Investigation Office because the named company was stated to be part of a wider alleged shell-company network already under its examination. The FIR was not quashed, as the complainant's individual transaction had not been investigated. A single specialised inquiry was considered necessary to prevent fragmented or conflicting investigations into an allegedly indivisible fraud scheme.
Foreign exchange market movement strengthens the rupee as equity gains and possible central-bank support offset oil-price pressure. Foreign exchange market movement saw the rupee appreciate against the US dollar, supported by positive domestic equity-market performance, lower US Treasury yields and reported possible central-bank intervention. Elevated West Asia tensions, higher global crude-oil prices and cautious foreign investment flows continued to pressure the currency. Market attention remained focused on global developments, crude-oil movements and foreign institutional investment activity, alongside an increase in foreign-exchange reserves.
E-commerce export promotion supports Madhya Pradesh businesses through global marketplace access, exporter readiness, and a cross-border export roadmap. A memorandum of understanding supports Madhya Pradesh businesses, including MSMEs, entrepreneurs, direct-to-consumer brands, manufacturers, weavers, artisans and producers, in accessing international customers through the Amazon Global Selling programme. The collaboration will improve e-commerce export awareness, exporter readiness and knowledge sharing, while developing a state export roadmap with policy and infrastructure recommendations. It will also identify interventions relating to logistics, access to finance, payment reconciliation and regulatory enablers for cross-border exports.
Russian oil purchase tariffs and tighter visa oversight reshape trade exposure and immigration compliance for foreign nationals. Proposed trade tariffs on purchases of Russian oil would target specified countries, including India and China, while exempting European purchasers of Russian gas. Separately, tighter United States visa regulations for international students, exchange visitors and journalists would end a long-standing arrangement allowing indefinite residence without government oversight. The reported changes may materially affect foreign nationals, including Indian nationals, through differentiated trade treatment and enhanced immigration compliance requirements.
Clean slate doctrine extinguishes uncrystallised operational claims and pending proceedings once an approved insolvency resolution plan becomes binding. The clean slate doctrine under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code is described as abating or extinguishing pending civil suits and arbitration involving pre-insolvency operational claims that had not crystallised into determinable and quantifiable amounts before resolution-plan approval. Claims must be submitted to and determined by the resolution professional, and only crystallised claims incorporated in the approved plan remain payable under its prescribed treatment. Once final, the creditor list and approved plan bind all stakeholders.
Foreign exchange reserves rose as foreign currency assets, gold, Special Drawing Rights and IMF reserve position increased. Foreign exchange reserves increased during the reporting week, principally because foreign currency assets rose. Reserve components include foreign currency assets, gold reserves, Special Drawing Rights and the reserve position with the International Monetary Fund. Foreign currency assets, expressed in dollar terms, reflect valuation effects arising from movements in non-US currencies held in the reserves. Gold reserves, Special Drawing Rights and the reserve position with the International Monetary Fund also increased.
Rupee exchange-rate movement stabilised after possible central bank intervention, while oil prices and foreign fund flows sustained pressure. The rupee strengthened against the US dollar following four declining sessions, reportedly amid possible Reserve Bank of India intervention. Elevated West Asia tensions, higher crude-oil prices and cautious foreign fund flows continued to weigh on the currency, despite consolidation in the absence of major domestic triggers. Market participants were expected to monitor global developments, crude-oil movements and foreign institutional investor activity for the next directional move.
Revised Index of Core Industries adopts a new base year, adds Iron Ore, and aligns production measurement methodology. The revised Index of Core Industries adopts 2022-23 as its base year and replaces the 2011-12 series. Its weights are derived from the 2022-23 Index of Industrial Production and redistributed pro rata to total 100. Iron Ore is added as a core industry, expanding the basket to nine industries. The Steel Index will use gross production data for consistency with the Index of Industrial Production. In the Coal sector, only Raw Coal is retained; Coal Middlings and Washed Coal are excluded to prevent double counting.
Sustainability reporting discipline requires credible disclosures, board-level integration, data assurance and proportionate ESG implementation across business value chains. ESG-led responsible business conduct requires sustainability disclosures that are relevant, comparable, evidence-based and verifiable, supported by reliable systems, internal controls, documentation, traceability and independent examination. Sustainability should be integrated into board-level decision-making, fiduciary responsibilities, risk management and long-term enterprise value. Stronger governance, accountability and data-assurance frameworks are needed to address greenwashing, with proportionate reporting, technology and capacity-building supporting implementation across value chains and MSMEs.
Promoter shareholding increase through market purchases remains within creeping acquisition limits and signals confidence in long-term growth prospects. Promoter and promoter-group shareholding in Reliance Industries Ltd increased by nearly 0.5 percentage points through market purchases during the June quarter. The purchases were reported to be within SEBI creeping acquisition limits, allowing gradual promoter acquisitions without triggering a mandatory open offer where prescribed thresholds are met. The increase may strengthen promoter control and marginally reduce public float, and was characterised as reflecting confidence in long-term growth, earnings trajectory and capital-allocation plans.
Tariffs on Russian oil purchasers would target sanctions evasion, with reassessment mechanisms and limited energy-sector exemptions proposed. Proposed United States Senate legislation would impose mandatory tariffs on imports from leading purchasers of Russian oil or gas and leading facilitators of Russian oil-sanctions evasion. It provides for periodic reassessment and tariff adjustments, while exempting qualifying countries reducing Russian gas imports. Russian uranium purchases for specified nuclear and medical needs, and certain nuclear and space cooperation activities, would be excluded.
Foreign currency non-resident deposits enable overseas Indians to invest foreign earnings while supporting India's foreign-exchange reserves. Foreign Currency Non-Resident deposits allow Non-Resident Indians and Persons of Indian Origin to maintain overseas earnings as foreign-currency fixed deposits with Indian banks without conversion into Indian rupees. Banks may offer enhanced interest rates for a limited period under an initiative intended to strengthen foreign-exchange reserves and support the rupee. The framework covers the investment process, regulatory requirements, taxation aspects and advantages for eligible overseas investors.
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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