Hybrid Annuity Mode highway project approved to deliver access controlled 4 lane connectivity and cross border trade link.
Approval for a 101.515 km 4 lane access controlled Barabanki-Bahraich highway under Hybrid Annuity Mode includes continuous service roads and bypasses to address geometric deficiencies, reduce travel time and improve safety and efficiency; it links national and state highways, airports, railway stations and the Rupaidiha Land Port to enhance multi modal integration and establish a cross border trade corridor to Nepal while supporting regional development and generating substantial employment.

Minimum Support Price funding secures direct price support to cotton farmers through CCI procurement when markets fall below MSP.
The Cabinet approved funding for the Minimum Support Price mechanism for the 2023-24 cotton season, allocating resources to the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) to provide direct price support by procuring Fair Average Quality cotton without quantitative ceilings whenever market prices fall below MSP. CCI is designated the central nodal agency and will deploy its procurement network across 11 major cotton-growing States, supported by information dissemination, the Bale Identification and Traceability System (BITS) and the "Cott-Ally" mobile application to enhance transparency and outreach.

Industrial infrastructure development enabling plug-and-play parks with streamlined approvals and funding to boost manufacturing and jobs.
The Cabinet approved a centrally funded programme to create plug-and-play industrial parks implemented with States, NICDC and private partners, prioritising streamlined single-window approvals and investor-friendly reforms; funding covers core, value-added and social infrastructure with additional support for external connectivity, project selection by challenge mode, and park design requirements emphasizing multimodal connectivity, underground utility corridors, green energy and cluster-based development to drive investment and employment.

Distribution of court-deposited settlement funds under lenders' agreed formula seeking approval for proportionate payouts to secured banks.
The SBI led consortium seeks court authorisation to disburse funds deposited in the registry pursuant to a settlement by allocating the deposited amount proportionately among secured lenders based on consolidated admitted dues across group companies. The lenders adopted a uniform methodology-aggregating domestic and foreign exposures, converting foreign loans at a fixed exchange rate of Rs 63 per US dollar, applying nine percent interest per annum from NPA date with annual rests, and adjusting amounts recovered through insolvency-to compute each lender's share and propose payment into specified bank accounts.

Tariff policy uncertainty driving higher input costs and deterring investment, worsening supply chain disruptions for manufacturers.
Tariff measures enacted and announced by the executive have raised input costs for many US manufacturers, producing supply chain disruption, higher downstream prices, and employment contraction among small and medium producers. Uncertainty from frequent proclamations, reversals, exemptions and litigation has deterred capital investment and relocation decisions. While some construction and sectoral gains are cited by the administration, those reflect earlier subsidy driven projects rather than a broad manufacturing revival attributable to tariffs, and stakeholders call for targeted relief and clearer, coordinated trade strategies.

Digital data collection for national surveys streamlines submission and reduces processing time via CAPI and AI tools.
Modernisation of NSS data collection uses CAPI and web applications with in-built validation, bilingual interfaces, and chatbot features to enable near real-time submission, supervisory digital monitoring, and reduced processing time for survey outputs; MoSPI publishes an Advance Release Calendar for report schedules and is integrating AI into portals and a website chatbot without a fixed full-implementation timeline.

Cluster rejuvenation for export competitiveness: integrated infrastructure, MSME centric reforms and industry led governance drive implementation.
Rejuvenation of export oriented industrial clusters requires integrated infrastructure upgradation, technology adoption, capacity building and strengthened domestic manufacturing. Emphasis on enhanced testing, certification and quality infrastructure, promotion of innovation and technology commercialisation, and sustainable financing models. MSMEs are central, needing improved access to finance, capability enhancement and integration into global value chains. Implementation should adopt industry led governance via Special Purpose Vehicles, cluster level facilitation systems, regulatory simplification, and greater state and district flexibility to translate policy into actionable, demand aligned interventions.

Energy security: port maritime coordination ensured safe crude handling to sustain imports despite regional supply-route disruptions.
Arrival of tanker Jag Laadki at Mundra Port demonstrates the port operator's role in ensuring safe berthing and maritime coordination to maintain crude import handling amid regional hostilities. The event highlights legal-regulatory implications for port responsibilities in maritime safety and security, the impact of Strait of Hormuz disruptions on India's import-dependent energy supply, and the consequent need for sourcing diversification and resilient port governance to uphold refinery feedstock continuity.

NBFC registration permits deposit-taking and consumer EMI lending after KYC and instant credit limit approval.
Bajaj Finance Limited is a registered NBFC-D and classified as an NBFC-ICC, authorised to lend and accept deposits. It markets the Bajaj Finserv Easy EMI Loan to convert retail appliance purchases into monthly instalments: customers complete basic KYC (mobile number and PAN), receive an instant approved limit, and finalise EMI tenure and paperwork at partner stores. Promotional terms such as zero down payment and cashback vary by store and offers, and standard disclaimers apply.

