Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks Announces Tentative Schedule for Patent and Trade Marks Agent Examinations 2027 a...
CCI approves proposed combination inter alia involving share acquisition(s) and merger of certain entities e.g. AAPC India, Triguna, Caddie, SMPL, Tec...
BRICS industrial cooperation advances MSME, photovoltaic, startup and logistics frameworks alongside resilient trade and digital services collaboration. BRICS industrial cooperation under PartNIR was strengthened through a Joint Declaration and institutional measures addressing MSMEs, photovoltaics, startup-led innovation, and resilient transport and logistics. The measures include an SME cooperation framework, Terms of Reference and an Action Plan for photovoltaic industry cooperation, and a startup innovation action plan. Trade discussions focused on the multilateral trading system, MSME participation in international trade, resilient global value chains, and cross-border digitally delivered services within a rules-based trading framework.
Certified organic export promotion: BIOFACH INDIA facilitates buyer-seller engagement, certification awareness, traceability discussions and international market access. BIOFACH INDIA 2026 promotes certified organic exports by providing a platform for Indian organic enterprises to showcase diverse certified products and engage with overseas buyers through structured Buyer-Seller Meets. Technical sessions address organic certification, traceability, sustainability, quality standards, international regulatory requirements and export-market expectations. The initiative supports quality assurance, international market access, export linkages and sustainable agricultural practices across the organic value chain.
Device-based loan recovery restrictions protect essential mobile functions while permitting gradual locking only for lender-financed devices. Technology-based recovery mechanisms cannot restrict or disable a borrower's mobile device unless the bank financed acquisition of that device. Where permitted, banks must adopt a gradual approach and preserve essential functions, including incoming calls, SMS access, and emergency SOS features. Regulated entities and service providers must obtain manufacturer or operating-system certification for device-locking technology. Disclosure of borrower or guarantor information to recovery personnel must be limited to what is necessary for loan-recovery duties.
Bilateral trade agreement negotiations should secure tariff certainty, protect key exports, strengthen supply chains, and support vulnerable small industries. An early Bilateral Trade Agreement is proposed to protect Indian interests, secure tariff exemptions for key exports, reduce barriers affecting industrial products, and create predictable trade conditions. Recommended measures include financial and export-credit support for small industries, real-time monitoring of customs requirements, documentation assistance, and timely policy support against tariff and non-tariff barriers. Export strategy should develop knowledge services and critical supply-chain integration, while a National Fund should assist suppliers with redesign, tooling, certification and entry into new global supply chains.
Ethanol imports for fuel blending remain excluded from trade commitments, with domestic producers continuing to supply the blending programme. Ethanol imports for fuel blending remain outside concessions or commitments in India-US trade discussions. Under the Ethanol Blended with Petrol Programme, ethanol procurement is governed solely by domestic policy requirements and is sourced entirely from domestic producers. Claims of existing or intended large-scale ethanol imports from the United States for fuel blending, or of a policy change permitting them, are stated to be baseless.
Domestic ethanol sourcing for fuel blending continues unchanged, with no import commitments or concessions involving United States ethanol. Ethanol used for fuel blending under the Ethanol Blended with Petrol Programme is sourced entirely from domestic producers, with no imports from the United States for that purpose. No concessions or commitments on importing United States ethanol for fuel blending have been made in trade discussions. Fuel blending and ethanol procurement continue to be governed solely by domestic policy requirements, and claims of a policy change allowing large-scale imports are incorrect.
Patent and trade marks agent qualification examinations require written-paper minimums, aggregate passing scores, and viva voce assessment for registration. Patent and trade marks agent examinations comprise an objective Paper I, a descriptive Paper II and a viva voce assessing suitability to practise before the Intellectual Property Office. Candidates must secure the stipulated minimum marks in each written paper and the required aggregate score to pass. Registration in the relevant Register of Patent Agents or Register of Trade Marks Agents is available only to candidates who satisfy all prescribed eligibility conditions and qualify the examination.
Draft NBFC credit-facilities amendments open for stakeholder consultation through designated online and email feedback channels. Draft amendments to the Non-Banking Financial Companies credit-facilities framework have been released for public consultation. Regulated entities and other interested stakeholders may submit comments or feedback through the 'Connect 2 Regulate' platform or by email using the specified subject line.
