International group reporting designation requires Form No. 60 for appointing the entity that files the Country-by-Country Report.
Form No. 60 is the intimation to be furnished on behalf of an international group having multiple constituent entities resident in India for designating a single constituent entity to file the Country-by-Country Report in Form No. 59. The form requires particulars of the international group, the parent entity, the designated constituent entity, and the other constituent entities resident in India, including name, address and PAN details. It is to be filed as an e-form through the income tax e-filing portal, at least 30 days before the due date for Form No. 59, followed by preview and e-verification before submission.

Country-by-Country reporting compliance for international groups, covering filing triggers, due dates, and e-form submission requirements.
Form No. 59 is the prescribed e-form for filing the Country-by-Country Report of an international group. It applies to a resident parent entity or alternate reporting entity where the consolidated group revenue exceeds the prescribed threshold, and in specified cases to a resident constituent entity where the parent is not required to report, there is no exchange arrangement with India, or a notified systemic failure exists. The report is ordinarily due within twelve months from the end of the reporting accounting year, with a shorter period in cases involving notified systemic failure. The form captures entity particulars, tax jurisdiction details, constituent entity data, and additional information.

Country-by-country reporting intimation by Indian constituent entities sets out the reporting entity and filing location for the group report.
Form No. 58 is an intimation by every constituent entity resident in India, where the parent entity of the international group is not resident in India, regarding whether it is an alternate reporting entity and, if not, the details of the parent entity or alternate reporting entity and their country or territory of residence. The form informs the income-tax authorities where the Country-by-Country Report will be filed and must be submitted two months before the due date for furnishing that report.

Foreign exchange reserves decline as gold holdings fall, while foreign currency assets rise in RBI data.
India's foreign exchange reserves declined during the week ended March 20, 2026, falling by USD 11.413 billion to USD 698.346 billion, according to RBI data. The drop was attributed mainly to a sharp reduction in gold reserves, even as foreign currency assets increased during the reporting week. The RBI data further showed that the value of gold reserves decreased significantly, Special Drawing Rights were lower, and India's reserve position with the IMF increased marginally.

Live-in relationship and judicial vacancies draw legal attention as high court and chief justice address key issues.
The Allahabad High Court stated that a married man living in a consensual live-in relationship with an adult woman does not amount to a criminal offence under law. The Bombay High Court dismissed a petition seeking a CBI probe against Reliance Industries Limited and Mukesh Ambani over alleged unlawful gas extraction. Separately, the Chief Justice of India urged high courts to expedite filling judicial vacancies, with special focus on elevating women judges.

Designated constituent entity intimation under income tax rules governs filing of Form 57 for international group reporting
Form No. 57 is an intimation by a designated constituent entity of an international group for the purposes of section 171(4), to be furnished under Rule 123 of the Income-tax Rules, 2026 when more than one constituent entity is required to file Form No. 56. The designated entity may file the form if the group has appointed it for compliance, and the intimation must be made at least 30 days before the due date for Form No. 56. The form captures particulars of the designated entity, the international group, the parent entity and the accounting year, and is filed online through the e-filing portal.

Transfer pricing master file reporting requires constituent entities to disclose group details, thresholds, and supporting information electronically.
Form No. 56 (Master File) is an income-tax reporting document prescribed under Rule 123 of the Income-tax Rules, 2026 and section 171 of the Income-tax Act, 2025 for transfer pricing transparency. It applies to a constituent entity of an international group where the consolidated group revenue exceeds INR 500 crore and the aggregate value of international transactions exceeds INR 50 crore, or international transactions involving intangible property exceed INR 10 crore. Part A must still be furnished even if those conditions are not met. The form is filed by the due date for the return of income.

Production Linked Incentive schemes strengthen domestic manufacturing, expand exports, and build supply chain resilience across key sectors.
Production Linked Incentive schemes across 14 sectors are being implemented to strengthen domestic manufacturing, attract investment, promote exports and generate employment. As of 31 December 2025, the schemes had cumulatively attracted investments of over Rs.2.16 lakh crore, generated production and sales of over Rs.20.41 lakh crore, supported exports of over Rs.8.3 lakh crore and created employment for more than 14.39 lakh persons across the covered sectors. The electronics and automobiles sectors have received incentive disbursements and reported incremental production through participating companies. The schemes are said to expand domestic manufacturing capacity, reduce import dependence and improve supply chain resilience. The policy framework is supplemented by initiatives for semiconductor development, electronics component manufacturing, logistics efficiency, rare earth magnet manufacture and critical mineral supply security.

Production Linked Incentive schemes boost manufacturing, investment and jobs across key sectors under Make in India.
Production Linked Incentive schemes under the Make in India initiative are stated to incentivize incremental production and sales across 14 sectors, expand manufacturing capacity, and attract fresh investment within a wider industrial policy framework. The schemes are stated to have generated investments exceeding Rs.2.16 lakh crore, production and sales exceeding Rs.20.41 lakh crore, and over 14.39 lakh direct and indirect jobs, while also supporting exports, reducing import dependence, and strengthening domestic manufacturing.

