Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit PVSM AVSM VM VSM, as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force, on 01 November 2026, commenced his tenure by paying homage at the National War Memorial to the bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice in service of the Nation. This was followed by a ceremonial Guard of Honour at Air Force Station New Delhi. An Experimental Test Pilot and Qualified Flying Instructor, Air Chief Marshal Dixit has over 3,500 hours of flying experience. He has held several key operational…
India’s total coal imports declined by 5.83% in August 2026, falling to 104.57 million tonnes (MT) from 111.05 MT in August 2025, a reduction of 6.48 MT. The decline reflects the continued efforts of the Ministry of Coal to enhance domestic coal production, improve availability and strengthen the supply chain, with a view to reducing the country’s dependence on imported coal. Key Highlights 1. Coal Imports by the Power Sector Decline by 6.39% Coal imports by power plants decreased by 6.39%, from 22.77 MT in August…
The Ministry of Social Justice And Empowerment has issued a factual report with regard to the claim—appearing in a report published in The Central Chronicle (Bhopal), on October 31, 2026. The claim with regard to Madhya Pradesh Council for Employment and Training (MAPCET), having made payments amounting to crores based on placements without verifying the placement data, is entirely incorrect and baseless. The factual report is attached herewith, for publishing the same with accuracy and factual context: FACTUAL…
Translating Vision to Action Shared Seas, Shared Security and Shared Prosperity The inaugural BIMSTEC Maritime Security Exercise, being conducted from 30 Oct to 03 Nov 2026, marks a significant milestone in advancing maritime cooperation among the member states of BIMSTEC. Bringing together Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand, the exercise reinforces the shared commitment of member states towards regional security, stability and prosperity in the Bay of Bengal. Building upon the…
Data on sectoral deployment of bank credit for the month of September 2026, collected from 41 select scheduled commercial banks (SCBs), which together account for about 95 per cent of the total non-food credit by all SCBs 1, are set out in Statements I and II. On a year-on-year (y-o-y) basis, non-food bank credit 2 grew by 19.1 per cent as on the fortnight ended September 30, 2026, compared to 11.2 per cent during the corresponding fortnight of the previous year (i.e., October 03, 2025). Highlights of the…
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), India, and the New Zealand Customs Service (NZCS) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) concerning Electronic Origin Data Exchange of Trade in Goods. The MoC marks an important step towards strengthening customs cooperation and facilitating bilateral trade between the two countries. The MoC was signed under the India-New Zealand FTA which entered into force from 20 th October, 2026. The MoC was signed on 19 th October 2026 by Shri Vivek Chaturvedi,…
A review meeting was held today under the Co-Chairmanship of Shri Rajesh Verma, Chairperson, Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM), and the Chief Secretary, GNCTD, with concerned agencies of the Delhi Government to review dust pollution issues and strengthening coordinated action for effective air pollution mitigation in Delhi in the coming days. The Commission emphasized that all concerned agencies must strictly comply with its Statutory Directions issued from time to time and…
The ninth edition of the India-Brazil-South Africa Maritime (IBSAMAR) Exercise 2026 concluded at Simon’s Town, South Africa, on 20 Oct 2026. It brought together the Indian, Brazilian and South African Navies for a series of professional interactions and maritime evolutions aimed at enhancing interoperability, strengthening operational cooperation and fostering greater mutual understanding among the three maritime forces. The closing ceremony marked the culmination of ten days of joint activities conducted during…
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has disbursed Rs 1.19 crore under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism to 29 State Biodiversity Boards and one Union Territory Biodiversity Council to support biodiversity conservation, sustainable use of biological resources and community welfare. The amount represents ABS contributions received from companies for research and commercial utilisation of agricultural biological resources. As the biological resources were procured through markets or traders,…
VAdm Sanjay Vatsayan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, inaugurated residential accommodations for the Defence Civilians of Indian Navy, and Station Health Organisation along with trunk utility and access infrastructure as part of Project Seabird Phase IIA at Naval Base, Karwar, on 15 Oct 2026 in the presence of VAdm Vivek Dahiya, Director General Seabird, and other senior officers. The inaugurated residential and hospital facilities include five towers of 300 dwelling units for Naval…
KONKAN-26, the India-UK bilateral maritime exercise, concluded off Plymouth, UK, on 15 Oct 2026. Conducted from 08-15 Oct 2026, the exercise enabled the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy to engage across a wide range of professional and operational domains. The Indian Navy was represented by the stealth frigate INS Trishul, while the Royal Navy deployed HMS Sutherland, a Duke-class anti-submarine warfare frigate. The exercise was conducted by Fleet Operational Standards and Training (FOST), Royal Navy. The…
The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth (RAV), Ministry of Ayush, during KAUMARACON 2026 at AIIA, New Delhi. The agreement recognises the Department of Kaumarbhritya at AIIA Delhi and Goa as a Centre of Excellence for RAV. The recognition covers the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and training in Kaumarbhritya (Ayurveda paediatrics), along with intellectual property rights and capacity building in policy research.…
The Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, Government of India, convened a two-day workshop on the implementation of the Government of India's Reservation Policy in Public Sector Banks (PSBs), Public Sector Insurance Companies (PSICs), Sectoral Regulators and Public Financial Institutions (PFIs) on 15–16 October 2026 at the Punjab National Bank Staff Training College, Panchkula. The workshop was organised in association with Punjab National Bank with the objective of strengthening…
Ayush-related innovation and intellectual property activity in India has witnessed a significant expansion over the past decade, with 4,077 patent applications filed and 711 patents granted between FY 2014–15 and FY 2025–26, according to the Status Report on Ayush Related Inventions in India (2014–2026) released during the celebrations of the 11th Ayurveda Day. Published by the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trademarks (CGPDTM), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade…
The Reserve Bank of India has sanctioned the Scheme of Amalgamation of Indian branches of Emirates NBD Bank P.J.S.C. (Transferor Bank) with RBL Bank Limited (Transferee Bank). The Scheme has been sanctioned in exercise of the powers contained in sub-section (4) of Section 44A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. The effective date of the amalgamation shall be December 01, 2026. All the Indian branches of Emirates NBD Bank P.J.S.C. will function as branches of RBL Bank Limited with effect from December 01, 2026.…
The Ministry of Defence has signed contracts worth a total of approximately Rs 4,106 crore for the acquisition of a dedicated communication satellite capability, GSAT-7C for the Indian Air Force, and Varunastra Heavy Weight Torpedoes for the Indian Navy. The contract for GSAT-7C, valued at Rs 2,563 crore, was inked with New Space India Limited, Bengaluru. This indigenously designed, developed & manufactured satellite will enhance the secure, resilient & seamless communication capabilities for the assets of the…
India’s total exports (Merchandise and Services combined) for September 2026* are estimated at US$ 80.75 Billion, registering a positive growth of 10.99 percent vis-à-vis September 2025. Total imports (Merchandise and Services combined) for September 2026* are estimated at US$ 94.05 Billion, registering a growth of 8.19 percent vis-à-vis September 2025. Table 1: Trade during September 2026* September 2026 (US$ Billion) September 2025 (US$ Billion) Merchandise Exports 44.40 36.08 Imports 74.61 69.08 Services*…
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, launched the National Strategic Trade Command Centre (NSTCC) at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, in the presence of Commerce Secretary, Shri Rajesh Agrawal, and Director General, Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Shri Lav Agarwal. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Piyush Goyal lauded NSTCC for enabling data-driven, evidence-based trade decisions. While reviewing the SCOMET (Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and Technologies) dashboard, in…
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated and dedicated five major development projects worth around ₹3,350 crore in Ladakh today via video conferencing. Celebrating a new chapter in the region's development through virtual participation, the Prime Minister inaugurated multiple key projects designed to ease travel, improve electricity and water access, and preserve ancient heritage. He fondly noted the enthusiasm of citizens waving the Tricolor amidst fresh snowfall in Zanskar, while extending his gratitude to…
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has once again unearthed a large-scale scheme to circumvent India’s prohibition on the import of goods originating in or exported from Pakistan. Under “Operation Deep Manifest”. DRI detected the import of 295 containers carrying 7,311 metric tonnes of Pakistan-origin Industrial/Himalayan Rock Salt, with an estimated market value of around Rs. 30 crore. The consignments were routed through Colombo Port, Sri Lanka, and falsifying their origin by using fabricated…
Guided by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’ and under the leadership of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah, the Ministry of Cooperation continue to promote a transparent, accountable, financially sound and professionally governed cooperative sector. In furtherance of the same, Ministry of Cooperation has mandated the Multi-State Co-operative Societies (Auditor’s Report) Order, 2026 (MSCARO, 2026), aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability,…
The Government of India has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Prof. Ramesh Chand, former Member of NITI Aayog, to examine issues raised by sugarcane farmers and recommend appropriate measures for addressing their concerns. The constitution of the Committee follows the decisions taken during a meeting of representatives of sugarcane farmers from Karnataka and Maharashtra with the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public…
Key highlights of WPI (Base Year 2022-23) for September 2026 All India Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation for September 2026 is 11.39 per cent on year-on-year (YoY) basis, compared to 9.92 per cent in August 2026. The index for All Commodities for September 2026 stands at 112.5, whereas it was 110.8 in August 2026. YoY inflation rates for major groups, namely, Primary Articles, Fuel and Power, and Manufactured Products are 8.67 per cent, 25.85 per cent, and 9.76 per cent, respectively in September 2026,…
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved payment of PLB of 78 days for Rs.2009.61 crore to 11,40,770 railway employees, in recognition of the excellent performance by the Railway staff. Payment of PLB to eligible railway employees is made each year before the Durga Puja/Dusshera holidays. This year also, PLB amount equivalent to 78 days' wages is being paid to about 11.40 lakh non-gazetted Railway employees. The payment of PLB acts as an incentive to motivate the railway…