Trade surplus driven by export growth offsets rising import costs as tariffs and energy shocks shape trade dynamics.
Japan swung to a February trade surplus as stronger-than-expected export growth, supported by Europe and other Asian markets and aided by currency depreciation, offset rising import costs driven by higher energy prices and geopolitical tensions; shipments to China and the US fell, with auto exports hit by US tariffs, while markets watch central bank policy and impending bilateral talks that may affect trade dynamics.

Domestic LPG production increased to secure household cooking fuel supplies amid supply-route disruptions and import risks.
Domestic LPG production has been increased by diverting propane, butane, propylene and butane streams from refineries and petrochemical complexes into the LPG pool, raising domestic capacity by about twenty-five percent and allocating the full increment to domestic consumers to ensure steady household cooking gas supplies amid Strait of Hormuz-related supply risks; fertiliser stocks are adequate for Kharif and global bidding for Rabi nutrient imports will commence.

Women representation in startups highlighted as government schemes channel targeted funding and guarantees to women-led ventures.
Women representation in DPIIT recognised startups is quantified alongside MCA corporate status data identifying closed entities with female participation. Government support schemes-FFS, SISFS, and CGSS-are described with scheme mechanics, cumulative amounts channelled through AIFs, incubators, and guarantee arrangements, and specified allocations reported to women led startups. Scheme selection counts and corresponding numbers of supported startups later categorized as closed are tabulated, while State/UT and year wise annexures detail recognised and closed entities with at least one woman director/partner.

Disclosure of deceased account details: call for policy to enable legal heirs to access information on unclaimed accounts.
The Supreme Court queried the Centre and the Reserve Bank of India on why details of deceased persons' bank accounts cannot be disclosed to legal heirs and directed the government to devise a policy. A PIL seeks a mechanism to inform heirs about unclaimed deposits and creation of a Centralised and Searchable Database under RBI control to trace accounts; the petition also asks for procedures to minimise litigation and notes the Depositor Education and Awareness Fund as a source for refunding genuine heirs.

Focused sourcing platform connects verified international buyers with export-ready manufacturers for streamlined finished-plastics trade.
PlastiWorld 2026 is a dedicated sourcing platform for finished plastic products that connects verified international buyers with India's export-ready manufacturers by excluding upstream suppliers and employing category-wise product zoning to streamline supplier discovery, enable targeted comparisons within product segments, and enhance trade engagement to support export growth.

CSR compliance obligations: statutory penalties apply for company and officer defaults, enforcement follows Companies Act procedures.
The statutory CSR regime obliges certain profitable companies to allocate prescribed portions of profit to CSR; boards decide amounts and projects, and both companies and officers in default face penalties under the Companies Act and CSR Rules. Enforcement is initiated after examination and due process upon reported violations, and while the ministry may request companies to undertake projects in particular states, directing board spending raises legal limits.

Capacity building for SDG monitoring and environmental and gender statistics to enhance evidence-based policymaking and accounting.
Capacity-building workshop to strengthen monitoring frameworks for Sustainable Development Goals, Environment Accounts, and Gender Statistics by aligning national and state indicator frameworks, enhancing use of SDG data for evidence-based policymaking, building institutional capacities for gender-responsive governance through improved gender statistics, and operationalising the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting with methods for valuing forest services, biodiversity, and ecosystem services.

Indian Sign Language access required to ensure communication and inclusive financial services for persons with hearing and speech impairments.
The Department of Financial Services directs financial institutions to facilitate communication with persons with hearing and speech impairments by adopting Indian Sign Language and technology-enabled tools, including AI, and to use volunteers for sign language interpretation while training frontline staff to assist customers using sign language.

Digital lending regulation tightens app vetting and reporting mechanisms to curb fraudulent loan apps nationwide.
Digital lending regulation is reinforced via RBI guidelines requiring Regulated Entities to comply, with supervisory checks and possible enforcement for non-compliance. RBI operates a Digital Lending Apps (DLA) directory for consumer verification. MeitY can block fraudulent apps under the IT framework, intermediaries must implement technology-driven vetting to curb malicious advertisements, and national cybercrime reporting and helpline channels enable public reporting. States lead investigation and prosecution, supported by central advisories, capacity-building and public awareness efforts.

Priority sector lending targets and Kisan Credit Card expansion improve institutional credit access for agriculture and allied sectors.
Ground Level Credit targets are set annually by region, agency and loan category with dedicated allied activity targets; Priority Sector Lending mandates a specified allocation of Adjusted Net Bank Credit to agriculture including a sub target for Small and Marginal Farmers, supported by district incentive/dis incentive measures; Kisan Credit Card coverage and the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme provide concessional short term finance with prompt repayment incentives; collateral free short term loan limits were raised; NABARD prepares district Potential Linked Credit Plans and extends short and long term refinance and concessional support to rural financial institutions and targeted subsectors.

Currency depreciation pressures foreign exchange stability and may prompt central bank intervention to stabilise markets.
Sharp currency depreciation against the US dollar, driven by rising crude prices and continued foreign institutional investor outflows, has tightened external balances and coincided with rising wholesale inflation. The central bank may deploy market-stabilising tools-including forex intervention and reserve management-while monitoring international monetary policy and domestic macro indicators to calibrate responses and guide short-term USD-INR trading ranges.