RBI Tightens Bank Lending to Brokers: 100% Collateral Mandatory, No Funds for Proprietary Trading from April 1

Taxation (Amendment) Bill 2026: Govt Relaxes EIF Conditions, Removes ₹100 Cr Corpus Rule for Offshore Funds

The government has proposed the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 to ease tax exemption conditions for offshore funds managed from India, removing several eligibility criteria including minimum investor count and corpus requirement. The Bill also replaces an earlier Ordinance that provided tax relief to FPIs on G-Sec investments. This move aims to boost India's position as a global fund management hub and attract foreign capital.

RBI Rejects Tata Sons' CIC Surrender: Mandatory IPO at ₹10 Lakh Crore Valuation

RBI's rejection of Tata Sons' request to surrender its CIC registration mandates a public listing, potentially one of India's largest IPOs. The valuation could exceed ₹10 lakh crore, with key implications for Tata Trusts, SP Group, and minority shareholders. This decision marks a fundamental shift in Tata group's ownership structure and governance.

RBI to Launch Polymer Currency Notes in FY28: Higher Durability, 3-4x Life of Paper Notes

RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra announced that polymer currency notes will be in circulation from the beginning of the next financial year (FY28). The move aims to enhance durability (3-4 times longer life than paper) and expand the RBI's capacity to meet growing economic needs. A pilot phase is underway to test performance under Indian conditions.

RBI Dy Governor: CBDC and ULI Adoption Rising, 12 States Digitise Land Records for Faster Loans

RBI Deputy Governor Rohit Jain announced that CBDC (Digital Rupee) and ULI (Unified Lending Interface) are moving beyond pilot stages into real-world usage, with 12 states already digitising land records. This signals a major push for financial inclusion, faster credit delivery, and digital public infrastructure, making it a high-priority topic for banking and economy sections in exams.

Global Agencies Upgrade India GDP Forecast to ~7%, RBI May Hike Repo Rate 25 bps as Inflation Pressures Build

Multiple global agencies (ADB, S&P, OECD, Moody's) have raised India's FY26 growth forecast to around 7%, driven by strong IIP, capex, and exports. However, inflation is expected to average 5.1% and the RBI may raise its policy rate by 25 bps, with farm sector risks from El Niño adding to uncertainty.

RBI's Concessional Forex Swap Facility Mobilises $40.82 Billion by July 31, 2026

The RBI's concessional swap facility has attracted $40.82 billion in forex inflows by July 31, 2026, with FCNR(B) deposits accounting for the bulk ($36.725 billion). This facility was announced on June 5 to strengthen balance of payments and incentivize capital inflows amid global uncertainties.

RBI Net Sells $14.9 Bn (Jan-May 2026) for Rupee Stability; FCNR(B) Swap, ECB Boost Inflows

RBI's net sale of $14.9 billion in the first five months of 2026 underscores its interventionist approach to curb excessive rupee volatility, a key topic for economy-focused exams. The accompanying measures like the FCNR(B) swap facility and ECB liberalisation are crucial for understanding forex management and capital inflows.

Taxation and Other Laws Bill 2026 Allows MDR on UPI & RuPay Payments for Large Merchants

The government has introduced the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 to allow charging of Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI and RuPay debit card payments, especially for large merchants. This could end the zero-MDR regime for UPI, impacting millions of transactions. However, only 4% of P2M UPI transactions exceed Rs 2,000, so most users won't be affected.