https://doingbusinessindia.com/updatesChanges to India's rules for foreign investors, with sources.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-09-30-rodtep-extendedhttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-09-30-rodtep-extendedWed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTIncentivesDGFT Notification 41/2026-27 of 30 September 2026 continues RoDTEP to 31 December 2026, after rates and caps were kept unchanged for 1 April to 30 September 2026.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-09-29-us-pharma-tariff-widenedhttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-09-29-us-pharma-tariff-widenedTue, 29 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTradeFrom 29 September 2026 the US 100% tariff on specified patented medicines covers more companies. Generics and their ingredients are outside it, and qualifying speciality medicines from India may get zero duty.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-09-21-india-nz-fta-in-force-datehttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-09-21-india-nz-fta-in-force-dateMon, 21 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTradeThe India–New Zealand FTA, signed on 27 April 2026, will enter into force on 20 October 2026, giving duty-free access for 100% of India's exports.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-08-31-semicon-2-notifiedhttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-08-31-semicon-2-notifiedMon, 31 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTIncentivesIndia Semiconductor Mission 2.0, approved on 15 July 2026 with ₹1.275 lakh crore, was notified on 31 August 2026 and is open for applications for three years.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-08-20-maharashtra-gcc-guidelineshttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-08-20-maharashtra-gcc-guidelinesThu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTGCCMaharashtra's GCC Policy 2025 operational guidelines were notified in August 2026 (reported 20 August), with rent support of 10–20% by zone, stamp duty relief and a 10-year minimum operating period.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-08-17-taxation-amendment-act-2026https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-08-17-taxation-amendment-act-2026Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTTaxThe Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Act 2026 received assent on 17 August 2026, deemed effective from 1 April 2026. It eases offshore fund rules and extends electronics exemptions to 2041.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-07-23-press-note-3-inventory-exportshttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-07-23-press-note-3-inventory-exportsThu, 23 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTFDI policyPress Note 3 of 2026 (23 July 2026) lets e-commerce entities with FDI hold inventory to export goods made in India. FEMA was amended by S.O. 4870(E), in force 3 September 2026.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-07-21-draft-foreign-investment-ruleshttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-07-21-draft-foreign-investment-rulesTue, 21 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTFDI policyDraft Foreign Investment Rules intended to replace the FEMA (Non-debt Instruments) Rules were open for consultation from 21 July to 31 August 2026.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-07-15-india-uk-ceta-in-forcehttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-07-15-india-uk-ceta-in-forceWed, 15 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTTradeThe India–UK CETA and Double Contributions Convention took effect on 15 July 2026, giving zero duty on about 99% of India's exports to the UK and a five-year contribution exemption.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-06-29-epf-scheme-2026https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-06-29-epf-scheme-2026Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTLabour and peopleThe EPF Scheme, 2026 was notified on 29 June 2026 under the Code on Social Security. Foreign nationals on Indian payroll are international workers, unless detached under a social security agreement.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-06-12-nri-individuals-listed-shareshttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-06-12-nri-individuals-listed-sharesFri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTFDI policyFrom 12 June 2026, any non-resident individual may buy listed Indian shares through a designated bank branch without FPI registration, below 10% each and 24% in aggregate.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-06-01-oman-cepa-in-forcehttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-06-01-oman-cepa-in-forceMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTTradeThe India–Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, signed on 18 December 2025, entered into force on 1 June 2026.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-05-04-dpiit-sop-12-week-targethttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-05-04-dpiit-sop-12-week-targetMon, 04 May 2026 00:00:00 GMTFDI policyA DPIIT standard operating procedure of 4 May 2026 sets a 12-week decision target for government-route FDI proposals, plus two weeks where rejection or extra conditions are proposed.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-04-01-income-tax-act-2025-commenceshttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-04-01-income-tax-act-2025-commencesWed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMTTaxThe Income-tax Act 2025 took effect on 1 April 2026; tax year 2026-27 is the first under it. Buy-backs are now taxed as capital gains, with an additional tax on promoters.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-03-30-finance-act-2026https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-03-30-finance-act-2026Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTTaxThe Finance Act 2026 received assent on 30 March 2026. It cut MAT to 14% as a final tax, exempted foreign cloud income via Indian data centres to 2047 and extended the IFSC deduction.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-03-15-press-note-2-land-borderhttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-03-15-press-note-2-land-borderSun, 15 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTFDI policyPress Note 2 of 2026 lets non-controlling land-border ownership up to 10% use the automatic route after prior reporting, and sets a 60-day target for stakes up to 49% in listed sectors.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-02-13-country-of-origin-filterhttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-02-13-country-of-origin-filterFri, 13 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMTSector rulesUnder G.S.R. 128(E) of 13 February 2026, e-commerce entities selling imported goods must offer a searchable country-of-origin filter from 1 July 2026.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-02-09-ecb-rules-liberalisedhttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-02-09-ecb-rules-liberalisedMon, 09 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMTFDI policyRBI liberalised external commercial borrowing in February 2026: the limit is the higher of USD 1 bn outstanding or total borrowings of 300% of net worth, with no cost ceiling for ECBs of three years or more.