Social security exemption for Indian workers in the UK extends to five years under the trade pact.
Social security arrangements under the India-UK trade pact provide a temporary exemption from dual social security contributions for Indian workers and employers in the United Kingdom during overseas assignments. The exemption period is extended from three years to five years, applying to employees seconded from India to support UK operations. The arrangement is intended to preserve continued social security coverage during temporary postings and to facilitate labour mobility between the two countries.

Steel trade safeguards shape India-UK CETA implementation as quota limits and tariff rules are adjusted for exporters.
India-UK CETA is set to enter into force from 15 July 2026, with steel trade arrangements designed to keep a substantial share of India's exports outside the UK's safeguard measures. India's interests are said to be protected through country-specific quota, residual quota and access under the Authorised Use Scheme, while the UK's new steel regime will limit tariff-free imports, reduce quota volumes and impose a higher tariff on imports above the permitted levels. The article also notes the UK's planned carbon border adjustment mechanism from 2027.

India-UK free trade pact expands duty-free market access and extends social security relief for temporary workers.
India and the United Kingdom will bring into force the free trade agreement and the Agreement on Social Security, or Double Contribution Convention, on 15 July 2026 after completing internal procedures and ratifications. The pact is said to provide immediate duty-free access for 99 per cent of Indian exports, tariff reductions on selected British goods, and broader market access for services, while preserving exclusion lists for sensitive sectors. The Double Contribution Convention will exempt Indian companies in the UK from social security contributions for up to five years for employees sent from India.

Minimum Support Price guarantee and trade pact opposition drive a nationwide farmers' protest campaign.
Opposition to the proposed India-US Free Trade Agreement centred on demands for a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price at C2 plus 50 per cent with assured procurement, repeal of free trade agreements, and a comprehensive farm loan waiver. The campaign also included planned nationwide protest action, protest forms to be by state bodies, and related demands on rural employment, wages, water rights and other local agitations.

Trade liberalisation and tariff cuts under the India-UK economic pact are set to begin on 15 July 2026.
The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement is scheduled to enter into force on 15 July 2026, initiating a framework for deeper bilateral trade, investment and market access. The agreement is described as providing substantial tariff liberalisation across goods and services, including staged reductions or elimination of duties on selected products, and reciprocal social security coordination for highly skilled professionals on pre-existing visa routes.

International passenger and freighter operations set to begin at Navi Mumbai airport as customs readiness nears completion.
Navi Mumbai International Airport is expected to commence international passenger flights and international freighter operations from July 15, with Air India Express and IndiGo reported as the initial operators. Customs readiness for international operations was nearing completion, including relevant notifications and trial procedures for courier and cargo systems, with a further trade notice anticipated. The operator also said cargo would follow a hub-and-spoke model and that planning had begun for the next phase of terminal expansion.

Money laundering probe over alleged sham payments and loans draws ED questioning in transactions linked to proceeds of crime.
Enforcement Directorate questioning in a money laundering probe concerned alleged transactions between a now-defunct IT firm and a mining company, including payments said to have been made without corresponding services and loans allegedly extended despite delayed repayment. The agency alleged that these dealings generated proceeds of crime and summoned relevant documents relating to the firm's transactions. The investigation was registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act on the basis of a prosecution complaint filed by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office.

India-UK free trade pact and social security convention set to take effect together from 15 July 2026.
The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is scheduled to enter into force on 15 July 2026, marking the commencement of the bilateral free trade pact. The Agreement on Social Security, also described as the Double Contribution Convention (DCC), will take effect on the same date.

Country-of-origin fraud in walnut imports triggered customs duty evasion, arrests, and conditional release of seized consignments.
Fraudulent walnut imports were allegedly routed through Nhava Sheva Port by falsely declaring non-Afghanistan consignments as Afghanistan-origin to claim preferential tariff benefits under SAFTA, using forged transit bills of lading and proxy importers. Five persons were arrested and searches yielded digital and documentary evidence. In a related writ petition, conditional release of seized consignments was permitted only against deposit of the full differential duty or a bank guarantee of equivalent amount.

Ship-to GSTIN compliance and voluntary e-way bill closure reshape IRN and e-invoice API operations before production rollout.
Mandatory capture of Ship-to GSTIN has been introduced across specified e-Invoice API, e-Way Bill by IRN API and EWB Closure API flows, with URP permitted where GSTIN is not available. The revised framework requires a valid and distinct Ship-to GSTIN in Bill-to/Ship-to transactions, together with state code and PIN code validations, while export and B2B/SEZ scenarios are subject to specific treatment for ship details. A voluntary closure facility for e-Way Bills has also been introduced, with portal and API-based closure available using the EWB number, closure date and remarks.