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal of the Department of Rural Development for Continuation of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) with total outlay of Rs. 53,428 crore for five years from 2026-27 to 2030-31 with (i) Renaming of the scheme & sub-schemes (ii) Revision in eligibility criteria, coverage and rate of assistance for divyangjan pension and (iii) continuation of pension schemes for old aged & widows and family benefit scheme in its…
IDBI Bank Ltd. is a scheduled commercial bank regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Due to its poor financial health, the Bank required repeated infusion of capital, initially provided by the Government of India and later by the LIC. On 5th May, 2017, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) put the IDBI Bank under the Prompt Corrective Action Framework and imposed several restrictions in view of its non-performing assets and losses incurred by the Bank. After considering the improvement in the Bank’s financial…
The Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD), under Digital India Corporation (DIC), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), facilitated real-time multilingual communication at the National Centre for Good Governance’s (NCGG) Capacity Building Programme on Urban Service Delivery for Civil Servants of Multiple Countries, being held in Mussoorie from 12 to 23 October 2026. Sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, the programme is organised by NCGG under the…
The Ministry of Education has taken cognizance of the unfortunate death of a student at the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Ranchi campus. In order to examine the circumstances and related issues in detail, a three-member committee headed and chaired by Prof. Rajni Abbi, Director, South Campus, University of Delhi, along with a senior psychiatrist and a senior officer from the Ministry of Education, as Members has been constituted. Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Ranchi is a…
The Indian Navy is set to commission Samarthak at Naval Base, Karwar on 16 Oct 2026. Built by M/s Larsen and Toubro Ltd under the Government of India's Make in India initiative, Samarthak is the first of four Multi-Purpose Vessels being inducted into the Indian Navy. The commissioning will mark another significant milestone in India's drive towards defence self-reliance and she will form an important component of the Navy’s future and ideal “utility” ship for strategically important operations. Designed primarily…
Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs) on “Management of Dermatological Disorders for Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy”, with the inclusion of Yoga have been issued by the Ministry of Ayush. Prepared by the Ayush Vertical of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, the document is intended to bring more uniformity, quality assurance and evidence-informed practice to clinical care across the Ayush systems. Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State…
The Reserve Bank has launched the 51st round of the quarterly Services and Infrastructure Outlook Survey (SIOS) for the reference period October-December 2026. The survey assesses the business situation for the current quarter (Q3:2026-27) from selected companies in the services and infrastructure sectors in India and their expectations for the ensuing quarter (Q4:2026-27) based on qualitative responses on a set of indicators pertaining to demand conditions, financial conditions, employment conditions and the…
The Reserve Bank has launched the 116th round of the quarterly Industrial Outlook Survey (IOS) of the Indian manufacturing sector for the reference period October-December 2026. The survey assesses business sentiments for the current quarter (Q3:2026-27) and expectations for the ensuing quarter (Q4:2026-27), based on qualitative responses on a set of indicators pertaining to demand conditions, financial conditions, employment conditions and the price situation. The outlook on key parameters for the two subsequent…
Indian Navy’s guided missile stealth frigate INS Trishul arrived at Plymouth, United Kingdom. The ship is scheduled to participate in Exercise KONKAN-26 with the Royal Navy. India-UK annual bilateral maritime exercise KONKAN-26 is a testament to the enduring maritime partnership between India and the UK. Over the past two decades, the exercise has grown significantly in scale and complexity, fostering enhanced interoperability and mutual understanding in maritime operations between the two Navies. Since its…
Indian Naval Ship Sahyadri arrived at Vladivostok, Russia, on 10 Oct 2026 to participate in Exercise INDRA 2026, a bilateral exercise between the Indian Navy and the Russian Federation Navy (RuFN) scheduled from 13 to 18 Oct 2026. The deployment provides an opportunity for professional engagements and operational interaction between the two navies, furthering maritime cooperation and interoperability. The participation of INS Sahyadri is in consonance with the Government of India’s vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and…
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for, inaugurated, and dedicated to the nation several development projects worth over ₹13,000 crore in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, today. Welcoming the esteemed dignitaries and the people of Tamil Nadu, he expressed immense joy at commencing his address in the vibrant state. Highlighting the historic significance of the day, the Prime Minister announced that the event involves massive projects worth thirteen thousand crore rupees. He explained that these…
