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…