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-02-09-press-note-1-insurancehttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-02-09-press-note-1-insuranceMon, 09 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMTFDI policyDPIIT Press Note 1 of 2026 (9 February 2026) allows 100% FDI in insurers under the automatic route, with legal effect from the FEMA amendment of 2 May 2026. LIC stays at 20%.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-02-07-us-india-interim-frameworkhttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-02-07-us-india-interim-frameworkSat, 07 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMTTradeA US–India joint statement on 7 February 2026 announced a framework under which the US was to apply an 18% reciprocal tariff to Indian-origin goods and India to address non-tariff barriers.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-02-01-budget-it-safe-harbourhttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-02-01-budget-it-safe-harbourSun, 01 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMTGCCBudget 2026-27 introduced a single 15.5% margin safe harbour for software, ITeS, KPO and contract R&D, raised the threshold to ₹2,000 crore and announced fast-track IT APAs.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-02-01-budget-new-schemeshttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-02-01-budget-new-schemesSun, 01 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMTIncentivesBudget 2026-27 announced a larger ECMS outlay, Biopharma SHAKTI, a Container Manufacturing Scheme, three chemical parks, rare-earth corridors and an SEZ domestic sales facility.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-01-27-india-eu-fta-announcedhttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-01-27-india-eu-fta-announcedTue, 27 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMTTradeIndia and the EU announced their free trade agreement on 27 January 2026. Legal scrubbing was complete by August 2026 and signing is targeted for end-2026, followed by ratification.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-01-20-ndct-test-licence-45-dayshttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2026-01-20-ndct-test-licence-45-daysTue, 20 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMTSector rulesAmendments to the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules notified on 20 January 2026 (G.S.R. 46(E)) cut the statutory timeline for test licences from 90 to 45 days.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2025-12-31-odisha-gcc-policyhttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2025-12-31-odisha-gcc-policyWed, 31 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMTStatesOdisha's GCC Policy-2025 is valid for five years from 31 December 2025, with lease rental, EPF and ESI, interest and power support for GCCs.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2025-12-22-ifsca-gic-regulationshttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2025-12-22-ifsca-gic-regulationsMon, 22 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMTGCCIFSCA approved the IFSCA (Global In-House Centres) Regulations, 2025 on 22 December 2025, for GIC units in GIFT IFSC serving group financial-services operations.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2025-12-21-shanti-act-nuclearhttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2025-12-21-shanti-act-nuclearSun, 21 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMTSector rulesThe SHANTI Act 2025 received assent on 21 December 2025, allowing licensed government and Indian-incorporated companies to build nuclear plants. FDI in atomic energy remains prohibited.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2025-12-20-insurance-fdi-limit-raisedhttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2025-12-20-insurance-fdi-limit-raisedSat, 20 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMTFDI policyThe Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Act, 2025 received assent on 20 December 2025, raising the FDI limit in insurers from 74% to 100%.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2025-12-17-e-b4-visa-onlinehttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2025-12-17-e-b4-visa-onlineWed, 17 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMTLabour and peopleFrom 17 December 2025, Indian companies can issue sponsorship for the e-B-4 production investment visa online. The e-B-4 replaces the e-PLI visa for specialists installing equipment.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2025-11-21-labour-codes-in-forcehttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2025-11-21-labour-codes-in-forceFri, 21 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMTLabour and peopleThe four Labour Codes on wages, industrial relations, social security and occupational safety took effect on 21 November 2025. Draft central rules followed on 30 December 2025.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2025-11-13-dpdp-rules-notifiedhttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2025-11-13-dpdp-rules-notifiedThu, 13 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMTSector rulesThe Digital Personal Data Protection Rules were notified on 13 November 2025. Consent managers register from 13 November 2026 and core duties apply from 13 May 2027.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2025-11-01-gst-registration-three-dayshttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2025-11-01-gst-registration-three-daysSat, 01 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMTTaxFrom 1 November 2025, low-risk applicants can opt for automated GST registration within three working days, including those whose tax on supplies to registered persons is within ₹2.5 lakh a month.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2025-10-01-efta-tepa-in-forcehttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2025-10-01-efta-tepa-in-forceWed, 01 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMTTradeThe India–EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement took effect on 1 October 2025. EFTA states aim to raise FDI into India by USD 50 bn in ten years and a further USD 50 bn in the next five.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2025-09-22-gst-two-rate-structurehttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2025-09-22-gst-two-rate-structureMon, 22 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMTTaxFrom 22 September 2025, GST has two main rates, 5% and 18%, and a 40% rate for a select few goods and services, as approved by the 56th GST Council on 3 September 2025.https://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2025-09-15-payment-aggregator-directionshttps://doingbusinessindia.com/updates/2025-09-15-payment-aggregator-directionsMon, 15 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMTSector rulesRBI directions of 15 September 2025 require payment aggregators to have ₹15 crore of net worth at application and ₹25 crore over the following three years. Banks need none.