Manufacturing contraction highlights weak domestic demand, property-sector pressure and continued reliance on technology-related exports for economic growth. Manufacturing activity in China contracted in July, as the official purchasing managers' index fell below the expansion threshold and new orders and production declined. Weak domestic demand, lower building activity and possible typhoon-related disruptions contributed to the slowdown. Consumer spending, investment and property-sector weakness continue to affect confidence, while technology-related exports support growth. Policy commitments include strengthening domestic consumption amid continued reliance on exports.
Public-private partnership airport development strengthens aviation, cargo logistics, export infrastructure and sustainable connectivity through an integrated international airport project. The Bhogapuram airport project is being implemented under a Public-Private Partnership through the Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer framework. It has obtained required aerodrome, safety, fire and environmental clearances and includes infrastructure for domestic and international aviation, passenger processing and airport security. Cargo and cold-chain facilities are intended to support exports and logistics integration, while recycled-water use and LEED Platinum standards form part of the project's sustainability features.
Rupee appreciation against the US dollar continued as foreign inflows and lower crude prices supported domestic currency markets. Rupee appreciation against the US dollar continued in early trading, supported by foreign capital inflows and lower global crude oil prices. A stronger US dollar constrained further appreciation, while expectations of continued Reserve Bank of India intervention were cited as supporting the rupee. Declining Brent crude prices, gains in domestic equity indices and net foreign institutional investment in equities were also identified as relevant market factors.
Value-added Makhana exports expand international market access, support quality compliance, and improve farmer returns through processing and branding. Agricultural export facilitation supported the first sea shipment of value-added flavoured Makhana from Bihar to Canada. Processed and packaged to international quality and food-safety standards, the export demonstrates the role of processing, value addition and export-oriented manufacturing in expanding overseas market access. The initiative is stated to improve farmer returns through value addition, while capacity building, export infrastructure, quality compliance, market linkages and stakeholder collaboration support the agri-export ecosystem.
Market access for Indian pharmaceuticals remains central to bilateral efforts to promote sustainable trade and economic cooperation. Enhanced market access for Indian products, particularly pharmaceuticals, was raised in discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral trade and economic ties. The discussions addressed sustainable trade, and the sides agreed to increase mutual cooperation and communication. India continues to seek greater access to China's information technology, pharmaceutical and agricultural sectors, while pursuing increased pharmaceutical exports and Chinese investment. Bilateral trade increased, but India's trade deficit widened, reflecting an ongoing imbalance in trade flows.
Money laundering asset attachment targets overseas bank deposits linked to alleged loan fraud and fugitive economic offenders. Provisional attachment under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act was reported against Singapore bank deposits held by a company promoter and associated entities in an alleged loan-fraud and money-laundering investigation. The underlying case arises from allegations of fraud, criminal misappropriation, criminal breach of trust and cheating affecting a consortium of lending banks. Service of the attachment order was reported through mutual legal-assistance arrangements, and the promoters had reportedly been declared fugitive economic offenders.
Deposit interest rate uniformity requires equal rates for similar deposits, while allowing risk-based differentiation for bulk deposits. Banks must apply uniform deposit interest rates across branches and customers for similar deposit amounts accepted on the same date, without discrimination. Rates payable, including for bulk deposits, must strictly follow schedules disclosed in advance on bank websites. Bulk deposit rates must be published each business day at 10:00 am, subject to a short permitted delay. Differentiated bulk-deposit rates may be offered based on applicable differential run-off rates under the Liquidity Coverage Ratio framework.
Supply-chain continuity measures prioritise energy, fertiliser and seafarer protection amid conflict-driven disruptions across critical maritime transit routes. Supply-chain continuity and energy security measures were reviewed in response to geopolitical conflicts disrupting maritime transit routes and imports. Measures included diversification of LPG procurement, maintenance of petroleum stocks, expansion of PNG, gas-grid, LNG and city-gas infrastructure, and pipeline connectivity approvals. Fertiliser requirements and alternative procurement sources were considered to ensure uninterrupted supply. A unified monitoring mechanism and support arrangements for seafarers, including timely information, emergency assistance and counselling, were directed to protect citizens, economic interests and the Indian diaspora.
