Rule change
54stories
September 2026
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FEMA & RBIBankers’ 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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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 changeThe 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.
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LabourPF investment pattern amended: rupee bonds of IBRD, IFC, ADB and New Development Bank with at least three years’ outstanding maturity — S.O. 5009(E)
Rupee bonds: IBRD, IFC, ADB, NDBRule changeThe Labour Ministry has amended the investment pattern notified under section 17(3)(a) of the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. In the debt category, clause (c) of Category (ii) now reads: rupee bonds with an outstanding maturity of at least three years issued by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Finance Corporation, Asian Development Bank and New Development Bank.
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FEMA & RBIElectronic 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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FEMA & RBINatural-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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FEMA & RBIUrban 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.
August 2026
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FEMA & RBIIFSCA 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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LicencesLegal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2026 notified: IST to be the common time reference; Rules take effect 180 days after Gazette publication
IST Rules: 180 days to alignRule changeThe Department of Consumer Affairs notified the Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2026 on 27 August 2026. The Rules provide for Indian Standard Time as the common time reference across the country for legal, administrative, commercial and other official purposes, and come into force 180 days from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
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SEBINPS Point of Presence charges from 1 October 2026: ₹200 one-time onboarding per PRAN and 0.20% of AUM a year for all schemes and NPS Lite; dormant accounts not charged
PoP: ₹200 + 0.20% of AUMRule changePFRDA has revised what Points of Presence can charge for all schemes under NPS and NPS Lite from 1 October 2026: a one-time onboarding charge of ₹200 per PRAN, recovered at ₹50 a quarter, and an annual charge of 0.20% of AUM adjusted through NAV. Dormant accounts are not charged. Fully digital onboarding may attract a reduced ₹100 charge. GST is extra.
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SEBINPS schemes re-classified into five types: MSF schemes get A-to-E equity categories and uniform names, pension funds limited to two schemes per category per tier
NPS: 5 scheme types, MSF A–ERule changePFRDA has set a standardised framework for classifying and presenting NPS schemes and told pension funds how to implement it. Schemes fall into five types; MSF schemes are slotted into categories A to E by equity exposure and renamed on a fixed pattern. Pension funds had 30 days from 28 August 2026 to re-classify and rename, and have 45 days to merge down to two schemes per category per tier.
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LabourCode on Wages: bonus for employees drawing up to ₹21,000 a month, to be calculated on ₹7,000 or the Central minimum wage — S.O. 4711(E) and S.O. 4710(E)
Bonus: ₹21,000 limit, ₹7,000 baseRule changeTwo Labour Ministry notifications dated 25 August 2026 under section 26 of the Code on Wages, 2019 fix the bonus numbers: every employee drawing wages not exceeding ₹21,000 a month is to be paid bonus, and where the wage is above ₹7,000 a month the bonus is calculated as if the wage were ₹7,000 or the minimum wage fixed by the Central Government, whichever is higher. Both are deemed to have come into force on 21 November 2025.
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FEMA & RBIIFSCA 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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FEMA & RBIInfrastructure 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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LicencesMedical Devices Rules, 2017: no separate loan licence for outsourced sterilisation; EU added for clinical-investigation waiver, says Health Ministry
No loan licence for sterilisationRule changeThe Health Ministry says the Medical Devices Rules, 2017 have been amended. Under amended rule 44, a manufacturer that outsources sterilisation to a facility holding a valid licence under the Rules no longer needs a separate loan licence for that activity. Rule 63 now includes the European Union among the jurisdictions recognised for waiver of clinical investigation.
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Foreign TradeExport proceeds can be realised in any foreign currency or in Indian Rupees; rupee realisations get FTP benefits — Paras 2.52 and 2.53 amended by DGFT Notification 30/2026-27
Rupee exports get FTP benefitsRule changeDGFT has rewritten Paras 2.52 and 2.53 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023. Export contracts and invoices (other than with ACU member countries) may be denominated in foreign currency or Indian Rupees, and proceeds realised in either. Exports realised in rupees through rupee accounts of non-residents qualify for export benefits and export obligation, at par with foreign currency.
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Company LawCCI raises the time to offer commitments from 45 to 60 and the overall limit from 130 to 180: Commitment Amendment Regulations, 2026
45 days → 60 daysRule changeThe Competition Commission of India has amended its Commitment Regulations, 2024. The figure in regulation 3(3) for filing a commitment application goes from 45 to 60, the Commission’s first look from 7 to 15, and the overall limit from 130 to 180. A defective application is now returned and may be refiled within 10 working days, with the fee adjusted.
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Foreign TradeImport of clear float glass (4 mm–12 mm) moved to “Restricted”; free only at CIF ₹34,000 per MT and above — DGFT Notification 29/2026-27
MIP ₹34,000 per MTRule changeDGFT has revised the import policy of clear float glass (4 mm–12 mm) under ITC (HS) codes 70051090 and 70052990 from “Free” to “Restricted”. Import stays “Free” where the CIF value is ₹34,000 or more per MT. The minimum import price condition does not apply to Advance Authorisation holders, EOUs and SEZ units, and runs for one year.
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SEBIInvITs: SEBI allows add-back of debt-funded major maintenance expense of road projects in Net Distributable Cash Flows, with unitholder approval
Major maintenance add-backRule changeSEBI has changed the framework for computing Net Distributable Cash Flows of InvITs. Payments towards major maintenance expense of road projects, to the extent funded by external borrowing, can be added back at the HoldCo/SPV level and at the Trust level. The add-back needs unitholder approval with at least 60% of votes cast, a statutory auditor’s certificate and specified disclosures.
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Company LawNCLT sets a uniform order for cause lists: IBC admissions and resolution plans first, no “revised” lists after publication
Listed in 3 working daysRule changeAdministrative instructions issued for all Benches prescribe the sequence in which matters are listed, carry forward unheard supplementary matters to the next working day, and require a registered matter to be listed ordinarily within three working days.
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Accounting & AuditInd AS Amendment Rules, 2026 notified: changes to Ind AS 101, 107, 109, 110 and 7 apply from 1 April 2026
Ind AS 109 · 107Rule changeG.S.R. 725(E) brings in the Annual Improvements to Ind AS (2024) and the amendments on contracts referencing nature-dependent electricity, for annual periods beginning on or after 1 April 2026.
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