Key Regulatory & Legal Updates in July 2026

1. MCA
 Extension of Companies Compliance Facilitation Scheme, 2026 (CCFS-
2026) General Circular No. 03/2026 dated 8 July 2026
The MCA, vide General Circular No. 03/2026 dated 15 July 2026, has extended
the validity of the Companies Compliance Facilitation Scheme, 2026 till 31
August 2026. The Scheme enables eligible companies to complete pending
statutory filings at concessional additional fees and provides an opportunity to
obtain dormant status or seek strike-off. The extension has been granted
considering the disruption in MCA21 services following the MCA Data Centre
incident.
Read More: https://www.mca.gov.in/

 Corporate Mitra Scheme — guidelines notified Union Budget 2026-27
initiative
The MCA has notified the operational guidelines for the Corporate Mitra Scheme
under the Union Budget 2026–27, introducing structured industry-linked skill
development through the Swayam Plus platform, stipend-supported on-the-job
training, and a dedicated governance framework for implementation.
Read More: https://www.mca.gov.in/

2. FEMA / RBI
 Widening of eligible non-resident investor category under Non-Debt
Instruments framework
The Central Government has expanded the category of eligible investors for
repatriable rupee investments by permitting any person resident outside India to
invest under the prescribed framework, along with revised provisions relating to
designated repatriable accounts and enhanced investment limits.
Read More: https://www.rbi.org.in/

 Rationalisation of FEMA reporting and withdrawal of non-operative
circulars
The RBI has streamlined FEMA reporting by withdrawing obsolete circulars,
introducing revised reporting formats, and simplifying compliance requirements
for Authorised Persons, FFMCs, and MTSS entities to facilitate ease of doing
business.

Read More: https://www.rbi.org.in/

3. Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
 SEBI (LODR) (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2026
SEBI has amended the LODR Regulations by shifting the procedural framework
for transfer and transmission of securities from the Regulations to SEBI circulars.
Regulation 40(7) has been substituted to mandate compliance with procedures
as prescribed by SEBI from time to time.
Read More: https://www.sebi.gov.in/
 Reintroduction of open-market buyback of shares through stock exchanges
Effective 1 August 2026, SEBI has reinstated the stock exchange route for open-
market buybacks, subject to specified eligibility conditions, including a buyback
size below 15% of paid-up capital and free reserves, along with a revised time-
bound completion framework.
Read More: https://www.sebi.gov.in/
 SEBI Settlement Helpdesk Facility launched
SEBI has introduced a dedicated Settlement Helpdesk to assist applicants with
procedural queries relating to settlement proceedings, with the objective of
improving stakeholder support and facilitating regulatory compliance.