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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.
September 2026
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FSSAIFSSAI draft: only milk-derived products may be called ‘Paneer’; analogue products to drop the term from name, label and marketing
‘Paneer’ only if from milkComments invitedFSSAI has proposed a draft amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011 to restrict the manufacture and sale of analogue products as “Paneer”. This is a draft: objections and suggestions are invited, and it will be taken up after 60 days from the date the Gazette copies are made available to the public.
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FEMA & RBIRBI finalises rules on novation of OTC derivative contracts; instructions folded into four existing Directions and apply from 22 September 2026
OTC derivative novationRule changeRBI has finalised its instructions on novation of OTC derivative contracts, first released as a draft on 9 July 2025. Instead of a separate direction, the instructions are inserted in the four Directions governing OTC foreign exchange, rupee interest rate, government securities and credit derivatives. They apply to any novation undertaken on or after 22 September 2026.
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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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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 invitedThe 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.
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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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Foreign TradeDGFT proposes to rewrite Para 2.93 of the Handbook of Procedures on non-preferential Rules of Origin, for exports and imports: Trade Notice 27/2026-27
Comments within 15 daysComments invitedDGFT has published a draft Public Notice that would replace Para 2.93 of the Handbook of Procedures, 2023 so that it prescribes non-preferential Rules of Origin for both exports and imports. For imports, the draft proposes origin by change in tariff heading or 35% value addition, declared by the importer through a self-declaration. Comments are invited within 15 days.
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FEMA & RBIRBI draft: banks to follow an SOP for temporary debit holds on accounts linked to mule activity and cyber fraud
Debit-hold SOPComments invitedThe draft KYC Amendment Directions, 2026 follow a Supreme Court order of 4 August 2026. Comments were invited up to 2 October 2026.
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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.
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SEBIPFRDA proposes overhaul of Point of Presence Regulations: physical and digital modes, LLPs, trusts and societies eligible, annual fee of 1% — exposure draft, comments closed 2 October
Draft: PoP fee ₹25,000, digital nilComments invitedPFRDA’s exposure draft of 2 September 2026 proposes to amend the Point of Presence Regulations, 2018: two modes of distribution (physical and digital), more legal forms eligible for digital-mode registration, application fee of ₹25,000 for physical mode and nil for digital, an annual fee of 1% of charges earned in place of five-yearly renewal, and “NPS Mitra” in place of “pension agent”. These are proposals; the comment period ended on 2 October 2026.
August 2026
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Trademark & IPDraft Trade Marks Manual: what counts as proof of prior use, and how a mark gets on the well-known list
Draft Trade Marks ManualComments invitedThe Trade Marks Registry’s draft Manual of Trade Marks — Practice & Procedure runs to seven chapters, from filing to renewal. Chapter 7 sorts user evidence into “primary” and “secondary” documents and sets out the well-known mark procedure under rule 124. It is a draft, not final practice.
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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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FEMA & RBIRBI proposes one set of rules on loan interest rates for all lenders, covering fixed and floating loans
Fixed + floatingComments invitedThe draft Interest Rates on Loans and Advances Directions, 2026 would harmonise the framework for banks, NBFCs, AIFIs, RRBs and co-operative banks. Comments closed on 11 September 2026.
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Foreign TradeDraft SOP for reporting inward remittances routed through NBFC Factors, for eBRC self-certification: DGFT Trade Notice 20/2026-27 invites comments
Comments within 30 daysComments invitedDGFT has circulated a draft Standard Operating Procedure on how Inward Remittance Messages (IRMs) are to be reported when export proceeds come through NBFC Factors. Factors would tag their SWIFT messages so that AD-I banks do not create IRMs for factoring proceeds; exporters would see factor-linked IRMs on the DGFT portal to self-certify eBRCs. Comments are invited within 30 days.
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FEMA & RBIRBI draft CVA framework: banks to compute Credit Valuation Adjustment capital charge under Basel III basic approach from 1 April 2027, with a simpler option for smaller derivative books
CVA capital charge: draftComments invitedRBI released draft Directions on 7 August 2026 to replace its 2011 Credit Valuation Adjustment (CVA) framework with the basic approach (BA-CVA) of the final Basel III framework. Banks could choose the full or reduced version; a bank with non-centrally cleared derivatives of up to ₹10 lakh crore notional could instead set its CVA charge at 100% of its counterparty credit risk charge. Proposed date of effect is 1 April 2027; comments closed on 28 August 2026.
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FEMA & RBIRBI draft proposes to rewrite banks’ leverage ratio chapter on the Basel 2017 standard from 1 April 2027; text puts the minimum at 4% for D-SIBs and 3.5% for other banks
Leverage ratio: draft rewriteComments invitedRBI released a draft on 7 August 2026 to amend Chapter VII (Leverage Ratio framework) of its capital adequacy Directions for commercial banks, to align with the Basel Committee’s ‘Leverage Ratio 2017 Standard’. The draft sets out how the exposure measure is to be built from on-balance sheet, derivative, SFT and off-balance sheet exposures, and proposes 1 April 2027 as the date of effect. Comments were invited till 28 August 2026; the window has closed.
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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.
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FEMA & RBIRBI draft proposes NBFCs offer only term loans, no revolving credit — credit-card NBFCs excepted; comment window closed on 28 August 2026
Draft: no revolving creditComments invitedRBI released draft amendment directions on 6 August 2026 proposing that an NBFC offer only credit products in the nature of term loans and no revolving credit products, except an NBFC authorised by RBI to issue credit cards. The draft defines “term loan” and “revolving credit” and proposes to delete the demand/call loan provisions. Comments were invited by 28 August 2026; that window has closed.
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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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