Bank of America (BofA) will acquire an initial 26.5% equity interest in Jio Credit Limited (JCL), which can increase to 49.9% upon exercise of warrants. The total investment, including equity shares and warrants if fully…
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs clears sale of 60.72% IDBI Bank stake to Canada's Fairfax for ₹52,878 crore
Key Updates:
- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the sale of a 60.72% stake in IDBI Bank to Canada-based Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd for ₹52,878 crore, set to be the largest FDI in India's financial sector.
- The government will sell 30.48% and Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) will divest 30.24%, leaving the government with 15% and LIC with 19% residual stakes.
- The CCEA delegated powers to the Alternative Mechanism, an empowered group of ministers headed by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, to sell the government's residual 15% stake through the open market.
- The winning bid was ₹81 per share, above the average independent valuation of ₹75.99 per share, while the initial FY26 bids fell short of the reserve price of ₹94.42 per share and were rejected.
- The successful bidder must present its credentials to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and submit a roadmap for complying with regulatory conditions before the transaction is completed.
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Competition Commission of India Clears BNP Paribas Cardif's 26% Stake Purchase in IndiaFirst Life Insurance (Start of October)
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved BNP Paribas Cardif's proposal to acquire a 26% stake in IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company Ltd from Warburg Pincus. After the transaction, IndiaFirst Life's shareholding…
Jammu & Kashmir Bank Signs Escrow Agreement to Sell PNB MetLife Shares Worth Rs 120 Crore (End of September)
Jammu & Kashmir Bank signed an escrow agreement with MetLife International and Barclays group companies to sell PNB MetLife India Insurance shares worth nearly Rs 120.10 crore. Each share will be sold at Rs 117.20 per…
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Approves Areion Group’s Rs 936 Crore Acquisition of Aviom India Housing Finance (End of July)
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved Areion Group's Rs 936 crore acquisition of Aviom India Housing Finance. RBI also granted fit-and-proper approval to Areion Group promoter Manish Lalwani.
India's wholesale price inflation climbs to series high of 11.39% in September on broad-based price rise
Key Updates:
- India's wholesale price inflation (WPI), based on the 2022-23 series, rose to a series high of 11.39 per cent in September from 9.92 per cent in August, driven by broad-based increases in food, fuel and manufactured product prices.
- The all-commodities index rose to 112.5 in September from 110.8 in August.
- Fuel and power inflation rose to 25.85 per cent in September from 22.93 per cent in August, with crude petroleum and natural gas inflation surging to 57.32 per cent from 34.41 per cent.
- Primary articles inflation rose to 8.67 per cent, the highest in the new series, from 7.76 per cent, while food inflation jumped to a 21-month high of 8.14 per cent from 5.67 per cent.
- Manufactured products inflation, carrying a weight of 63.1 per cent, rose to 9.76 per cent from 8.37 per cent, the highest in the current 2022-23 series.
- India's goods output producer price index (PPI) inflation rose to 11.39 per cent in September from 9.81 per cent in August.
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India Retail Inflation Climbs to 5.54% in September 2026 as Food Inflation Hits 7.74% (Mid of October)
India's retail inflation, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rose to 5.54% in September 2026 from 4.83% in August, remaining just within the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)'s tolerance band, per National Statistics…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in its October Monetary Policy Report, stated that the weighted share of CPI items priced above the 4 per cent target rose from 23 per cent in April to nearly 37 per cent in August. CPI…
India's WPI Inflation Rises to 9.92% in August 2026, Government Announces (Mid of September)
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced on September 14, 2026 that India's Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation for August 2026 reached 9.92%, up from 9.78% in July 2026. Inflation in the fuel and energy…
Reserve Bank of India survey shows household one-year inflation expectations rising to 10% in September (Start of October)
The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) September 2026 Inflation Expectations Survey of Households showed median one-year-ahead inflation expectations rising 60 basis points to 10 per cent, up from 9.4 per cent in July. Median…
Union Cabinet clears 78-day Productivity Linked Bonus worth ₹2,009.61 crore for 11,40,770 railway employees
Key Updates:
- The Union Cabinet approved a Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) of 78 days for 11,40,770 railway employees, amounting to ₹2009.61 crore, ahead of Dussehra and Deepavali.
- The maximum amount payable per eligible railway employee is ₹17,951 for 78 days.
- The PLB, disbursed each year before Durga Puja/Dussehra holidays, covers categories including track maintainers, loco pilots, train managers, station masters, supervisors, technicians, pointsmen, ministerial staff and other Group C staff.
- In 2025-26, Railways loaded a record 1,670 million tonnes of cargo and carried nearly 7.41 billion passengers.
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Cabinet Approves ₹9,450 Crore Rail Multitracking Projects (End of August)
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved four rail multitracking projects worth about ₹9,450 crore. The projects will add about 410 km to the Indian Railways network across West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil…
Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Approves 180-Day Maternity Leave Twice for Women Government Employees (End of August)
The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved 180-day maternity leave twice for eligible women government employees during their service. The leave duration is 180 days per child and can be availed for a maximum of two living…
Union Cabinet Approves Hike in EPFO Monthly Wage Ceiling to ₹25,000 (Mid of September)
The Union Cabinet approved the Ministry of Labour & Employment's proposal to raise the EPFO wage ceiling for mandatory coverage from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 per month. The move is expected to bring over 51 lakh additional…
Union Cabinet clears creation of ITLA as SPV for unified transport planning (Start of October)
The Union Cabinet on October 6, 2026 approved setting up a special purpose vehicle called the Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority (ITLA) to strengthen research, planning, appraisal, monitoring and impact…
India-China trade deficit tops USD 105.93 billion in first nine months of the year
Key Updates:
- India's trade deficit with China crossed USD 100 billion in the first nine months of the year, widening to USD 105.93 billion, up 20.7 per cent year-on-year, per China's General Administration of Customs.
- Total bilateral trade between India and China rose 25.4 per cent to USD 144.45 billion between January and September.
- China's exports to India increased 23.3 per cent to USD 125.19 billion, while India's exports to China grew 40.7 per cent to USD 19.26 billion.
- China's exports to India are dominated by electronics, machinery and chemicals, while India's exports comprise ores, fuels, seafood and agricultural items.
- According to India's Commerce Ministry, bilateral trade reached USD 151.1 billion last year, with the trade deficit hitting an all-time high of USD 112.6 billion in 2025-26 against USD 99.2 billion in 2024-25.
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India's Auto-Component Trade Deficit Reaches $1.4 Billion (Start of September)
India's auto-component trade deficit reached $1.4 billion in FY26. Exports of auto components were approximately $24 billion, while imports were $25.4 billion.