In view of the evolving conditions and to ensure orderly functioning of the foreign exchange market, the Reserve Bank of India has today issued two circulars - A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 25 and A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 26 announcing the following regulatory measures. Restrictions on rebooking of cancelled foreign exchange derivative contracts: Authorised Dealers shall not permit users to rebook any foreign exchange derivative contract involving INR, whether deliverable or non-deliverable, which has been…
The Reserve Bank of India has launched the 75th round of its Order Books, Inventories and Capacity Utilisation Survey (OBICUS). The survey is for the reference period July – September 2026 (Q2:2026-27). The Reserve Bank has been conducting the Order Books, Inventories and Capacity Utilisation Survey (OBICUS) of the manufacturing sector on a quarterly basis since 2008. The information collected in the survey includes quantitative data on new orders received during the reference quarter, backlog of orders at the…
The Reserve Bank of India had issued draft Directions on the ‘ Credit Valuation Adjustment (CVA) Framework’ on August 7, 2026, inviting feedback from stakeholders until August 28, 2026. 2. The draft Directions proposed modifications to the instructions on capital charge for CVA risk for commercial banks. Key revisions included: (i) allowing eligible banks to choose a simpler approach; (ii) increasing the sensitivity of supervisory risk weights for counterparties by sector and credit quality; (iii) clarifying the…
The Reserve Bank of India had issued draft Amendment Directions on the ‘ Standardised Approach for Counterparty Credit Risk (SA-CCR)’ on June 10, 2026, inviting feedback from stakeholders until July 1, 2026. The draft Amendment Directions proposed modifications to the instructions on capital charge for counterparty credit risk as provided in Master Direction on Forthcoming Instructions for commercial banks. Key revisions included: (i) clarifying the scope of CCR for both banking and trading book exposures, (ii)…
Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth will inaugurate the 12th National Maritime Search & Rescue Exercise (SAREX-2026) on 07 October 26, and witness SAR Demo off Paradip coast on 08 October 26 being organized by the Indian Coast Guard. A key highlight of this exercise is the international participation of 32 observers from 30 countries, underscoring the cooperative protocols, strategic importance, and global interoperability of the drill. SAREX-2026 will be one of the largest and most complex SAR exercises ever…
Earlier today, during the march of certain political parties towards the Election Commission, it was learnt through the media that some Members of Parliament wished to meet the Commission along with their delegation. With regard to today's developments, it is clarified that, till 4.00 PM today, no political party, through its representatives, had sought an appointment for a meeting with the Election Commission. Thereafter, at around 4.00 PM, information was received from Delhi Police that a delegation of MPs, led…
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today approved the setting up of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), namely, Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority (ITLA) to strengthen research, planning, appraisal, monitoring and impact assessment within the broad domains of Transportation and Logistics. The approval seeks to address the long-standing challenges arising from fragmented planning and implementation across multiple transport-related Ministries and agencies. By fostering greater…
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today approved the Government of India’s commitment of Rs.10,000 crore towards the establishment of the SME Growth Fund (SGF) aimed at catalysing growth-oriented capital for India's Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and enabling the emergence of champion Indian enterprises across manufacturing, services, technology, innovation-driven sectors, and strategic value chains as per Para 28 of Union Budget 2026-27. This was in part of the holistic set of…
The Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India, has approved the establishment of five Centres of Excellence (CoEs) for studies in Classical Assamese, Classical Bengali, Classical Marathi, Classical Pali and Classical Prakrit. The initiative will provide dedicated institutional support for advanced academic research, preservation and digitisation of linguistic and literary heritage, and wider dissemination of knowledge relating to these Classical Languages. The Centres of…
The Reserve Bank, vide Press Release dated July 14, 2026, had issued the draft "Reserve Bank of India (Acquisition and Holding of Shares or Voting Rights) Amendment Directions, 2026”, seeking comments / feedback from the regulated entities and members of public / other stakeholders on or before August 4, 2026. The draft Amendment Directions proposed to simplify approval process for subsequent acquisitions of major shareholding in a banking company by mutual funds, insurance companies and pension funds. 2.…
The Second Edition of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2026) commenced at Subic Bay, Philippines, on 28 Sep 2026, with the participation of Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri and Kulish, along with maritime forces from ASEAN Member States. Conducted under the theme “Anchored in Trust, United at Sea”, the exercise brings together maritime forces from India and ASEAN countries for professional, operational and social engagements aimed at enhancing mutual understanding, cooperation and interoperability. The…
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has approved procurement worth ₹5,547.99 crore at Minimum Support Price (MSP) under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) for the Kharif Marketing Season 2026-27 in Uttar Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. The decision is aimed at protecting farmers from a decline in market prices and ensuring remunerative returns for their produce, particularly for pulse and oilseed growers. Shri Chouhan said that under the leadership of…
