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October 2026
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Trademark & IPDraft guidelines on design registration of GUIs and icons: registrable only when applied to an article; comments invited within 30 days
Comments within 30 daysComments invitedThe Patent Office has published draft Guidelines for Registration of Designs relating to GUI & Icon under the Designs Act, 2000. A GUI or icon shown on its own will not be registrable; it must be applied to an article such as a mobile phone or monitor. Stakeholders can send comments by e-mail within 30 days of the public notice.
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FEMA & RBIRBI withdraws 268 currency-management circulars issued between 1976 and 2025 after consolidating them into Master Directions
268 circulars withdrawnRule changeRBI has withdrawn 268 circulars and guidelines on currency management, dated from 9 August 1976 to 24 April 2025. Some have been consolidated into function-wise Master Directions and subject-specific instructions; others have become obsolete or redundant. A separate circular of the same day lets a bank’s Board delegate monitoring of ATM cassette swaps to a Committee of Executives.
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FEMA & RBIForm A2 remittances: authorised dealers’ internal guidelines can now be approved by a Board committee or management committee, says RBI
A.P. (DIR) Circular 23ReliefRBI has modified its July 2024 circular on online submission of Form A2. Authorised dealers may now frame their internal guidelines for outward remittances with the approval of the Board or of any Board Committee / Management Committee to which the Board has delegated powers. All other instructions of the 2024 circular remain unchanged.
September 2026
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Foreign TradeRoSCTL scheme for apparel, garments and made-ups extended for three months, 1 October to 31 December 2026, at existing rates
RoSCTL till 31 December 2026ExtendedThe Ministry of Textiles has extended the RoSCTL Scheme for exports of apparel/garments and made-ups for a further three months, from 1 October to 31 December 2026, at the existing rates and under the prevailing guidelines. The Ministry says the Scheme benefited more than 15,400 exporters during 2025–26, most of them MSMEs.
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SEBIIRDAI repeals 2020 guidelines on repatriation of dividends by foreign-majority insurance intermediaries; prior approval requirement already removed
2020 dividend guidelines repealedReliefIRDAI 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.
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FEMA & RBIRBI issues final Basel III market-risk capital rules for commercial banks: Simplified Standardised Approach from 1 April 2027
Market risk rules: 1 Apr 2027Rule changeRBI has issued the Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Minimum Capital Requirements for Market Risk) Directions, 2026, finalising draft guidelines of 17 February 2023. Banks must use the Simplified Standardised Approach, with capital computed for interest rate, equity and foreign exchange risk. The Directions take effect from 1 April 2027.
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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 facilityPFRDA 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.
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Trademark & IPGI applications can be filed and tracked online from 15 September 2026; IP India issues draft step-by-step filing guidelines
GI e-filing from 15 SeptNew facilityThe Office of the CGPDTM has issued Draft Guidelines for Filing a Geographical Indication (GI) Application, Version 1.0, September 2026. A new GI e-filing service, with online tracking, is available from 15 September 2026. Forms GI-1A to GI-1D are used and the fee is ₹1,000 for each class of goods.
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Trademark & IPPatent Office releases draft examination guidelines for pharmaceutical and biotechnology patent applications, 2026
Draft pharma, biotech guidesComments invitedThe Office of the CGPDTM has published two drafts — Guidelines for Examination of Patent Applications in the Field of Pharmaceuticals and in the Field of Biotechnology, both marked 2026. They are meant to bring uniform examination standards and to take in court decisions. Both are drafts; the Act and Rules prevail in any conflict.
August 2026
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SEBIKYC Registration Agencies may share information with IFSCA-regulated entities: SEBI specifies IFSCA under regulation 16A of the KRA Regulations
KRA access for IFSCA entitiesNew facilitySEBI has specified the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) under regulation 16A(1) of the KRA Regulations, 2011. Entities regulated by IFSCA may now access the systems of SEBI-registered KYC Registration Agencies to do KYC of their clients. They must follow the KRA Regulations, SEBI’s KYC Master Circular and, for FPI clients, the data security guidelines in the FPI Master Circular.
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Trademark & IPPatent Office puts out draft Manual of Patent Office Practice and Procedure, version 4.0: a 22-chapter guide that is not law
Draft Patent Manual v4.0Comments invitedThe Office of the CGPDTM has published a Draft Manual of Patent Office Practice and Procedure, version 4.0, 2026. It codifies procedure from filing to grant, opposition, renewal and compulsory licensing. The preface says it does not constitute rule making and does not have the force of law. It is a draft, not a final manual.
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InsolvencyIBBI discussion paper of 14 August 2026 proposed guidance for insolvency professionals on fraudulent or malicious initiation of CIRP under section 65; comments closed 24 August
Draft — comments closed 24 AugComments invitedIBBI’s discussion paper dated 14 August 2026 placed a draft circular for comments: nine illustrative indicators that should alert an insolvency professional to fraudulent or malicious initiation of CIRP, and an application to the Adjudicating Authority under section 60(5) read with section 65 where the professional forms that opinion. It was a proposal; the comment period ended on 24 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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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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FEMA & RBIIFSCA modifies AML, CFT and KYC Guidelines: all FIU reports only on FINgate 2.0, cross-border wire transfer reports named, NRI onboarding list of countries revised
FIU reports only on FINgate 2.0Rule changeIFSCA has modified its AML, CFT and KYC Guidelines, 2022. Regulated entities must file all reports online only at FIU-India’s FINgate 2.0 portal; rule 8 of the PML rules is added to clause 10.3; Cross Border Wire Transfer Reports are written into the guidance note; and the list of countries from which an NRI customer’s IP address may emanate is substituted with nine jurisdictions.
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