Ministry of Commerce: India's Combined Merchandise and Services Exports Grow 15.5% to USD 399.27 Billion in April-August 2026 (Mid of September)
India's cumulative merchandise and services exports during April-August 2026-27 were estimated at USD 399.27 billion, marking a growth of 15.5% from USD 345.55 billion in the year-ago period. India's total exports in…
Piyush Goyal: India-UAE local currency trade share crosses double digits as bilateral commerce nears pre-war levels (End of September)
India-UAE trade settled in local currencies (rupees and dirhams) has entered double digits, per Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, with bilateral trade expected to return to pre-war levels in coming months. The…
India's DGTR launches anti-dumping investigations into seven Chinese products alongside other trade remedy probes (End of September)
India's Directorate General for Trade Remedies (DGTR) has initiated anti-dumping investigations into seven products from China, including Para-tert-Octyl Phenol Formaldehyde Tackifier Resin, Penicillin G and its salts…
Securities and Exchange Board of India proposes market capitalisation-based SME IPO eligibility and halves minimum application size to ₹1 lakh
Key Updates:
- The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) proposed replacing paid-up capital-based SME IPO eligibility with market capitalisation thresholds, requiring companies with post-issue mcap up to ₹1,000 crore to list on the SME platform and allowing those between ₹1,000 crore and ₹4,000 crore to opt for it.
- Sebi proposed halving the minimum IPO application value from ₹2 lakh to ₹1 lakh, with each lot valued at ₹25,000, and reducing the trading lot for SME-listed securities to one share.
- Sebi proposed raising the minimum average operating profit requirement to ₹3 crore a year over the preceding three financial years, replacing the earlier requirement of ₹1 crore in two of three years; non-compliant companies could still list via book-building if at least 75 per cent of the net offer is allotted to qualified institutional buyers, failing which subscription money would be refunded.
- Sebi proposed a one-year holding requirement for shares offered for sale under a new offer-for-sale framework, rationalised promoter lock-in norms, removed the ₹10 crore cap on IPO proceeds for general corporate purposes while retaining the 15 per cent limit, and proposed changes to underwriting and compulsory market-making.
- The SME platform has raised ₹40,222 crore since inception, with 365 companies migrating to the mainboard, as per Sebi data as of July 31, 2026.
- Sebi issued the consultation paper on Wednesday and sought public comments by November 4.
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SEBI Board Memorandum Proposes Dropping Mandatory Retrospective Listing of Outstanding Unlisted NCDs under Regulation 62A of LODR Regulations (Start of October)
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Board Memorandum proposes amending Regulation 62A of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 to remove the requirement for mandatory…
SEBI allows IPO issuers to revise fresh issue size by up to 50% until March 31, 2027 (Mid of October)
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) extended the relaxation allowing IPO issuers to increase or decrease the fresh issue portion of their issues by up to 50% till March 31, 2027. The relaxation…
SEBI Board Approves Amendments to the SEBI (Issue and Listing of Securitised Debt Instruments and Security Receipts) Regulations, 2008 (Start of October)
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Board approved amendments to the SEBI (Issue and Listing of Securitised Debt Instruments and Security Receipts) Regulations, 2008 after deliberations. The Board approved…
Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) notifies new Portfolio Management Services framework with wider investment avenues and PRIM route (Mid of October)
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) notified the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Portfolio Managers) Regulations, 2026, replacing the 2020 framework, effective from April 1, 2027. The new Portfolio…
NPCI subsidiary NBSL launches Tatkal NPS on BHIM Payments App for opening pension accounts via UPI
Key Updates:
- NPCI BHIM Services Limited (NBSL), a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), announced that Tatkal NPS is now available on the BHIM Payments App.
- Tatkal NPS, introduced by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), enables users to open a National Pension System (NPS) account in three steps using existing bank-verified KYC, without a branch visit or fresh paperwork.
- Users must enter their date of birth, select an eligible bank account, and make their first NPS contribution through UPI.
- Tatkal NPS is currently available on the BHIM App for banking customers of State Bank of India, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, IndusInd Bank and Bank of Baroda, with more banks to be added later.
- Eligible Indian citizens aged 18 to 85 years can open an NPS account through Tatkal NPS with a minimum initial contribution of Rs 250, while subsequent contributions start from Rs 10, subject to applicable NPS requirements.
- NPS is a low-cost pension scheme regulated by PFRDA, with contributions invested in market-linked funds managed by regulated pension fund managers and tax benefits available as applicable.
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Bank of Baroda gets PFRDA certificate to sponsor a pension fund (Start of October)
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) issued a Certificate of Appointment as Sponsor of a Pension Fund to Bank of Baroda, making it the second public sector bank to enter the pension fund…
NPCI Unveils UPI Tap & Pay and AI-Powered My UPI at Global Fintech Fest (Mid of September)
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) launched UPI Tap & Pay and My UPI, an AI-powered payments assistant, at the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai on September 10, 2026. UPI Tap & Pay lets users pay by bringing…
National Payments Corporation of India Postpones UPI Merchant Discount Rate Rollout to After Diwali (Mid of October)
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has deferred the implementation of Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on select person-to-merchant (P2M) UPI transactions until immediately after Diwali, with the exact date to…
NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL) partners with Uzbekistan's National Interbank Processing Centre (NIPC) to enable UPI payments via UZQR (Start of September)
NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL) and Uzbekistan's National Interbank Processing Centre (NIPC) have entered a commercial partnership to enable UPI payments across Uzbekistan through the UZQR interoperable QR…
Oman Overtakes US as India's Top LNG Supplier Amid Strait of Hormuz Disruption
Key Updates:
- Oman replaced the US as India's largest LNG supplier in September 2026, with imports rising 11.6% month-on-month to 0.59 million tonnes, while US imports fell 60.7% to 0.34 million tonnes.
- India's total LNG imports in September stood at 2.24 million tonnes, down 12.7% month-on-month but 7% higher year-on-year.
- In the May-September period, India's LNG imports rose 17.8% year-on-year to 11.87 million tonnes, with the US the largest source at 3.41 million tonnes (28.7% share), followed by Oman at 2.33 million tonnes (up nearly 419% year-on-year) and Nigeria at 2.20 million tonnes (18.5% share).
- Qatari LNG volumes fell 90.2% year-on-year in May-September to 0.41 million tonnes, holding only a 3.4% market share, as supplies through the Strait of Hormuz were disrupted by the West Asia conflict.
- India depends on LNG imports for about half of its natural gas requirement, with about 60% of those imports previously routed through the Strait of Hormuz, mainly from Qatar and the UAE.
- Oman's LNG exports do not depend on the Strait of Hormuz, unlike those of Qatar and the UAE.
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GAIL Director Sanjay Kumar appointed Petronet LNG Managing Director and CEO (Start of October)
Sanjay Kumar, Director (Marketing) of state-owned GAIL (India) Ltd, has been appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Petronet LNG Ltd, effective May 13, 2027. Petronet LNG's board cleared the…
Amit Shah Flags Off India's First LNG-Powered Dual-Fuel Train from Sabarmati Station in Ahmedabad (End of September)
Home Minister Amit Shah flagged off India's first LNG-powered train from Sabarmati station in Gujarat. The LNG train runs on a dual-fuel diesel-plus-LNG system developed for its Driving Power Cars (DPCs); two DPCs, each…
International Monetary Fund Lifts India’s FY27 GDP Growth Projection to 7% in Latest World Economic Outlook
Key Updates:
- The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in its World Economic Outlook released during its annual meetings in Bangkok, raised India's GDP growth forecast for FY27 (2026-27) by 60 basis points to 7% from 6.4% estimated in July.
