FEMA & RBI
Foreign exchange rules and Reserve Bank directions.
44stories
September 2026
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Bankers’ Books Evidence Act, 2026 in force from 1 October 2026; replaces the 1891 law
1 October 2026Rule changeThe new Act recognises bank records kept in electronic, digital and cloud-based form, standardises their certification, and requires a “special cause” in writing to summon bank officials.
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RBI recognises Unified Fintech Forum as a Self-Regulatory Organisation for FinTech
SRO-FTNew facilityRBI examined the application of UFF against its SRO-FT Framework. FinTech Association for Consumer Empowerment (FACE) was recognised as the first SRO-FT in August 2024.
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FIU-IND issues PMLA notices to 15 crypto platforms and seeks takedown of their apps and URLs
15 noticesThe notices under section 13 of the PMLA are for operating without registering as reporting entities. The registration duty is activity-based and does not depend on physical presence in India.
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Electronic trading platforms in the IFSC now need IFSCA registration: Electronic Trading Platforms Regulations, 2026 notified, net worth floor USD 200,000
ETP Operator: USD 200,000 net worthRule changeIFSCA has notified the IFSCA (Electronic Trading Platforms) Regulations, 2026. No person may operate an electronic trading platform in the IFSC without registration as an Electronic Trading Platform Operator. An operator must keep a net worth of at least USD 200,000 at all times, run real-time surveillance, publish its operating policy and keep platform data for at least eight years.
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RBI withdraws seven old FEMA circulars — five on ECB, one on tax-free bonds, one on MTSS sub-agents: A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 21
7 FEMA circulars withdrawnRBI is reviewing every circular issued under FEMA since 1 June 2000. By A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 21 dated 8 September 2026 it has withdrawn seven circulars issued between 2012 and 2015 that had ceased to be operative: five on External Commercial Borrowings, one on non-resident investment in tax-free bonds and one on the Money Transfer Service Scheme.
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Natural-calamity relief: banks, NBFCs and AIFIs to file a half-yearly return on RBI’s CIMS portal within 30 days; monthly return for commercial banks discontinued
Half-yearly return on CIMSRule changeRBI has asked all regulated entities to report relief measures extended in areas affected by natural calamities through a half-yearly return on the CIMS portal. The return is due within 30 days of each half-year — by 30 October for the half-year ending 30 September and by 30 April for the half-year ending 31 March. The earlier monthly return for Scheduled Commercial Banks stands discontinued from 1 July 2026.
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Urban Co-operative Banks can now hold equity shares of Indian Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation (IDPIC) to become members: RBI amends investment Directions
UCBs may hold IDPIC sharesRule changeRBI has amended its investment portfolio Directions for Urban Co-operative Banks so that they can acquire membership of the Indian Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation (IDPIC), described as the nation’s central digital payment fraud intelligence platform. Paragraphs 101(5) and 107(1) of the 2025 Directions now mention equity shares of IDPIC. The change took effect on 2 September 2026.
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RBI drops two reports on Rupee accounts of non-resident banks: yearly branch list and overdrawal reporting dispensed with — A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 20
Two FEMA reports droppedReliefBy A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 20 dated 2 September 2026, RBI has dispensed with two reporting requirements on Rupee accounts of non-resident banks that dated from April 2003: the annual list of branches maintaining such accounts, and the report of temporary overdrawals not adjusted within five days. The change applies with immediate effect.
August 2026
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IFSCA Fund Management Regulations amended again: “associate” set at a 20% test, pre-first-close money ring-fenced, differential distribution enabled
Associate = 20% holding testRule changeThe IFSCA (Fund Management) (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2026 redefine “associate” on a 20 per cent holding test, require money received before first close to be parked only in liquid, capital-preserving investments, let Venture Capital schemes make follow-on investments in companies older than ten years, enable senior and junior units, and reset NAV disclosure and FME contribution rules.
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Every Fund Management Entity in the IFSC must maintain a website or webpage from 1 December 2026: IFSCA lists the disclosures
FME website by 1 December 2026New facilityIFSCA has directed every Fund Management Entity registered under the Fund Management Regulations, 2025 to maintain a publicly accessible website or webpage with specified disclosures. Retail FMEs need an independent website. The URL must be intimated to IFSCA on or before 1 December 2026, the date the circular comes into force.
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IFSCA notifies its own market-abuse code for the IFSC: insider trading and unfair trade practices barred; SEBI’s 2015 and 2003 regulations cease to apply there
Insider trades: disclose in 2 daysRule changeThe IFSCA (Prohibition of Market Abuse in Securities Markets) Regulations, 2026 bar insiders from communicating or trading on material non-public information and prohibit manipulative, fraudulent and unfair trade practices in the IFSC securities market. From their commencement, SEBI’s insider trading regulations of 2015 and PFUTP regulations of 2003 do not apply in the IFSC.
