FIU-IND case regarding large-scale cyber fraud recognised as runner-up at Best Egmont Case Award (BECA) 2026 during the Egmont Group Plenary in Baku, ...
Trade and technology cooperation drives India's business delegation visit to Spain, Belgium and Finland. India's Commerce and Industry Minister will lead a high-level business delegation to Spain, Belgium and Finland to advance trade, investment, technology, innovation and sustainability. The visit includes bilateral meetings, business roundtables and site visits focused on bilateral trade, the proposed India-European Union Free Trade Agreement, foreign direct investment opportunities, trade facilitation, sustainable technologies, resilient supply chains and industrial collaboration.
Homoeopathic medicine expansion drives growth through capacity upgrade, export growth, new markets, and an ophthalmic division. Homoeopathic medicine manufacturer Dr S C Deb Homeo Research Laboratory plans major capacity expansion, an ophthalmic division, stronger domestic presence and wider exports to support revenue growth. The company also intends to promote homoeopathy through research, public awareness, affordable medicines, and a proposed homoeopathic medical college and hospital.
Duty-free market access and social security exemption under the India-UK trade pact benefit exporters and professionals. India-UK free trade agreement to allow all Indian exports to enter the British market duty-free from July 15, benefiting exporters, farmers, fishermen, MSMEs and domestic industries. The pact also covers merchandise, goods and services, and is stated to strengthen trade and economic ties between India and the UK. It further includes a Double Contribution Convention exempting Indian professionals working in the UK for up to five years from British social security contributions, with savings directed to provident fund accounts in India.
Regulatory oversight of airfares and securities relief in the Sahara OFCD matter set for Supreme Court hearing. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a challenge by SEBI against a Securities Appellate Tribunal order granting relief to managers and the company secretary of Sahara India Commercial Corporation Ltd. in the OFCD matter. It is also scheduled to hear a plea seeking regulatory guidelines to curb unpredictable fluctuations in airfares and ancillary charges imposed by private airlines.
SEBI jurisdiction over OFCD public offer remains central as the Supreme Court hears Sahara-linked challenge. SEBI has challenged before the Supreme Court the part of the Securities Appellate Tribunal order granting relief to managers and the company secretary of Sahara India Commercial Corporation Ltd. The tribunal had held that the OFCDs issued by SICCL constituted a public offer within SEBI's jurisdiction, dismissed the company's and directors' appeals, and separately allowed the appeal of the officials on the ground that employees could not be held liable for the company's acts.
Russian crude imports and refined-fuel trade shape India's role in global oil flows amid sanctions and exemptions. India's imports of Russian crude oil rose to a record level in June, driven by higher deliveries to major Indian refineries, while Russia's crude export revenues declined because of weaker prices. The report also noted that India remained a significant channel in global trade flows of refined products made from Russian crude, including exports from Indian refineries to sanctioning jurisdictions, and that shipments refined from Russian crude continued to reach EU and UK ports under the reported trade conditions.
Private aviation eases industrial cluster connectivity with direct access, flexible schedules, and secure business travel. Private aviation is presented as a connectivity solution for India's industrial clusters and economic corridors, where many high-productivity zones lack regular commercial air access. The article highlights the operational difficulty caused by dependence on distant metro airports, inflexible airline schedules, multi-stage travel, and the absence of practical same-day return connectivity. Business aviation is described as enabling direct travel to nearby airstrips and remote airports serving industrial zones, with advantages said to include faster movement, time efficiency, schedule flexibility, and secure and confidential cabin space for sensitive discussions.
Money laundering through recruitment scam proceeds allegedly funded hospitality businesses, flats and illegal municipal appointments. Alleged proceeds of crime from a municipality recruitment scam were channelled into hospitality businesses and property acquisitions through cash sales, capital contributions, unsecured loans and shell-company borrowings. The Enforcement Directorate also alleged manipulation of municipal recruitment, illegal appointments in exchange for pecuniary gain, and abuse of position to regularise appointments without mandatory documents under applicable government guidelines, forming the second prosecution complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Farmer-centric tractor manufacturing milestone as Sonalika highlights in-house production, automation, and global export growth. Sonalika Tractors marked a production milestone by rolling out its 20 lakhth tractor from its integrated manufacturing plant at Hoshiarpur, while highlighting its 30-year growth from its first tractor in 1996 to a global export business serving more than 150 countries. The company attributed its expansion to farmer-centric product development, Indian engineering, in-house manufacturing capability, automation, robotics, and extensive testing standards aimed at performance, durability, and reliability.
