Plastic-free packaging norms proposed for pan masala, gutkha and tobacco with eco-friendly material options.
Food safety packaging regulations are proposed to be amended to expand the range of suggestive packaging materials for pan masala by including naturally derived and eco-friendly options such as paper, paperboard, cellulose and similar materials. The draft amendment states that packaging for gutkha, pan masala and tobacco in all forms should be free from plastic, including vinyl acetate-maleic acid-vinyl chloride copolymer, and that plastic sachets should not be used for storing, packing or selling those products.

Corporate guarantees as financial debt under insolvency law protect lender claims despite stamping and disclosure objections.
Liabilities arising from corporate guarantees executed by the corporate debtor constitute financial debt under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code where the guarantee secures money borrowed against interest. The guarantor's liability is co-extensive with that of the principal borrower, and a consortium of banks relying on such guarantees is entitled to be recognised as financial creditors in the insolvency process. Improper stamping does not render the instrument void, and non-disclosure in financial statements does not extinguish the lender's substantive right to claim the debt.

Inflation concerns and rising oil prices keep central banks cautious as energy stocks gain and markets trade mixed.
Global markets traded mixed as rising oil prices and stalled diplomatic efforts over the Iran war lifted energy stocks and intensified inflation concerns. Brent and US crude advanced sharply, and major energy companies gained after stronger profit results. Central banks were expected to remain cautious, with the Federal Reserve likely to hold rates steady and the Bank of Japan keeping its policy rate unchanged while monitoring the impact of Middle East developments on the economy.

Retail banking-led profitability improves as Bandhan Bank reports stronger quarterly earnings and better asset quality
Bandhan Bank reported a sharp year-on-year rise in quarterly net profit, driven mainly by stronger retail banking and treasury performance and improved asset quality. Retail banking returned to profit, treasury income stayed robust, and these gains offset wholesale banking losses. Better collection efficiency, stabilisation of the microfinance-led portfolio, and a shift toward secured lending supported profitability. Asset quality strengthened as gross and net NPAs declined, while lower slippages and improved recoveries reduced stress despite continued provisions. Advances and deposits grew, the secured-loan share increased, and net interest income and total income also rose.

Smart home automation drives India's connected living market as Expo 2026 showcases design-led technology and integrated solutions.
Smart Home Expo 2026 opened in Mumbai as a trade platform showcasing India's smart living ecosystem, with emphasis on home automation, intelligent lighting, immersive audio-visual systems, energy management and smart security solutions. The event brings together more than 450 brands and over 8,000 products, and is presented as a forum for knowledge exchange, collaboration and business opportunities across the architecture, interior design and technology sectors.

Money laundering attachment under PMLA targets family-linked assets in the Reliance Communications bank fraud probe.
Provisional attachment under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act was made in a bank fraud-linked money laundering investigation involving Reliance Communications and related entities. The Enforcement Directorate attached a Mumbai flat, a Khandala farmhouse, a land parcel and shares of Reliance Infrastructure Ltd through a group entity, stating that the action was intended to prevent dissipation of assets and protect the interests of banks and the public. The agency also referred to restitution of assets to the victims under the PMLA.

Carbon border adjustment mechanisms and climate justice shaped discussions on balancing trade competitiveness with climate responsibility.
Carbon governance and climate justice were examined through an international symposium on trade competitiveness and climate responsibility, jointly organised by CTIL and CITIL at DNLU, Jabalpur. The discussions centred on the legal, ethical and economic dimensions of carbon pricing mechanisms, carbon border adjustment mechanisms and other climate-linked trade instruments, with emphasis on balancing climate action with trade competitiveness and on equitable climate outcomes in developing countries.

Multilateral trade governance faces pressure as WTO dispute settlement, consensus decision-making, and special treatment for developing countries are reassessed.
Multilateral trade governance is being reshaped by geopolitical contestation, technological change, and economic imbalances, with the World Trade Organization's future role assessed in light of these pressures. The discussion examined the WTO's core functions of monitoring, negotiation, and dispute settlement, and noted that monitoring through committees and trade policy reviews remains active while negotiations face persistent difficulty. The dispute settlement system was described as impaired by the continued non-functionality of the Appellate Body, with interim arrangements providing only partial solutions.

Arbitrator qualification and arbitration training gain momentum as India builds a globally benchmarked dispute resolution ecosystem.
The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs completed the first in-person assessment cycle of its Arbitrator Qualifying Assessment Program, a three-tier certification process designed to develop professionally trained, globally benchmarked arbitrators. The programme is part of a broader effort to strengthen India's arbitration ecosystem, improve the credibility and efficiency of arbitration as a dispute resolution mechanism, and build a pool of world-class arbitrators and mediators at global standards.

Expected Credit Loss framework to raise bank provisioning as markets slip on crude price surge and foreign outflows.
Indian equity markets declined as surging crude oil prices, foreign institutional investor outflows and persistent geopolitical uncertainty weakened sentiment across benchmark indices and sectoral stocks. Banking, financial and auto shares led the fall, while energy, commodities, telecom, utilities, metal and oil and gas counters showed resilience in selective trading. The Reserve Bank of India has finalised implementation of the Expected Credit Loss framework from April 2027, replacing the incurred loss model with a forward-looking system for earlier recognition of credit risk and ongoing monitoring.