The Ayush services sector has emerged as one of India’s fastest-growing service sectors, with its economic contribution estimated at US$36.92 billion in FY2024-25, according to a new study by the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS). Registering a 16.91 per cent CAGR since FY2022-23, the sector is increasingly contributing to India’s economic growth through healthcare, wellness, employment generation and Medical Value Travel. The study projects that the Ayush services economy could scale…
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all mandated Rabi Crops for Marketing Season 2027-28. Government has increased the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) of Rabi Crops for Marketing Season 2027-28, to ensure remunerative prices to the growers for their produce. The absolute highest increase in MSP has been announced for Safflower at Rs.675 per quintal followed by Rapeseed & Mustard at Rs.413…
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved implementation of the ITMS Project by Delhi Police at an estimated cost of Rs.1,789.52 crore, inclusive of taxes. The project will cover 42 identified traffic corridors and will be implemented in three phases over 24 months, followed by five years of operation and maintenance. As part of the wider efforts of the Central Government and the Government of NCT of Delhi to improve traffic management,…
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Green Energy Corridor Phase-III (GEC-III) scheme. This historic initiative will strengthen India’s Intra-State Transmission System (InSTS) to enable evacuation of up to 135 Gigawatt (GW) of renewable energy across States/ Union Territories. The scheme also provides for deployment of 50 GWh of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) at the Renewable Energy (RE) developer/generator end or any other location of importance for grid…
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah today inaugurated various projects and laid the foundation stones for several others, worth ₹258 crore, of the Chandigarh Administration. On this occasion, Punjab Governor and Administrator of Chandigarh Shri Gulab Chand Kataria, along with several other dignitaries were present. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah said that Chandigarh was established on this day in 1966, Haryana was…
In pursuance to directions of the Hon’ble Prime Minister during the 51 st PRAGATI meeting, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has identified 50 model cities under the PRAGATI-50 initiative for demonstrating a higher benchmark of ‘Swachhata’ through targeted, KPI-based action and by leveraging intensive and technology-enabled monitoring within the framework of Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban 2.0. Click here to see the list of cities Speaking at the launch, Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal emphasized:…
The 30th meeting of the Full Commission of the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) was held on 28.09.2026, under the Chairmanship of Shri Rajesh Verma, Chairperson, CAQM, during which the Commission approved modifications to the extant Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Schedule for the National Capital Region (NCR). The revised GRAP Schedule includes the following changes: Merging repeated actions on dust measures, MSW management and transport in Stage-I;…
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) today conducted a day long stakeholders conference with ecosystem partners to deliberate and share ideas to further enhance service delivery, improve convenience by using Aadhaar and contribute to the larger good of people. Over 600 stakeholders including senior policy makers, industry leaders, technocrats, and professionals came together for the ‘Aadhaar Samvaad’ in Kolkata, which coincided with the 17th Aadhaar Day. The event was graced by Shri Jitin Prasada,…
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has promulgated a new Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR), Section 7, Series B, Part XXI, titled “Ground and Flying Training Syllabus for Issue of Pilot Licence for Gyroplanes.” The CAR prescribes the ground and flying training syllabus for candidates seeking a DGCA pilot licence in the gyroplane category. Gyroplanes are a unique category of aircraft that use a freely rotating rotor system to generate lift, while forward thrust is provided by a propeller. Their…
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah today inaugurated development projects worth ₹1,472 crore and flagged off the country’s first LNG-powered train from Sabarmati Railway Station in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. He also inaugurated the WAG-12 Maintenance Shed being established for the maintenance of railway locomotive engines. Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel and several other dignitaries were present on the occasion. Addressing the programme, Union Home Minister and Minister of…
The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), Government of India, will launch the Livestock Insurance Portal on 28 th September, 2026 in New Delhi, marking an important milestone in the digital transformation of livestock insurance services in the country. The Portal will be launched by Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Panchayati Raj, Government of India. The Portal will provide a single, integrated digital platform for…
Indian Navy’s frontline stealth frigate, INS Sahyadri, and missile corvette, INS Kulish, concluded their participation in the 23rd ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Maritime Security Joint Cooperation Activity (EWG-MS JCA) at Subic Bay, Philippines, with the Closing Ceremony held on 25 Sep 2026. The activity commenced on 21 Sep 2026 with the Opening Ceremony at Naval Operating Base Subic, hosted by the Philippine Navy and co-chaired by Japan. The Harbour Phase featured Subject Matter Expert Exchanges on Peace…
