Search: NCE
114stories
August 2026
-
Trademark & IPTrade Marks Agent Examination likely on 9 January 2027 and Patent Agent Examination on 10 January 2027: tentative schedule announced
TAE 9 Jan, PAE 10 Jan 2027The Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks has announced a tentative schedule: the Trade Marks Agent Examination 2027 is likely on 9 January 2027 (Saturday) and the Patent Agent Examination 2027 on 10 January 2027 (Sunday), at 15 centres. Both have Paper I, Paper II and a viva voce.
-
FEMA & RBIRBI names 17 NBFCs in the Upper Layer for 2026-27; PNB Housing Finance and Sammaan Capital continue under enhanced regulation
17 NBFCs in Upper LayerNew facilityRBI has released the 2026-27 list of NBFCs in the Upper Layer (NBFC-UL) under Scale Based Regulation, based on financials as on 31 March 2026 and on revised identification criteria. Seventeen NBFCs are named. Two more — PNB Housing Finance and Sammaan Capital — do not meet the criteria this time but stay in the Upper Layer because the enhanced requirements run for at least five years.
-
FEMA & RBIRBI draft for State and Central Co-operative Banks: exposure capped at 20% of Tier-I capital per borrower and 25% per group, new housing loan ceilings proposed from 1 April 2027
20% single, 25% group capComments invitedRBI issued two draft Directions on 6 August 2026 for Rural Co-operative Banks (State and Central Co-operative Banks). They propose exposure limits of 20% of Tier-I capital for a single counterparty and 25% for a group, a 15% cap each on real estate exposure and unsecured advances, and housing loan ceilings of ₹60 lakh to ₹3 crore by deposit size — all from 1 April 2027. Comments were due by 28 August 2026; the window has closed.
-
Foreign TradeEODC under Advance Authorisation and EPCG: only voluntary duty payments shown on the DGFT portal from Customs/ICEGATE data will be recognised — Trade Notice 15/2026-27
Payments from 1 August 2026Action neededDGFT has integrated licence-wise voluntary duty payment data from Customs/ICEGATE with its online system. For EODC applications under the Advance Authorisation and EPCG schemes, only the payment details reflected on the DGFT portal will be recognised. Authorisation holders must enter the correct licence number and IEC in ICEGATE and verify payments made on or after 1 August 2026.
-
Foreign TradeInventory-based cross-border e-commerce framework made operational; ANF-9A notified for registration of Exporters-on-Record: DGFT Public Notice 25/2026-27
ANF-9A for Exporter-on-RecordNew facilityDGFT has inserted paras 9.03 to 9.07 in Chapter 9 of the Handbook of Procedures to operationalise the Inventory-based Cross-border E-Commerce Facilitation Framework, and notified ANF-9A for registration as Exporter-on-Record. The procedures cover inventory records, seller visibility, returns, a yearly compliance certificate and dispute resolution, with immediate effect.
-
FEMA & RBIRBI keeps repo rate unchanged at 5.25%, stance neutral; next MPC meeting on 5–7 October 2026
5.25%The Monetary Policy Committee voted unanimously to hold the repo rate. GDP growth for 2026-27 is projected at 6.7% and CPI inflation at 5.0%.
-
Startup & MSMEECLGS 5.0: MSMEs can get additional credit up to 20% of peak working capital, with 100% guarantee cover
₹2.55 lakh croreReliefIn a Rajya Sabha reply the Government set out the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme 5.0, introduced in May 2026, and SIDBI’s direct-credit growth.
-
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.
-
Foreign TradeSeven new SIONs A-3708 to A-3714 notified for pharma products including Meropenem and Liraglutide: DGFT Public Notice No. 23/2026-27
SION A-3708 to A-3714New facilityDGFT has notified seven new Standard Input Output Norms, A-3708 to A-3714, under “Chemical and Allied Product” (Product Code ‘A’). They cover Theophylline, a Liraglutide pen injection, Lumefantrine, three strengths of Meropenem injection and ophthalmic solutions. Regional Authorities can now grant Advance Authorisations for these directly.
-
GSTCBIC asks CGST zones to take illegal-mining data from State Mining Departments and examine it for GST evasion
Nodal Officer in each zoneRule changeInstruction 01/2026-GST follows a draft C&AG performance audit on GST on minerals, which found no structured mechanism for State Mining Authorities to share cases of illegal mining and transport with the GST formations.
April 2026
-
LabourMaharashtra profession tax: March and annual returns now due on 15 March; late fee waived for March 2026 returns filed by 30 April
Due date: 15 MarchRule changeMaharashtra amended rule 11 of its Profession Tax Rules on 28 February 2026, bringing the due date for the March return and for annual returns forward to 15 March. After portal problems, Trade Circular 2T of 2026 waived the whole late fee for March 2026 and FY 2025-26 PTRC returns filed by 30 April 2026 where the tax was paid by 15 March.
March 2026
-
Income TaxTax residency certificate: apply in Form No. 42, certificate issued in Form No. 43 under rule 75 of the Income-tax Rules, 2026
Form 42 → Form 43Rule changeRule 75 of the Income-tax Rules, 2026 sets the forms for double taxation relief: a resident applies to the Assessing Officer for a certificate of residence in Form No. 42 and receives it in Form No. 43; a non-resident gives the other information for treaty relief in Form No. 41.
-
Income TaxHRA exemption: Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad and Bengaluru join the 50% list under the Income-tax Rules, 2026
8 cities at 50%Rule changeRule 279 of the Income-tax Rules, 2026, in force from 1 April 2026, lists eight places for the 50%-of-salary limit of the house rent allowance exemption: Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad and Bengaluru. Every other place stays at 40%.
January 2026
-
Accounting & AuditICAI CPE hours from 2026: 30 hours for members aged 60–70 in practice, plus 3 compulsory hours on auditing, ethics and digital technology
CPE from 1 Jan 2026Rule changeFrom calendar year 2026, ICAI members holding a certificate of practice need 40 CPE hours below age 60, 30 hours at 60–70, 20 hours at 70–80 and 10 hours at 80 and above. Non-practising members aged 60 and above are exempt, and one structured hour each on Standards on Auditing, Code of Ethics and Digital Technology is compulsory.
The morning brief
One email each working morning with the day’s tax, GST and company-law news. It is starting soon; leave your address and it comes to you from day one.