All news

September 2026

• 10Sep

  FEMA & RBIRBI recognises Unified Fintech Forum as a Self-Regulatory Organisation for FinTech

  SRO-FTNew facility

  RBI examined the application of UFF against its SRO-FT Framework. FinTech Association for Consumer Empowerment (FACE) was recognised as the first SRO-FT in August 2024.

• 10Sep

  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 change

  The 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.

• 10Sep

  SEBISEBI launches “Demat 2.0” pilot for tokenised corporate bonds; three issuers raise ₹1,025 crore, funds leg settled in RBI’s wholesale e₹

  Demat 2.0: ₹1,025 crore raisedNew facility

  SEBI has announced the launch of “Demat 2.0”, a pilot in which corporate bonds are created as digital tokens on a distributed ledger owned by the depositories and settled against RBI’s wholesale CBDC (e₹). REC, L&T and IIFL have issued tokenised bonds aggregating ₹1,025 crore. Credit rating, debenture trustee, listing and disclosure requirements continue to apply in full.

• 10Sep

  Income TaxDepositories and mutual fund RTAs to report capital-gains data to the Income Tax Department every half year: SFT-2517 and SFT-2518 formats notified

  By 31 October and 30 AprilNew facility

  The Directorate of Income Tax (Systems) has notified the format and procedure for two statements of financial transactions under section 508(1) of the Income-tax Act, 2025: SFT-2517 for depositories and SFT-2518 for registrars and share transfer agents of mutual funds. The data, used to pre-fill capital gains in the return, is due half-yearly — by 31 October and 30 April — and must also be given to the account holder.

• 10Sep

  InsolvencyNCLAT Principal Bench: mentioning, adjournment and extension-of-time requests only by e-mail in Forms A to D, by 3 PM the previous working day

  Forms A–D, by 3:00 PMAction needed

  By Circular No. 113/2026 dated 10 September 2026, NCLAT has prescribed forms for four kinds of requests before its Principal Bench, New Delhi. Under the accompanying SOP they are to be sent only by e-mail to principalbench.mentioning@nclat.gov.in by 3:00 PM on the preceding working day. Requests not in the prescribed format will not ordinarily be processed.

• 9Sep

  CustomsCustoms to accept one-year EPR certificates of plastic-packaging importers as one-time registration

  one-time registrationRelief

  Importers were stuck at clearance because their EPR certificates showed a one-year validity. CBIC has told officers to treat those certificates as one-time registrations that need no renewal, and to clear the consignments.

• 9Sep

  InsolvencyIBBI lists six red flags of IBC misuse; insolvency professionals must apply to the Adjudicating Authority where the process serves a fraudulent purpose — Circular 105

  Six red flags for IPsClarified

  IBBI says it has information from law enforcement and regulatory agencies that the IBC framework is, in certain cases, being misused for purposes other than insolvency resolution or liquidation. Circular No. IBBI/CIRP/105/2026 dated 9 September 2026 gives insolvency professionals six illustrative indicators to watch for and requires an application to the Adjudicating Authority where, on reasonable grounds, the process appears to serve a fraudulent or malicious purpose.

• 9Sep

  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 change

  The 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.

• 9Sep

  SEBICommodity derivatives: SEBI revises penalties for client-level position limit breaches and the test for a “Broad” agricultural commodity

  Penalty: 2% or ₹2 lakh, lowerRelief

  SEBI has revised the penal provisions for open-interest violations at client level in the commodity derivatives segment: the penalty is 2% of the value of the excess for the days it continues, or ₹2,00,000 (₹10,000 where the excess is up to 2% of the limit), whichever is lower. No additional penalty applies where the breach arises only from clubbing. The definition of “Broad Commodity” and client position limits are also revised.

• 9Sep

  CustomsPlastic packaging imports: Customs to accept EPR certificates showing one-year validity as one-time registration — CBIC Instruction 15/2026-Customs

  EPR certificate: no renewalRelief

  CBIC has asked Customs officers to clear consignments of plastic packaging, goods in plastic packaging, plastic raw material and intermediate material on verification of the importer’s EPR registration certificate. Certificates that show a one-year validity are to be treated as one-time registration certificates that need no renewal, and accepted as valid proof of EPR registration.