World Tourism Day 2026, to be observed on 27 September under the theme “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism ”, highlights the role of technology in shaping the future of tourism. In India, the sector is emerging as an important contributor to economic growth, employment, and livelihoods, contributing 5.22% to GDP and supporting 8.46 crore jobs in 2023-24. Domestic Tourist Visits reached 428.55 crore in 2025, while Foreign Tourist Visits rose to 2.53 crore and foreign exchange earnings…
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today launched the Digital Connectivity Rating (DCR) Platform, an integrated digital platform designed to provide visibility of rating of properties to the consumers and facilitate the end-to-end process for rating the digital connectivity of properties along with a mobile app for testing digital connectivity. The DCR Platform facilitates implementation of the framework prescribed under the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Rating of Properties for Digital…
The Government of India has approved a one-time, interest-free loan of ₹50,000 per barn for FCV tobacco growers in Andhra Pradesh under the Interest-Free Working Capital Assistance Scheme, providing timely financial support to growers amid evolving global market conditions. Auctions for the 2025–26 crop season in Andhra Pradesh commenced on 25 March 2026, with approximately 100 million kg of Flue-Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco auctioned so far. FCV tobacco is predominantly cultivated in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.…
Today, the Reserve Bank released the September 2026 issue of its monthly Bulletin. The Bulletin includes seven speeches, three articles and current statistics. The three articles are: I. State of the Economy; II. Credit-Deposit Divergence: A Balance Sheet Decomposition; and III. Private Corporate Investment: Growth in 2025-26 and Outlook for 2026-27. I. State of the Economy With geopolitical tensions re-escalating in West Asia, the global economy is again confronted with rising energy prices, and increased…
INS Trishul arrived at Toulon, France, on 22 Sep 2026 to participate in the 24th edition of the bilateral maritime exercise ‘VARUNA’ between the Indian Navy and the French Navy. Exercise VARUNA will witness professional engagements in harbour and at sea, including cross-deck visits, operational interactions and sporting engagements. These engagements will provide opportunities for both Navies to share experiences and Best Practices, enhance interoperability and foster greater mutual understanding. The visit…
Under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has signed the first high-value deep tech project agreement with the Industry (Start-up) Zero mK India Private Limited towards collaborative effort for indigenous development of a 20 mK Dilution Refrigerator for Quantum Applications. The signing of the agreement took place between Director, TDF and Zero mK India Private Limited, Alwar, Rajasthan in New Delhi. It is the first high value agreement under the Rs…
MCA has issued an advisory to the common public about ‘Nidhi Companies’ and their functioning, warning against investment decisions without their proper background check, especially if there is a promise of high returns. During examination of NDH-4 applications by MCA, it was noticed that many ‘Nidhi’ Companies are not complying with the applicable provisions of the Act and rules made thereunder in toto. It has also been observed that many of the companies functioning as Nidhi company have not submitted their…
Ministry of Defence has inked a contract with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for the procurement of 160 Satellite Smart Anti Airfield Weapons (SAT-SAAW) along with associated equipment for Indian Air Force (IAF) with a total cost of Rs 810.79 crore under Buy (Indian - Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category. The contract was signed in the presence of Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh in New Delhi on September 23, 2026. SAT-SAAW is an air-to-ground precision guided glide bomb which can be…
The bilateral air exercise ‘Veer Guardian 2026' between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) concluded at Air Force Station Jodhpur on 22 September 2026. The exercise served as a vital platform for enhancing interoperability and strengthening the strategic partnership between the two Air Forces. The IAF deployed a mix of aircraft, including Su-30 MKI, Rafale, and indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas. The JASDF participated with the F-2A fighter aircraft. During the joint…
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) organised a stakeholder workshop on Ease of Doing Business, Free Trade Agreement opportunities and ongoing trade-related reforms at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, today, followed by an interactive session with Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Shri Jitin Prasada. During the interaction, Shri Goyal outlined the Government’s approach to strengthening export facilitation through…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has created a Supervisory Data Quality Index (sDQI) that measures data quality in terms of the Accuracy, Timeliness, Completeness and Consistency in the submission of returns. The objective of sDQI is to assess the adherence to the principles enunciated in the Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Supervisory Returns) Directions, 2026 and Reserve Bank of India (Small Finance Banks - Supervisory Returns) Directions, 2026. The sDQI score of Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) has…
The National Steering Committee (NSC) of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has approved a Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) worth ₹320 crore for the Kurukshetra ITI Cluster in Haryana under the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme. Jindal Naveen Avsar Limited will partner with the Government of Haryana as the Anchor Industry Partner for the cluster. With this approval, the cumulative investment sanctioned under PM-SETU has risen…
