Designation of Central Public Information Officers establishes named CPIOs and first appellate authorities for HRD divisions, effective immediately.
Designation of Central Public Information Officers and First Appellate Authority is effected for the Directorate of Income Tax (Human Resource Development), superseding prior orders. Specific officers are named as CPIOs with corresponding first appellate authorities for each division (Cadre Management; Performance Management and Administration; Training & Capacity Building). The designations are effective immediately and continue until further orders, establishing the internal points for handling information requests and first level RTI appeals.

Registration certificate requirement limited to exports of non-basmati rice and wheat to Bangladesh and Nepal via non-EDI land crossings.
Registration certificates are required for exports of non-basmati rice and wheat only when exported to Bangladesh and Nepal through non-EDI Land Custom Stations; such RCs must be obtained by online application from DGFT Regional Authorities (Kolkata and Patna), and will be issued through the DGFT online system, with no change in policy for other destinations.

Foreign Contribution regulation: Banks must use single designated accounts and report foreign remittances promptly to authorities.
Banks must ensure that registered persons receive foreign contribution only in a single designated account through specified bank branches and that no other funds are deposited therein. Banks and authorised persons in foreign exchange are required to report prescribed particulars of foreign remittances, including source, manner and other details, to the specified authority in the prescribed form and manner; banks must also report within thirty days any receipt by an unregistered person who required registration or any large receipt as specified by the Rules.

VAT protection requirement: procure from suppliers issuing local invoices and delivering from Delhi, with prior finance approval for exceptions.
All departments and local bodies must procure goods and works contracts from suppliers or authorised distributors who issue sale invoices and deliver goods from within Delhi to secure VAT revenue. Departures are permitted only if a contemplated net loss to the GNCTD is shown, in which case departments must obtain prior approval of the Finance Department before purchasing against out-of-Delhi invoices.

Brokerage payment rules: no TDS on broker fees and mandated settlement and reimbursement procedures for relief and savings bonds subscriptions.
The circular mandates broker enrolment on business letterhead with code allocation by agency banks, assigns agency banks responsibility for appointed sub-agents and permits delisting of dormant brokers after notice. It prescribes a flat brokerage payable to registered brokers for Bond Ledger Account investments, disallows brokerage when the broker is an investor, and states that no tax is to be deducted at source on such brokerage. Agency banks must promptly settle brokerage claims and may use ECS for monthly payments; reimbursement is centrally processed with interim and final settlement tied to reporting.

Nomination for Relief/Savings Bonds: appointing competent nominees secures entitlement and payment transmission on investor death.
Nomination for Relief and Savings Bonds permits a sole holder or all joint holders to appoint one or more competent persons to receive the bond and payments on the holder(s)' death, subject to making the nomination before maturity; surviving nominees succeed if others die. Nominations may be varied or cancelled by fresh nomination and notice to the designated branch; minors may have a non minor appointed to receive proceeds; separate nominations may be made per Bond Ledger Account; agency banks must acknowledge nominations; nominations are barred where the BLA is held by an adult for a minor or held in a fiduciary capacity; a nomination cancels upon registered substitution/cancellation or transfer of the certificate.

Deregulation of interest rates: banks may fix deposit rates but must ensure transparency and non-discrimination.
Consolidates RBI directives on interest rates, tenors, calculation, disclosure and operational rules for Domestic, NRO and NRE rupee deposits. Banks are free to fix savings and specified term deposit rates with Board/ALCO approval, subject to non-discrimination, disclosure and the constraint that rates on NRE/NRO deposits not exceed those on comparable domestic rupee deposits. The circular prescribes minimum tenors, permitted additional interest concessions, rules for premature withdrawal, conversion, renewal, advances against deposits, rounding, issuance of term deposit receipts, Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account features, and prohibitions on certain inducements and discriminatory practices.