Statistical governance and coordination strengthened through appointments to the National Statistical Commission and its standard-setting role.
Appointment of the Chairperson and Members of the National Statistical Commission was approved, with Dr. Saibal Chattopadhyay as Chairperson and three Members appointed. The Commission is a nodal body for core statistical activities, responsible for statistical priorities, standards and coordination. Its functions include standardising concepts, definitions, classifications and methodologies, improving public trust in official statistics, laying down quality standards, coordinating with governments and ministries, undertaking statistical audit, and monitoring the statistical system for performance improvement.

India-EU free trade agreement advances with investment, defence cooperation and connectivity talks on the agenda.
India and the European Union are to advance their trade and economic engagement by finalising a free trade agreement by the end of the year and accelerating work on an investment agreement. The two sides also identified wider areas of cooperation, including stepped-up security and defence cooperation and collaboration on connectivity through the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor.

Cybersecurity in banking hinges on distinguishing system breaches from customer deception, while faster patch deployment becomes critical against AI-driven vulnerability discovery.
Cybersecurity in banking requires a distinction between internal system breaches and cyber fraud caused by customer deception through phishing and social engineering. A private sector bank said its systems remain secure and that fraud incidents have not stemmed from weaknesses in its cybersecurity architecture. It also identified the main AI-related risk as faster discovery of software vulnerabilities, making quicker patch deployment and remediation essential.

Temporary platform restriction and NEET re-test challenge raise access, compliance, and procedural concerns.
Temporary restriction on access to a messaging platform has prompted a challenge before the Delhi High Court, with the restriction reported as being linked to the period before the NEET-UG re-examination. The development raises a compliance and access issue concerning the basis and scope of the government order affecting the platform. Judicial and parliamentary proceedings are also reported on the NEET-UG re-test and on proposed legislation to decriminalise politics, including a Supreme Court hearing on the re-test plea and committee consideration of detention-linked removal from office for serious crimes.

Precious metals prices fall as a strong rupee, weak global trends and caution ahead of US policy decisions weigh on demand.
Gold and silver prices fell sharply in domestic bullion markets amid a strong rupee, weak global trends and subdued investor demand. Traders stayed away from precious metals as equity markets offered higher returns, while analysts linked caution to key US economic events, including the Federal Reserve's monetary policy decision, and to developments ahead of the scheduled US-Iran meeting.

Special Economic Zones drive India's export growth, with Gujarat emerging as a major hub for investment and semiconductor expansion.
India's export sector recorded an all-time high of USD 863 billion in FY 2025-26 despite disruption from the West Asia conflict and US tariffs, driven by engineering goods, petroleum products, electronics, pharmaceuticals, gems and jewellery, and chemicals. Gujarat emerged as a major contributor, and the discussion highlighted the role of Special Economic Zones in investment, employment, innovation, and export expansion, including newly notified semiconductor SEZ projects and a policy focus on promoting additional SEZs.

Customs duty evasion through false origin claims on walnut imports exposed in a SAFTA-linked routing racket.
Customs authorities uncovered a walnut-import duty evasion racket at Nhava Sheva in which consignments were routed through Jebel Ali and falsely shown as originating from Afghanistan to claim preferential tariff benefits under SAFTA. The scheme allegedly used forged transit bills of lading and a fictitious transit trail to support false country-of-origin claims, causing substantial revenue leakage. Five persons have been arrested, searches yielded digital and documentary evidence, and further investigation continues into beneficiaries, facilitators, financial linkages and connected consignments.

Excise duty revenue gap widens as liquor tax remains a major share of own tax revenue.
State excise duty collections are reported to lag behind peer states, with the state recording the lowest absolute collection among the compared jurisdictions. The data shows a smaller excise base and slower growth than the peer states, making the revenue gap a significant part of the overall State Own Tax Revenue position. Excise duties and VAT on liquor together still form a substantial share of own tax revenue, making liquor-related taxation consequential for the state's fiscal position.

Money laundering allegations drive questioning over disputed corporate transactions and alleged proceeds of crime under PMLA.
Money laundering allegations concern transactions between a now-defunct IT firm and a mining company, with the Enforcement Directorate questioning Veena T and seeking documents on the dealings. The inquiry relates to alleged payments by Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd. without services in return, and loans extended to Exalogic by another company connected with the same management. The agency has alleged generation of proceeds of crime and registered the matter under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act on the basis of a prosecution complaint filed by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office.

Competition Commission approval for equity subscription in a financial services company through a proposed combination
Competition Commission approval was granted for a proposed combination involving the subscription of certain equity shareholding by Kedaara Pearl Holding and Kedaara Capital Fund IV AIF in Axis Finance Limited. The transaction concerns a minority equity subscription in a financial services enterprise, with the Commission's detailed order stated to follow.