Key highlights of ICI for the month of August 2026 The Index of Core Industries (ICI) grew by 4.8 per cent in August 2026 (Provisional Estimate) on a year-on-year basis, compared with August 2025. This is slightly less than the growth rate of 5.0 per cent recorded in July 2026 (Final Index). Cement, Electricity, Iron Ore, Steel, and Refinery Products observed (Y-o-Y) growth rate of 12.5 per cent, 11.6 per cent, 5.5 per cent, 3.4 per cent, and 2.6 per cent, respectively, whereas Coal, Natural Gas, Crude Oil, and…
In a defining step forward for trade and economic partnership, the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, is going to enter into force on 20 th October 2026. The FTA was signed on 27th April 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, by Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal and New Zealand’s Minister for Trade and Investment Hon. Todd McClay. Today, the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal and New Zealand’s Minister for Trade and Investment Hon. Todd McClay spoke via virtual…
The Reserve Bank of India had issued Draft Guidelines on Minimum Capital Requirements for Market Risk – under Basel III on February 17, 2023, seeking stakeholder feedback. The draft guidelines proposed adoption of the Simplified Standardised Approach (SSA) for computing capital requirement for market risk under the revised Basel III framework. 2. Feedback received on the draft guidelines has been examined and consequent modifications have been suitably incorporated in the final Directions. Statement on the…
Coal India Limited (CIL) is steadily expanding beyond its conventional coal-mining operations to build a diversified, technology-driven portfolio spanning energy, minerals, advanced materials and research and development (R&D). The company’s Business Development portfolio is organised around five mutually reinforcing platforms: coal gasification and coal-to-chemicals; thermal power; renewable energy and storage; critical minerals and advanced materials; and diversified minerals, including iron ore. The portfolio…
Indian Railways has approved the construction of a four-lane Road Over Bridge (ROB) in lieu of Level Crossing No. 53 at Km 62/2-4 on the Udhna-Ukai Songadh section of Western Railway, at a total cost of ₹133.2295 crore, on a cost-sharing basis with the State Government. The ROB will be a four-lane structure. The Railway bridge portion will comprise an Open Web Girder (OWG), with an estimated cost of ₹91.60 crore. The crossing location has a 62% skew, which significantly increases design and construction…
Indian Railways has approved the upgradation of the electric traction system from 1x25 kV to 2x25 kV on the 73 Route Kilometre Savalyapuram-Guntur section of South Coast Railway at a total cost of ₹142 crore. Covering 146 Track Kilometres, the project will strengthen the electric traction infrastructure and enhance its capacity to support growing railway operations. The upgradation of the electric traction system on the Savalyapuram-Guntur section forms part of HUN Route 8, covering the…
Indian Railways has approved the provision of Electronic Interlocking (EI) at seven stations of Solapur Division of Central Railway at a total cost of ₹209 crore. The approved work involves provision of Electronic Interlocking at Mohol, Mundhewadi, Bale, Solapur, Hotgi Junction-Hotgi A Cabin, Shahabad and Wadi Junction on the High Density Network (HDN) 7 route, where Kavach, Automatic Block Signalling (ABS) and Centralised Traffic Control (CTC) works have been sanctioned. The modern signalling system will…
In a significant step towards strengthening railway safety through indigenous technology, Indian Railways has approved the provision of Kavach Version 4.0 on 607.7 Route Kilometres of the Lucknow Division of North Eastern Railway at a total cost of ₹252 crore. The approved project will extend Kavach 4.0 coverage across the identified balance sections of the division, strengthening the safety infrastructure available for train operations. Strengthening Railway Safety with Indigenous Kavach Technology Kavach is an…
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participated through video conferencing in the 20th Rozgar Mela, organised at 45 locations across the country, and distributed appointment letters to more than 51,000 newly recruited youth. Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. L. Murugan, participated in the Rozgar Mela held at D.G. Vaishnav College, Chennai. He distributed appointment letters to 285 newly recruited candidates selected for various Central Government Ministries,…
In a significant step towards augmenting railway capacity and improving train operations in Maharashtra, Indian Railways has approved the doubling of the Chouk-Karjat railway section (10.86 km) of Central Railway at a cost of ₹497 crore. The project has been approved under the umbrella works for doubling, tripling, quadrupling, flyover and bypass works aimed at augmenting the capacity of the railway network. The Chouk-Karjat section forms part of the Panvel-Chouk-Karjat route, which is an important corridor for…
In a significant step towards strengthening regional rail connectivity and facilitating faster and more efficient movement of passengers and freight, Indian Railways has approved the construction of the 38.21 km new rail line between Mukutban (Adilabad) and Gadchandur in South Central Railway at a cost of ₹493 crore. Strengthening Connectivity to Industrial and Mining Centres Mukutban in Yavatmal district and Gadchandur in Chandrapur district are important industrial and mining centres, serving several cement…
As part of its ongoing enforcement drive against fraudulent Input Tax Credit (ITC) claims, the officers of Anti-Evasion Branch, Central Goods & Services Tax (CGST), Delhi South Commissionerate, has arrested a proprietor of a firm engaged in trading of iron and steel goods in a case involving fraudulent availment, utilisation and passing on of inadmissible ITC aggregating to over Rs. 25.22 crore through bogus invoices of approximately Rs. 140.14 crore. Investigation revealed that the firm had availed inadmissible…
