Search: NCE

September 2026

• 22Sep

  SEBIIRDAI repeals 2020 guidelines on repatriation of dividends by foreign-majority insurance intermediaries; prior approval requirement already removed

  2020 dividend guidelines repealedRelief

  IRDAI has repealed its Guidelines on repatriation of dividends by insurance intermediaries having majority by foreign investors, dated 3 January 2020, with effect from 30 July 2026. The Insurance Intermediaries (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 notified on that date removed the requirement of the Authority’s prior approval for repatriating dividends and the condition on related party payments.

• 22Sep

  FEMA & RBIGold and silver import through IIBX: IFSCA widens who can be notified as a Qualified Jeweller — DGFT authorisation holders and GJEPC members can apply

  Qualified Jeweller route widenedRelief

  IFSCA has relaxed the eligibility for being notified as a Qualified Jeweller for importing gold or silver through IIBX. Holders of a valid DGFT Advance Authorisation, a valid GJEPC Registration-cum-Membership Certificate, or a DGFT authorisation for specific ITC (HS) codes can now apply through IIBX. They must trade through a Bullion Trading Member and import only the authorised items.

• 21Sep

  Foreign TradeIndia–New Zealand FTA enters into force on 20 October 2026; zero duty on all Indian exports from day one

  20 October 2026New facility

  Every tariff line covering India’s exports to New Zealand becomes duty-exempt on entry into force. Dairy, sugar and edible oils stay excluded from India’s concessions.

• 21Sep

  LicencesGas Cylinders Rules amended for CNG/CBG Mobile Refuelling Units: who may own one, where it may dispense and what safety conditions apply

  CNG/CBG mobile refuellingRule change

  DPIIT has notified the Gas Cylinder (Third Amendment) Rules, 2026 (G.S.R. 831(E) dated 21 September 2026). A new Condition 22 in Form G lays down additional conditions for CNG/CBG Mobile Refuelling Units — ownership, the vehicles they may refuel, safety distances and records. Public retail dispensing is barred.

• 21Sep

  CustomsSea cargo manifest: ICEGATE explains how to amend a CSN or Sea Arrival Manifest before and after Entry Inwards — Advisories 37/2026 and 38/2026

  After SEI: officer approvalClarified

  Two ICEGATE advisories on the Sea Cargo Manifest and Transhipment Regulations set out the filing sequence for amending a Cargo Summary Notification and a Sea Arrival Manifest. Before Sea Entry Inwards the system applies amendments directly; after it, a Customs officer must approve. The FAQs add that consolidators can now delete a CSN before the SAM is filed.

• 21Sep

  CustomsAutomatic goods registration for e-sealed export containers: ICEGATE advisory warns that a wrong container count in the shipping bill breaks the process

  Auto GR for e-sealed cargoClarified

  An ICEGATE advisory dated 21 September 2026 sets out how goods registration happens automatically for factory-stuffed, e-sealed FCL export containers once the last container gates in. It is running at JNCH, Cochin and New Mangalore. Exporters must declare the exact number of containers, package details and marks and numbers in the shipping bill, and the correct destination port code in the e-seal data.

• 21Sep

  CustomsScrip fraud cases under section 28AAA: Customs must first adjudicate the misdeclaration, then ask DGFT to cancel

  Section 28AAAClarified

  Instruction 17/2026-Customs tells field formations how to decide show cause notices that were held up because DGFT had not cancelled the instrument — in three situations the wait is no longer the rule.

• 18Sep

  Legal & DisputesTRAI amends spam-call regulations: AI-based detection, pre-declared A2P calls, a 7-day inquiry window and a consumer appeal

  TCCCPR Third Amendment 2026Rule change

  TRAI has introduced the Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2026. Businesses using automated (A2P) calls must pre-declare them to their telecom provider; commercial messages on the basis of a customer’s inquiry are allowed only for seven days; and action against a sender can start at three complaints in ten days if its number is also flagged by AI.

• 18Sep

  SEBINPS Swasthya operational guidelines issued: pension account with a mandatory super top-up health cover, ₹1,000 minimum investment, withdrawals paid straight to hospitals

  NPS Swasthya: ₹1,000 + premiumNew facility

  PFRDA has issued the Operational Guidelines for NPS Swasthya, 2026. The scheme pairs an NPS Swasthya investment account with a mandatory super top-up health insurance policy. Minimum initial contribution is the first-year premium plus ₹200 annual maintenance charge plus ₹1,000 investment. Partial withdrawals for healthcare, up to 25% of own contributions, are paid directly to the hospital.

• 18Sep

  GSTCGST Delhi South arrests iron and steel trader over fake ITC of ₹25.22 crore

  ₹25.22 crore

  The Anti-Evasion Branch found inadmissible input tax credit availed and passed on through bogus invoices of about ₹140.14 crore. The proprietor was arrested under section 69 of the CGST Act.

