Tax devolution advance instalment strengthens State finances for accelerated capital and developmental expenditure through distribution of Union tax proceeds. Tax devolution was released to State Governments as an additional advance instalment alongside the normal monthly devolution schedule. The fiscal transfer shares net proceeds of Union taxes and duties with States, with the stated purpose of strengthening State finances and supporting accelerated capital and developmental expenditure. The release includes a State-wise distribution of tax-devolution proceeds.
Financial performance reporting highlights revenue and EBITDA growth, garmenting recovery, retail optimisation, ESG commitments, and forward-looking risk disclosures. Financial performance reflects growth in total income and EBITDA, with improved margin, reduced net working-capital days, and a net-cash position. Branded textiles and high-value cotton shirting reported lower revenue due to the prior-year base effect, while branded apparel grew but faced lower margin from channel mix. Garmenting improved through order-book execution, tariff rationalisation, and new global clients. ESG priorities include female representation, waste-management initiatives, renewable energy, emissions reduction, and workplace safety. Forward-looking statements remain subject to regulatory, political, economic, and technological risks.
Foreign exchange market support strengthens the rupee as lower crude prices, portfolio inflows and reserve growth improve sentiment. Foreign exchange market conditions supported an early appreciation of the rupee against the US dollar, attributed to lower global crude oil prices, a weaker dollar, sustained foreign portfolio inflows, higher foreign exchange reserves, and Reserve Bank of India presence in the foreign exchange market. Domestic equity market gains and net foreign institutional equity purchases were also identified as supporting factors.
Gold smuggling detection targets sophisticated concealment methods through strengthened passenger profiling, intelligence gathering and coordinated investigations into organised networks. Gold smuggling detection at Kerala airports led to multiple seizures, registration of cases and arrests in alleged smuggling attempts. Organised networks reportedly use gold in paste or compound forms concealed in clothing, body cavities, aircraft seats and other unconventional locations. Enforcement measures include strengthened passenger profiling, intelligence gathering and inter-agency coordination, while investigations continue to identify associated syndicates and financiers.
Offshore exploration funding supports deepwater drilling, shared infrastructure and seismic data to strengthen domestic hydrocarbon production potential. The Samudra Manthan National Offshore Exploration Scheme provides direct budgetary support for high-risk deepwater and ultra-deepwater exploratory drilling, subject to cost-sharing and per-well limits. Support is available to eligible operators holding or securing exploration acreage. The scheme also funds offshore data acquisition and shared subsea, receipt and processing infrastructure through a Common Hub Infrastructure model. It is intended to promote risk exploration, improve commercialisation of offshore discoveries and strengthen domestic hydrocarbon production potential within the existing exploration and licensing framework.
GST compliance enforcement combines taxpayer refunds, analytics-based fraud detection, cancellation of fake registrations, and recovery of outstanding VAT arrears. Punjab attributed increased GST collections to voluntary compliance, intelligence-based enforcement and technology-driven tax administration, while facilitating compliant taxpayers through timely GST refunds. Data analytics, risk profiling and field verification were used to identify tax evasion, bogus billing, fake input tax credit networks and misuse of the GST registration framework. Measures included penalties, cancellation of fraudulent registrations and recovery of long-pending VAT arrears through attachment and auction of defaulters' properties.
Cross-border barter trade resumes through Shipki La, subject to permitted goods, time limits, and import-export compliance requirements. Cross-border barter trade through Shipki La between India and Tibet resumed after a six-year interruption. Traders may exchange specified goods under a barter arrangement and must return within 72 hours. Traders are required to comply strictly with import-export regulations prescribed by the Union Ministry of Commerce, emphasising transparency and regulatory compliance. Expansion of permitted goods may be pursued through prescribed governmental and external-affairs channels.
Export growth projections outline pathways for Odisha to expand merchandise trade through export diversification, MSME support and financing initiatives. Export growth projections for Odisha set out base, optimistic and ambitious scenarios through FY 2029-30, based respectively on historical growth, envisaged national export growth, and a larger share of national exports. Odisha's export basket remains concentrated in metals and minerals, led by aluminium products, with China as the principal export destination. Odisha Vision 2047 identifies exports, including MSME contributions, as an economic transformation driver, while export-financing and risk-mitigation initiatives aim to address financing gaps for exporters and MSMEs.