Mandatory jute packaging reservations were urged to protect cultivators, mill workers, crop absorption, and environmentally sustainable packaging. Mandatory jute packaging reservations were sought to be retained at full coverage for foodgrains and increased for sugar packaging for the forthcoming Jute Year. The submission before the Standing Advisory Committee emphasised absorption of bumper jute output, remunerative prices for cultivators, uninterrupted mill operations, and protection of farm and worker livelihoods. It also stressed that biodegradable jute bags offer an environmentally friendly alternative to HDPE and polypropylene woven sacks, and that dilution of compulsory packaging could undermine plastic-pollution reduction efforts.
NBFC Upper Layer classification imposes enhanced regulation and listing obligations, while de-registration applications remain under examination. NBFC Upper Layer classification subjects identified large non-banking financial companies to enhanced regulatory requirements for at least five years and requires stock-exchange listing within three years of identification. The framework divides NBFCs into Base, Middle, Upper and Top Layers. Seventeen large NBFCs were included in the Upper Layer list, while Tata Sons' classification remains subject to the pending examination of its de-registration application.
Closing auction price discovery may affect benchmark levels differently based on constituent liquidity and concentrated institutional order flow. The Closing Auction Session in the equity cash segment uses an auction-based method to determine closing prices of eligible shares with futures and options contracts, aiming to strengthen transparent and robust price discovery. Its effect on benchmark closing levels may differ according to constituent liquidity and institutional order flow. The Reserve Bank of India retained the policy repo rate and neutral stance, indicating that future policy decisions will be data-dependent and influenced by assessment of energy-cost effects on inflation.
Public grievance redressal strengthens through monitoring, senior review, workshops, stakeholder coordination, and customer-centric service delivery improvements. Public grievance redressal is assessed through the Grievance Redressal Assessment and Index, which analyses grievance categories and disposal. The Department of Financial Services' Insurance and Banking Divisions received third and sixth ranks respectively in the June 2026 assessment. Its framework includes disposal of grievances, random reviews by senior officials, and workshops on effective grievance redressal, supporting best practices, stakeholder coordination, technology use, customer-centric service, and accountable public service delivery.
Distressed asset resolution integrates restructuring, insolvency advisory, funding facilitation and digital marketplaces for transparent financial recovery transactions. The platform provides integrated advisory, management and transaction-facilitation services for Non-Performing Assets, stressed assets and distressed assets. Its services include NPA resolution, debt restructuring, One-Time Settlements, funding assistance, insolvency and bankruptcy advisory, asset reconstruction, financial restructuring and capital raising. Digital and offline marketplaces facilitate transactions involving distressed assets, receivables and related movable or immovable properties, supported by collaborations with banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies, Asset Reconstruction Companies, corporates and investors.
Merchant discount rate framework may permit charges on notified UPI and digital payments through a government notification mechanism. The proposed amendment to Section 10A of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 replaces the existing income-tax-linked reference with a Central Government notification-based mechanism for electronic payment modes. It removes the current statutory restriction preventing banks and payment service providers from charging Merchant Discount Rate on notified modes, enabling the Government to permit charges for UPI and other digital payments. The policy rationale is to support funding for payment infrastructure and a sustainable revenue model for service providers.
Neutral monetary policy stance continues as resilient growth and food-fuel inflation risks require close macroeconomic monitoring. The Monetary Policy Committee retained the policy repo rate and continued the neutral monetary policy stance, citing the need to assess evolving growth-inflation conditions. Domestic activity was assessed as resilient, supported by consumption, investment, credit, manufacturing, services and exports, although global uncertainty, energy prices, supply-chain pressures, geopolitical developments and monsoon conditions remain risks. CPI inflation increased mainly because of food and fuel pressures, while underlying inflation remained moderate. The Committee considered that price pressures were not yet generalised and reaffirmed its commitment to align inflation with the target.
Closing auction price discovery and a neutral monetary policy stance shaped equity market conditions amid lower crude prices. The Closing Auction Session in the equity cash segment introduced an auction-based mechanism for determining closing prices of eligible shares with futures and options contracts, intended to make price discovery more transparent and robust. The Reserve Bank of India retained its neutral stance and left the benchmark policy rate unchanged, pending greater clarity on the inflationary effects of higher energy costs. Future policy decisions were stated to be data dependent.
