The Ministry of Finance (Department of Economic Affairs) on 12 June 2026, notified the Foreign Exchange Management (Non-Debt Instruments) (Third Amendment) Rules, 2026 (‘Amendment Rules’), amending the Foreign Exchange Management (Non-Debt Instruments) Rules, 2019 (‘NDI Rules’). The Amendment Rules constitute the third amendment in the FEMA liberalisation cycle for the year 2026, following the first and second amendments, which respectively relaxed restrictions on investments from countries sharing a land border with India and liberalised foreign investment in the insurance sector opening the sector up till 100% under automatic route. The third amendment is yet another attempt to widen the gate for the Indian economy. For years, access to India's listed securities market was reserved specially for a defined class amongst which are foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) and non-resident Indians (NRIs) and overseas citizens of India (OCIs), this time the liberalisation is into the Indian capital markets.
The 2026 Steel import Regulation of the European Union (EU) (‘2026 Regulation’),[1] which came into force on 1 July 2026, is not simply a continuation of earlier Steel Safeguard measures[2] applicable since 2018, but it indicates a decisive shift in the EU’s approach to regulate its steel imports in the coming years. With lowering of tariff-rate quotas (TRQs), higher out-of-quota duties and proposal for stricter origin requirements, the 2026 Regulation goes beyond the WTO’s temporary safeguard regime to a more permanent industrial policy governing steel imports into the EU. In particular, the 2026 Regulation reduces the EU's tariff-free steel quota by ~47%, doubles the out-of-quota duty from 25% to 50%, and introduces a new ‘melt and pour’ traceability requirement.
Various State Benches of the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (‘GSTAT’) have recently become operational, and questions relating to jurisdiction between the Principal Bench and the State Benches have begun to arise in practice. While Section 109 of the CGST Act specifies certain categories of cases to be dealt with exclusively by the Principal Bench, early orders of the Principal Bench indicate that jurisdictional issues are not always straightforward.
In the tax treaties entered by India with countries such as Netherlands, France, Swiss Confederation, and Sweden, India has agreed for Most Favoured Nation clause (‘MFN clause’) with the treaty Partner. The MFN clause finds presence in the protocol to the tax treaty, which forms an integral part of the tax treaty .
The issue in this article discusses on the prescribed timelines set under the Patents Act, 1970 (‘Act’) and the Patent Rules, 2003 (‘Rules’) and throws insights on the flexibility of timelines set forth under different orders.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (‘MEITY’) notified the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2022 on 28 October 2022 (‘Amendment’) which introduces certain enhanced due diligence obligations for intermediaries, changes in timeline and grievance redressal procedures and constitution of grievance appellate committees.
On 24 February 2022, Russian tanks and troops rolled into Ukraine, thus triggering the beginning of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine region and putting an end to the months of speculation regarding the possibility of war.
Petroleum is an indispensable commodity for the fulfilment of daily human needs. Not only does the petroleum industry act as a nodal industry for other industries like textile, automobile etc., petroleum has deep-rooted impact on the inflation rate and economic growth of a country.
The rapid infusion of digitisation into the business has made world one global market. In today’ era, the business transactions extend beyond national boundaries and the businesses are tailored to meet the needs of consumers over wider geographic areas.
The State of Tamil Nadu has recently promulgated an Ordinance Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Ordinance, 2022 for the regulation of online gaming in the State. The Ordinance prohibits online gambling and playing of online games of chance with money or other stakes. The State government through a Schedule under the Ordinance has also identified ‘rummy’ and ‘poker’ as games of chance...
Section 29(1) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 (‘Act’) provides the manner in which a registered trademark may be infringed by a person not being a registered proprietor or an authorized user of the registered trademark. It states that such a person may infringe a registered trademark if, in the course of trade, the person uses an identical or deceptively similar trademark...
Recently the Gujarat High Court in the case Real Strips v. Union of India had an occasion to decide the nature of powers exercised by the Ministry of Finance in deciding the imposition of countervailing duty. The article critically analysis the judgement of the High Court in the light of recent controversy surrounding the issue. The author analyses the issue on two metrics...
The Department of Telecommunications has released the Draft Telecommunications Bill, which proposes a comprehensive framework governing licensing of telecommunication services, right of way, standards for public safety and national security, user safety apart from other provisions. The Bill aims to develop a future-ready legal framework that aligns telecommunication law with international standards and best practices, recognizing the importance of national, cyber security and public safety.
Procurement by Government or Public Sector Undertakings through tenders has been subject to frequent litigations. The article discusses the recent decision of Supreme Court in Bharat Forge Limited which will have widespread implications on the whole procurement process. The Court has held that the supplier is required to enquire and thereafter arrive at a conclusion regarding the relevant HSN Code and the relevant rate of tax applicable to the item. Further, the Apex Court has directed that...
Since 1991, the opening of Indian markets during the liberalization, privatization and globalization drive in India led to a boost in international/ foreign trade. However, as is said, every coin has a flip side. With increasing globalization and international trade, the risk of non-payment/ non-realization against the exports made to the foreign importers has increased accordingly.
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