Search: IFSCA
12stories
September 2026
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FEMA & RBIIFSCA issues differential distribution framework for Venture Capital and Restricted Schemes: one senior class, junior units from USD 2 million, grants up to 49% for ESG schemes
Junior units: min USD 2 millionNew facilityIFSCA has issued the framework under which Venture Capital Schemes and Restricted Schemes in the IFSC can issue senior and junior or subordinate units with different distribution rights, to facilitate blended finance. Minimum investment in junior units is USD 2 million (USD 1 million for accredited investors). ESG schemes may accept grants up to 49% of corpus.
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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 widenedReliefIFSCA 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.
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FEMA & RBIIFSC distributors: IFSCA adds UAE, Singapore, Australia and the European Union as specified jurisdictions; “jurisdiction” means where the product is domiciled
4 jurisdictions addedClarifiedIFSCA has amended its Master Circular for Distributors in the IFSC. UAE, Singapore, Australia and the European Union are specified as jurisdictions for regulation 32(1)(a) and (c) of the Capital Market Intermediaries Regulations, 2025, provided they are not FATF-listed or notified as high risk. “Jurisdiction” refers to the domicile of the product, not the location of its manager.
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FEMA & RBIExpired placement memorandum can be revived: IFSCA allows extension even on a late application, at 50% extension fee plus a late fee the FME must bear
Expired PPM: late extensionReliefIFSCA may now extend the validity of an expired placement memorandum of a Venture Capital or Restricted Scheme even where the FME applies after expiry. The FME pays an extension fee of 50% of the fresh-filing fee for each six-month period plus a late fee of 50% of that extension fee, cannot make material changes, and cannot pass the late fee to the scheme or investors.
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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.
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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FEMA & RBIEvery 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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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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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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SEBIOnline Bond Platform Providers may now offer 54EC / section 85 capital-gains bonds and IFSCA-regulated products; compliance officer rule changed
54EC bonds on bond platformsReliefSEBI has widened what Online Bond Platform Providers can offer. From 14 August 2026 they may offer bonds issued under section 54EC of the Income Tax Act, 1961 or section 85 of the Income-tax Act, 2025, and products regulated by IFSCA, each with labelling and disclaimer conditions. The compliance officer is now to be appointed as per the Stock Brokers Regulations, 2026 in place of a Company Secretary.
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FEMA & RBIIFSCA 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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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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