- The IMF also raised its FY28 growth forecast for India to 7% from 6.7%, citing stronger-than-expected economic momentum, resilient domestic demand and robust services activity.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raised its FY27 real GDP growth forecast to 7.1% from 6.7% in August, while the World Bank raised its forecast by 50 basis points to 7.1% and the OECD raised its projection by 80 basis points to 7.1%.
- The IMF marginally raised its global growth forecast for 2026 to 3.1% from 3% in July, while retaining its 2027 projection at 3.4%.
- The IMF's July downgrade had cut India's FY27 projection by 10 basis points to 6.4% from 6.5% in April, citing higher energy prices.
- The IMF noted that trade agreements such as the EU's and the UK's agreements with India could lower trade barriers and strengthen supply-chain resilience, with benefits depending on implementation.
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Moody’s Ratings has increased its real GDP growth forecast for India for the 2026-27 fiscal year to 7% from the previous estimate of 6%. The revised growth projection for India is higher than the 6.4% forecast by the…
Asian Development Bank Lifts India's FY27 Growth Projection to 7% on Strong Q1 Performance (End of September)
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) raised India's GDP growth forecast for FY2026-27 (FY27) to 7 per cent, up from 6.6 per cent projected in July, citing stronger-than-expected Q1 performance with GDP expanding 7.8 per cent…
S&P Global Ratings Lifts India FY27 GDP Growth Projection to 7%, Sees RBI Rate Hike (End of September)
S&P Global Ratings raised India's GDP growth forecast for FY27 (fiscal year ending March 31, 2027) to 7 per cent from 6.6 per cent earlier, citing robust industrial activity, healthy consumption, strong goods exports and…
Fitch Ratings Lifts India FY27 GDP Growth Forecast to 6.9% and Sees RBI Rate Hike (End of September)
Fitch Ratings raised India's FY27 GDP growth forecast to 6.9% from 6.4%, citing stronger-than-expected economic activity and resilience despite the US-Iran war shock. India's GDP growth accelerated to 8.6% year-on-year…
UNCTAD Trade and Development Report 2026: India To Grow 7.3% in 2026, Fastest Among Large Economies
Key Updates:
- The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), in its Trade and Development Report 2026, projected India to remain the world's fastest-growing large economy with a growth rate of 7.3% in 2026.
- UNCTAD projected global economic growth at 2.6% in 2026, down from 2.9% in 2025, while growth of developing economies is expected to moderate to 4% from 4.7% in 2025.
- Asia is expected to account for 59% of global economic growth in 2026, with India (7.3%), Indonesia (5.2%) and China (4.5%) among major contributors.
- India's growth outlook is supported by robust domestic demand, expanding manufacturing capacity and sustained public investment in infrastructure.
- Global trade reached a record $35 trillion in 2025 and trade growth is expected to slow to around 4% in 2026 from 4.4% in 2025.
- Trade between China and the United States has declined by more than 20% since 2024.
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National Statistics Office (NSO) Announces 7.8% GDP Growth for India in Q1 FY27 (Start of September)
The National Statistics Office (NSO) estimated India's real GDP growth at 7.8% in Q1 FY27, with real GDP at Rs 81.36 lakh crore against Rs 75.46 lakh crore in Q1 FY26. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had projected Q1…
World Bank Places India Among Top 10 Emerging Markets on AI Readiness (Start of October)
The World Bank, in its report 'India and Artificial Intelligence: Seizing the Development Opportunity', placed India among the top 10 leading emerging-market performers on AI readiness. Private investment in AI in India…
State Bank of India (SBI) Research projects India's Q1 FY27 GDP growth at around 7% (Start of August)
India's economy is likely to have expanded by around 7% in the April-June quarter of FY27. SBI Research expects the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to keep policy rates unchanged in the near term.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Data Shows India's Net FDI Surging to $7.35 Billion in July, Highest Since May 2021 (Start of October)
India's net Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows rose to $7.35 billion in July 2026, the highest monthly inflow since May 2021's $8.80 billion, as per Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data. Gross FDI in July stood at…
US CPI inflation accelerates to 3.7% in September 2026, lifting chances of a Federal Reserve rate hike
Key Updates:
- The US annual inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), accelerated to 3.7% in September 2026, up from 3.4% in August and above the market forecast of 3.6%.
- The CPI rose 0.6% month-on-month in September on a seasonally adjusted basis, after a 0.4% rise in August.
- Core CPI, excluding food and energy, rose 0.3% in September and 2.6% annually, up from 2.4% over the 12 months ending August.
- The energy index jumped 5.2% in September after a 2.1% rise in August, and climbed 20.4% over the 12 months ending September.
- The US central bank raised its policy rate by 0.25% to the 3.75%-4.00% range in the previous month.
- Before the CPI release, traders saw a 78% likelihood the Federal Reserve would hold rates at its October 27-28 meeting, up from 53% previously, and anticipate roughly 79 basis points of tightening by late 2027 per CME Group's FedWatch Tool.
- After the CPI data release, the probability of a rate hike rose while the chance of a pause declined to 65%, and US stock futures traded in the red.
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India Retail Inflation Climbs to 5.54% in September 2026 as Food Inflation Hits 7.74% (Mid of October)
India's retail inflation, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rose to 5.54% in September 2026 from 4.83% in August, remaining just within the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)'s tolerance band, per National Statistics…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in its October Monetary Policy Report, stated that the weighted share of CPI items priced above the 4 per cent target rose from 23 per cent in April to nearly 37 per cent in August. CPI…
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) MPC Raises Repo Rate by 25 Bps to 5.50%, Shifts Stance to Calibrated Tightening (Start of October)
The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) unanimously raised the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.50% on October 7, 2026, the first rate hike since February 2023. The MPC changed its…
Bank of Japan summary signals policy shift to preventing inflation from exceeding 2% target (Start of October)
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) affirmed in a summary of opinions from its September 17-18 policy meeting that its policy focus has shifted to preventing inflation from overshooting the 2% target. The BOJ board voted 7-2 to…
NABARD subscribes to NSDC's maiden ₹4 crore ZCZP issue on Social Stock Exchange for overseas skilling of OBC youth
Key Updates:
- NABARD fully subscribed to the National Skill Development Corporation's maiden Zero Coupon Zero Principal instrument issuance of ₹4 crore on the Social Stock Exchange platform of the National Stock Exchange.
- The funds raised are part of an ₹11.25 crore project to create sustainable overseas employment opportunities for 600 rural OBC youth in Madhya Pradesh, with skill training aimed at jobs in Japan and Germany.
- The Madhya Pradesh government is expected to provide outcome-linked funding of ₹5.60 crore, with the balance from beneficiary contributions.
- Beneficiaries will receive language training, technical skill development, certification, cultural orientation and end-to-end overseas placement support.
