Regulatory & Compliance

The Madras High Court has held that the mere existence of a dargah, tomb or shrine does not automatically make the land beneath it waqf property, setting aside the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board's appointment of a Mutawalli for a dargah in the Triplicane area of Chennai. The ruling is significant for the large number of religious institutions across the country whose character as waqf is asserted without the statutory steps that the Waqf Act, 1995 requires. The Dispute Before the Cour

The Lokpal, established under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, is India's apex anti-corruption ombudsman with jurisdiction over public servants including the Prime Minister (with safeguards), Union Ministers, Members of Parliament, and Group A, B, C, and D officers of the Central Government. Filing a complaint with the Lokpal is a structured process governed by the Lokpal (Complaint) Rules, 2020, and can now be initiated online through the official portal at lokpalonline.

Every food business operator (FBO) in India is required to obtain a food license or registration from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under Section 31 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSS Act). Operating without a valid FSSAI license is a punishable offence that can result in fines and imprisonment. This guide explains the three tiers of licensing, the documents required, the application process, and the associated fees. For context on busi

Udyam Registration is the government's online system for registering Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in India. It replaced the earlier Udyog Aadhaar Memorandum (UAM) system with effect from July 1, 2020, pursuant to a notification issued by the Ministry of MSME under Section 7 of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006 (MSMED Act). Registration is entirely free, paperless, and based on self-declaration through the Udyam portal (udyamregistrat

The Uttar Pradesh government has approved a significant revision in the fees paid to government-appointed advocates, raising retainership and appearance fees by up to 50 percent after a freeze that lasted over a decade. Under the revised schedule, district court retainership fees increase from Rs 9,000 to Rs 14,000 per month, while per-appearance fees rise from Rs 1,650 to Rs 2,500. The revision, announced in June 2026, is estimated to cost the state exchequer approximately R

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is established under the Competition Act, 2002, to prevent anti-competitive practices, regulate combinations (mergers and acquisitions), and promote fair competition. Any person, consumer, or enterprise affected by anti-competitive conduct can file an information with the CCI under Section 19(1) of the Competition Act, 2002. The CCI can also take cognizance suo motu or upon a reference from the Central or State Government. This guide

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) notified the Food Safety and Standards (Vegan Foods) Amendment Regulations, 2026 on 25 May 2026, introducing India's first mandatory vegan food labelling standard. Under the new rules, every approved vegan food package must carry a standardised vegan logo from 1 July 2027. The amendment marks a shift from voluntary labelling to a binding regulatory framework, with clear implications for food manufacturers, retailers, an

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, or IRDAI, has directed insurers offering products on digital platforms to audit their compliance with the rules against dark patterns and to report the results. The direction, issued in April 2026, requires regulated entities to conduct a self-assessment of how their online journeys measure up against the dark pattern guidelines and to file a report, followed by a time-bound action plan where gaps are found. For con

When an insurance claim is wrongly rejected or delayed, or a policy is mis-sold, policyholders are not without remedies. India has a structured, mostly free grievance system that runs from the insurer's own complaint cell to the regulator and then to a dedicated ombudsman. This guide explains how to file a complaint against an insurance company in India, using the IRDAI Bima Bharosa portal and the Insurance Ombudsman, and sets out the timelines, the monetary limit and the cos

The Supreme Court has clarified an important question for the mining sector: when the royalty rate on a mineral is increased by the Central Government, which rate applies to minerals that were won earlier but dispatched later. In Director of Mines and Geology v. BMM Ispat Ltd (2026 INSC 627), decided on 4 June 2026, the Court held that royalty under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 must be paid at the rate in force on the date the minerals are act

The Telangana Advocates Protection Act, 2026 has come into force with effect from June 2, 2026, making Telangana one of the few Indian states with a dedicated statute protecting advocates from violence, intimidation, and false implication in criminal cases. The Telangana Legislative Assembly had cleared the Advocates Protection Bill on March 30, 2026, and the state government has now notified its commencement. The development follows a period of heightened concern within the

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has issued a circular dated 2 January 2026, effective 3 January 2026, that significantly tightens the regulatory framework for merchant bankers in India. The amendments introduce phased increases in minimum net worth requirements, mandatory liquid net worth thresholds, a restructured categorisation system, and enhanced governance standards including the appointment of independent compliance officers. The capital adequacy requi

The Securities and Exchange Board of India notified the SEBI (Stock Brokers) Regulations, 2026 on January 7, 2026, formally repealing the SEBI (Stock Brokers and Sub-Brokers) Regulations, 1992 that had governed India's broking industry for over three decades. The new regulations represent a structural reset of India's broking regulatory framework, consolidating and modernizing the rules to align with current market realities. The total regulatory text has been reduced from 59

India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 and the DPDP Rules finalised in November 2025 are being implemented in phases, with 2026 serving as the critical year for businesses to prepare their compliance infrastructure. Phase 2 of the implementation, scheduled for November 13, 2026, introduces the Consent Manager Framework, a key mechanism through which individuals will exercise control over their personal data. Businesses operating as Data Fiduciaries must understand

On 29 January 2026, a Division Bench of the Supreme Court of India comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi stayed the operation of the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026. The Court found that the regulations suffer from complete vagueness in key provisions and are susceptible to misuse. The stay was issued in response to multiple petitions challenging the regulations on grounds that the