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Infrastructure Debt Fund-NBFCs under Upper Layer regulation to follow the large exposure limits of NBFC-IFCs: RBI amends concentration risk Directions
IDF-NBFC: IFC exposure limitsRule changeRBI has inserted paragraph 39A in its concentration risk Directions for NBFCs. The large exposure limits that apply to Infrastructure Finance Companies (NBFC-IFC) now also apply to Infrastructure Debt Fund-NBFCs (IDF-NBFC) that are subject to Upper Layer regulations. The amendment is dated 25 August 2026 and is in force with immediate effect.
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29 FDI investments worth ₹4,895.65 crore reported under the revised land-border-country rule
₹4,895.65 croreReliefSince Press Note 2 of 2026, investors with non-controlling land-bordering-country ownership of up to 10% can use the automatic route after reporting to the Government.
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RBI proposes one set of rules on loan interest rates for all lenders, covering fixed and floating loans
Fixed + floatingComments invitedThe draft Interest Rates on Loans and Advances Directions, 2026 would harmonise the framework for banks, NBFCs, AIFIs, RRBs and co-operative banks. Comments closed on 11 September 2026.
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IFSCA to all regulated entities: hold a valid SEZ Letter of Approval and IFSCA registration at all times, or face penalty, suspension or cancellation
LoA renewal: 2 months beforeAction neededIFSCA has directed every regulated entity in the IFSC to hold a valid and subsisting Letter of Approval under the SEZ Act, 2005 and the applicable IFSCA registration, licence or authorisation at all times, and not to do business without them. It notes that some entities are operating without these. The circular supersedes the direction of 3 April 2025.
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RBI draft CVA framework: banks to compute Credit Valuation Adjustment capital charge under Basel III basic approach from 1 April 2027, with a simpler option for smaller derivative books
CVA capital charge: draftComments invitedRBI released draft Directions on 7 August 2026 to replace its 2011 Credit Valuation Adjustment (CVA) framework with the basic approach (BA-CVA) of the final Basel III framework. Banks could choose the full or reduced version; a bank with non-centrally cleared derivatives of up to ₹10 lakh crore notional could instead set its CVA charge at 100% of its counterparty credit risk charge. Proposed date of effect is 1 April 2027; comments closed on 28 August 2026.
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RBI draft proposes to rewrite banks’ leverage ratio chapter on the Basel 2017 standard from 1 April 2027; text puts the minimum at 4% for D-SIBs and 3.5% for other banks
Leverage ratio: draft rewriteComments invitedRBI released a draft on 7 August 2026 to amend Chapter VII (Leverage Ratio framework) of its capital adequacy Directions for commercial banks, to align with the Basel Committee’s ‘Leverage Ratio 2017 Standard’. The draft sets out how the exposure measure is to be built from on-balance sheet, derivative, SFT and off-balance sheet exposures, and proposes 1 April 2027 as the date of effect. Comments were invited till 28 August 2026; the window has closed.
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RBI issues final Directions on loan recovery and recovery agents; in force from 1 January 2027
1 January 2027Rule changeThe Amendment Directions cover fair treatment of borrowers, conduct of employees and recovery agents, and technology-based recovery on financed mobile devices — for banks, NBFCs and HFCs.
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RBI names 17 NBFCs in the Upper Layer for 2026-27; PNB Housing Finance and Sammaan Capital continue under enhanced regulation
17 NBFCs in Upper LayerNew facilityRBI has released the 2026-27 list of NBFCs in the Upper Layer (NBFC-UL) under Scale Based Regulation, based on financials as on 31 March 2026 and on revised identification criteria. Seventeen NBFCs are named. Two more — PNB Housing Finance and Sammaan Capital — do not meet the criteria this time but stay in the Upper Layer because the enhanced requirements run for at least five years.
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RBI draft for State and Central Co-operative Banks: exposure capped at 20% of Tier-I capital per borrower and 25% per group, new housing loan ceilings proposed from 1 April 2027
20% single, 25% group capComments invitedRBI issued two draft Directions on 6 August 2026 for Rural Co-operative Banks (State and Central Co-operative Banks). They propose exposure limits of 20% of Tier-I capital for a single counterparty and 25% for a group, a 15% cap each on real estate exposure and unsecured advances, and housing loan ceilings of ₹60 lakh to ₹3 crore by deposit size — all from 1 April 2027. Comments were due by 28 August 2026; the window has closed.
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