- ZCZP instruments carry no financial returns for subscribers, with proceeds deployed towards generating social returns.
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NABKISAN Finance Limited, a subsidiary of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), listed India's first social bond dedicated to the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector on the National…
National Stock Exchange (NSE) Debuts on BSE at ₹1,800 Per Share with ₹4.5 Trillion Market Capitalisation (End of September)
The National Stock Exchange (NSE) made its debut on the BSE at ₹1,800 per share on September 24, 2026, up 0.84% from the issue price of ₹1,785. The NSE stock hit an intraday peak of ₹1,878 before settling at ₹1,818.
NaBFID raises $750 million in debut 10-year US dollar bond under $4 billion GMTN programme (Start of October)
National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) raised $750 million through its debut 10-year US dollar benchmark bond, priced at 105 basis points over US Treasuries with a coupon of 6.122 per cent.…
SEBI Board approves re-introduction of Open Market Buy-Back through Stock Exchange and review of Buy-Back of Securities Regulations, 2018 (Start of October)
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Board approved proposals for the re-introduction of Open Market Buy-Back through Stock Exchange and the review of the SEBI (Buy-Back of Securities) Regulations, 2018…
SEBI Proposes Mandatory Monitoring Agency for All Public Issues with Rs 50,000 Fine for Non-Cooperation
Key Updates:
- The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) released a consultation paper proposing mandatory appointment of an independent monitoring agency for all public issuances irrespective of issue size, excluding only the offer-for-sale component.
- The proposals stem from a working group chaired by former SEBI Executive Director V S Sundaresan to review the SEBI Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements Regulations, 2015, and recommend insertion of a new Regulation 32A.
- Stakeholder comments on the consultation paper have been sought until November 3, 2026.
- A monitoring agency, typically a scheduled commercial bank or credit rating agency, verifies whether a company deploys fresh issue proceeds according to objectives stated in its offer documents.
- If an issuer delays or refuses to furnish financial documents, the monitoring agency can bypass the company and submit its report directly to stock exchanges, and SEBI has outlined a time-bound standard operating procedure escalating to promoters with a Rs 50,000 fine for non-cooperation.
- If a company rectifies its default and provides required records, the monitoring agency must file a revised comprehensive report with stock exchanges within 15 days.
- SEBI clarified that non-payment of monitoring fees by an issuer cannot be used by agencies as a ground to submit a statement of non-cooperation.
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SEBI Board Approves Review of Municipal Debt Securities Regulations, 2015 (Start of October)
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Board approved a review of the SEBI (Issue and Listing of Municipal Debt Securities) Regulations, 2015 after deliberations. The Board approved the proposals contained in…
SEBI Board Memorandum Proposes Dropping Mandatory Retrospective Listing of Outstanding Unlisted NCDs under Regulation 62A of LODR Regulations (Start of October)
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Board Memorandum proposes amending Regulation 62A of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 to remove the requirement for mandatory…
SEBI allows IPO issuers to revise fresh issue size by up to 50% until March 31, 2027 (Mid of October)
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) extended the relaxation allowing IPO issuers to increase or decrease the fresh issue portion of their issues by up to 50% till March 31, 2027. The relaxation…
DARPG Releases 50th CPGRAMS Monthly Report for States/UTs Covering September 2026 Grievance Data (Mid of October)
The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) released the 50th monthly CPGRAMS report for States/UTs for September 2026, under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions. In…
Union Cabinet approves Rs 53,428-crore five-year outlay for renamed National Social Assistance Programme with eased disability pension norms
Key Updates:
- The Union Cabinet approved an outlay of Rs 53,428 crore for the continuation of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) for five years, from 2026-27 to 2030-31.
- The NSAP will be renamed the Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana.
- Under the revised norms, monthly assistance under the disability pension scheme will be Rs 375 for beneficiaries aged up to 79 years and Rs 625 for those aged 80 years and above.
- The benchmark disability requirement for the pension has been reduced from 80 per cent to 40 per cent, and the minimum age criterion has been removed, making persons with disabilities eligible for assistance from birth.
- The revised eligibility criteria, beneficiary coverage and assistance rates under the disability pension scheme will be implemented within three months of the issuance of guidelines.
- The revised disability pension norms align with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, which recognises a benchmark disability of 40 per cent and provides for disability-related assistance to be at least 25 per cent higher than comparable schemes for other categories.
- The pension schemes for the elderly and widows, along with the National Family Benefit Scheme, will continue in their existing form.
- The Cabinet's approval is expected to benefit 3.20 crore beneficiaries across all 36 states and Union territories.
- The Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme will be renamed the Pradhan Mantri Vridhavastha Pension Yojana, the Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme the Pradhan Mantri Vidhawa Pension Yojana, the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme the Pradhan Mantri Divyangjan Pension Yojana, and the National Family Benefit Scheme the Pradhan Mantri Parivar Labh Yojana.
- Launched on August 15, 1995, the NSAP provides assistance to poor households under the Centre's responsibility under Article 41 of the Directive Principles of State Policy, with the Centre providing 100 per cent central assistance to ensure uniform availability of support across the country.
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Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund Corpus Rises 17.8% to ₹8,452.07 Crore in FY 2024-25 (Mid of August)
The Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund's corpus increased by 17.8% to ₹8,452.07 crore in FY 2024-25 from ₹7,173.03 crore in FY 2023-24. Domestic donations to PM CARES…
The Karnataka Cabinet approved the Sandhya Kiran scheme, a contributory cashless healthcare scheme for state government pensioners below 70 years, family pensioners and eligible dependants. The scheme is framed under the…
Union Cabinet approves Rs 10,000 crore SME Growth Fund (Start of October)
The Union Cabinet on Tuesday (October 6, 2026) approved the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Growth Fund (SGF) with an outlay of Rs 10,000 crore to provide equity support to small and medium enterprises. The fund, first…
NHAI extends exempted FASTag validity for Divyangjan and PwD users to three or five years from October 2, 2026 (Start of October)
Revised government guidelines effective from October 2, 2026 exempt eligible Divyangjan and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) from annual renewal of their exempted FASTags, extending validity to three or five years based…
BHAVYA: ₹33,660 Crore Scheme to Build 100 Plug-and-Play Industrial Parks Across India
Key Updates:
- Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA) is a ₹33,660 crore initiative approved by the Cabinet in March 2026 and notified on 10 April 2026 to develop 100 plug-and-play industrial parks across India.
- BHAVYA provides financial assistance of up to ₹1 crore per acre for developing industrial parks, with up to 25% of approved funding allowed for external infrastructure such as road, rail, and last-mile logistics connectivity.
- The scheme will be implemented over six years from FY2026-27 to FY2031-32, with up to 50 parks selected in the first phase through a challenge mode across two selection rounds; each park will span 25 to 1,000 acres and projects will be managed through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs).
- The BHAVYA Portal was launched in June 2026 for project submission, appraisal, evaluation, and a transparent, competitive selection process.
- India's manufacturing sector contributes about 16-17 percent of GDP and employs over 27 million workers; the National Manufacturing Mission aims to raise this share to 25 percent by 2035.
