National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories Launches India’s First Accreditation Scheme for Mobile Food Testing Laboratori...
Mobile food testing laboratory accreditation expands quality-assured testing access and supports coordinated food-safety surveillance and regulatory efficiency. NABL has launched an Accreditation Scheme for Mobile Food Testing Laboratories under the Integrated Assessment Programme. The framework enables mobile laboratories to provide reliable, quality-assured and internationally benchmarked food-testing services closer to communities, extending accredited testing beyond conventional laboratory settings. It is intended to strengthen food-safety surveillance, improve access to quality testing, support faster regulatory intervention and enhance consumer confidence. Coordinated assessments, regulatory harmonisation and mutual recognition are also intended to reduce duplication and improve regulatory efficiency while maintaining quality and compliance standards.
Digital public procurement will expand AI-led price intelligence, marketplace integrity, inclusive access, credit linkages and sustainable purchasing. Government e-Marketplace is advancing an AI-enabled public procurement ecosystem focused on efficiency, transparency, competition, price intelligence and marketplace integrity. Priorities include last-mile access through Suvidha Kendras, integration of public entities, credit linkages, sustainable procurement and university outreach. A nationwide five-digit Helpdesk short code, 14550, mapped to existing infrastructure, is intended to maintain service continuity and improve access to support and official communications. The platform seeks to provide enterprises with a more accessible and predictable procurement market and buyers with a data-driven procurement experience.
Expedited flood insurance claims require insurers and partners to simplify documentation and provide immediate service to affected policyholders. Expedited insurance-claim handling for flood-affected policyholders in Assam is being pursued through simplified documentation, prompt settlement and immediate service response. PolicyBazaar is coordinating with insurer partners to reduce processing delays. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India has directed insurers, including life insurers and standalone health insurers, to mobilise resources for immediate assistance, alongside governmental efforts for expeditious and hassle-free claim disposal.
Money laundering investigation in alleged liquor scam leads to arrest and proposed custodial-remand proceedings under anti-money-laundering law. Money laundering investigation concerning an alleged liquor scam in Chhattisgarh led to the arrest of Congress leader Ramgopal Agrawal under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Custodial remand is to be sought for interrogation. The allegations concern an alleged syndicate that purportedly controlled the state excise department, enabled illegal liquor sales and distributed resulting commissions. Chargesheets name political figures, excise officials and officials associated with the Chief Minister's Office.
Money-laundering investigation into an alleged liquor scam leads to arrest and proposed custodial interrogation under the prevention law. Money-laundering investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act concerns an alleged liquor scam in Chhattisgarh. A former state political party treasurer has been arrested for alleged involvement and is to be produced before a local court for a request for custodial interrogation. The alleged scheme is stated to have involved control of the state excise department by a criminal syndicate, with multiple accused named in six chargesheets.
Immediate FIR registration for every missing person is mandatory, with missing children treated as suspected kidnapping or abduction cases. Immediate FIR registration is required whenever information is received that any person is missing, irrespective of age or gender, without preliminary inquiry. Missing-person FIRs must include relevant provisions concerning kidnapping and trafficking. A missing child must be treated from the outset as a suspected case of kidnapping or abduction. States and Union Territories may face contempt action for non-compliance. Traced children should ordinarily be restored to their families within 24 hours unless trafficking or exploitation by the family is suspected.
Money-laundering investigation targets alleged chit-fund collections, investor-fund diversion, concealed deposits, and irregular land transactions. Money-laundering investigation into an alleged multi-state chit-fund scheme involved searches at premises linked to Wellfare Buildings and Estates Pvt Ltd and its directors, seizure of cash, vehicles, property-related records and digital devices, and freezing of bank accounts. The alleged scheme concerns unauthorised public-fund collection through land-allotment schemes, followed by closure of operations. Allegations include diversion of investor funds, manipulation of financial statements to conceal deposits, and irregular land transactions intended to suppress actual consideration and evade statutory obligations.
Rupee exchange-rate pressure intensified as crude oil, regional uncertainty and weaker equities constrained the local currency in early trade. Foreign-exchange market conditions placed the rupee under pressure against the US dollar amid West Asia uncertainty, higher crude oil prices, and weaker domestic equity markets. Foreign institutional investor inflows and Reserve Bank of India intervention supported the rupee and limited further depreciation. Reported dollar sales through state-run banks helped contain downside pressure despite rising Brent crude prices and uncertainty concerning the Strait of Hormuz.