Export approval for Class D HIV self-test highlights regulated private diagnostics and expansion into global healthcare markets.
Approval has been granted for the manufacture and export of a Class D in-vitro diagnostic HIV 1&2 self-test under the Medical Devices Rules, 2017. The product is designed for private use and uses rapid lateral flow immunoassay technology with a finger-prick blood sample to detect HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies without laboratory infrastructure. The approval is for export markets only and is not intended for domestic commercial distribution in India.

Free trade agreement expands duty-free market access, services mobility, and investment cooperation between India and New Zealand.
India and New Zealand signed a Free Trade Agreement providing duty-free access for 100% of India's exports to New Zealand on entry into force, while India liberalised market access on 70.03% of tariff lines covering 95% of bilateral trade and retained exclusions for sensitive sectors such as dairy and specified agricultural products. The agreement expands services, mobility, and investment commitments, including a temporary employment entry visa pathway, post-study work rights, and a USD 20 billion investment commitment. It also strengthens trade facilitation, rules of origin, customs modernisation, safeguard measures, regulatory cooperation, and cooperation on intellectual property, agriculture, organic trade, and AYUSH.

Gems and jewellery skill development gains momentum with affordable training, entrepreneurship support, and lab-grown diamond certification.
Professional training in gems and jewellery was presented as a driver of industry-relevant skills, entrepreneurship, and export-linked livelihoods, with the Udupi institute described as a model public-private partnership offering affordable courses and advanced facilities. An MoU between the Indian Institute of Gems & Jewellery and IIT Madras under the InCent LGD platform will support a specialised certification programme in lab-grown diamond technologies, aimed at bridging skill gaps, creating job-ready professionals, and strengthening India's lab-grown diamond value chain.

Zero-duty market access through a free trade agreement is expected to boost India's engineering exports to New Zealand.
A free trade agreement with New Zealand provides zero-duty market access for Indian goods and is expected to support a substantial increase in India's engineering exports over the next five years. The arrangement is described as lowering trade barriers and giving exporters, particularly MSMEs, more stable access to a relatively small but high-potential market. The agreement is presented as part of a broader trade strategy in which free trade pacts are used to expand export opportunities, diversify markets, and strengthen the engineering sector's longer-term export target.

Free trade agreements and export reform measures drive India's push to expand markets, MSMEs and export growth.
Strengthening India's export ecosystem through free trade agreement utilisation, export reform measures and closer government-industry coordination was discussed in a meeting chaired by the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry with export promotion councils and industry bodies. The discussion focused on using existing and newly signed FTAs to expand market access, raise export performance and support the goal of reaching USD 2 trillion in exports by 2030 under the Viksit Bharat vision. The minister also emphasised the need to widen the exporter base, especially by bringing more MSMEs into the export chain and improving access to new and existing markets.

Aviation turbine fuel pricing relief sought as airlines warn rising costs are making operations unsustainable.
Airlines sought urgent revision of aviation turbine fuel pricing and temporary financial support, saying extreme fuel costs, airspace restrictions and the crude-ATF differential were making both domestic and international operations unsustainable. The federation requested uniform use of the earlier crack band pricing mechanism, deferment of excise duty on ATF and a transparent pricing framework that would keep operations viable while preserving a fair margin for oil marketing companies.

Money laundering probe leads to provisional attachment of assets linked to the Reliance Anil Ambani Group under PMLA.
The Enforcement Directorate provisionally attached fresh assets in an ongoing money laundering investigation concerning the Reliance Anil Ambani Group under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The attached properties are stated to belong to Reliance Communications and Reliance Infrastructure and include immovable assets and shares. The action forms part of a continuing probe said to involve allegations of bank fraud and diversion of funds.

Artificial intelligence-driven marketing transformation reshapes BlueFocus through automation, workflow integration, and globalization-led business expansion.
BlueFocus described a transition from using AI for efficiency to embedding it in workflows, organisation, and decision-making. The company said AI now supports social media insights, creator analysis, advertising risk control, budget adjustment, and video production, while token usage and agent-to-agent collaboration indicate how deeply AI has entered the business process. It also distinguished AI-driven revenue as automated, data-learning business generated with minimal human input, and linked this strategy with overseas expansion and globalization.

Exporter relief measures discussed to boost shipments, widen market access, and ease compliance constraints amid global trade disruption.
Exporter associations discussed ways to boost shipments, widen market access through free trade agreements, and improve utilisation of existing trade pacts amid global uncertainty. They sought extension of authorisation validity, broader coverage of trade relief measures, and relaxation of the realisation-linked condition under the RELIEF Scheme of ECGC to support exporters affected by logistics disruptions and delayed payments.

Free trade agreement, heatstroke preparedness and revised climate targets shape India's latest trade and policy actions.
India and New Zealand concluded a free trade agreement providing duty-free access for a wide range of Indian exports and strengthening bilateral economic cooperation. The Centre also directed operationalisation of dedicated Heat Stroke Management Units at all health facilities and ambulance preparedness for expected heatwave days. India submitted revised 2031-2035 climate targets to the UN climate body, committing to a 47 per cent reduction in emission intensity of GDP from the 2005 baseline by 2035.