All news

September 2026

• 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

  LicencesGlass screen protectors for smartphones brought under the Compulsory Registration Order from 1 April 2027: MeitY S.O. 5190(E)

  IS 19348:2025 from 1 Apr 2027Rule change

  MeitY has added “Screen Protectors for smartphones” as S. No. 66 in the Schedule to the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021. The Indian Standard is IS 19348:2025, “Glass Screen Protector — Specification”. The Order applies to these goods from 1 April 2027.

• 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

  InsolvencyNo interim moratorium for personal guarantors from 26 May 2026, even where the application was already pending: IBBI Circular 106 cites Bombay and Delhi High Courts

  No interim moratorium from 26 MayClarified

  IBBI has told insolvency professionals that the interim moratorium under section 96 (and section 124) of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, in respect of a personal guarantor to a corporate debtor, ceased to operate from 26 May 2026 for applications pending before the Adjudicating Authority on that date. The circular rests on judgments of the Bombay High Court (24 July 2026) and the Delhi High Court (19 August 2026).

• 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

  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 change

  RBI 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.

• 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.

• 19Sep

  GSTNew DSC token issued on or after 21 September 2026? Upgrade to emSigner 3.3 for the GST portal

  emSigner 3.3Action needed

  GSTN has released emSigner version 3.3 for tokens issued on or after 21 September 2026. Older versions will not work with the new tokens; existing working DSCs need no change.

• 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

  FEMA & RBIIFSC distributors: IFSCA adds UAE, Singapore, Australia and the European Union as specified jurisdictions; “jurisdiction” means where the product is domiciled

  4 jurisdictions addedClarified

  IFSCA 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.

• 18Sep

  FEMA & RBIBanks can accept overseas-certified KYC documents from Foreign Portfolio Investors: RBI amends the Commercial Banks KYC Directions

  KYC: certified copy for FPIsRelief

  RBI has amended paragraph 5(1)(v) of the Commercial Banks – Know Your Customer Directions, 2025. The option of taking an original certified copy of KYC documents — certified by an overseas bank branch, a notary abroad, a court magistrate, a judge or the Indian Embassy/Consulate — was available for NRIs and PIOs. It now also covers Foreign Portfolio Investors, with immediate effect from 18 September 2026.

• 18Sep

  CustomsICD Dhanakya, Jaipur added as a point of entry for food imports; list now has 172 points — CBIC Instruction 16/2026-Customs

  172 food import entry pointsNew facility

  FSSAI, by a notification dated 15 September 2026, has notified authorised officers at ICD Dhanakya, Jaipur (port code INDNK6) in addition to the 171 points of entry already specified for food imports. CBIC has circulated the updated list of 172 points of entry and their authorised officers through Instruction No. 16/2026-Customs.

• 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

  Income TaxValuers and authorised income-tax practitioners: date in rules 246 and 256 moved to 31 March 2027; Forms 169 and 171 replaced

  31 March 2027Extended

  The Income-tax (Fourth Amendment) Rules, 2026 replace “30th September, 2026” with “31st March, 2027” in rule 246(4) and rule 256(4), and substitute the application forms for registration as a valuer and as an authorised income-tax practitioner.

• 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

  LabourEPF wage ceiling raised from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 a month with effect from 17 September 2026

  ₹25,000Rule change

  The Union Cabinet has approved a higher wage ceiling for mandatory EPFO coverage. Employees drawing between ₹15,000 and ₹25,000 a month become eligible for mandatory coverage.