GST refund facilitation expands provisional input tax credit refunds and removes the minimum threshold for export-related IGST refunds. Punjab's GST amendments facilitate voluntary compliance and reduce procedural burdens by allowing a 90 per cent provisional input tax credit refund in inverted duty structure cases and removing the minimum threshold for IGST refunds on exported goods. Additional measures cap annual fee increases by private unaided educational institutions, establish digital open universities for technology-enabled higher education, protect trees and green cover, and address common infrastructure, panchayati raj, and contractual engagement of outsourced State personnel.
Video-conference statements for an approver application were declined, requiring the accused's statement to be recorded before consideration. Special CBI Court rejected an accused's request to record her statement through video conferencing in a bank-fraud prosecution. The accused had sought to become an approver, and her statement was required to be recorded before consideration of that application. She and her husband had previously become approvers in a related money-laundering matter involving alleged fraudulent Letters of Undertaking.
Fuel price transparency highlights allegations over excise duty, consumer retail costs, and profit disclosures by state-run oil marketing companies. Fuel pricing, central excise duty and profits of state-run oil marketing companies are examined through allegations that retail fuel prices and tax policy imposed excessive costs on consumers while generating substantial company profits. The criticism contrasts high crude-price periods with lower retail prices and lower excise duty against a later period in which reduced crude prices were allegedly not passed through to consumers. Profit-margin disclosure is also raised as a transparency issue, with parliamentary information described as covering oil prices, global crude prices and company profits.
Discharge in money-laundering proceedings turns on whether pre-charge material sufficiently establishes the alleged offence. Discharge in a money-laundering prosecution was sought before a special PMLA court concerning alleged siphoning and laundering of loans advanced to Jet Airways by Canara Bank. The prosecution was directed to respond, subject to the applicant not seeking adjournment. Discharge is available after filing of a chargesheet and before framing of charges where the material before the court is insufficient to establish the alleged offence. The proceedings arise from a CBI FIR concerning alleged bank fraud involving Jet Airways and associated persons.
High-speed rail indigenisation and infrastructure performance monitoring require skills development, comparative planning, measurable station assessments and freight-terminal dashboards. Parliamentary oversight calls for accelerated indigenisation of high-speed rail components, capacity-building through international expertise, and comparative study of successful high-speed rail systems for future corridors. Redeveloped stations should be assessed through measurable indicators concerning passenger use, accessibility, cleanliness, commercial occupancy, maintenance and feedback, with completed-project practices documented and shared. Operational cargo terminals and cargo-related facilities should be monitored through a digital dashboard covering utilisation, rake performance, mechanisation, connectivity, safety compliance and customer satisfaction.
MSME and export promotion framework expands finance, technology, infrastructure, sustainability and global-market support for enterprise growth. Haryana Progressive MSME and Export Promotion Policy 2026 creates a five-year framework for MSME growth through financial incentives, institutional support, industrial infrastructure, technology adoption and export facilitation. Identified thrust-sector enterprises may receive capital and interest subsidies, stamp duty reimbursement, employment assistance, insurance support, and incentives for automation, artificial intelligence, testing and research. Proposed venture capital and credit guarantee funds seek to improve institutional and collateral-free finance. Export support covers international certifications, credit, insurance, freight, e-commerce, trade fairs, documentation, compliance and buyer connections, alongside sustainability and inclusive entrepreneurship measures.
Employee data exposure alerts trigger review of alleged password spraying and MFA fatigue, with customer and operational systems unaffected. Employee data exposure alerts prompted TCS to review allegations concerning limited basic employee information that appears to be more than four years old. No indication exists that customer data, customer systems, or operational systems have been affected. The alleged vectors involve password spraying and multi-factor authentication fatigue. TCS states that safeguards against these techniques have been in place for more than two years, its controls remain effective, and monitoring and further assessment will continue.
Mustard honey export demonstrates FPO-led aggregation, quality-focused production and industry collaboration for international agricultural market access. Mustard honey export from Tripura to Dubai marks the first international shipment by Dergang Farmer Producer Organisation, supported through export-oriented aggregation and market linkage initiatives. The export creates overseas market access for local beekeepers and farmers, diversifies the honey value chain, and encourages quality-focused production. Industry collaboration supported bee production and an export-oriented supply chain, while capacity building, quality assurance, value addition and market linkages can strengthen agricultural exports and farmer participation in international markets.
Digital banking evidence gains recognition through a modernised framework for physical and electronic records, with privacy and security safeguards. The Bankers' Books Evidence Bill, 2026, modernises the evidentiary framework for bankers' books by permitting banking records to be produced in physical or electronic form in legal proceedings. It recognises electronic, digital and virtual records and enables the Central Government to extend the regime to other regulated financial entities, supporting a uniform financial-sector evidentiary framework. The framework seeks secure and transparent use of banking records while safeguarding customer privacy, confidentiality and data security.