Monthly public accounts review records receipts, expenditure, tax devolution, interest payments, subsidies, and capital spending through June. Consolidated monthly accounts up to June 2026 report total receipts of Rs.10,49,243 crore, comprising net tax revenue, non-tax revenue and non-debt capital receipts. Tax devolution transfers to State Governments total Rs.2,63,336 crore. Total expenditure is Rs.13,57,076 crore, including revenue expenditure of Rs.10,16,818 crore and capital expenditure of Rs.3,40,258 crore. Revenue expenditure includes interest payments and major subsidies.
Illicit psychotropic drug manufacture triggered seizure, apprehensions, and investigation into planned trafficking under narcotics control law. Illicit manufacture and trafficking of Alprazolam and Diazepam, psychotropic substances regulated under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, were detected at a clandestine facility. Searches recovered finished and intermediary substances, together with raw materials and reaction mixtures used in manufacture, and the goods were seized under the Act. The manufacturer and an intended buyer were apprehended, with material indicating a proposed transaction for further illicit trafficking. Preliminary investigation indicated prior involvement in illegal drug production and trafficking.
Competition approval for hotel-sector consolidation covers share acquisitions and merger of Accor-branded hotel entities into InterGlobe Hotels. Competition approval was granted for related share acquisitions and the merger of AAPC India, Caddie, Triguna, Srilanand Mansions, Techpark and Accent into InterGlobe Hotels. The combination involves entities jointly controlled by the Bhatia Family Group and the Accor Group, including hotel-owning and developing entities, hotel management and franchising operations, leasing activities, and captive consultancy and support services relating to Accor-branded hotels in India.
Rupee appreciation followed unchanged monetary policy, lower crude prices, weaker dollar and expectations of orderly exchange-rate management. The rupee strengthened after the central bank maintained its policy rate and neutral monetary-policy stance. Lower crude oil prices, a weaker US dollar and declining US Treasury yields supported investor sentiment. Earlier measures to attract capital inflows remained part of the framework supporting the rupee, while the central bank stressed its endeavour to preserve an orderly currency trajectory. Future movement was linked to geopolitical de-escalation, global risk sentiment and US economic data.
Government of India have announced the sale (re-issue) of (i) "6.05 percent Government Stock 2019" for a notified amount of Rs. 6,000 crore (nominal) (ii) "8.24 percent Government Stock 2027" for a notified amount of Rs. 3,000 crore (nominal) and (iii) "6.83 percent Government Stock 2039" for a notified amount of Rs. 3,000 crore (nominal) through price based auctions. The auctions will be conducted using uniform price method. The auctions will be conducted by the Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai Office, Fort, Mumbai on May 8, 2009 (Friday).
Up to 5% of the notified amount of the sale of both the stocks will be allotted to eligible individuals and Institutions as per the Scheme for Non-Competitive Bidding Facility in the Auction of Government Securities.
Bids in the prescribed form obtainable from the Regional Director, Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai Office (Public Debt Office), Fort, Mumbai-400 001 and RBI website www.rbi.org.in should be submitted to that Office on May 8, 2009. The NDS members should submit competitive as well as non-competitive bids in electronic format using Primary Market Operation (PMO) module of NDS. All bids should be submitted by 12.30 P.M.
The result of the auctions will be announced on May 8, 2009 and payment by successful bidders will be during banking hours on May 11, 2009 (Monday).
The Stocks will be eligible for "When Issued" trading in accordance with the guidelines on 'When Issued transactions in Central Government Securities' issued by the Reserve Bank of India vide circular No. RBI /2006-07/178 dated November 16, 2006 as amended from time to time.
As per the indicative calendar, during May 1-8, 2009 the Government of India was to auction 10-14 year security for Rs. 7,000-8,000 crore (nominal). Instead, the Government of India, in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India, have decided to auction 10-14 year security for Rs. 6,000 crore (nominal).
Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance New Delhi: Vaisakha 14, 1931; May 4, 2009
BSC/BY/GN-121/09
Government securities auction using uniform price method with reserved non-competitive allotment and fixed settlement timetable.
Re-issue auctions for three specified Government Stocks will be conducted using the uniform price method, with up to 5% of each notified amount reserved for eligible individuals and institutions under the Non-Competitive Bidding Facility. Bids must be submitted in prescribed form or electronically via the Primary Market Operation module of NDS by the stated deadline; auction results and settlement dates are fixed. The stocks are eligible for when-issued trading under existing guidelines and the auction calendar allocation for 10-14 year securities has been reduced as notified.
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