• 17Sep

  LicencesDraft Drugs Rules amendment proposes mandatory CCTV at medical stores to tighten sale of Schedule H, H1 and X drugs

  CCTV at medical stores: draftComments invited

  The Union Health Ministry has proposed amendments to the Drugs Rules, 1945 through Draft Gazette Notification G.S.R. 791 (E) dated 8 September 2026, recommending mandatory CCTV surveillance at medical stores as an additional safeguard for Schedule H, H1 and X drugs. It is a draft; objections and suggestions are invited.

• 17Sep

  SEBISEBI extends Samuhik Prativedan Manch common reporting platform to clearing members who are also stock brokers; first phase proposed from 30 September 2026

  14 reports, one platformNew facility

  SEBI, in consultation with Clearing Corporations, is extending the Samuhik Prativedan Manch — the common reporting platform for stock brokers — to members of Clearing Corporations who are also stock brokers. The first phase, proposed from 30 September 2026, covers 14 compliance reports, about 60% of their reporting requirements. Around 1066 clearing members stand to benefit.

• 17Sep

  Income TaxNet direct tax collections at ₹12,12,411 crore as on 17 September 2026, up 12.96%; refunds 29.19% higher at ₹2,20,027 crore

  Net ₹12.12 lakh crore, up 12.96%

  CBDT data for FY 2026-27 as on 17 September 2026 shows gross direct tax collections of ₹14,32,437.43 crore (up 15.19%), refunds of ₹2,20,026.72 crore (up 29.19%) and net collections of ₹12,12,410.71 crore (up 12.96%). Advance tax stands at ₹5,21,940.72 crore, 16.18% more than a year ago.

• 16Sep

  CustomsEMI Scheme documents cut from ten to three from 15 September 2026; CBIC marks 10 years of AEO

  10 → 3 documentsRelief

  Circular 39/2026-Customs dated 3 September 2026 rationalises the uploads under the Eligible Manufacturer Importer Scheme. CBIC also listed AEO process improvements under consideration.

• 15Sep

  Legal & DisputesCCPA imposes ₹10 lakh penalty on Rapido for pre-ride “pay more” prompts held to be dark patterns

  ₹10 lakh penalty on Rapido

  The Central Consumer Protection Authority has imposed a ₹10 lakh penalty on Roppen Transportation Services Private Limited, which operates Rapido, for misleading advertisements, unfair trade practices, unfair contract and dark patterns. Prompts asking riders to add to the fare before a ride was confirmed were held to be “confirm shaming”, and the colour-coded price slider “interface interference”.

• 15Sep

  FEMA & RBIUPI stays free for person-to-person transfers and merchant payments up to ₹2,000; 0.4% MDR on specified merchant payments above ₹2,000, says Finance Ministry

  UPI: 0.4% MDR above ₹2,000Clarified

  The Ministry of Finance says the new UPI framework under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 does not touch person-to-person transfers. Merchant payments up to ₹2,000 and small merchants receiving up to ₹1 lakh a month stay at zero MDR. A 0.4% MDR applies to merchant payments above ₹2,000, capped at ₹300 for ₹75,000 and above; customers are not to be charged.

• 12Sep

  InsolvencyIBBI proposes four CIRP-style safeguards for personal guarantor insolvency — related parties to get nil vote, mandatory valuation; comments closed on 3 October 2026

  Proposal — comments closed 3 OctComments invited

  An IBBI discussion paper proposes four amendments to the regulations for insolvency resolution of personal guarantors to corporate debtors: nil voting share for related parties of the guarantor, examination and reporting of avoidance transactions, valuation of the guarantor’s assets by a registered valuer, and recording of creditors’ reasons on the repayment plan. These are proposals only. The last date for comments was 3 October 2026, which has passed.

• 11Sep

  FEMA & RBIBankers’ Books Evidence Act, 2026 in force from 1 October 2026; replaces the 1891 law

  1 October 2026Rule change

  The 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.

• 10Sep

  Legal & DisputesE-Commerce Rules amended: sponsored listings to be disclosed, “prior price” defined for discounts, yearly dark-pattern self-audit — in force from 1 January 2027

  In force from 1 January 2027Rule change

  The Department of Consumer Affairs has amended the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 through the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2026. Every e-commerce entity must join the National Consumer Helpline convergence process. New duties cover complaints, search results, sponsored listings, price reductions, dark patterns and seller disclosures. The Rules come into force on 1 January 2027.

• 10Sep

  SEBISEBI launches “Demat 2.0” pilot for tokenised corporate bonds; three issuers raise ₹1,025 crore, funds leg settled in RBI’s wholesale e₹

  Demat 2.0: ₹1,025 crore raisedNew facility

  SEBI has announced the launch of “Demat 2.0”, a pilot in which corporate bonds are created as digital tokens on a distributed ledger owned by the depositories and settled against RBI’s wholesale CBDC (e₹). REC, L&T and IIFL have issued tokenised bonds aggregating ₹1,025 crore. Credit rating, debenture trustee, listing and disclosure requirements continue to apply in full.