Illicit opioid medicine exports exposed through concealed cargo, clandestine manufacturing, repacking, and attempted transnational trafficking to Nigeria. Illicit manufacture and attempted export of controlled opioid medicines were detected in a network producing, concealing, storing and exporting Tramadol Hydrochloride tablets to Nigeria. A consignment declared as Pregabalin capsules contained concealed Tramadol Hydrochloride and Tapentadol tablets. Investigation identified clandestine manufacture, repacking and preparation for export, with searches yielding tablet-compression machinery and raw materials. Tramadol is a psychotropic substance under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, while Tapentadol is regulated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and its rules.
Summons compliance under anti-money-laundering law faces appellate scrutiny after acquittal over unproven email service allegations. Delhi High Court required Arvind Kejriwal to reply to Enforcement Directorate petitions challenging his acquittal in proceedings concerning alleged non-compliance with summonses. The trial court found that the agency had not proved intentional disobedience, service of summons through email, or lawful issuance of electronic summons under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The appellate challenge concerns proof of service, validity of electronic summons, and intentional non-compliance.
Pesticide residue concerns drive organic farming, school agriculture initiatives, infrastructure financing and climate-resilience support for farmers. Food-safety concerns arising from pesticide residues and toxic substances are to be addressed through organic vegetable farming, household cultivation and the Kathir school-farming initiative. Kathir provides for institutional farming, teacher and committee support, markets, student training and clubs, with possible academic weightage for agricultural participation. Agricultural infrastructure financing supports post-harvest management, value addition, processing, packing, marketing and exports. Additional measures include banking support, agricultural technology adoption, women-farmer support and schemes addressing climate-related floods and drought.
The Government is committed to taking steps for minimizing the impact of the global financial crisis on the Indian economy. To this end, Government has taken a number of steps since October 7, the most recent being the measures announced on 7.12.2008. These included:
(i) Additional plan expenditure upto Rs. 20,000 cr. in the current year mainly for critical rural, infrastructure and social security schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), Indira Awas Yojana, Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme and National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP).
(ii) An across-the-board cut of 4% in ad-valorem Cenvat rate except for petroleum products.
(iii) Several other measures to support exports, housing, Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) and textile sectors.
(iv) Authorising India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL) to raise Rs. 10,000 cr. to refinance bank lending for infrastructure projects.
Subsequently, other measures have also been taken such as removal of ban on export of cement.
.2. Additional steps are being taken on the monetary, credit and fiscal front to further strengthen the contra-cyclical stance of policy. The Reserve Bank has today announced a set of measures. In addition, with a view to further liberalizing the policy on External Commercial Borrowing (ECB), the Government and the RBI have decided:
(a) The 'all-in-cost' ceilings on such borrowing would be removed, under the approval route of RBI;
(b) To facilitate access to funds for the housing sector, the 'development of integrated townships' would be permitted as an eligible end-use of the ECB, under the approval route of RBI;
(c) NBFCs, dealing exclusively with infrastructure financing, would be permitted to access ECB from multilateral or bilateral financial institutions, under the approval route of RBI.
(d) In order to give a boost to the corporate bond market, FII investment limit in rupee denominated corporate bonds in India would be increased from US $ 6 bn to US $ 15 bn.
The decisions at points (a) to (c) would be reviewed after June 30, 2009.
3. The flow of credit to the economy will be further enhanced by the following:
(i) An SPV will be designated shortly to provide liquidity support against investment grade paper to Non Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs) fulfilling certain conditions. Details will be announced separately. The scale of liquidity potentially available through this window is Rs.25,000 crores.
(ii) An arrangement will be worked out with leading Public Sector Banks to provide a line of credit to NBFCs specifically for purchase of commercial vehicles.
(iii) Credit targets of Public Sector Banks are being revised upward to reflect the needs of the economy in the present difficult situation. Government will closely monitor, on a fortnightly basis, the provision of sectoral credit by public sector banks.
(iv) Special monthly meetings of State Level Bankers' Committees would be held to oversee the resolution of credit issues of micro, small and medium enterprises by banks. Department of MSME and Department of Financial Services will jointly set up a Cell to monitor progress on this front. Matters of MSMEs remaining unresolved with the Banks- SME Helpline for more than a fortnight may be brought to the notice of this Cell.