- As of February 2026, India had 370 notified SEZs that attracted investments worth ₹7.82 lakh crore and generated employment for over 31.7 lakh people.
- India currently has 260 plug-and-play industrial parks, and ₹2,500 crore was allocated for their development in the Union Budget 2025-26.
- In July 2026, the Government approved the BHAVYA-Rasayan Scheme for three Chemical Parks providing common facilities and environmental safeguards for chemical manufacturing.
- Dholera Special Investment Region in Gujarat has 495 acres allotted across 11 plots, with investment potential of ₹97,328 crore and employment potential of over 6,000 jobs, including land for Tata Electronics' semiconductor facility and Renew Power's solar module manufacturing plant.
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Annual Survey of Industries: Manufacturing GVA rises 9.6% to Rs 26.9 lakh crore in 2024-25; sector adds 1.4 million workers (Start of October)
India's formal manufacturing sector's Gross Value Added (GVA) grew 9.6% to Rs 26.9 lakh crore in 2024-25 from Rs 24.6 lakh crore in 2023-24, according to the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) released by the statistics…
Jupiter Wagons and Lucchini RS Partner to Build Railwheel Manufacturing Platform in India (Start of August)
Jupiter Wagons Limited and Italy's Lucchini RS Holding S.p.A. have partnered to establish India's first fully integrated private-sector railwheel manufacturing platform. Under the partnership, Lucchini RS and Italian…
NIELIT Ahmedabad Gets Infineon-Supported Centre of Excellence for Semiconductor Backend Manufacturing, Inaugurated by Union Minister Jitin Prasada (Mid of September)
The NIELIT–Infineon Centre of Excellence (CoE) on Semiconductor Manufacturing was inaugurated virtually on 16 September 2026 at NIELIT Ahmedabad, Gujarat, by Union Minister of State for Electronics & Information…
India to Phase In BS-VII Emission Norms Aligned with Euro 7 Between April 2029 and April 2035
Key Updates:
- The government will roll out BS-VII emission standards, aligned with Euro 7 norms, in three phases from April 2029 to April 2035, starting with new cars and SUVs from April 2029, small goods delivery and pick-up vans from 2030, and buses and heavy-duty vehicles from April 2031.
- The road transport ministry has approved the proposed timeline, and draft notifications for the three vehicle categories are expected within days; norms for two-wheelers will be notified later.
- BS-VII will not require changes in refinery infrastructure for petrol and diesel, unlike BS-VI rolled out from April 2020, but will require the automobile sector to upgrade engines.
- The norms will not affect existing vehicles, including BS-VI-compliant ones, and will strengthen monitoring of real-world driving emissions throughout a vehicle's operational life.
- For cars and SUVs, cut-off limits of emission components remain unchanged from BS-VI, but the particulate number limit is reduced from 23 nanometres to 10 nanometres to capture previously unregulated ultrafine particles.
- For trucks and heavy-duty vehicles, BS-VII aims to reduce emissions by 20-50% across pollutants and will also regulate non-exhaust sources such as brake wear and tyre abrasion, with market surveillance through independent in-use compliance checks.
- Euro 7 implementation in Europe is phased, starting November 2026 for light-duty vehicles and May 2028 for heavy-duty vehicles, with full rollout extending up to 2035.
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Wild Buffaloes From Kaziranga Move Into Larger Enclosure at Kanha as Madhya Pradesh Restores Species After Nearly 100 Years (Mid of October)
Eight wild buffaloes from Assam's Kaziranga National Park were moved into a 17-hectare enclosure at the Supkhar range of Kanha Tiger Reserve, marking the species' return to Madhya Pradesh after nearly 100 years. Chief…
GIFT IFSC Emerges as International Banking Hub (Start of September)
As of 31 August 2026, 20 IFSC Banking Units (IBUs) at GIFT IFSC sanctioned USD 54.02 billion under the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) special swap facility for FCNR(B) deposits, with approximately USD 52.82 billion…
SEBI Approves GARUDA Green-Channel Mechanism for AIF Placement Memorandum Processing (Start of October)
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) approved the Green-Channel: AIF Rollout Upon Document Acknowledgement (GARUDA) mechanism for processing of Placement Memorandums of Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs)…
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has initiated the phase-wise implementation of the 1601-series numbers for service and transactional calls by non-BFSI and non-government entities. Phase I of the…
PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) Marks One Year as Kutch, Dahod and Chhota Udepur Win Excellence Awards
Key Updates:
- The Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY), launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 12, 2025, for 100 agricultural aspirational districts with an outlay of Rs 24,000 crore, completed its first year on October 12, 2026.
- Three Gujarat districts — Kutch, Dahod and Chhota Udepur — received excellence awards at a programme organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in New Delhi.
- Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan presented the award to Kutch for better governance and service delivery, and to Dahod and Chhota Udepur for outstanding performance in improving irrigation infrastructure.
- Awards were given to 18 districts across six objectives: increasing agricultural productivity, crop diversification and sustainable practices, post-harvest storage capacity, irrigation infrastructure, access to short- and long-term agricultural credit, and effective governance and service delivery.
- Four Gujarat districts — Kutch, Dahod, Chhota Udepur and Panchmahal — are covered under the scheme.
- Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel congratulated the district administrations and Agriculture Department officials of the awarded districts.
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NHAI Announces Winners of ‘Green Highways Excellence Awards 2026’ (Start of September)
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) announced the winners of the Green Highways Excellence Awards 2026. The awards were presented in three categories: Avenue Plantations, Median Plantations, and Plantation in…
DDU-GKY 2.0: India's Upgraded Rural Skilling Scheme Moves Focus to Sustainable Employment (End of September)
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) was originally launched on September 25, 2014, under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission as a placement-linked skilling programme for rural youth from poor…
The Gujarat government has approved the establishment of four Centres of Excellence for natural farming with a provision of ₹20 crore for the 2026-27 financial year. The centres will be located in Navsari, Morbi…
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde Receives Three International Awards During London Visit (Mid of September)
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde undertook a two-day official visit to London after being invited to address two events at the British Parliament. During the visit, Shinde was to be honoured with three…
Ministry of Cooperation issues MSCARO, 2026 for risk-based statutory audit reporting in Multi-State Cooperative Societies
Key Updates:
- The Ministry of Cooperation has mandated the Multi-State Co-operative Societies (Auditor's Report) Order, 2026 (MSCARO, 2026) to strengthen transparency, accountability, financial discipline and good governance in Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS).
- MSCARO, 2026 was formulated under Section 73(6) of the Multi-State Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2023, based on inputs from the RBI, ICAI, CAG and Multi-State Cooperative Societies, and is modelled on the Companies (Auditor's Report) Order (CARO).
- Auditors must report on financial, administrative, governance and statutory compliance parameters in a standardized format with clear Yes/No responses and remarks.
- The framework enables risk-based regulatory supervision by the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies (CRCS) and early identification of financial stress through reporting of NPAs, overdue loans, liquidity positions, deposits, advances, repayment defaults and borrowings.
