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August 2026
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Trademark & IPPatent Office frames guidelines on AI in patent examination: AI may assist, the Examiner or Controller stays fully responsible
AI assists, officer decidesNew facilityThe Office of the CGPDTM has published Guidelines for the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Patent Examination Procedures. They list 12 typical uses with risks and safeguards, six prohibited uses — including feeding unpublished applications into public AI tools — and provide for an AI Governance Committee.
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FSSAIPan masala packaging: FSSAI adds paper-based material free of any plastic or aluminium foil, and tin or glass containers, to Schedule IV of the Packaging Regulations
Pan masala: paper, tin or glassRule changeThe Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2026 insert a new entry for pan masala in Schedule IV — the list of suggestive packaging materials. It names paper, paper board, cellulose or other naturally derived materials that are free from any plastic and from aluminium foil or metallised layers, and tin or glass containers. The regulations are in force from publication in the Official Gazette; the Gazette issue is dated 10 August 2026.
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SEBISEBI to carry out about one-third as many inspections of brokers, DPs, IAs and RAs in FY 2026-27; repetitive annual inspections of compliant entities discontinued
Inspections cut to one-thirdNew facilitySEBI has adopted an enhanced approach to inspecting market intermediaries from FY 2026-27. Its targeted number of inspections of stock brokers, DPs, IAs and RAs is rationalised to approximately one-third of the previous year. Repetitive annual comprehensive inspections of compliant entities, especially QSBs, are being discontinued, and entities are shortlisted quarterly on risk parameters.
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FEMA & RBIRBI 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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FEMA & RBIRBI 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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CustomsTelevision sets: compliance with IS 18112:2022 under the Compulsory Registration Order deferred to 26 January 2027 — CBIC Instruction 14/2026-Customs
Now 26 January 2027ExtendedCBIC has told Customs officers that MeitY, by Notification S.O. 4182(E), has extended the date for compliance with IS 18112:2022 for television sets under the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021. The requirement, due from 26 July 2026, now applies from 26 January 2027.
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Foreign TradeInterest subvention on export credit: EXIM Bank replaces RBI as implementing agency from 1 April 2026
RBI → EXIM BankRule changeTrade Notice 17/2026-27 records the transition under the Export Promotion Mission – Niryat Protsahan. Banks will now claim reimbursement from EXIM Bank; the benefit still reaches the MSME exporter upfront.
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FEMA & RBIRBI 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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Trademark & IPTrade Marks Agent Examination likely on 9 January 2027 and Patent Agent Examination on 10 January 2027: tentative schedule announced
TAE 9 Jan, PAE 10 Jan 2027The Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks has announced a tentative schedule: the Trade Marks Agent Examination 2027 is likely on 9 January 2027 (Saturday) and the Patent Agent Examination 2027 on 10 January 2027 (Sunday), at 15 centres. Both have Paper I, Paper II and a viva voce.
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LicencesDrugs Rules, 1945 amended: applicants who submit fake or fabricated data can be debarred from filing further applications
Fake data: applicant debarredRule changeThe Union Health Ministry says it has notified amendments to the Drugs Rules, 1945 that empower the Licensing Authority to debar entities submitting fake or fabricated data from filing further applications for a specified period. A show-cause notice must be issued first, and an appeal is provided.
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FEMA & RBIRBI 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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FEMA & RBIRBI 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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FEMA & RBIRBI draft proposes NBFCs offer only term loans, no revolving credit — credit-card NBFCs excepted; comment window closed on 28 August 2026
Draft: no revolving creditComments invitedRBI released draft amendment directions on 6 August 2026 proposing that an NBFC offer only credit products in the nature of term loans and no revolving credit products, except an NBFC authorised by RBI to issue credit cards. The draft defines “term loan” and “revolving credit” and proposes to delete the demand/call loan provisions. Comments were invited by 28 August 2026; that window has closed.
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Startup & MSMEDPIIT-recognised start-ups can list on “Source from India” on Trade Connect with an active IEC, even below the export threshold: DGFT Trade Notice 16/2026-27
Start-up badge on Trade ConnectNew facilityDGFT has opened the “Source from India” buyer-discovery feature of the Trade Connect ePlatform to DPIIT-recognised start-ups. Those meeting the existing criteria get a unique start-up badge. As a special exception, start-ups that do not meet the criteria may still register if they hold an active IEC and are not in the Denied Entity List.
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CustomsParcels from abroad: CBIC sets one procedure for all Foreign Post Offices; no reply to a document call in 30 days means assessment on record
30 days to replyRule changeCircular 35/2026-Customs prescribes a uniform SOP for personal postal imports processed through the FPO Import Application, which is live at eight locations and linked to the Risk Management System.
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FEMA & RBIRBI proposes to resume licensing of Urban Co-operative Banks ‘on tap’: draft asks for ₹10,000 crore deposits and ₹300 crore net worth from credit societies
UCB licences: draft rulesComments invitedRBI published draft guidelines on 5 August 2026 for licensing Urban Co-operative Banks on an ‘on tap’ basis. As proposed, only credit co-operative societies that are at least 10 years old, registered under the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002, with deposits of at least ₹10,000 crore and net worth of at least ₹300 crore could apply. Comments were invited till 5 September 2026; that window has closed.
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Foreign TradeTRQ applications: India–UK CETA last date extended to 9 August 2026 (Public Notice 26/2026-27); India–Oman CEPA window for FY 2026-27 was 4–19 August (Public Notice 24/2026-27)
TRQ: UK CETA, Oman CEPAExtendedTwo DGFT public notices on Tariff Rate Quota. Public Notice 26/2026-27 extended the last date for online TRQ applications under the India–UK CETA for CY 2026 up to 9 August 2026. Public Notice 24/2026-27 invited TRQ applications under the India–Oman CEPA for FY 2026-27 from 4 to 19 August 2026 on 30 tariff lines, with product-specific documents for marble and PET flakes.
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Foreign TradeEODC under Advance Authorisation and EPCG: only voluntary duty payments shown on the DGFT portal from Customs/ICEGATE data will be recognised — Trade Notice 15/2026-27
Payments from 1 August 2026Action neededDGFT has integrated licence-wise voluntary duty payment data from Customs/ICEGATE with its online system. For EODC applications under the Advance Authorisation and EPCG schemes, only the payment details reflected on the DGFT portal will be recognised. Authorisation holders must enter the correct licence number and IEC in ICEGATE and verify payments made on or after 1 August 2026.
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Foreign TradeHalal certification under i-CAS for meat exports to Egypt: transition period extended from six to nine months — DGFT Notification 28/2026-27
6 months → 9 monthsExtendedDGFT has amended Notification No. 59/2025-26 dated 9 February 2026 for exports of specified meat and meat products to Egypt. The mandatory India Conformity Assessment Scheme (i-CAS)-Halal will now take effect after nine months from that notification instead of six, to allow Egyptian halal certification bodies to complete onboarding and accreditation.
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Foreign TradeInventory-based cross-border e-commerce framework made operational; ANF-9A notified for registration of Exporters-on-Record: DGFT Public Notice 25/2026-27
ANF-9A for Exporter-on-RecordNew facilityDGFT has inserted paras 9.03 to 9.07 in Chapter 9 of the Handbook of Procedures to operationalise the Inventory-based Cross-border E-Commerce Facilitation Framework, and notified ANF-9A for registration as Exporter-on-Record. The procedures cover inventory records, seller visibility, returns, a yearly compliance certificate and dispute resolution, with immediate effect.
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