(v) Recently the guarantee cover under Credit Guarantee Scheme for micro and small enterprises on loans was extended from Rs.50 lakh to Rs.1 crore with a guarantee cover of 50%. In order to enhance flow of credit to micro enterprises, it has been further decided to increase the guarantee cover extended by Credit Guarantee Fund Trust to 85% for credit facility upto Rs.5 lakh. This will benefit about 84 per cent of the total number of accounts accorded guarantee cover.
4. State Governments are facing constraints in financing expenditure because of slower revenue growth. To help maintain the momentum of expenditure at the state government level, states will be allowed to raise in the current financial year additional market borrowings of 0.5% of their Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), amounting to about Rs 30,000 crore, for capital expenditures.
5. India Infrastructure Finance Company (IIFCL), which has already been authorized to raise Rs.10,000 cr. through tax free bonds by 31.03.2009 for refinancing bank lending of longer maturity to eligible infrastructure bid based PPP projects, will be accessing the market next week for raising the first tranche of the amount. This will enable the funding of mainly highways and port projects on hand of about Rs.25,000 crore. To fund additional projects of about Rs.75,000 crore at competitive rates over the next 18 months, IIFCL is being enabled to access in tranches an additional Rs.30,000 crores by way of tax free bonds once funds raised in the current year are effectively utilized.
6. Exporters are especially hit by recessionary conditions globally. To support exports a number of steps have been taken. As a further measure:
(i) Taking into account the fact that the rupee has appreciated nearly four per cent against the dollar since November 2008, it has been decided to restore DEPB rates to those prevailing prior to November 2008. In order to provide predictability and stability of regime in the short term for future contracts, the DEPB Scheme would be extended till 31.12.2009.
(ii) Duty drawback benefits on certain items including knitted fabrics, bicycles, agricultural hand tools and specified categories of yarn are being enhanced. These changes will take effect retrospectively from September 1, 2008.
(iii) Exporters have raised a number of procedural issues where modification of procedures could reduce delays faced by exporters. To consider these and similar problems, Government has decided to constitute a Committee under the chairmanship of the Finance Secretary including Secretaries of the Departments of Revenue and Commerce to look into and resolve these issues on a fast-track basis.
(iv) EXIM Bank has obtained from RBI a line of credit of Rs.5000 crore and will provide pre-shipment and post-shipment credit, in rupees or dollars, to Indian exporters at competitive rates.
7. Other measures designed to counter recessionary trends are the following:
(i) Exemptions from CVD on TMT bars and structurals, and from CVD and Special CVD on cement, which were given to contain inflation, are being withdrawn. Full exemption from basic customs duty on zinc and ferro alloys, which was also provided to contain inflation, is being similarly withdrawn.
(ii) GOI will work with State Govts. to encourage them to release land for low income and middle income housing schemes.
(iii) States, as a one time measure upto 30.06.2009, will be provided assistance under the JNNURM for the purchase of buses for their urban transport systems. A scheme towards this end will be announced shortly.
(iv) Accelerated depreciation of 50% will be provided for commercial vehicles to be purchased on or after 1.1.2009 upto 31.03.09.
8. Government is closely monitoring its spending to expedite the pace of expenditure for all schemes and programmes. Government will set up a fast track monitoring committee to ensure expeditious approval and implementation of central projects. Chief Ministers are being advised to do the same.
9. The measures outlined above taken together with steps taken earlier constitute a substantial counter-cyclical stimulus in the current year. Government does not envisage any further measures in the current fiscal year. However, Government is aware that the measures required to provide an economic stimulus to the economy have to extend beyond the current financial year. Towards this end, it is finalising Plan and Non-Plan expenditure that will be required in the next financial year to maintain the tempo. The Plan for the next year will include proposals for recapitalization of the public sector banks. The recapitalization is expected to be of the order of Rs.20000 crore over the next two years. This will help to ensure that the banking system will not suffer from capital adequacy constraints in order to provide credit growth needed to sustain the economic momentum in 2009-10.
Economic stimulus measures liberalise external borrowing and strengthen liquidity and credit support for infrastructure and MSMEs.
Regulatory and fiscal measures provide a counter cyclical stimulus by liberalising External Commercial Borrowing approvals, permitting ECB for integrated township development and infrastructure NBFCs, increasing FII limits in rupee corporate bonds, authorising IIFCL to raise tax free bonds for infrastructure refinancing, creating an SPV to offer liquidity support to eligible NBFCs, instituting credit lines and revised bank credit targets with enhanced monitoring, and expanding credit guarantee coverage and MSME credit resolution mechanisms.
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