GST compliance enforcement through AI analytics supported sustained net GST collection growth despite rate rationalisation reforms and reduced compliance costs. GST revenue mobilisation in Andhra Pradesh showed year-on-year growth in net GST and total commercial tax collections through July 2026, despite rate-rationalisation reforms. Revenue growth was attributed to AI-based scrutiny and analytics, machine-learning risk scoring, AI-driven IGST reversals, UPI-based enforcement analytics, data sharing, predictive analytics, registration verification, and Aadhaar-integrated expansion of the professional-tax base. These measures were stated to strengthen compliance, curb wrongful input tax credit claims, broaden taxpayer coverage, and improve revenue mobilisation.
Economic-offences fraud chargesheets address alleged fictitious loans, forged insurance surrender papers, and diversion of bank and policy funds. Economic-offences chargesheets were filed in separate alleged bank and insurance fraud matters. The bank investigation alleged fictitious loan sanctions and overdrafts beyond delegated authority, involving cheating, forgery, use of forged documents and criminal conspiracy. The insurance investigation alleged that duplicate policy records and forged surrender documents were used to open a fraudulent account in a policyholder's name and divert policy proceeds. Records, witness statements, documentary evidence and forensic examination were cited in support of the allegations.
PM Vishwakarma Scheme implementation expands artisan enrolment, skills, credit, e-commerce access and export facilitation while addressing documentation barriers. PM Vishwakarma Scheme implementation in Delhi facilitated artisan enrolment, application processing, skill training, toolkit distribution, loan access, e-commerce onboarding and export-related support. Awareness workshops and tele-calling campaigns were used to promote participation and follow up on benefits. Key implementation challenges concerned outreach to informal clusters, digital literacy, delays in Aadhaar and IEC documentation, and additional support for Divyang artisans. Planned action includes expanding workshops, scaling e-commerce onboarding, strengthening export facilitation and coordination with implementing agencies.
Goods and Services Tax collections rise on domestic consumption and imports, while elevated import revenue prompts assessment of underlying drivers. Goods and Services Tax collections for July increased over the corresponding prior-year period, supported by domestic sales and imports. Gross receipts included Central GST, State GST and Integrated GST, with net GST revenue calculated after adjusting refunds. For the April-July period, gross and net collections also increased. Commentary linked domestic GST growth to consumption, formalisation and industrial activity, while identifying elevated import GST collections as an area requiring assessment of import composition, currency effects and volumes.
GST revenue collections show provisional gross, refund and net revenue trends, with State-wise settlement and domestic collection data. GST revenue collections for July 2026 are reported provisionally through gross domestic and import revenue, domestic and export-related refunds, and net GST revenue after refunds. The data also sets out SGST collections and the SGST share of IGST settled to States and Union Territories, both monthly and cumulatively. State-wise domestic GST growth excludes GST on imported goods, while jurisdiction-wise data allocates collections between central and State formations and identifies CGST, SGST and IGST components.
Bilateral trade cooperation expands through a Joint Trade Committee covering investment, critical minerals, healthcare, digital technologies and market access. Bilateral trade and investment cooperation between India and Rwanda is to be advanced through a structured Joint Trade Committee mechanism for reviewing commerce, diversifying trade, promoting investment, facilitating business engagement and addressing market-access and logistical issues. Priority cooperation includes critical minerals, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, agriculture and agro-processing, standards harmonisation, digital public infrastructure, fintech, cybersecurity, green mobility and renewable energy. Investment focal points will support engagement, while capacity-building assistance and close monitoring of the Agreed Minutes are intended to support time-bound implementation.
GST collection growth in West Bengal continued year-on-year in July but remained below the national growth trend. West Bengal's July GST collection increased year-on-year and over the preceding month, marking a second consecutive month of annual growth. Official data also indicated that the State's annual growth rate was below the national trend, while gross domestic GST revenue excluding imports and overall gross GST collections including import-related taxes rose nationally during July.
GST collection growth reflects higher revenue mobilisation from domestic transactions and imports, with refunds adjusted in net revenue. Goods and Services Tax collections increased in July, driven by higher revenue from domestic transactions and imports. The gross collection comprised Central GST, State GST and Integrated GST components. Refunds also increased during the month, and net GST revenue was determined after adjustment of refund outflows from gross tax receipts.
