The Centre extended the Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (ROSCTL) scheme for apparel exporters until December 31, providing temporary relief to an industry supporting over 45 million jobs while planning a five-year extension. Textile MSMEs are calling for active hand-holding and support to meet strict regulatory and sustainability standards to fully utilize Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with developed economies. Meanwhile, at Paradip Port, a major cargo theft and contamination racket was uncovered after a quality inspector detected adulterated iron ore pellets worth Rs 28.19 lakh in trucks arriving from Rungta Mines, prompting police investigations under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Overall, gross H1 FY27 GST collections reached 12.46 lakh crore, driven by a 27.1 percent surge in import tax revenues reflecting strong industrial capital expenditure.