Re-import of pets as baggage allowed subject to identity verification, health certificate and quarantine inspection requirements.
Re-import of pets as baggage is allowed only upon establishment of the pet's identity by Customs, production of the required health certificate from the country of export, and examination of the animal by the concerned Quarantine Officer at arrival; this re-import is not covered by Circular No. 15/2013 and Customs formations must issue Trade/Public Notices and standing orders to guide field officers, reporting any difficulties to the Board.

Foreign direct investment rules: consolidated instruments, pricing, payment routes and mandatory reporting obligations for non-resident investors.
Consolidated RBI regulatory framework under FEMA prescribes scope, entry routes (Automatic/Government), eligible non-resident investors, permissible instruments for FDI, pricing and valuation norms (SEBI or DCF), payment modes (inward remittance, NRE/FCNR debit, conversions, escrow), timelines (shares to be issued within 180 days or refund), sectoral caps and prohibited sectors, modes of investment (fresh issue, transfers, ESOPs, ADR/GDR, ECB conversion), and detailed reporting and compliance obligations via prescribed forms and AD bank certifications.

Export regulation compliance: AD Category I banks must ensure documentation, repatriation and forex account controls for exports.
Export of goods and services is regulated under RBI's Export Regulations with operational responsibility on AD Category - I banks to ensure compliance with declaration forms (GR, SDF, PP, SOFTEX), verification of shipping/customs documents, reporting to the Reserve Bank, timely realisation and repatriation of export proceeds, and adherence to procedures for advance payments, foreign currency accounts (EEFC, DDA), online payment gateway NOSTRO arrangements, and remedies including extension of time and prescribed write off processes.

Advance remittance and documentary evidence rules govern bank obligations for import payments and due diligence compliance.
AD Category I banks must ensure imports comply with the Foreign Trade Policy and FEMA rules, apply standard documentary credit practices, perform KYC/AML due diligence, and obtain prescribed import evidence. Advance remittances for goods and services are permitted without an absolute ceiling but require bank guarantees or standby letters of credit for higher exposures, with sectoral relaxations and reporting obligations. Imports of precious metals and stones carry specific cash margin, usance and documentation controls, and banks must follow up and report defaults in submission of import evidence to the Reserve Bank.

External Commercial Borrowings rules: framework for eligible borrowers, recognised lenders, maturities, end uses and cost ceilings governing cross border corporate borrowing.
The Master Circular sets out the consolidated framework for External Commercial Borrowings, specifying the Automatic and Approval routes, categories of eligible borrowers and recognised lenders, minimum average maturities and corresponding all in cost ceilings, permitted and prohibited end uses, security and guarantee conditions, procedures for Loan Registration Numbers, reporting obligations for Authorised Dealer banks, and special schemes for FCCBs, FCEBs, take out finance, spectrum refinance and low cost affordable housing, with primary compliance responsibility on borrowers and delegated procedural powers to AD Category I banks.

Overseas direct investment rules permit resident entities to invest abroad under automatic or approval routes with compliance and reporting.
Resident Indian parties may make overseas direct investments in JVs and WOS either under the Automatic Route or with prior Reserve Bank Approval; the framework prescribes the components to be reckoned as financial commitment, eligible funding sources, sectoral and activity-based prohibitions, valuation and reporting requirements, special conditions for financial sector investments, rules for guarantees and pledges, processes for transfers and write-offs, hedging permissions, and operational reporting through a designated authorised dealer branch with allotment and use of a Unique Identification Number.

KYC and AML obligations govern money changing authorisations, requiring licensing, due diligence, transaction monitoring and FIU reporting.
The Master Circular consolidates a regulatory framework for money changing activities under FEMA, 1999 requiring companies to meet licensing criteria for FFMC status, including minimum Net Owned Funds, auditor certification, banker's confidential report and declarations on enforcement proceedings. It mandates Reserve Bank approval for branches and franchisees, prescribes operational rules for purchase/sale and settlement of foreign currency, detailed recordkeeping and periodic reporting, and imposes board approved KYC/AML/CFT obligations including beneficial owner identification, transaction monitoring, appointment of a Principal Officer, and CTR/STR reporting to FIU IND.

