Regulatory & Compliance

On July 21, 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released a draft Notification proposing the Foreign Exchange Management (Foreign Investment) Rules, 2026, under Press Release No. 2026-2027/726. These proposed rules, if finalised, would entirely supersede the Foreign Exchange Management (Non-Debt Instruments) Rules, 2019 (the NDI Rules) in their entirety. The draft represents a ground-up replacement of the existing regulatory framework governing foreign investment into India,

If you manufacture, pack, or import pre-packaged commodities in India, you are legally required to register under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, framed under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009. This registration, commonly referred to as the LMPC (Legal Metrology Packaged Commodities) license, ensures that all packaged goods sold in India comply with mandatory labelling and weight or measure declarations. Non-compliance can result in penalties, seizure of g

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has notified the SEBI (Buy-Back of Securities) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 vide Notification No. SEBI/LAD-NRO/GN/2026/306, dated July 1, 2026, published in the Gazette of India (Part III, Section 4). These amendments, effective from August 1, 2026, mark the reintroduction of the open market buyback route through stock exchanges after its complete phase-out in April 2025. The amendment introduces a comprehensive regulatory fr

Corruption and misuse of power by public servants remain significant challenges in India. To address this, the Indian Parliament enacted the Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2014 (Act No. 17 of 2014), which received Presidential assent on May 9, 2014. This landmark legislation establishes a mechanism for individuals to report corruption, misuse of power, and criminal offences committed by public servants, while also providing legal safeguards against victimization and retaliat

The Supreme Court of India on August 3, 2026, directed the Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretary (Home) of Arunachal Pradesh to personally appear before the Court on August 24, after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) alleged that state officials were not cooperating with its probe into contracts awarded to firms linked to Chief Minister Pema Khandu's family. A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta took a serious view of the CBI's status report,

The Supreme Court of India, in its judgment dated July 30, 2026, in S.P. Chandrakar v. State of Chhattisgarh and Others (2026 INSC 769), held that an administrative action cannot be struck down merely because it was not issued in the form of a formal order. A bench comprising Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Augustine George Masih ruled that the substance of an administrative action, not its form or designation, determines its validity. The case, reported as 2026 LiveLaw (SC)

The Supreme Court of India on July 31, 2026, delivered a significant judgment directing the Centre and all State Governments to develop a comprehensive compensation mechanism for victims of road accidents caused by stray cattle. A bench comprising Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh allowed an appeal filed by Nisha, whose husband Vijay Kumar died after being attacked by a stray bull in Sangrur, Punjab, in September 2007. The Court awarded Rs 15 lakh in lump sum

The Supreme Court of India, in a significant observation delivered on July 31, 2026, has urged the Union Government and the Law Commission of India to consider framing a comprehensive legal framework for regulating private detective agencies. A bench comprising Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi noted that the complete absence of any dedicated statute governing private detective agencies raises serious concerns over privacy violations and the potential misuse

The Lok Sabha on July 29, 2026, passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 by voice vote, marking a significant legislative escalation in India’s fight against examination fraud. Introduced by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, the Bill substantially enhances penal provisions under the parent Act of 2024, introduces Special Fast-Track Courts for time-bound trials, and mandates the appointment of Special Public Prosecutors. The amendment c

The Supreme Court of India on July 24, 2026, held that a direction issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to comply with the provisions of the TRAI Act, 1997 and its regulations cannot be characterised as "adjudication" under Section 14 of the Act. The ruling draws a clear boundary between TRAI's regulatory enforcement powers and the exclusive adjudicatory jurisdiction of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), providing important c

The Telangana High Court has held that the protections afforded to advocates under the Telangana Advocates Protection Act, 2026 cannot be invoked to shield lawyers from criminal investigation when they are accused of committing illegal activities. Justice T Madhavi Devi dismissed a petition filed by an advocate who sought protection from arrest in connection with a case involving allegedly forged government orders. The ruling clarifies the scope and limitations of the state's

The Supreme Court of India, on July 20, 2026, dismissed the Centre's Special Leave Petition challenging a Delhi High Court order that quashed the tender process for outsourcing Consular, Passport and Visa (CPV) services at Indian Missions in Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Singapore, and Canberra. The bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana upheld the High Court's finding that the Ministry of External Affairs' (MEA) technical evaluation of comp

The designation of Senior Advocate is one of the most prestigious distinctions in the Indian legal profession. Governed by Section 16 of the Advocates Act, 1961, this designation recognises advocates of exceptional ability, standing, and experience. In February 2026, the Supreme Court of India notified new guidelines that replaced the earlier 2023 framework, discarding the point-based assessment system and interview process in favour of a consensus-driven Full Court mechanism

The Consortium of National Law Universities (Consortium of NLUs) has officially announced that CLAT 2027 will be held on Sunday, December 6, 2026. The notification, released on July 22, 2026, confirms the exam schedule, registration timeline, and key details for aspirants seeking admission to undergraduate and postgraduate law programmes at National Law Universities across India. With registration opening on August 3, 2026, this development marks the beginning of the admissio

A customs broker is a licensed professional who acts as an intermediary between importers, exporters, and the customs authorities, handling the clearance of goods through Indian ports and airports. The Customs Brokers Licensing Regulations, 2018 (CBLR 2018), issued under Section 146 of the Customs Act, 1962, govern the licensing process. Obtaining this licence requires passing a competitive examination conducted by the National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes and Narcotics