• 9Sep

  FEMA & RBIFIU-IND issues PMLA notices to 15 crypto platforms and seeks takedown of their apps and URLs

  15 notices

  The notices under section 13 of the PMLA are for operating without registering as reporting entities. The registration duty is activity-based and does not depend on physical presence in India.

• 8Sep

  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 change

  IFSCA 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.

• 8Sep

  FEMA & RBIRBI withdraws seven old FEMA circulars — five on ECB, one on tax-free bonds, one on MTSS sub-agents: A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 21

  7 FEMA circulars withdrawn

  RBI is reviewing every circular issued under FEMA since 1 June 2000. By A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 21 dated 8 September 2026 it has withdrawn seven circulars issued between 2012 and 2015 that had ceased to be operative: five on External Commercial Borrowings, one on non-resident investment in tax-free bonds and one on the Money Transfer Service Scheme.

• 7Sep

  Foreign TradeExporters can now connect their ERP to DGFT’s Certificate of Origin system

  connect their ERPNew facility

  An Open API on the Trade Connect e-Platform lets an exporter’s own software file Certificate of Origin applications and verify issued certificates, for both preferential and non-preferential certificates.

• 7Sep

  Trademark & IPDesign applications: First Examination Reports to be sent only by e-mail from 2 October 2026; postal dispatch ordinarily stops

  Design FER: e-mail onlyNew facility

  The Office of the CGPDTM has notified that, from 2 October 2026, First Examination Reports in design applications will ordinarily be communicated only to the e-mail address given in Form-1 under “Address for Service in India”. Physical dispatch by post is ordinarily discontinued from that date.

• 7Sep

  SEBIFPIs: no investor group details for those investing only in Government Securities, and a digitally signed Power of Attorney to custodians is now accepted

  No investor group detailsRelief

  Two SEBI circulars ease compliance for Foreign Portfolio Investors. From 7 September 2026, FPIs investing only in Government Securities — by any route — need not furnish investor group details. From 20 August 2026, a Power of Attorney given by an FPI to its custodian may be executed with a digital signature under the Information Technology Act, 2000, without notarisation, apostille or consularisation.

• 7Sep

  SEBIAngel Funds registered on or before 10 September 2025 get till 31 March 2027 to move to Accredited Investors only: SEBI relaxes the timeline

  Now till 31 March 2027Extended

  SEBI has extended the transitional period for Angel Funds registered on or before 10 September 2025 to comply with the Accredited Investor mandate. The date moves from 8 September 2026 to 31 March 2027. Until then such funds cannot offer investment opportunities to more than 200 non-Accredited Investors, and after it they cannot accept contributions from non-Accredited Investors.

• 7Sep

  Foreign TradeDGFT proposes to suspend 544 Standard Input Output Norms unused for three years; comments invited within 15 days: Trade Notice No. 26/2026-27

  544 SIONs may be suspendedComments invited

  After reviewing utilisation of Standard Input Output Norms, DGFT has listed 544 SIONs that were not used under the Advance Authorisation or DFIA schemes in the last three financial years and proposes to suspend them. Trade and industry may send comments, with reasons for retaining any SION, within 15 days of the trade notice dated 7 September 2026.

• 7Sep

  Foreign TradeCertificate of Origin can now be filed through an Open API from the exporter’s own ERP: DGFT Trade Notice No. 25/2026-27

  CoO Open API releasedNew facility

  DGFT has released an Open API facility for Certificates of Origin on the Trade Connect e-Platform. Exporters can connect their ERP, accounting or other software to DGFT’s CoO system to submit applications and verify certificates electronically. The trade notice carries a help manual with the technical steps.

• 7Sep

  GSTGST appeal in Form APL-01 can now be filed even when the demand order shows NIL or zero

  APL-01 opens for NIL demandRelief

  GSTN has removed the portal validation that stopped appeals against demand orders showing a NIL or zero amount, where the liability is disputed and the payment was made before the order.