Tea sector support measures in Assam Budget aim to boost exports, cut costs, and strengthen worker welfare. Assam Budget 2026-27 proposes tea sector support measures including export and production subsidies, tax relief for small tea growers, restoration of tax for larger assessees, lower VAT on piped natural gas, and welfare-linked spending for tea garden communities. The budget also strengthens incentives, healthcare, tea tourism and social infrastructure in tea garden areas.
Identity theft in loan fraud rackets highlights misuse of Aadhaar, PAN and mule accounts to obtain fraudulent credit. Cyber fraud syndicate allegedly obtained personal loans by misusing Aadhaar and PAN details, including by changing Aadhaar-linked mobile numbers without the victims' knowledge. Police investigation indicates the use of mule accounts to route fraud proceeds and shows misuse of documents of around 50 victims to obtain loans from private non-banking financial companies.
Electronics export competitiveness gains focus as policy dialogue highlights stable frameworks, global value chains and export facilitation priorities. Policy dialogue on strengthening India's electronics manufacturing and export competitiveness centred on the need for a stable and predictable framework to support export-oriented production, particularly in the context of global value chains. The consultation brought together government, industry and export promotion stakeholders to discuss balanced and actionable policy recommendations aimed at reinforcing India's position as a globally competitive electronics manufacturing and export hub. Key priority areas included greater integration of MSMEs into global value chains, harmonisation of HS Codes, closer coordination with Customs to reduce product misclassification and facilitate smoother exports.
Cyber fraud intelligence exposes cross-border money laundering through mule accounts and cryptocurrency, prompting coordinated anti-money laundering enforcement action Financial intelligence analysis of a large-scale cyber fraud uncovered a sophisticated money-laundering network involving approximately Rs.868 crore in proceeds, more than 5,000 mule bank accounts, and cross-border cryptocurrency transactions. Cross-border intelligence exchange helped trace the cryptocurrency movements and identify the international money-laundering trail. The analysis supported enforcement measures under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, including searches, seizure of cash and cryptocurrency, attachment of assets, and filing of two prosecution complaints.
Fresh apricot export logistics drive in Ladakh prioritises cold chain management, quality certification and timely farmer payments. Ladakh administration prepared an export programme for fresh apricots, including the first overseas consignment to Dubai and broader access to other international markets. The initiative required coordinated procurement, grading, sorting, packaging, refrigeration, quality certification and transportation through farmer producer organisations, aggregators and a cooperative society, with dispatch scheduled through Delhi by special cargo aircraft. Officials were directed to ensure timely harvesting, uninterrupted cold chain management, quality standards, transparent payments and compliance with branding requirements.
Ethanol-blended petrol programme drives forex savings, farm income support and cleaner fuel policy through expanded blending and feedstock use. The ethanol-blended petrol programme has expanded ethanol use, supported the sugar economy and improved payments to farmers. It is said to have saved foreign exchange by substituting crude oil imports, reduced carbon emissions, and created new demand for surplus crops. Maize has emerged as a major feedstock, and flex-fuel vehicles and a wider fuel road map are described as part of the policy direction.
Rupee gains on weaker dollar, softer crude and strong equity sentiment amid expectations of RBI support. The rupee appreciated against the US dollar in interbank trade, supported by a weaker dollar index, easing crude oil prices, improved risk appetite in global markets and positive domestic equity sentiment. Market participants also noted that continued foreign portfolio inflows and buying by oil companies and importers influenced intraday movement, while traders expected the currency to trade within a defined near-term range.