Concessional foreign-exchange swaps encourage bank deposits and foreign borrowings to strengthen balance-of-payments resilience and foreign-exchange liquidity. The Reserve Bank of India introduced a concessional foreign-exchange swap facility to encourage foreign-currency inflows, strengthen the balance of payments and support foreign-exchange liquidity. The facility applies to fresh Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank) deposits, Overseas Foreign Currency Borrowings and External Commercial Borrowings. Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank) deposits constitute the principal source of inflows mobilised under the arrangement. The facility is available for specified time-bound periods, with a later availability period for Overseas Foreign Currency Borrowings and External Commercial Borrowings.
Unauthorised pledge of listed-company land triggered securities-market bars for disclosure failures and misuse of management authority. Unauthorised pledge of ZEEL's Hyderabad land as security for loans obtained by promoter-linked entities was treated as a related-party transaction lacking prior audit committee approval. ZEEL failed to disclose the land's deployment in its financial statements. Its Chairman Emeritus was stated to have transferred title deeds by falsely representing management approval and to have concealed the transaction's nature. Securities-market prohibitions and monetary penalties were imposed with immediate effect.
Trade and sustainable development policy integrates carbon regulation, sustainability standards and domestic frameworks to strengthen trade competitiveness and preparedness. Trade and Sustainable Development policy was examined in relation to international trade disciplines, sustainability regulation and India's trade strategy. Discussions considered carbon markets, carbon pricing, carbon border adjustment measures, sustainability standards and regulatory cooperation, and their implications for trade and industrial competitiveness. Domestic mechanisms, including the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, Indian Carbon Market, Extended Producer Responsibility framework, and accreditation and conformity assessment systems, were considered for strengthening preparedness for emerging sustainability-related trade disciplines.
Digital public procurement engagement begins with stakeholder events promoting transparent, efficient and inclusive marketplace governance. Government e-Marketplace launched ten-day celebrations preceding its tenth Foundation Day, including a commemorative logo, stakeholder events and recognition of employees, buyers and sellers. The programme begins a year-long nationwide outreach initiative bringing together buyers, sellers, policymakers, industry representatives and ecosystem partners through events, dialogues and collaborative platforms. Its stated focus is technology-enabled, transparent, efficient and inclusive public procurement.
The Government has been concerned about the impact of the global financial crisis on the Indian economy and a number of steps have been taken to deal with this problem.
The first priority was to re-assure the people of the stability of the financial system in general and of the safety of bank deposits in particular. To this end, steps were taken to infuse liquidity into the banking system and also to address problems being faced by various non-bank financing companies. These steps have ensured that the financial system is functioning effectively without suffering the kind of loss of confidence experienced in the industrialised world.
Having assured stability of the system, the Government has focussed its attention on countering the impact of the global recession on India's economic growth. On the monetary side, the RBI has sought to pump sufficient liquidity into the banking system to enable bank credit to meet the expanded requirements of the economy keeping in mind the contraction in credit from non-bank sources. Banks have been provided adequate liquidity through a series of reductions in the CRR and additional flexibility in meeting the SLR requirement. Interest rate reductions have also been signalled by reductions in the repo and reverse repo rates, the most recent of which was announced on Saturday when both the repo rate and the reverse repo rate were cut by 100 basis points. Access to external commercial borrowings has also been liberalised so that borrowers capable of accessing funds from abroad are allowed to do so. The banks are being encouraged to counter what might otherwise become self-fulfilling negative expectations by enhanced lending to support economic activity.
These measures in the area of money and credit are being supplemented by fiscal measures designed to stimulate the economy. In recognition of the need for a fiscal stimulus, the government had consciously allowed the fiscal deficit to expand beyond the originally targeted level because of the loan waivers, issue of oil and fertilizer bonds and higher levels of food subsidy. In addition, the following steps are being taken:
1. Plan Expenditure:
In order to provide a contra-cyclical stimulus via plan expenditure, the Government has decided to seek authorisation for additional plan expenditure of upto Rs 20,000 crore in the current year. In addition, steps are being taken to ensure full utilisation of funds already provided, so that the pace of expenditure is maintained. The total spending programme in the balance four months of the current fiscal year, taking plan and non-plan expenditure together is expected to be Rs.300,000 crore.
The economy will continue to need stimulus in 2009-2010 also and this can be achieved by ensuring a substantial increase in plan expenditure as part of the budget for next year.
2. Reduction in Cenvat:
As an immediate measure to encourage additional spending, an across-the-board cut of 4% in the ad valorem Cenvat rate will be effected for the balance part of the current financial year on all products other than petroleum and those where the current rate is less than 4%.