Property digital identity framework proposed through comprehensive surveys, floor-level records, and unique cards to improve ownership verification. The proposed Delhi Land Records Bill, 2026 contemplates a digital land-records framework requiring scientific surveys of every property, comprehensive authenticated digital records and a unique Property Aadhaar Card. The proposed system would cover rural and urban residential, commercial and other properties, including floor-level records for buildings. It is intended to improve ownership verification, property transactions, inheritance, loan access, building-plan approvals and transparency in land records.
Supply-chain resilience amid maritime conflict drives measures to protect energy imports, fertiliser supplies, seafarers and overseas citizens. Supply-chain continuity was reviewed in response to conflicts affecting maritime routes through the Strait of Hormuz, the Black Sea, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The concerns included disruptions to imports of petroleum, natural gas, fertilisers and other essential goods, risks to ships and seafarers, and the safety of Indian citizens in conflict areas. Measures were considered to maintain uninterrupted imports, protect economic interests and address constraints affecting critical energy and trade corridors.
Economic growth and persistent inflation shaped slower output, import pressures, and continued interest-rate restraint despite resilient consumer spending. United States economic growth slowed in the second quarter as increased imports reduced gross domestic product growth, despite stronger consumer spending and business investment linked to artificial intelligence. The preferred inflation measure moderated but remained above the central bank's target, with core consumer prices showing limited change. The benchmark interest rate was retained for a fifth consecutive meeting, though some regional presidents supported an increase to address elevated inflation. Employment growth and consumer spending continued to support economic resilience amid high living costs and energy-price pressures.
Gold market volatility reflects retail buying, global price trends, currency movements, and weaker domestic demand linked to higher customs duty. Gold prices rose on fresh buying by jewellers and retailers amid firm international trends, while silver prices declined. Improved domestic demand and a pullback in the US dollar supported gold, though a stronger rupee limited further gains. India's gold demand declined year-on-year during April-June, attributed to seasonally subdued sales, higher customs duty and an appeal to reduce purchases. Global gold demand remained broadly unchanged, while precious metals were expected to remain volatile and range-bound.
Protection and indemnity insurance expands domestic maritime risk coverage for third-party liabilities and strengthens self-reliant insurance capacity. Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool has introduced a sovereign-backed Protection & Indemnity insurance product to cover third-party maritime liabilities, including crew and cargo claims, pollution liability and wreck removal. The product expands the pool beyond cargo and hull war-risk coverage and is supported by combined indemnity capacity and a port-correspondent network. The pool is intended to maintain uninterrupted maritime war-risk insurance, build domestic underwriting capacity, strengthen maritime risk management, reduce foreign-market dependence and promote self-reliance in specialised insurance solutions.
Cloud-native digital banking transformation integrates lending, cash management and liquidity tools while supporting scalable, resilient and compliant operations. Digital banking transformation through a cloud-native software-as-a-service platform entails migration from legacy systems to integrated deposits, lending, virtual account management and liquidity-management capabilities. Real-time data, artificial intelligence foundations, open APIs and event-driven architecture are intended to support digital banking products, corporate cash management and operational agility. Liquidity tools are designed to provide visibility and control over cash positions and working capital. The implementation is intended to deliver scalability, resilience, security and high availability while assisting regulatory compliance; projected benefits remain subject to risks and uncertainties.
Workplace culture recognition highlights continued investment in employee wellbeing, inclusion, learning, collaboration and growth at a stockbroking firm. Workplace culture recognition was awarded to Kotak Securities through Great Place to Work Certification for a second consecutive year and inclusion among India's Best Workplaces in Investments 2026. The recognition followed assessment of employee feedback, workplace practices and organisational culture, reflecting employee trust, engagement and belonging. The company states that it will continue initiatives supporting employee wellbeing, learning and development, inclusion, collaboration and growth.
Pro-competitive reforms strengthen market conditions through competition policy, investment review, trade facilitation, and reduced international regulatory barriers. Structural and pro-competitive reforms between 2010 and 2023 are assessed as reducing market distortions and strengthening competitiveness. The assessment covers property-rights protection, domestic competition and international competition, including the Goods and Services Tax, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, regulatory improvements and trade-facilitation modernisation. Further priorities include evidence-based competition policy, consumer-welfare review of sector-specific investment restrictions, and cooperation to address international regulatory barriers.