- Standardized audit information will be integrated with the CRCS Portal to enable automated scrutiny, regulatory dashboards, risk scoring and AI-based analytics.
- The framework includes audit-level verification of cybersecurity and anti-money laundering compliance, including PMLA-related appointment of Designated Directors and Principal Officers.
- Implementation will be phased: the initial phase covers societies crossing the ₹1,000 crore threshold, with the long-term objective of extending the framework to societies crossing ₹50 crore in relevant financial parameters.
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The Ministry of Jal Shakti issued a policy on data sharing, interoperability, and stakeholder access under the Sujalam Bharat Digital Public Infrastructure. The policy aims to establish a secure and accountable framework…
Dileep Sanghani, Chairman of IFFCO, Elected as At-Large Director on International Cooperative Alliance Global Board (Mid of September)
Dileep Sanghani, Chairman of the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO), was elected as an At-Large Director to the Global Board of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) for the 2026-2030 term. Sixteen…
Harsh Sanghani Wins Second Term as President of International Cooperative Alliance Youth Committee (End of September)
Harsh Sanghani was re-elected unopposed as President of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) Youth Committee and confirmed as Youth Representative to the ICA Global Board at the ICA Global Cooperative Conference…
Indian Olympic Association and Korean Sport & Olympic Committee Sign MoU to Boost Sports Cooperation (Start of October)
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on October 2, 2026, at Korea House in Nagoya during the 2026 Asian Games. The MoU was signed by…
Supreme Court Orders Insurance Cover For All Counter-Sold Train Tickets From October 27, 2026
Key Updates:
- The Supreme Court has directed Indian Railways to ensure all tickets sold at railway station counters receive insurance coverage in the same manner as tickets booked online, with the arrangement coming into force from October 27, 2026.
- The bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R Mahadevan made the direction mandatory and warned that the Railway Board would be directly accountable for any failure to comply.
- The Centre had told the court on May 11 that a decision had been taken to extend insurance to counter tickets, but the court found no progress on the issue.
- The petition was filed following the June 2023 Odisha train accident, and the court widened the proceedings to cover the Kavach anti-collision system, fencing along railway tracks, foot overbridges and insurance for counter-ticket passengers.
- The court expressed 'utter disappointment and displeasure' over the conduct of Railway Ministry officials, noting that assurances on safety measures had remained largely on paper.
- The court raised concerns over the utilisation of funds allocated for passenger safety, noting that budgetary provisions for targeted safety projects had not been fully used.
- The court put on hold its order summoning the Railway Board Chairman and members after Additional Solicitor General Vikramjeet Banerjee sought one final opportunity to file a detailed affidavit; the matter will next be heard on November 16.
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Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project completes portal beam work over Delhi-Mumbai Rajdhani line in Vadodara (Mid of October)
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project has completed all 14 portal beams over the Delhi-Mumbai Rajdhani railway line in Vadodara, Gujarat, marking a major construction milestone for India's first bullet…
Supreme Court Directs States to Link Road Accident Data on eDAR Portal for Faster Compensation (Start of October)
The Supreme Court ordered all states to upload road-accident data on the eDAR portal and link it with VAHAN, SARATHI, and the Insurance Information Bureau databases to create a national digital trail for speeding up…
UNDP and Generali Central Launch Insurance Innovation Challenge for MSME Resilience in India (Mid of October)
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Generali Central launched an insurance innovation challenge on October 7, 2026, to identify and scale solutions strengthening the resilience of India's micro, small and…
Supreme Court Directs Centre To Keep Delhi Metro And Train Services Running In Regulated Manner Ahead Of October 10 Protest (Start of October)
The Supreme Court, hearing a plea on October 9, ruled out a blanket restriction on Delhi Metro and train services and asked the Centre to ensure public transport operates in a regulated manner ahead of the October 10…
India cleared to join Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA) as Central Government approves accession
Key Updates:
- The Central Government has approved India's accession to the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA), a strategic milestone in global fisheries governance.
- India has been a Cooperating Non-Contracting Party (CNCP) of SIOFA since 2022, with limited participation in decision-making bodies such as the Scientific Committee and Compliance Committee; accession as a Contracting Party enables full participation.
- Following accession, Indian-flagged fishing vessels can undertake authorised fishing of squids, toothfish, alfonsino, and other non-migratory fish stocks within SIOFA's jurisdiction.
- Accession will strengthen national coastal security through involvement in the High Seas Boarding and Inspection (HSBI) Scheme adopted under SIOFA, and support prevention of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
- The High Seas constitute about 65% of the global ocean, dominated by China (21%), Taiwan (13%), Japan (11%), South Korea (11%), and Spain (8%).
- India has been a Contracting Party to the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) since 1996; the IOTC and SIOFA are the two major Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) in the Indian Ocean.
- The Government of India issued Guidelines for High Sea Fisheries in December 2025, preceding this accession initiative.
- The SIOFA Agreement covers fish, molluscs, crustaceans, and other sedentary species, but excludes highly migratory species under Annex I of UNCLOS and sedentary species under coastal state jurisdiction per Article 77(4) of UNCLOS.
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India joins WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS) (End of July)
India deposited its Instrument of Acceptance of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS) on 20 July 2026, becoming a Party to the Agreement. The agreement prohibits subsidies linked to illegal, unreported and…
Scientists Discover New Conger Eel Species in Arabian Sea, Name It After Marine Fisheries Research Institute (Mid of September)
Scientists of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) discovered a new conger eel species from the deep waters of the Arabian Sea and named it Ariosoma cmfriense to mark the institute's 80th anniversary…
Centre for Marine Living Resources & Ecology (CMLRE) Releases National Report on Deep-Sea and Distant-Water Fishery Resources in Indian EEZ (End of August)
The Centre for Marine Living Resources & Ecology (CMLRE) released the National Report on Deep-Sea and Distant-Water Fishery Resources of the Indian EEZ during its Silver Jubilee celebrations. The report compiles nearly…
Mission Rangeen Machhli 2031 Released for Ornamental Fisheries Development (Start of September)
The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying organized an outreach programme at Agatti, Lakshadweep. Vice President CP Radhakrishnan released the 'Mission Rangeen Machhli 2031' Strategic Action Plan for…
DRDO Successfully Tests Quantum Key Distribution Platform in Live Network at PXE Chandipur
Key Updates:
- The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully configured and tested a Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) platform in the live network of the dynamic test ranges at Proof & Experimental Establishment (PXE), Chandipur.
- The QKD platform will fortify real-time critical observations and telemetry associated with Artillery and Armoured Weapon tests and evaluation.
- The QKD platform was designed and developed under DRDO's Microelectronic Devices, Computational Systems & Cyber Security (MCC) cluster with production partner Taqbit Labs.
- QKD uses quantum mechanical properties to generate and distribute cryptographic keying material and can detect eavesdropping, a feature not provided in standard cryptography.
- DRDO is developing such technologies through Defence-Industry-Academia Centres of Excellence (DIA-CoEs), with 15 Centres of Excellence established at institutes like the IITs, IISc and universities.