3. Measures to Support Exports
i) Pre and post-shipment export credit for labour intensive exports, i.e., textiles (including handlooms, carpets and handicrafts), leather, gems & jewellery, marine products and SME sector is being made more attractive by providing an interest subvention of 2 percent upto 31/3/2009 subject to minimum rate of interest of 7 percent per annum
ii) Additional funds of Rs.1100 crore will be provided to ensure full refund of Terminal Excise duty/CST.
iii) An additional allocation for export incentive schemes of Rs.350 crore will be made.
iv) Government back-up guarantee will be made available to ECGC to the extent of Rs.350 crore to enable it to provide guarantees for exports to difficult markets/products.
v) Exporters will be allowed refund of service tax on foreign agent commissions of upto 10 percent of FOB value of exports. They will also be allowed refund of service tax on output services while availing of benefits under Duty Drawback Scheme.
4. Housing
Housing is a potentially very important source of employment and demand for critical sectors and there is a large unmet need for housing in the country, especially for middle and low income groups. The Reserve Bank has announced that it will shortly put in place a refinance facility of Rs.4000 crore for the National Housing Bank. In addition, one of the areas where plan expenditure can be increased relatively easily is the Indira Awas Yojana. As a further measure of support for this sector public sector banks will shortly announce a package for borrowers of home loans in two categories: (1) upto Rs.5 lakhs and (2) Rs 5 lakh-Rs 20 lakh. This sector will be kept under a close watch and additional measures would be taken as necessary to promote an accelerated growth trajectory.
5. MSME Sector
The Government attaches the highest priority to supporting the medium, small and micro enterprises (MSMEs) sector which is critical for employment generation. To facilitate the flow of credit to MSMEs, RBI has announced a refinance facility of Rs.7000 crore for SIDBI which will be available to support incremental lending, either directly to MSMEs or indirectly via banks, NBFCs and SFCs. In addition, the following steps are being taken.
(a) To boost collateral free lending, the current guarantee cover under Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro and Small enterprises on loans will be extended from Rs.50 lakh to Rs.1 crore with guarantee cover of 50 percent.
(b) The lock in period for loans covered under the existing credit guarantee scheme will be reduced from 24 to 18 months, to encourage banks to cover more loans under the guarantee scheme.
(c) Government will issue an advisory to Central Public Sector Enterprises and request State Public Sector Enterprises to ensure prompt payment of bills of MSMEs. Easing of credit conditions generally should help PSUs to make such payments on schedule.
6. Textiles
(a) An additional allocation of Rs.1400 crore will be made to clear the entire backlog in TUF Scheme.
(b) All items of handicrafts will be included under 'Vishesh Krishi & Gram Udyog Yojana'.
7. Infrastructure Financing
A large number of infrastructure projects are now being cleared for implementation in the Public Private Partnership mode. These projects may experience difficulty in reaching financial closure given the current uncertainties in the financial world. In order to support financing of such projects, Government has decided to authorise the India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL) to raise Rs.10,000 crore through tax-free bonds by 31/3/2009. These funds will be used by IIFCL to refinance bank lending of longer maturity to eligible infrastructure projects, particularly in highways and port sectors. In this way it is expected that IIFCL resources used for refinance can leverage bank financing of double the amount. Depending on need, IIFCL will be permitted to raise further resources by issue of such bonds. In particular, these initiatives will support a PPP programme of Rs.100,000 crore in the highways sector.
8. Others
(a) Government departments will be allowed to take up replacement of government vehicles within the allowed budget, in relaxation of extant economy instructions.
(b) Import Duty on Naphtha for use in the power sector will be eliminated.
(c) Export duty on iron ore fines will be eliminated and on lumps will be reduced to 5%.
The Government is keeping a close watch on the evolving economic situation and will not hesitate to take any additional steps that may be needed to counter recessionary trends and maintain the pace of economic activity.
Fiscal stimulus expands public expenditure and tax relief to sustain credit flow and support exports and MSMEs.
The Government announced monetary measures to ensure bank liquidity and credit supply via reduced reserve requirements, lower policy rates, SLR flexibility and liberalised external borrowings, together with fiscal stimulus through increased plan expenditure authorisation, a temporary across the board 4% cut in ad valorem Cenvat for most products, targeted export supports including interest subvention and enhanced refunds and guarantees, housing refinance facilities and bank packages for home loans, expanded MSME refinance and credit guarantee provisions, and IIFCL authorisation to raise tax free bonds for infrastructure refinancing.
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