On 23 October 2026, RBI announced the Commercial Banks – Forthcoming Instructions Second Amendment Directions, 2026, specifying the rollout of the Basel III Standardised Approach for minimum operational risk capital. The amendment also sets out indicative mapping of Business Indicator components to financial statement items and incorporates Basel Committee clarifications. The revised commercial-bank capital framework is scheduled to take effect on 1 April 2027.
RBI has issued the Eleventh Amendment Directions, 2026, aligning commercial banks' leverage ratio framework with the Basel Committee's 2017 standard. The minimum ratio is 4% for domestic systemically important banks and 3.5% for other banks, with additional buffer requirements for Indian branches of global systemically important banks. The amendments take effect on 1 April 2027.
Source: Reserve Bank of India · DOR.CAP.REC.251/21-02-002/2026-27
SEBI has directed clearing corporations not to collect additional margin from trading or clearing members on eligible subsequent cash-segment trades, up to the accepted early pay-in value of shares sold by the client. The circular dated 22 October 2026 takes effect four months after issuance, on 22 February 2027.
Source: Securities and Exchange Board of India · HO/(320)2026-MRD-POD2/I/24141/2026
The Competition Commission of India announced approval on 22 October 2026 for Maybach Asia Holdings II Pte. Ltd. to acquire 100% of Sahrudaya Health Care Private Limited. The acquirer is indirectly backed by KKR-managed investment vehicles; the target operates 28 hospital units with about 4,800 beds in southern and western India.
Source: Competition Commission of India (via Press Information Bureau) · PIB Release ID: 2326892
RBI has announced ₹14,425 per unit as the final redemption price for Sovereign Gold Bonds 2018-19 Series II, redeemable on 23 October 2026 after completing eight years. The amount is based on the simple average of published closing prices of 999-purity gold for 19, 21 and 22 October 2026.
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI Press Release 2026-2027/1369
The RBI has extended its existing directions on The Suri Friends’ Union Co-operative Bank Ltd., West Bengal, by three months, through the close of business on 22 January 2027. Existing terms remain unchanged, and the extension is subject to review.
Source: Reserve Bank of India · Press Release 2026-2027/1367
The Reserve Bank of India has imposed banking restrictions on Puducherry Co-operative Urban Bank Ltd from the close of business on 21 October 2026. Depositor withdrawals are capped at ₹5,000, while eligible depositors may claim deposit insurance up to ₹5 lakh subject to conditions. The directions are initially applicable for six months and do not cancel the bank's licence.
Source: Reserve Bank of India · CHN.DoS.UCBs.No.S336/16-05-847/2026-2027; RBI PR 2026-2027/1362
India's CBIC and the New Zealand Customs Service have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation for electronic exchange of origin data relating to traded goods. Announced on 21 October 2026, the arrangement is intended to support customs cooperation and use of preferential trade treatment under the India–New Zealand FTA, which came into force on 20 October.
Source: Ministry of Finance (CBIC), Press Information Bureau · PIB Release ID 2326043
CBDT Notification 136/2026, dated 19 October 2026, specifies that the New Development Bank need not deduct tax on qualifying interest payments to resident or specified foreign institutional investor holders of Maharajah INR Bonds issued during tax year 2026–27 or subsequent tax years. The notification applies from Gazette publication and retains NDB information-reporting obligations.
Source: Central Board of Direct Taxes · Notification No. 136/2026; S.O. 5694(E)
CBDT's Income-tax (Seventh Amendment) Rules, 2026, notified on 19 October, insert Rule 281A and Form 173A for persons claiming specified exemptions on interest and capital gains from government securities under Schedule IV entries 13D and 13E of the Income-tax Act, 2025. The reporting rule takes effect from Gazette publication.
Source: Central Board of Direct Taxes · Notification No. 137/2026; G.S.R. 901(E)
RBI's 19 October 2026 circular asks regulated financial entities to act on amendments to three entries in the UN ISIL and Al-Qaida sanctions list. Banks, NBFCs and other covered institutions must maintain compliance with sanctions-screening and account restrictions under the RBI KYC Directions and UAPA framework.
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2026-27/296; DoR.AML.REC.250/14.06.001/2026-27
RBI has deleted paragraph 37, the section dealing with limits for non-option derivative contracts, from its Small Finance Banks - Miscellaneous Directions, 2025. The amendment was issued on 19 October 2026 and took effect immediately. Other applicable RBI requirements remain relevant.
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2026-27/295; DOR.MRG.REC.No.249/00-00-020/2026-27
India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry confirmed that the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement enters into force on 20 October 2026. New Zealand will eliminate customs duties across its tariff lines for eligible Indian-origin goods, while the pact also covers services, investment and safeguards for sensitive agricultural products. Exporters should confirm product-specific origin and documentation requirements before claiming preferences.
Source: Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Commerce and Industry · PIB Release ID 2325235
The Department of Financial Services has announced a nationwide financial inclusion campaign from 21 October to 31 December 2026, covering 2.70 lakh Gram Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies. Bank camps will facilitate re-KYC, CKYC identification, account nominations and scheme enrolments. This is an outreach programme, not a newly notified universal KYC deadline.
Source: Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance · PIB Release ID 2325230
The RBI has removed paragraph 37, covering limits for non-option derivative contracts, from its Commercial Banks – Miscellaneous Directions, 2025. The Second Amendment Directions issued on 19 October 2026 took effect immediately.
Source: Reserve Bank of India · DOR.MRG.REC.No.248/00-00-020/2026-27
The Central Consumer Protection Authority said on 19 October 2026 that platforms had removed 3,940 sellers and listing entries associated with regulated explosive substances. It reported three final penalty orders of ₹10 lakh each against Dial4Trade and ExportersIndia, while proceedings involving other platforms remain at different stages.
Source: Central Consumer Protection Authority / Press Information Bureau · PIB Release ID 2325128
The India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement takes effect on 20 October 2026. New Zealand is eliminating customs duties on all tariff lines covering Indian exports, while India retains protections for sensitive products. Exporters must assess applicable rules of origin and documentation to use the preferential treatment.
Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry / Press Information Bureau · PIB Release ID 2325235
The Bombay High Court ruled that the April 2026 restrictions on specified studded platinum jewellery imports did not apply to consignments dispatched and received before the notification was published in the Official Gazette, even where bills of entry were filed later. The Court directed clearance of the disputed goods.
Source: Bombay High Court · Writ Petition No. 3274 of 2026; 2026:BHC-OS:22729-DB
The RBI has deleted paragraph 37 on limits for non-option derivative contracts from its Small Finance Banks – Miscellaneous Directions, 2025. The amendment, dated 19 October 2026, applies immediately.
Source: Reserve Bank of India · DOR.MRG.REC.No.249/00-00-020/2026-27
The RBI has extended its existing statutory directions on The Konark Urban Co-operative Bank Ltd., Ulhasnagar, for three months, from the close of business on 23 October 2026 to 23 January 2027. The extension is subject to review; existing conditions remain unchanged.
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI Press Release 2026-2027/1353