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India's DRDO Flight-Tests Indigenous High-Altitude Platform, Holding 20 km Altitude for Over 30 Minutes (Start of October)
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight-tested an indigenously developed High-Altitude Platform (HAPS), which reached 21 km above mean sea level and remained at 20 km for more than 30…
IIT Delhi transmits entangled quantum photons and classical data together over a 50-km optical fibre (Start of October)
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi demonstrated the transmission of quantum-entangled photons alongside classical data over a 50-km optical fibre link. The research was funded by IIT Delhi's…
India's first free-space quantum key distribution link demonstrated over 5.56 km between BISAG-N and IIT-Gandhinagar (Start of October)
Indian scientists demonstrated India's first free-space quantum-key distribution (QKD) link over 5.56 km through open air on the night of September 27-28, connecting the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space…
DRDO Successfully Tests Advanced High-Altitude Parachute in Maiden Live Jump at Ladakh (Start of October)
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted the maiden live jump of its Advanced High-Altitude Parachute (AHAP) at Nyoma in Ladakh. The jump was executed from 16,000 feet, with the parachute…
IMF and World Bank Unveil Bangkok Blueprint Framework to Fight Cyber-Enabled Fraud
Key Updates:
- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank released the 'Bangkok Blueprint for Fraud-Resilient Financial Services', a framework to tackle cyber-enabled fraud, launched at the annual IMF-World Bank meetings in Bangkok.
- The framework is aimed at assisting policymakers, regulators, financial institutions and other stakeholders, but is not formal IMF-World Bank policy guidance.
- Thai Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said digital fraud and scams cost the world economy around $1 trillion annually, or 3% of GDP.
- According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, scam gangs defrauded Asia Pacific residents of at least $88 billion in 2025.
- Bank of Thailand Governor Vitai Ratanakorn said Asia accounted for 67% of global fraud losses in 2024.
- IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned that the expansion of cyber fraud threatens to reverse gains made by digital finance in expanding financial inclusion.
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Sanchar Saathi portal records over 30 crore visits as citizens help curb telecom fraud (Start of October)
The Sanchar Saathi portal, developed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and launched in May 2023, has recorded more than 30 crore visits. Over 60.96 lakh lost or stolen mobile handsets have been blocked, 37.85…
Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) Secures Runner-Up at BECA 2026 for ₹868 Crore Cyber Fraud Case (Mid of July)
The Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) was named the Runner-up at the Best Egmont Case Award (BECA) 2026 during the Egmont Group Plenary in Baku, Azerbaijan. The case involved a large-scale cyber fraud with…
Telangana Police Refund ₹139.68 Crore to 24,189 Cyber Fraud Victims in 2026 (Mid of September)
Telangana Police, through the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB), facilitated refunds of ₹139.68 crore to 24,189 cyber fraud victims in 2026 so far, using the Lok Adalat and Money Restoration Module (MRM)…
David Vaillant named Managing Director and CFO of World Bank Group (Start of October)
The World Bank Group announced the appointment of David Vaillant as managing director and chief financial officer on Thursday. Vaillant will oversee financial management, treasury operations and risk management across…
India Opens Resident Mission in San Jose to Expand Diplomatic Presence in Central America
Key Updates:
- India operationalised its resident mission in San Jose, Costa Rica, with effect from October 10, 2026, as announced by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
- The new mission aims to expand India's diplomatic footprint in Central America and strengthen bilateral relations with Costa Rica.
- India-Costa Rica ties are focused on boosting engagement in trade, investment, pharmaceuticals and information technology.
- The mission will provide enhanced consular assistance to Indian nationals and the Indian community in Costa Rica.
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Lionel Messi Retires from International Football (Start of September)
Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international football seven weeks after Argentina lost to Spain in the World Cup final in the US. Messi's last international match was the World Cup final against Spain.
Airports Authority of India (AAI) Operationalises Satellite-Guided Helicopter Approach at HAL Airport (Start of August)
The HAL Airport in Bengaluru has become the first airport in India to operationalise a satellite-guided helicopter approach. The RNP CAT H procedure uses satellite-based navigation to guide helicopters along precise…
Chhattisgarh Cabinet Clears CM Startup and NIPUN Mission with Rs 500 Crore Outlay (Mid of September)
The Chhattisgarh cabinet approved the Chief Minister Startup and NIPUN Mission with a budget of Rs 500 crore for the next five years. The mission will establish entrepreneurship development centres, 100 emerging…
Government Operationalises CGTMSE Guarantee Cover for TReDS MSME Receivables (End of September)
The government has operationalised the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) guarantee cover for eligible Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) receivables, reducing lending risk for…
Kerala State Biodiversity Board Begins India’s First-Ever Red List Assessment of Ecosystems
Key Updates:
- The Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) has launched India’s first Red List Assessment of Ecosystems (RLE) project, a one-year initiative to shift conservation from species-focused efforts to landscape-wide ecosystem management.
- The project is funded by KSBB and jointly executed by the Kerala Forest Research Institute and the Centre for Ecology, Taxonomy, Conservation and Climate Change at MES Asmabi College, led by Dr. Amitha Bachan K.H. and Dr. Deepu Sivadas.
- Keralam’s tropical riparian evergreen forests in the southern Western Ghats have lost 83% of their extent over the past century due to dam construction, invasive plantations and climate extremes, earning a Critically Endangered status under IUCN criteria with potential collapse in 20 to 40 years.
- The assessment will evaluate ecosystem collapse risks across all 14 districts of Keralam using the five standardized criteria of the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems framework, establishing the State’s first standardised baseline of historical loss, habitat fragmentation and hydrological disruption.
- Myristica swamps, high-altitude shola-grassland mosaics and coastal mangroves face similar threats from rapid urban expansion and rising sea levels.
- The project will produce an official Risk Register, an Ecosystem Typology Atlas and ecorestoration priority maps, to be integrated into State planning portals and used by local Biodiversity Management Committees and panchayats.
- Dr. N. Anil Kumar, KSBB chairperson, said the goal is to build empirical evidence of environmental degradation, and a red list of species is being assessed simultaneously.
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World Bank Approves Kerala's Carbon Cell Plan for Farmers Under Rs 2,365 Crore KERA Project (Mid of October)
The World Bank has backed Kerala's proposal to set up a carbon cell under the state Agriculture Department to help farmers earn carbon credits through climate-friendly farming practices, as stated by Agriculture Minister…
India Showcases Forest Cover Gains and Restoration Initiatives at FAO Committee on Forestry 28th Session in Rome (Start of October)
India presented its forest and landscape restoration achievements at the 28th Session of the FAO Committee on Forestry (COFO 28), held in Rome from September 28 to October 2, 2026. India's forest and tree cover stands at…
MoSPI unveils five-year 2026-2030 strategy to measure India's natural wealth (Start of October)
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the Strategy for Environmental Economic Accounts in India 2026-2030 on October 7, 2026, succeeding the 2022-2026 strategy released in December…
Technology Development Board commits ₹151 crore debt funding under RDI Fund to ideaForge for developing YETI heavy-lift autonomous VTOL logistics aircraft
Key Updates:
- The Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Department of Science & Technology signed an agreement with Mumbai-based ideaForge Technology Limited on 14 October 2026 for ₹151 crore financial support under the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund, provided through debt financing.