Poor fiscal management and legislative neglect draw opposition criticism over Maharashtra's budget, infrastructure, education, and power-sector concerns. Opposition parties criticised the Maharashtra government for poor fiscal management, limited legislative discussion, and reliance on supplementary demands that they said exposed flaws in the original budget. They also alleged governance failures in infrastructure, education, temple administration, examinations, and the power sector, including issues linked to the Mumbai-Pune Expressway's Missing Link project, unpaid contractor dues, and schools lacking basic facilities.
Foreign exchange reserves rise as higher currency assets, gold holdings and IMF-related balances lift India's reserve position. India's foreign exchange reserves increased during the week ended 3 July 2026, according to the Reserve Bank of India, with higher foreign currency assets and gains in gold reserves contributing to the rise. Special drawing rights and the reserve position with the IMF also increased. The report notes that foreign currency assets are affected by valuation changes in non-US currencies, and refers to earlier reserve volatility linked to pressure on the rupee and RBI intervention through dollar sales.
FCV tobacco marketing support reviewed with focus on procurement, exports, digital reforms and grower welfare. Measures for the Andhra Pradesh Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco marketing season 2025-26 were reviewed in consultation with growers, manufacturers, exporters, dealers, trade associations and the Tobacco Board. The discussions focused on accelerating procurement, facilitating exports and strengthening the marketing ecosystem for FCV tobacco, while protecting growers' interests. The review also covered restructuring of the Tobacco Board, enhancement of the Growers' Welfare Fund, simplification of registration procedures, digital initiatives, AI-based grading, export market expansion and crop diversification.
Equity market rally gains strength as IT earnings, easing crude prices and banking stocks lift sentiment across sectors. Indian equity markets extended gains for a second straight session, closing higher on broad-based buying led by information technology, banking and realty stocks. Sentiment improved on easing crude oil prices, positive global cues, stability in the rupee and better-than-expected quarterly results from TCS, which lifted confidence in the IT sector and improved demand outlook. All sectoral indices ended in positive territory, while market breadth remained positive despite continued foreign institutional investor selling.
The ECB policy is regularly reviewed and modified by the Government in consultation with Reserve Bank of India, keeping in view the evolving macroeconomic condition, sectoral requirements and investment demand. The policy was reviewed in June, 2009. As per the extant ECB guidelines, units in the SEZ are permitted to access ECBs for their own requirements. However, based on review effective from June 30, 2009, SEZ developers have been permitted to avail of ECB under the Approval route for providing infrastructure facilities also, as defined in ECB policy, within the SEZ. However, ECB shall not be permissible for development of integrated township and commercial real estate within the SEZ. The infrastructure facilities as defined in the extant ECB policy include (i) power, (ii) telecommunication, (iii) railways, (iv) road including bridges, (v) sea port and airport (vi) industrial parks (vii) urban infrastructure (water supply, sanitation and sewage projects) and (viii) mining, refining and exploration.
ECB can be accessed under two routes. Viz. (i) Automatic Route as outlined in Section I(A) and (ii) Approval Route as outlined in Section I (B) of Master Circular dated July 1, 2009 on ECB issued by RBI under FEMA. Under the Automatic Route, the eligible borrowers may enter into loan agreement with recognized lender for raising ECB complying with the amount, maturity, all-in-cost, and end use etc. conditions in the ECB guidelines without prior approval of the Reserve Bank. However, the borrowers are required to obtain a Loan Registration Number (LRN) from the Reserve Bank before drawing down the ECB. The procedure for obtaining LRN has been outlined in Section II(i)(b) of Master Circular on ECB and Trade Credits issued by RBI under FEMA,
This information was given by Minister of State for Finance, Shri Namo Narain Meena in written reply to a question raised in Lok Sabha today.
External commercial borrowings: SEZ developers may use the Approval route for permitted infrastructure financing, not real estate.
SEZ units may access ECBs for their own needs, and SEZ developers may obtain ECBs under the Approval route to provide defined infrastructure within SEZs; ECBs remain impermissible for integrated township and commercial real estate. ECBs are available under the Automatic Route or the Approval Route per the Master Circular: the Automatic Route permits eligible borrowers to contract with recognized lenders without prior RBI approval subject to amount, maturity, all-in-cost and end-use conditions and requires obtaining a Loan Registration Number before drawdown.
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