Verification First, SCN Later: Re Centring FTA Origin Checks

The Central Boilers Board (“CBB”), under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (“DPIIT”), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has notified the Indian Boiler Regulations, 2026 (“IBR 2026”) under the Boilers Act, 2025.

The Reserve Bank of India has introduced comprehensive new regulations consolidating the entire export-import framework, set to take effect from October 2026.

The 2026 Regulations are primarily principle-based and are intended to promote ease of doing business, especially for small exporters and importers. They are also intended to empower Authorised Dealers (‘AD’) to provide quicker and more efficient service to their customers.

The India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, which was signed on 27th April 2026, will enter into force on 20th October 2026. With effect from such date, tariffs on textiles, apparel, leather, footwear, engineering goods, and processed foods, exported from India to New Zealand will be eliminated.

India and the European Union (EU) concluded talks on the much-awaited Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on 27 January 2026, following 14 rounds of negotiations relaunched in 2022. The conclusion was jointly announced by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, with the latter describing the agreement reached as the “mother of all deals”.India and the European Union (EU) concluded talks on the much-awaited Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on 27 January 2026, following 14 rounds of negotiations relaunched in 2022. The conclusion was jointly announced by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, with the latter describing the agreement reached as the “mother of all deals”.

The European Union's 2026 Steel import Regulation marks a fundamental shift from temporary trade safeguards to permanent industrial policy, dramatically reducing tariff-free quotas by 47%, doubling out-of-quota duties to 50%, and introducing stringent 'melt and pour' traceability requirements. This transformation raises critical questions about whether traditional distinctions between trade remedies and industrial policy are disappearing, with significant implications for major steel exporters like India.

On 2nd May 2025, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, through its Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), issued a significant notification prohibiting the import...

India and the European Union have concluded negotiations on a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, with the EU offering preferential tariff access to 97% of tariff lines for Indian exports while India provides access...

The Hague convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters was signed on 15 November 1965.

India and Korea commence 2026 amidst intensified trade enforcement, realignment of supply chains, and ongoing negotiations for the upgrade of the CEPA.

The article discusses the new Provident Fund Scheme, 2026, including its effective date, the transition period, statutory minimum versus voluntary higher contributions, voluntary contributions under the 2026 Scheme, and what are the practical implications for employers.

The Reserve Bank of India has introduced sweeping reforms to cross-border trade regulations through the Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026, fundamentally reshaping payment timelines, reporting requirements, and compliance frameworks for businesses engaged in international transactions.

The notification of the Employees' Provident Funds Scheme, 2026 (‘2026 Scheme’) with effect from 1 July 2026, was anticipated to settle and provide clarity on the regulatory framework governing international workers under the Code on Social Security, 2020.

The Delhi High Court's recent ruling in Kohinoor Seed Fields has dramatically expanded territorial jurisdiction for online intellectual property disputes, holding that mere website accessibility is sufficient to establish jurisdiction. This decision conflicts with earlier precedents requiring purposeful targeting of customers, creating uncertainty about where IP infringement cases can be filed in India's internet era.

The Supreme Court has held that if the building in which the premises are situated qualifies for a ‘plant', Input Tax Credit (ITC) can be allowed on goods and services used in setting up the immovable property, which is a plant.

The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (‘DPDPA’) and the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 (‘Rules’) have been published in the Gazette in November 2025.

ndia's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (‘DPDP Act’) is now fully operational - the DPDP Rules, 2025 were notified on 13 November 2025 and the substantive obligations become fully enforceable on 13 May 2027.

India's labour law overhaul centers on the Code on Social Security, 2020, which consolidates the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948. With the Central Social Security Rules notified in May 2026, employers face critical questions about ESI compliance during the transition period. Should contributions now be calculated using the revised wage definition? Do employees earning above INR 21,000 remain exempt from mandatory ESI coverage?

The Finance Minister of India has tabled the new Income Tax Bill, 2025 before the Parliament on 13 February 2025. The bill seeks to replace the existing Income Tax Act...

On 13 November, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (‘MEITY') notified the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 (‘DPDP Rules')...