India: Financial Services

On 30 June 2026, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued a consultation paper (Consultation Paper) proposing significant reforms to the existing framework that governs investor consent mechanisms and conflicts of interest under the SEBI (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012 (AIF Regulations). The proposed reforms seek to enhance governance standards by introducing a more uniform framework for obtaining investor consent and broadening the scope of conflict-related safeguards applicable to alternative investment funds (AIFs).

As businesses expand their footprints beyond borders, many organizations look to consolidate their presence in the UAE without losing the track record already behind them. The UAE re-domiciliation process, also referred to as company continuation, allows a company to transfer its registration into the country. The benefit of re-domiciliation is that businesses can preserve their legal identity, history, and existing contracts throughout the process.

The Buy-back Amendment Regulations re-introduce the framework for open market buy-backs through stock exchanges, rationalise procedural requirements and introduce additional safeguards relating to minimum public shareholding, promoter shareholding and timelines for completion of buy-backs.

India's securities regulator SEBI has proposed the GARUDA mechanism to accelerate Alternative Investment Fund scheme launches, potentially reducing approval timelines from 30 days to as little as 10 working days for regular schemes and enabling immediate launches for accredited investor-only schemes. The consultation paper outlines a streamlined process that would allow certain AIF categories to bypass traditional merchant banker requirements and launch funds upon document acknowledgement.

The RBI has issued the RBI (Commercial Banks – Asset Classification, Provisioning and Income Recognition) Directions 2026 (‘Directions’) to commercial banks, corresponding new banks, and the State Bank of India (‘SBI’) ...

The International Financial Services Centres Authority (‘IFSCA’) has, by way of a Circular dated May 12, 2026, clarified the scope of ‘implementation services’ that may be provided by investment advisers registered...

The Reserve Bank of India has introduced a new regulatory framework allowing commercial banks to extend credit facilities to Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs), marking a significant expansion of the lending universe for banks. The Amendment Directions establish comprehensive prudential safeguards including asset quality thresholds, exposure limits, security requirements, and repayment structures designed to balance financial stability with enhanced debt fund

On 15 June 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued, inter alia, the Reserve Bank of India (Non-Banking Financial Companies – Responsible Business Conduct) (Second Amendment) Directions, 2026, introducing a comprehensive new chapter governing how non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) (including housing finance companies (HFCs)) advertise, market, and sell their own and third-party financial products and services, as set out under the Reserve Bank of India Directions, 2025.

SEBI through its press release having no. 33/2026, dated 19.06.2026 (“Press Release”) , has notified the key decisions taken at the 214th meeting of its Board.