- The ₹151 crore support is for developing YETI, a heavy-lift, long-range autonomous aerial logistics vehicle, under a project with a total cost of ₹302 crore.
- YETI is an autonomous vertical take-off and landing, fixed-wing hybrid unmanned aerial vehicle (VTOL-FW UAV) designed to carry payloads of up to 200 kg over a targeted range of up to 200 km at altitudes of up to 6,500 metres above mean sea level.
- The programme aims to advance YETI from Technology Readiness Level (TRL)-4 to TRL-9 through further engineering, integration, testing and validation, subject to technical, safety and regulatory requirements.
- YETI is designed to take off and land vertically from small, unprepared areas of approximately 15 metres × 15 metres, with a weather-resistant design for high-altitude regions, deserts and marine conditions.
- The platform incorporates distributed and redundant propulsion and power architecture for fault tolerance, along with proposed capabilities including GNSS-denied navigation, a communication link of up to 200 km, swarm operations and containerised transportation for rapid deployment.
- The project falls under the Deep Technology sector, with Intelligent Systems and Robotics as the sub-sector.
- TDB Secretary Rajesh Kumar Pathak said the agreement reflects the government's commitment to strengthening India's capabilities in autonomous systems, robotics and next-generation aerospace technologies.
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Technology Development Board Inks ₹130 Crore RDI Fund Deal with BigEndian Semiconductors (Start of October)
The Technology Development Board (TDB), Department of Science & Technology (DST), signed an agreement with Bengaluru-based BigEndian Semiconductors for ₹130 crore support under the Research Development and Innovation…
Technology Development Board commits ₹37.51 crore from RDI Fund to Multi Nano Sense Technologies for indigenous MEMS multi-gas sensor development (End of September)
The Technology Development Board (TDB), Department of Science & Technology, signed an agreement with M/s Multi Nano Sense Technologies Private Limited, Nagpur, Maharashtra, for ₹37.51 crore financial support under the…
TDB under RDI Fund commits ₹86 crore to Peptris' VIGOR programme for AI-driven drug development (Mid of October)
The Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Department of Science & Technology (DST) signed an agreement with Peptris Technologies Private Limited, Bengaluru, Karnataka for financial support of ₹86 crore under the…
Technology Development Board Signs ₹200 Crore RDI Funding Agreement with Agnikul Cosmos (End of September)
The Technology Development Board (TDB), under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), signed an agreement with space-tech startup Agnikul Cosmos for ₹200 crore financial support under the Research Development and…
PM Modi to Launch Five Projects Worth About ₹3,350 Crore in Ladakh on 15 October 2026
Key Updates:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and dedicate five development projects worth around ₹3,350 crore in Ladakh on 15 October 2026 at around 12:30 PM via video conferencing.
- The new Passenger Terminal Building at Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, Leh, built at a cost of ₹640 crore, spans 23,800 square metres and is designed to handle 35 lakh passengers annually, using geothermal energy for efficiency.
- The 298-km Nimmu-Padum-Darcha Road, built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), connects Nimmu in Leh with Darcha in Himachal Pradesh through Zanskar Valley, crossing the Shinkun La Pass and providing an alternative corridor to the Srinagar-Leh and Manali-Leh highways.
- The Prime Minister will inaugurate the 9 MW Hanu Small Hydroelectric Project and the 66 kV Double-Circuit Dah-Hanu-Khaltsi Transmission Line to strengthen Ladakh's power infrastructure.
- India's first Petroglyph Conservation Park will be inaugurated at Sindhu Ghat, Leh, to protect Ladakh's prehistoric rock art sites.
- Forty water bodies developed across 40 villages under Project Him Sarovar, aligned with Mission Amrit Sarovar, will be inaugurated to improve water conservation and security in Ladakh.
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MoHUA Approves Rs 2,719.80 Crore for 6 Urban Development Projects in Ahmedabad Under Urban Challenge Fund (End of July)
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs approved projects worth Rs 2,719.80 crore for six urban development initiatives in Ahmedabad under the Urban Challenge Fund. The Urban Challenge Fund provides Rs 1 lakh crore in…
National SARAS Mela 2026: President Droupadi Murmu to Inaugurate First Mela outside Delhi-NCR at Vijayawada from 13-31 October (Mid of October)
The Ministry of Rural Development, in collaboration with the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), Andhra Pradesh, is organising the first National SARAS Mela 2026 at Punnami Ghat, Vijayawada, from 13 to 31…
PM GatiShakti National Master Plan marks five years with 400+ projects worth Rs 20.23 lakh crore evaluated and ITLA cleared by Union Cabinet (Mid of October)
The PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (PMGS NMP), launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 13, 2021, completed five years, with the Network Planning Group (NPG) having evaluated over 400 infrastructure…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches development projects worth over Rs 13,000 crore in Tamil Nadu (Mid of October)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 11, 2026 inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development projects worth over Rs 13,000 crore across Tamil Nadu. Modi inaugurated the Poonamallee-Vadapalani stretch of…
Central Bureau of Narcotics destroys 5,165 acres of illicit cannabis cultivation in Himachal Pradesh under Operation Parivartan
Key Updates:
- The Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) destroyed 5,165 acres (2,070 hectares) of illicit cannabis (ganja) cultivation over one month in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh under 'Operation Parivartan'.
- The illicit cultivation was identified using ground surveys and drone technology, with the destruction carried out with support from the Forest Department and the Police Department.
- CBN teams destroyed illicit cultivation at altitudes up to approximately 3,500 metres despite difficult Himalayan terrain.
- After the operation, CBN officers held a public dialogue (Jan Samvad) with villagers of Malana village to promote alternative development strategies including alternative crop development, as mandated by the NDPS Policy 2012.
- CBN is the apex drug law enforcement and regulative agency under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, responsible for identifying and destroying illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium.
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The Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, is launching a 100-week nationwide Nasha Mukt Yuva Abhiyan through Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) and the National Service Scheme (NSS), beginning with…
Nasha Mukt Bharat 2029 Roadmap: Zero Narcotics Across Borders (Start of September)
Amit Shah launched the Nasha Mukt Bharat 2029 roadmap, focusing on supply reduction, demand reduction, and harm reduction. The initiative aims to ensure no narcotics enter or leave India's borders.
Amit Shah to Open 3rd National ANTF Conference in New Delhi on September 22, 2026 (End of September)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the 3rd National Conference of Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) heads of states and Union Territories in New Delhi on September 22, 2026. The two-day conference on September…
Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) and Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (PHARMEXCIL) sign MoU to regulate pharmaceutical exports (End of August)
On August 25, 2026, the Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) and Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (PHARMEXCIL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at CBN Headquarters in Gwalior. The MoU aims to…