Weekly Newsletter - March 5, 2026

Latest additions to CAalley:

News Update:

Indian News

International News

Exposure Drafts:

IRDAI Draft

FRC Drafts

Acts & Regulations:

IBBI Regulations

IFSCA Guidelines

RBI Directions

Useful Forms:

ITR eFiling Utilities for AY 2025-26

From the ICAI:

ICAI Publication - GST

CA's Referencer:

Labour Law

Tech Zone:

Tech Zone Article

Legal Updates:

IBBI

SEBI

IFSCA

DGFT

Customs

News Update:

Indian News:

Sebi sets rules for custodians offering services outside its oversight

ICAI launches Data Protection Compliance & Audit certification at Hyderabad centre

PAN misused for fraudulent loan? How to detect & restore credit score

Irdai proposes April 2026 shift to Ind AS with parallel reporting phase

How Sebi chief is combating influencers with AI

AI vs CAs: Is technology quietly killing accounting careers?

Hookah in restaurants taxable separately at higher GST rates: WB AAR

GST authorities issue demand notice of ₹6.37 crore to Britannia Industries

New to stocks? Sebi warns of investors being 'hijacked by scamsters'

Government assures exporters of support

India, Canada seal FTA talk terms; eye $50 billion trade by 2030

EPFO retains employees' provident fund interest rate at 8.25% for 2025-26

Democratising AI revolution: GCCs, tax certainty to power India's rise

India, EU free trade agreement includes model mediation procedures

Sebi imposes Rs 38 lakh penalty on Coffee Day Enterprises, executives over financial disclosure lapses

NRIs with big foreign tax payment need to get CA certificate to claim tax credit in their ITRs in India under draft tax rules 2026

Gold, silver get bigger role as SEBI tweaks MF valuation rules: A hedge against global uncertainty and exchange rate volatility?

Sebi revamps mutual fund categories: Experts explain changes for investors

NFRA to widen annual reviews to improve audit quality

NFRA inspection reports of 10 audit firms by March-end

Sebi directs mutual funds to use domestic spot prices for gold, silver ETF valuation from April 1

New mutual fund brokerage rules from April 1: How GST changes will affect distributors

Eligible manufacturer-importers to get duty deferment facility from March

Sebi broadens MF categories, allows gold, silver exposure in equity schemes

Sebi orders regulated entities to disclose identity on social media posts

Sebi ramps up broker dealing room scrutiny

CEA says AI-era tech shift brings new policy duties for regulators

Rs 590-crore question: How ex-branch head & relationship manager 'masterminded' IDFC FIRST Bank scam

International News:

ICAS launches new professional designation

FRC updates framework for adapted formats in annual report accounts

Auditors worry AI undermines professional judgment, trust

UK government mulls allowing Chinese standards for listings in London

Exposure Drafts:

IRDAI Draft:

IRDAI (Actuarial, Finance and Investment Functions of Insurers) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026
[Last date for Comments: March 24, 2026] 

FRC Drafts:

Third Country Auditor Registration Consultation on proposed amendments to the FRC’s policy
[Last date for Comments: March 27, 2026] 

Consultation on Technical Actuarial Standard 310: Collective Money Purchase Pensions (February 2026)
[Last date for Comments: March 23, 2026] 

Acts & Regulations:

IBBI Regulations:

IBBI (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Regulations, 2016 (Amended upto 25-02-2026)

IBBI (Bankruptcy Process for Personal Guarantors to Corporate Debtors) Regulations, 2019 (Amended upto 25-02-2026)

IBBI (Liquidation Process) Regulations, 2016 (Amended upto 25-02-2026)

IBBI (Pre-Packaged Insolvency Resolution Process) Regulations, 2021 (Amended upto 25-02-2026)

IBBI (Voluntary Liquidation Process) Regulations, 2017 (Amended upto 25-02-2026)

IFSCA Guidelines:

IFSCA (AML, CFT and KYC) Guidelines, 2022 (Updated as on February 26, 2026)

RBI Directions:

RBI (Non-Banking Financial Companies – Miscellaneous) Directions, 2025 (Updated as on February 26, 2026)

Useful Forms:

ITR eFiling Utilities for AY 2025-26:

Updated as on March 2, 2026:
ITR 5 - Excel Utility

Updated as on February 27, 2026:
ITR 3 - Excel Utility

From the ICAI:

ICAI Publication - GST:

Handbook on Blocked Credit under GST
[November 2025 edition]

CA's Referencer:

Labour Law:

Compliance Handbook for Employers Under the Four Labour Codes
(Central Government Sphere)

Tech Zone:

Tech Zone Article:

Inbox Archaeology: Why Your Email Is Not a Filing System

Legal Updates:

IBBI:

IBBI (Bankruptcy Process for Personal Guarantors to Corporate Debtors) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026

IBBI (Pre-Packaged Insolvency Resolution Process) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026

IBBI (Voluntary Liquidation Process) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026

IBBI (Liquidation Process) (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2026

IBBI (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons)(Amendment) Regulations, 2026

SEBI:

Regulatory Reporting by AIFs

Guidelines for Custodians

Revised Norms for appointment of an independent third-party reviewer/ certifier for green debt security

Valuation of physical Gold and Silver held by mutual fund schemes

Categorization and Rationalization of Mutual Fund Schemes

Ease of Doing Investment (EoDI)- Disclosure of registered name and registration number by SEBI regulated entities and their agents on Social Media Platforms (SMPs)

IFSCA:

Fee structure for the entities undertaking or intending to undertake permissible activities in IFSC or persons seeking guidance under the Informal Guidance Scheme

Modifications under the IFSCA (Anti Money Laundering, Counter-Terrorist Financing and Know Your Customer) Guidelines, 2022

Directions to IBUs pertaining to SWIFT-related operational requirements

DGFT:

Operationalization of Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) for Suppy Chain Resilience [Trade Notice No.30]

EPCG Scheme - Relief in Average EO in terms of the para 5.17(a) of Hand Book of Procedures (HBP) of FTP, 2023 [Circular No.10]

Customs:

Extension of Deferred Payment of Customs Duty benefits to ‘Eligible Manufacturer Importer’ (EMI) [Circular No.8]

Fixation of Tariff Value of Edible Oils, Brass Scrap, Areca Nut, Gold and Silver [Notification No.24(NT)]