Banking & Finance

Loan recovery agent harassment is one of the most common grievances Indian borrowers raise against banks, non-banking financial companies and app-based lenders. The Reserve Bank of India's guidelines on outsourcing and recovery practices give borrowers concrete protections: agents may contact you only within permitted hours, may not abuse or intimidate you, and may not shame you before family, neighbours or employers. This guide explains those rights and the remedies availabl

The Securities and Exchange Board of India has passed an interim order against Rajesh Exports Limited, alleging that the listed gold refiner misrepresented approximately Rs 15.15 lakh crore of revenue attributed to its subsidiaries over five financial years. The order, passed on 3 June 2026 by SEBI Whole Time Member Kamlesh Chandra Varshney, restrains promoter and Executive Chairman Rajesh Mehta from buying, selling or dealing in the company's securities until further orders.

The Supreme Court of India has clarified the legal standard for proving securities fraud under the SEBI (Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices Relating to Securities Market) Regulations 2003 (PFUTP Regulations). The ruling establishes a two-route framework for establishing fraud, setting aside the Securities Appellate Tribunal's (SAT) decision and restoring SEBI's order. This judgment has significant implications for securities market enforcement in India. The

The Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee kept the policy repo rate unchanged at 5.25 percent in its June 2026 review, while retaining a neutral policy stance. The decision, announced on 5 June 2026 by Governor Sanjay Malhotra, marked the third consecutive review in which the rate was held steady, as the central bank balanced inflation risks against the need to support growth. For households, the repo rate is not an abstract number. It influences the interest rate

The Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), chaired by Governor Sanjay Malhotra, is scheduled to meet from June 3 to June 5, 2026, with the final policy decision expected on the morning of June 5. The repo rate currently stands at 5.25 percent following a cumulative 125 basis points of rate cuts since February 2025. Markets are closely watching whether the MPC will hold rates steady for a third consecutive meeting or deliver another cut amid global uncertaint

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has issued revised nomination rules for demat accounts and mutual fund folios, effective from September 1, 2026. Under the new framework, single-holder investors opening new demat accounts or mutual fund folios must either nominate a beneficiary or formally opt out of nomination. The changes are designed to reduce unclaimed financial assets in India, simplify the nomination process, and give investors more flexibility. Here is

The Supreme Court has ruled that a party which participates in arbitration proceedings without objecting to the extension of the arbitrator mandate cannot later challenge the resulting award on the ground that the mandate had expired. The decision, arising from a dispute between the Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board and Saryu Plastics Pvt. Ltd., reinforces the principle of estoppel in arbitration law and sends a clear message to litigants who remain silent during procee

The Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) has set aside penalties imposed by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in the Shree Global Tradefin Limited matter, delivering sharp criticism of the regulator for inordinate delay in adjudicating proceedings. The Tribunal held that SEBI's delay of over a decade in completing adjudication proceedings violated principles of natural justice and rendered the penalty order unsustainable. The decision adds to a growing body of

The Reserve Bank of India has notified amendments to the Foreign Exchange Management (Non-Debt Instruments) Rules, 2019, giving effect to the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025, which raised the foreign direct investment (FDI) cap in Indian insurance companies from 74 per cent to 100 per cent. The FEMA amendments, notified in March 2026, prescribe the conditions under which 100 per cent FDI is permitted and establish a new regulatory framework for fully foreign-owned insura

Cryptocurrency regulation in India has evolved significantly by 2026, with a multi-regulator framework that treats digital assets as a distinct asset class subject to heavy taxation, strict reporting requirements, and regulatory oversight from both SEBI and the RBI. Buying, selling, and holding crypto is legal in India, but the government treats these assets as high-risk investments rather than money or currency. They fall under a regulatory category known as Virtual Digital

In a landmark regulatory shift, the Reserve Bank of India on 13 February 2026 amended its capital market exposure framework to allow Indian banks to provide acquisition financing for listed mergers and acquisitions. Effective from 1 April 2026, the RBI (Commercial Banks: Credit Facilities) Amendment Directions, 2026 permit banks to finance up to 75% of the acquisition value, opening the door to leveraged buyouts (LBOs) and management buyouts (MBOs) that were previously constr

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has rejected preliminary objections raised by Bajaj Hindusthan Sugar Limited and its promoters in an investigation into alleged fund diversion worth hundreds of crores. The probe concerns the alleged diversion of company funds through Ojas Industries and Bajaj Power Generation, along with non-disclosure of related party transactions (RPTs). SEBI overruled the company's contention that the regulator lacked jurisdiction to inves

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued a press release on May 4, 2026, cautioning the public against misleading campaigns that promise loan waivers or debt cancellation. The central bank labelled these campaigns as "false and misleading" and warned that individuals and entities involved in such schemes could face legal action under applicable laws. This advisory comes amid a surge in social media posts and WhatsApp messages claiming that the government or RBI has approved bla

The Reserve Bank of India (Co-Lending Arrangements) Directions, 2025, which came into effect on January 1, 2026, replace the earlier 2020 co-lending circular and establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for joint lending by banks and Non-Banking Financial Companies. The new framework standardises the operational structure of co-lending arrangements (CLAs), introduces clearer borrower protection norms, and sets minimum retention requirements for both lending partners. Th

On May 5, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Board of India published the first official list of 48 Significant Indices under the SEBI (Index Providers) Regulations, 2024. Index providers administering these indices, including NSE Indices, BSE, and CRISIL, must apply for SEBI registration within six months, by November 5, 2026. This marks a significant step in bringing index governance under formal regulatory oversight in India, aligning with global standards for benchmark adm