Life insurance strengthens household financial security as insurers pay benefits, maintain solvency, and address the protection gap.
India's life insurance sector is presented as a major pillar of household financial security, with insurers paying substantial benefits in FY25 and supporting protection, retirement planning, wealth creation, and liquidity across life stages. The text says policyholders increasingly use proceeds for lifecycle goals such as education, home purchase, travel, and reinvestment into other life insurance products, reflecting broader use of policy benefits beyond protection. It also states that insurers remain above solvency thresholds, supported by asset-liability matching and strong solvency margins, while awareness efforts continue to address the protection gap.

Excise duty cut and anti-hoarding warnings aim to protect fuel supply and prevent artificial shortages.
Excise duty on petrol and diesel was reduced to cushion consumers against rising crude prices, with oil companies said to absorb the burden without passing it on. Public warnings were issued against panic buying, hoarding, and rumour-mongering, including false claims of a nationwide lockdown, on the ground that such conduct could create an artificial shortage and disrupt supply.

Trade retaliation escalates as China opens investigations into US restrictions on goods, technology, and green energy exports.
China launched two investigations into US trade practices in response to recent tariff-related investigations announced by the United States. One probe concerns US policies restricting Chinese goods and advanced technology exports, while the other concerns barriers affecting Chinese green energy exports. The investigations are expected to last six months, with a possible three-month extension if necessary.

Personalized nutrition acquisition expands Herbalife's data-driven wellness platform through Bioniq assets, contingent on regulatory approvals.
Herbalife announced an agreement to acquire certain assets of Bioniq to expand personalized nutritional supplement capabilities and strengthen a technology-enabled, data-driven wellness platform. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. The purchase price includes deferred and contingent payments, and Herbalife also obtained a call option relating to Bioniq LAB. The release includes a forward-looking statements disclaimer covering execution, integration, regulatory, market, operational, tax, technology, and compliance risks.

Excise duty on fuel and GST burdens draw parliamentary criticism over pricing, enforcement, and budget priorities.
Excise duty on petrol and diesel was criticised in parliamentary discussion as being politically timed, with a demand for assurance that fuel prices would not rise after voting in four states. The debate also raised whether consumers had been denied the benefit of discounted crude oil purchases, and whether the excise reduction would remain permanent rather than being offset later through higher pump prices. The discussion further addressed GST burdens, public expenditure concerns, and demands for budgetary changes.

Skill development and capacity building in construction sector through structured training and certification programmes.
A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed to strengthen skill development and capacity building in the construction sector through structured training and certification programmes. The collaboration is intended to train civil engineers, ready-mix concrete professionals, contractors, construction workers, and masons across the country, with emphasis on material quality testing, concrete mix proportioning, durability, and sustainable construction practices.

WTO reform through transparent, inclusive member-driven process with development at the core and preserved foundational principles
India's participation in the 14th Ministerial Conference of the WTO centred on support for WTO reform through a transparent, inclusive and member-driven process that keeps development at its core. The position emphasised the need to preserve the WTO's foundational principles and objectives, including non-discrimination, consensus-based decision making and equity. Bilateral discussions also addressed the conference agenda and ways to strengthen trade relations.

Grievance redress governance through CPGRAMS review meetings strengthens complaint resolution, transparency, compliance, and citizen-centric oversight.
DFS conducts periodic CPGRAMS review meetings with financial regulators, banks, insurers, institutions, and complainants to assess grievance resolution through a dip-stick survey at the senior-most level. The exercise reviews unsatisfied closed complaints, addresses systemic and pending issues, and uses citizen feedback to strengthen grievance redress, transparency, compliance, and preventive governance across banking, insurance, pension, and claim-related disputes.

Official Development Assistance supports metro, healthcare and horticulture projects across India through Japan-backed loan agreements.
Japan has committed Official Development Assistance loans to India for four projects in urban transport, health and agriculture across Maharashtra, Karnataka and Punjab. The projects include Bengaluru Metro Rail Phase 3, Mumbai Metro Line 11, strengthening tertiary healthcare and medical education in Maharashtra, and promoting sustainable horticulture in Punjab. The assistance is channelled through loan agreements between the Government of India and JICA.

Mutual Agreement Procedure application under treaty rules enables resident taxpayers to challenge inconsistent foreign tax actions.
Form No. 55 is the prescribed application by a resident assessee in India to invoke the Mutual Agreement Procedure where a foreign tax authority's action or order is considered inconsistent with the applicable Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement. The form is filed within the treaty time limit, usually within three years of first notification, and requires applicant details, foreign authority particulars, reasons for objection, supporting documents, and details of any remedy sought abroad. It may be submitted online or offline, must be e-verified, and cannot be withdrawn.

Double taxation relief through mutual agreement procedure begins with Form No. 55 for resident assessees.
Form No. 55 is an application by a resident assessee in India to the Competent Authority of India when a foreign tax authority's action or order is considered inconsistent with the applicable Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement. It is used to seek resolution under the Mutual Agreement Procedure, generally within the treaty time limit, and may be filed online or through the offline utility with supporting documents and verification by DSC or EVC. The form cannot be withdrawn after filing.