The Reserve Bank of India has today released the data on Overseas Direct Investment, both under Automatic Route and the Approval Route, for the month of August 2026. Ajit Prasad Deputy General Manager (Communications) Press Release: 2026-2027/1145
1. Reserve Bank of India - Liabilities and Assets* (₹ Crore) Item 2025 2026 Variation Sep. 12 Sep. 04 Sep. 11 Week Year 1 2 3 4 5 4 Loans and Advances 4.1 Central Government 0 0 0 0 0 4.2 State Governments 29150 27940 14958 -12981 -14192 * Data are provisional; difference, if any, is due to rounding off. 2. Foreign Exchange Reserves* Item As on Sep. 11, 2026 Variation over Week End-March 2026 Year ₹ Cr. US$ Mn. ₹ Cr. US$ Mn. ₹ Cr. US$ Mn. ₹ Cr. US$ Mn. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 Total Reserves 7460261 780782 35788 -4924…
Today, the Reserve Bank released the data 1 related to the 2025-26 round of its annual survey on computer software and information technology enabled services (ITES) exports. The survey 2 collects details on India’s exports of software services {computer services and ITES/business process outsourcing (BPO) services} as per type of activity, on-site/off-site nature of services, country of destination and modes of supply. For 2025-26 round of the survey, 7,569 software export companies were contacted, of which 2,363…
The Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India, celebrated the 3rd Anniversary of the PM Vishwakarma at Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium, Kolkata, West Bengal. The occasion marked three years of the Scheme’s implementation and highlighted the Government’s continued efforts to strengthen the livelihoods, skills and entrepreneurial capabilities of traditional artisans and craftspeople. West Bengal onboarded for implementation of PM Vishwakarma in May 2026, marking an important step towards…
India’s textile sector recorded strong export growth in August 2026, with total exports increasing by 16.1% year-on-year to ₹29,776 crore, compared with ₹25,656 crore in August 2025. During April–August 2026, cumulative textile exports reached ₹1.43 lakh crore, registering growth of 10.3% over the corresponding period of the previous year. The growth was broad-based across several major textile segments. In August 2026, exports of cotton yarn, fabrics, made-ups and handloom products grew by 24.1%, while man-made…
The following eight Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFC) have surrendered the Certificate of Registration (CoR) granted to them by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The RBI, in exercise of powers conferred on it under Section 45-IA (6) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, has therefore cancelled their CoR. i) Cancellation of CoR due to exit from Non-Banking Financial Institution (NBFI) business Sr. No. Name of the Company Registered Office Address CoR No. CoR Issued on Date of Cancellation of CoR 1 Anupam…
The Reserve Bank of India, in exercise of powers conferred on it under Section 45-IA (6) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, has cancelled the Certificate of Registration of the following companies. Sr. No. Name of the Company Registered Office Address CoR No. CoR Issued on Cancellation Order Date 1 Dar's Financial Services Pvt Ltd GE-108, Rajdanga Main Road, Kolkata, West Bengal, India, 700107 B.05.03300 February 03, 2000 August 03, 2026 2 Rolta Holding and Finance Corporation Private Limited 21st Floor,…
The Reserve Bank of India issued Directions under Section 35A read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 to The Gauhati Co-operative Urban Bank Ltd., Guwahati vide Directive No.GWH.DOS.ADM.No.S233/01-10-101/2025-2026 dated December 17, 2025 for a period of six months up to close of business on June 17, 2026, which were last extended up to close of business on September 17, 2026, vide Directive No. DOR.MON/D-16/12-29-108/2026-2027 dated June 11, 2026. The Reserve Bank of India is satisfied that in the…
The Reserve Bank of India issued Directions under Section 35A read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 to The Valsad Mahila Nagrik Sahakari Bank Ltd., Valsad Gujarat vide Directive No. AMD.DOS.SSM.No.S831/11-03-153/2025-2026 dated December 17, 2025, for a period of six months up to close of business on June 18, 2026 which was last extended vide Directive No. DOR.MON/D-17/12-21-153/2026-27 dated June 11, 2026. The Reserve Bank of India is satisfied that in the public interest, it is necessary to…
Contents Sections I. Monetary Policy II. Regulation III. Central Board Meeting IV. Publications V. Data Release and Surveys Volume XXII | Issue 5 | August 2026 MONETARY & CREDIT INFORMATION REVIEW Note from the Editor Governor Shri Sanjay Malhotra announced the MPC's decision on August 5, 2026, following the third Bi-monthly Meeting for 2026-27, to keep the repo rate unchanged at 5.25 per cent, the SDF rate at 5.00 per cent and the MSF rate and Bank Rate at 5.50 per cent, with the stance retained at neutral.…
Today, the Reserve Bank released the results of 50th round of its quarterly Services and Infrastructure Outlook Survey (SIOS) conducted during Q2:2026-27. This forward-looking survey 1 captures qualitative assessment and expectations of Indian companies engaged in the services and infrastructure sectors on a set of business parameters relating to demand conditions, price situation and other business conditions. In the latest round of the survey 2, 750 companies provided their assessment for Q2:2026-27 and…
Today, the Reserve Bank released the results of September 2026 round of its bi-monthly Rural Consumer Confidence Survey (RCCS) 1 2. The survey collects current perceptions (vis-à-vis a year ago) and one year ahead expectations of households, on general economic situation, employment scenario, overall price situation, own income and spending, besides information on inflation. The survey was conducted during September 10-20, 2026, covering 8,799 responses in the rural and semi-urban areas across all Indian states…