In the Budget 2023, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that states and cities will be encouraged to undertake urban planning reforms to transform into ‘sustainable cities of tomorrow’. The Smart Cities Mission, launched in 2015, is a key initiative under which a new Rs 10,000 crore Urban Infrastructure Development Fund will be established, managed by the National Housing Bank. The fund aims to create urban infrastructure in tier 2 and tier 3 cities. Cities will also be incentivized to improve credit worthiness for municipal bonds through property tax governance reforms and ring-fencing user charges on urban infrastructure.

President Droupadi Murmu addressed the joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, emphasizing India's strength in Digital India and 5G technology, which is recognized globally. She highlighted the country's efforts in combating cyber security risks and the successful implementation of digital initiatives such as the Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile trinity, One Nation One Ration Card, and DBT, which have brought transparency and prevented many from falling into poverty during the Covid pandemic. The World Bank report acknowledged India's effective systems. Murmu also noted the rapid adoption of digital technology by small businesses and the government's support for startups and micro street vendors through schemes like PM SVANidhi and Swamitva Yojana.

The Indian Union IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the draft of the 'Indian Telecom Bill 2022' for public consultation, which proposes exemptions for press messages from interception with certain national security exceptions. The announcement follows MoS for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar's statement on building a large AI data database for Indian companies, with potential exceptions for foreign companies. The Data Protection Bill and Digital India Act are expected to address digital data protection and regulate OTT platforms. The Andhra Pradesh government faces allegations of data theft through the 'Seva Mitra' app during the TDP's governance, with a committee report accusing the party of mining personal data and political affiliations.

The Indian Union government is planning to amend the export policy for certain types of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to simplify compliance with the Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and Technologies (SCOMET) scheme. The amendment will exempt specific UAV systems from SCOMET Category 5B, subject to a general licensing procedure. This move is part of the government's efforts to boost the drone sector's turnover from Rs 80 crore to an estimated ₹12,000-15,000 crore by 2026 and position India as a global hub for drone exports.

Five top administrators, including IAS and IPS officers, have been arrested across India, raising concerns about corruption in the bureaucracy. Gujarat-cadre IAS officer Kankipati Rajesh was arrested for alleged bribery in weapon license sanctions. Other arrests include Jharkhand's Pooja Singhal for money laundering, Karnataka's J Manjunath and IPS officer Amrit Paul for separate corruption cases, and Jharkhand's Syed Riaz Ahmed for sexual harassment. Despite Union government data indicating a decline in corruption complaints, these arrests cast doubt on the figures.

The National Payments Corporation Of India's international arm, NPCI International, has signed an MoU with France's Lyra Network to enable acceptance of UPI and RuPay Cards in France. This move is part of a broader strategy to expand digital payment systems globally, with UPI transactions already available in Bhutan, Singapore, Nepal, and the UAE, and discussions underway to extend services to the US, West Asia, and other European countries. Union Communication Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, attending a technology event in Paris, highlighted the significance of this partnership for digital payment inclusivity. The Reserve Bank of India is also exploring UPI for cross-border remittances, particularly in G20 countries. The recent RBI approval to link credit cards with UPI, currently limited to RuPay cards, marks another step in the integration of digital payment systems.

Stryker, a global medical technology company, has launched a new R&D center in Gurugram, India, with a capacity of 1,000 employees. The center aims to develop innovative healthcare solutions and houses a unique Neurovascular Innovation Lab. The Indian government, through Union minister of state for finance Dr Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad, has offered incentives under the Production Linked Incentives scheme to encourage such technology-backed facilities. The new center is part of Stryker's strategic innovation hubs and is expected to leverage India's talent and research capabilities to serve global markets.

Senior IAS officer Shubhra Saxena filed a complaint in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, alleging that her ex-husband Shashank Gupta threatened her and another IAS officer, Neha Sharma. Saxena, who is the special secretary of medical education in UP and a 2009-batch UPSC topper, claimed that Gupta, along with his bouncers, has been stalking her and her daughter, exerting threats and pressure. A police complaint was lodged at Kotwali police station on charges of intimidation, defamation, and other relevant sections of the IPC. The state police have begun an investigation following the report.