Financial Services

Banks face immediate pressure to reduce or restructure large short-term and offshore NDF exposures, forcing rapid trade adjustments that can incur substantial mark-to-market losses. That operational constraint raises the risk of abrupt unwinds and abnormal onshore price movements.

The decision caps the central government's short-term borrowing from the RBI at Rs 2.5 lakh crore through September 2026, restricting direct liquidity support. Once 75% of the limit is used, the RBI may prompt fresh market loan issuance, making additional cash cover more likely to require market borrowing.

Authorised dealer banks must keep their onshore deliverable NOP‑INR at or below $100 million at the end of each business day. This restricts the ability to hold large overnight rupee exposures and forces intraday position reductions, curbing speculative pressure on the rupee.

The announcement shifts enforcement emphasis from targeting individual leaders to disrupting gangs' financial networks. That makes traceable financial evidence required for reward eligibility and increases scrutiny of intermediaries and transaction channels supporting the gangs.

RBI approval removes a primary regulatory barrier and permits Avenir's planned equity infusion to gain control of Sammaan Capital. Completion is now contingent on SEBI's final approval, making securities-regulator clearance the binding remaining requirement. RBI also waived the public notice period, reducing procedural delay.

By suspending long-term freight contracts and urging spot pricing, transporters render fixed-rate agreements temporarily unenforceable and shift costs to market rates. This makes budgeted logistics costs and contract performance harder to uphold, increases short-term price volatility, and requires immediate payment clearances and ad hoc financial support to prevent service deterioration.

SEBI permits AIFs to retain liquidation proceeds past the prescribed fund life when justified by pending tax or litigation notices, 75% investor-by-value consent, or substantiated operational expenses. Funds holding such residual proceeds can be designated 'inoperative' and operate under lighter compliance, including exemptions from periodic filings and benchmarking. Operational-expense retention is capped at three years, so immediate full distribution and registration surrender are no longer required in

Guarantees under the scheme now expire after 10 years, equipment cost cover is capped at 60% of project cost, and a 2% upfront contribution (refundable in tranches after year 4) is required. Eligibility is restricted to profitable units that exported at least 25% of sales in each of the prior three years, raising borrower contribution requirements and limiting access for newer or non-exporting MSMEs.

SEBI closed adjudication proceedings for 111 brokers through the 2025 Settlement Scheme, which allowed eligible brokers to settle pending proceedings by paying a fine without admitting or denying guilt. The scheme’s window opened June 16, 2025 and was extended to October 16, 2025. Each participating broker paid ₹1 lakh, producing total collections of ₹1.11 crore. The settled group spans major, mid-sized, and regional brokerages; SEBI’s probe had identified API integrations with 122 registered brokers. SEBI retained the right to revoke settlements if misrepresentation or breaches of settlement conditions are later established.

A court issued a £1.3bn worldwide asset‑freezing order against MFS founder Paresh Raja. Creditors obtained enforceable court orders in London and Dubai that bar Raja from dissipating the covered assets. MFS entered administration in February after borrowing £1.3bn from a series of financial companies. The Financial Conduct Authority has opened an enforcement investigation into MFS.

Keki Mistry was approved as interim part-time chairman for a three-month period starting March 19, 2026. The RBI identified HDFC Bank as a Domestic Systemically Important Bank and described it as having strong financials, a professionally run board, and a competent management team. The RBI’s periodical assessment recorded no material concerns on the bank’s conduct or governance and noted the bank remains well-capitalised with adequate liquidity. The RBI stated it will continue to engage with the bank’s board and management on the way forward.

Approvals cover the indirect change in control and management of Asirvad Micro Finance and Manappuram Home Finance. The approvals complete statutory clearances for the Rs 4,385 crore transaction. The final approval is subject to conditions including a requirement for Bain Capital to submit an action plan to reduce its majority stake in Tyger Capital and to ensure the group does not hold majority shareholding in more than one NBFC of the same category or in multiple housing finance companies. Manappuram and Bain Capital aim to complete the capital infusion by March 31, 2026.