Navigating Downstream Investments: A FEMA Perspective on Structuring SPVs in India
INTRODUCTION Special Purpose Vehicles (“SPVs”) as organized in India are distinct legal entities, typically structured as private limited companies under the Companies Act, 2013 (“Companies Act”), though they are occasionally formed as trusts or limited liability partnerships. SPVs are primarily used to isolate financial and operational risks for the sponsors or stakeholders participating in the …
RECENT AMENDMENTS TO THE INDIAN FDI REGIME: ARE THE CHANGES ENOUGH TO BOOST FDI AMIDST GLOBAL TURMOIL?
On May 2, 2026, the Indian government notified two (2) amendments to the Foreign Exchange Management (Non-Debt Instruments) Rules, 2019 (the “NDI Rules”) to align the NDI Rules with the below listed changes introduced in India’s Foreign Direct Investment (“FDI”) policy through Press Notes issued earlier this year: Press Note 1 of 2026, which …
INDIA’S ONLINE GAMING RESET: DECODING PROGA AND THE 2026 RULES
INTRODUCTION April 22, 2026 marks the day India’s online gaming sector stepped out of the grey zone and into a comprehensive, centralised regulatory framework. On this date, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (“MeitY”) issued a series of Gazette notifications[1] that together operationalise the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025[2] (“PROGA” or …
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INDIA’S ONLINE GAMING RESET: DECODING PROGA AND THE 2026 RULES
INTRODUCTION April 22, 2026 marks the day India’s online gaming sector stepped out of the grey zone and into a comprehensive, centralised regulatory framework. On this date, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (“MeitY”) issued a series of Gazette notifications[1] that together operationalise the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025[2] (“PROGA” or …
Continue reading “INDIA’S ONLINE GAMING RESET: DECODING PROGA AND THE 2026 RULES”
Decoding Section 29A of Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996: Supreme Court resolves conflict on jurisdiction for extension of arbitral mandate.
A. Introduction The trajectory of arbitration reform in India has been marked by a sustained effort to reconcile two competing imperatives: the need for expedition and the necessity of judicial oversight. The introduction of Section 29A into the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (“Act”), through the 2015 amendment, was conceived as a response to endemic …
Strategic Partnership Model: How Foreign OEMs Must Partner, License and Transfer Technology
India’s defence procurement framework has undergone a major shift from import-led acquisition towards indigenous manufacturing, localisation and technology engagement. The Strategic Partnership Model (“SPM”), originally introduced under the Defence Procurement Procedure, 2016and subsequently incorporated into the Defence Acquisition Procedure, 2020 (“DAP 2020”), reflects the Government of India’s long-term policy objective of establishing domestic defence industry …
IRDAI’s Regulatory Sandbox Regulations 2025: Key Changes for Insurance Innovation
Introduction The IRDAI first introduced the regulatory sandbox framework in 2019 with the objective of permitting controlled experimentation in the insurance sector while maintaining policyholder protection and orderly market development[[1]]. Conceptually, the sandbox operates as a controlled environment for innovation, allowing relaxations to participants from existing compliance requirements without diluting the underlying principles of prudential …
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Regulatory Challenges Faced by New Companies in India: A Legal Perspective
India has emerged as a dynamic destination for entrepreneurship, supported by policy reforms, digital infrastructure, and a growing investor ecosystem. However, regulatory compliance for new companies remains one of the most complex aspects of starting and scaling a business. New companies often face a dense legal framework involving multiple authorities, evolving regulations, and procedural requirements. …
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INDIA – ONLINE GAMING UPDATE
India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (“MeitY”) has recently proposed the establishment of the Online Gaming Authority of India (the “Authority”) under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, thereby seeking to create a dedicated national regulator for the sector for the first time. Last year, the Indian government prohibited the offering, …
When a Prefix Is Not Enough: Deceptive Similarity and the Essential Feature Doctrine
By Himanshu Deora Introduction In a significant ruling dated February 10, 2026, the Delhi High Court revisited core principles of trademark law particularly prior use, deceptive similarity, and the essential feature doctrine, in the context of competing marks in the same commercial space.