Compounding of contraventions provides a voluntary mechanism to settle admitted FEMA breaches subject to quantification and authority discretion.
Compounding under FEMA is a voluntary statutory mechanism for settlement of admitted, quantifiable contraventions administered mainly by the Reserve Bank of India under Section 15 and the Compounding Rules, 2000; applications must follow prescribed formats with supporting annexes, are subject to CA discretion in assessing compoundability and quantifying sums by reference to factors like unfair gain and loss to the exchequer, and on payment and compliance result in discharge from further proceedings, whereas non payment or serious issues may lead to enforcement referrals.

Remittance facilities for NRIs: banks may permit repatriation and remittance subject to documentation, tax compliance and prescribed limits.
The Master Circular consolidates FEMA-based remittance facilities for NRIs, PIOs and foreign nationals, defining eligible persons and prescribing conditions for repatriation and remittance of current income, salaries and sale proceeds of assets. Authorised Dealer banks must satisfy themselves on tax compliance, obtain prescribed documentary evidence and Chartered Accountant certificates, apply specified per financial year limits for remittances, enforce nationality-based restrictions for certain asset repatriations, permit re-designation of resident accounts to NRO on exit subject to controls, and observe reporting and procedural formats prescribed by tax authorities.

Establishment of foreign liaison, branch and project offices requires RBI approval and compliance with reporting and remittance rules.
Establishment of Liaison, Branch and Project Offices by foreign entities requires Reserve Bank approval under FEMA via Reserve Bank or Government routes, with eligibility based on profit track record and minimum net worth, submission through an AD Category I bank, and allotment of a Unique Identification Number and PAN. LOs may only undertake non revenue liaison functions funded by inward remittances; BOs may carry out specified commercial and service activities but cannot retail trade or manufacture; POs qualify for general permission when supported by specified contract or financing criteria and may maintain restricted foreign currency accounts. All offices face reporting, auditing, extension and closure procedures and other operational conditions.

Liberalised Remittance Scheme enables resident individuals to remit abroad for permitted transactions subject to bank compliance and reporting.
Authorised Dealers may permit outward remittances by resident individuals for specified current and permitted capital transactions under the Foreign Exchange Management Act and Rules, subject to prescribed ceilings, self declaration or documentary requirements, KYC/AML compliance, record retention, refusal/reporting obligations for suspicious transactions, and reporting of remittances (including those under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme) to the Reserve Bank. The Circular also sets rules for sale, surrender and retention of foreign exchange, operation of Resident Foreign Currency accounts, treatment of prepaid and payment cards, and conditions where prior government or Reserve Bank approval is required.

Risk management consolidation directs banks to follow unified FEMA-based rules, with master circular carrying a one-year sunset.
Master Circular consolidates RBI guidance on risk management and inter-bank dealings, covering Foreign Exchange Derivative Contracts, Overseas Commodity & Freight Hedging, Rupee Accounts of Non-Resident Banks and inter-bank foreign exchange dealings under Notification No. FEMA 1/2000-RB, Regulation 4(2) of Notification No. FEMA 3/RB-2000 and Notification No. FEMA 25/RB-2000 and subsequent amendments; lists underlying circulars in an Appendix and is issued with a one-year sunset clause to be replaced by an updated master circular.

Acquisition of immovable property by NRIs and PIOs: rules on permitted purchases, payment channels and repatriation conditions.
The Master Circular consolidates FEMA permissions and restrictions on acquisition and transfer of immovable property by NRIs, PIOs, diplomatic missions and foreign nationals. NRIs and PIOs may purchase non agricultural property and must pay only through prescribed banking channels or specified non resident accounts; purchases under general permission need no Reserve Bank filing. Diplomatic entities require Government clearance; non resident businesses must file Form IPI. Repatriation of sale proceeds is conditional on lawful acquisition, specified source/payment channels and limits, while citizens of certain countries need prior Reserve Bank permission for acquisitions.