Aadhaar enrolment access expands through a new service centre, with coordinated efforts focused on improving young children's coverage. Aadhaar enrolment in Manipur has reached approximately 87-88 per cent, with comparatively lower coverage among children aged 0-5 years. The first Aadhaar Seva Kendra in Imphal has been inaugurated to expand access to enrolment and Aadhaar-related services. The State Government is coordinating with welfare and health departments, hospitals and UIDAI to improve young children's enrolment, alongside services available through Deputy Commissioners' offices and authorised enrolment centres.
Secured retail lending growth accompanied enhanced credit controls, digital lending processes, and branch expansion by a middle-layer non-banking finance company. IndoStar Capital Finance Limited, a middle-layer non-banking finance company registered with the Reserve Bank of India, reported growth in secured used-vehicle finance and micro loans against property for the quarter ended June 30, 2026. It reported higher disbursements, assets under management and net interest income, alongside a lower weighted average cost of funds. The company also stated that it strengthened underwriting, customer-selection filters, scorecards and early-warning systems, while advancing electronic lending processes and expanding its branch and micro-loans-against-property network.
Gold demand trends show central bank buying and OTC investment offsetting weaker ETF and jewellery demand. Global gold demand remained broadly unchanged during the April-June quarter, with reduced gold exchange-traded fund, bar and coin investment offset in part by over-the-counter investment supported by Asian investors. Central banks and official institutions increased net additions to gold reserves, while high prices reduced jewellery volumes and encouraged demand for lighter products. Total supply was unchanged as increased mine production was offset by lower recycling. Investment is expected to drive future demand, while high prices may continue to constrain jewellery demand and recycling.
Sports infrastructure PPP framework enables private stadium operation while requiring free coaching, child protection compliance, and student performance tracking. The PPP framework permits private operators to modernise, operate and maintain school sports stadiums at their own cost, while providing free organised sports training to enrolled students. Operators may commercially offer paid coaching and facilities to external users outside school hours, subject to student-related obligations. Selection is based on technical eligibility and detailed evaluation of sports, PPP, operational and technology capabilities. Agreements have an initial five-year term, with possible extension based on performance, mutual consent and public interest. Child-protection compliance, bank-routed transactions and disqualification for insolvency or statutory and child-safety violations apply.
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh announced India's Duty Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) Scheme for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) on the occasion of the India-Africa Forum Summit of African Heads of States/Governments and their official representatives in New Delhi on April 8, 2008.
The DFTP Scheme grants duty free access on 94% of India's total tariff lines to be implemented over a period of five years. Specifically it will provide preferential market access on tariff lines that comprise 92.5% of global exports of all LDCs. Products of immediate interest to Africa which are covered include cotton, cocoa, aluminium ores, copper ores, cashew nuts, cane-sugar, ready-made garments, fish fillets and non-industrial diamonds.
The Scheme is open to all 49 LDC members including 33 LDCs in Africa. The Scheme provides that in order to avail benefits under this Scheme, individual LDC members submit a Letter of Intent to the Government of India. The Scheme further provides that in order to enjoy tariff preference, the beneficiary country submits a Certificate of Origin along with the consignment.
As of today, the Department of Commerce has received Letters of Intent from 10 LDCs, out of which Customs Notifications No. 96 and No. 99 have already been issued on 13.8.2008 and 28.8.2008 in respect of 7 LDCs, namely Cambodia, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Samoa, Malawi and Lao PDR. The Letters of Intent received from 3 other LDCs, namely Madagascar, Rwanda and Uganda, are under process.
Duty free tariff preference: preferential market access granted to eligible least developed countries subject to origin documentation.
The Duty Free Tariff Preference Scheme grants duty free access on the majority of India's tariff lines to eligible Least Developed Countries, covering tariff lines representing the bulk of LDC exports and including specified commodities and manufactures. Eligibility requires each beneficiary LDC to submit a Letter of Intent and to furnish a Certificate of Origin with consignments; implementation proceeds via Customs notifications, with several LDCs having submitted intent and certain notifications already issued.
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