Issue of employee stock options to non-residents allowed with sectoral cap compliance and required approvals and reporting.
Indian companies may issue employees' stock options and/or sweat equity shares to non-resident employees or directors, including those of a holding company, joint venture or wholly owned overseas subsidiaries, provided schemes comply with securities or company rules, issuances observe applicable sectoral caps, FIPB approval is obtained where the company is under the approval route or recipients are citizens of Bangladesh or Pakistan, and the issuing company files Form ESOP with the Reserve Bank within thirty days while furnishing prescribed certificates and valuation evidence.

Government-backed line of credit imposes India-origin supply requirements and RBI reporting for project exports and supplies.
Exim Bank's Government-supported Line of Credit to Djibouti for the Ali Sabieh Cement Project conditions financing on exports eligible under India's Foreign Trade Policy, requiring at least 75% India supplied value for goods and services (including consultancy) and permitting up to 25% of goods and services (other than consultancy) from outside India. The agreement (executed March 9, 2015; effective June 5, 2015) sets final dates for letters of credit and disbursement, mandates EDF/SDF shipment declarations, disallows agency commission under the LOC while permitting exporter-funded commission subject to AD Category I bank controls, and is issued under FEMA directions.

FDI restriction in tobacco manufacturing clarified; non manufacturing activities remain subject to sectoral FDI policy.
FDI is prohibited only in the manufacturing of specified tobacco and tobacco-substitute products under Annex A of Schedule I to the FEMA Regulations; the prohibition does not extend to other activities such as wholesale cash-and-carry or retail trading, which are governed by sectoral FDI policy and Schedule I of the FEMA Regulations. AD Category-I banks should inform their constituents; directions are issued under sections 10(4) and 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act and are without prejudice to other required permissions.

Re-export exemption for unsold rough diamonds - EDF not required when re-exported directly from a Special Notified Zone.
Unsold rough diamonds imported free of cost into a Special Notified Zone and re exported from the SNZ without entering the Domestic Tariff Area are not required to submit an Export Declaration Form. Entry into the SNZ must be accompanied by a notional value invoice and packing list indicating the free of cost nature; such consignments must not enter the DTA. Buyers clearing lots at the Precious Cargo Customs Clearance Centre must file the Bill of Entry, and Authorised Dealers may allow payments after satisfying themselves of the transaction's bona fides and keeping transaction records.

Foreign contribution compliance: banks must ensure registration, single-account receipt and report transactions through the prescribed online system.
Banks must ensure recipients of foreign contribution are registered or hold prior permission, receive such contribution only in a single account at a specified branch, and must not accept non-foreign funds into that account. Every bank or authorised person in foreign exchange must report prescribed details of foreign remittances (donor, recipient, account, bank/branch, manner and date of receipt) to the Central Government in the prescribed form and manner, including compulsory online submission through the MHA software and reporting within thirty days of relevant transactions.

Foreign investment in India: consolidated RBI master circular sets routes, instruments, pricing, caps and mandatory reporting.
The Master Circular consolidates FEMA/RBI rules on foreign investment in India, setting the two entry routes (Automatic Route and Government Route), eligible investors, permissible instruments, pricing and valuation standards, permitted modes of payment (including inward remittance, NRE/FCNR debits, conversion of ECBs and escrow), sectoral caps and prohibited activities, rules for calculating total foreign investment (direct and indirect/downstream), and detailed reporting and compliance obligations including Form FC GPR, Form FC TRS and annual FLA returns within prescribed timelines.

Export Realization and Repatriation: RBI rules require banks to ensure timely repatriation and reporting of export proceeds.
Consolidates RBI rules under FEMA governing export of goods and services, prescribing AD Category I bank duties on EDF and SOFTEX procedures, KYC/AML checks, timelines for realization and repatriation of export proceeds, permitted foreign currency accounts (including EEFC and Diamond Dollar Accounts), and reporting via EDPMS. It details advance payment and long term export advance conditions, third party payments, consignment, netting/set off, export factoring, and special provisions for SEZs, project/service exports, trade fairs and re exports, alongside mechanisms for extensions, write offs and supervisory audits.

Import regulation under foreign exchange rules: banks must verify compliance, documentary evidence, and safeguards before permitting remittances.
The Circular consolidates FEMA and RBI directions governing imports, requiring AD Category I banks to ensure compliance with the Foreign Trade Policy, KYC/AML norms and documentary practice when permitting remittances. It prescribes advance remittance safeguards (bank guarantees/standby LCs or waivers for sectoral exceptions), time limits and tenor restrictions for import credits, tiered evidence of import requirements based on remittance value, and reporting, verification and preservation obligations for AD banks, with special rules for precious metals, diamonds, merchanting trade and online payment gateway transactions.

External Commercial Borrowings: consolidated RBI framework sets routes, eligibility, permitted end uses and compliance requirements for overseas borrowings.
Consolidated RBI framework governs resident access to overseas funding via External Commercial Borrowings and Trade Credits under two routes - Automatic and Approval - defining eligible borrowers, recognised lenders, ceilings on amounts and minimum average maturities, all in cost limits, permitted and prohibited end uses, security and guarantee rules, parking of proceeds, prepayment/refinance criteria, reporting (Form 83, ECB 2) and delegated powers to Authorised Dealer Category I banks, with compliance obligations and FEMA enforcement measures.

Overseas Direct Investment rules permit residents to invest abroad under automatic or approval routes with specified reporting and compliance.
Consolidated RBI Master Circular regulates resident direct investments abroad in JVs/WOS under two routes: the Automatic Route (permitted within prescribed ceilings and conditions) and the Approval Route (for other cases). It defines components of total financial commitment, funding methods, valuation and reporting obligations through Form ODI and Unique Identification Numbers, prescribes sectoral restrictions and additional conditions for financial sector investments, permits certain guarantees and charges within limits, and requires designated AD Category I branches to ensure documentation, online reporting, and submission of Annual Performance Reports.

Money changer licensing: Net Owned Funds, KYC/AML controls and RBI approval govern FFMC licences and franchisees.
Consolidates RBI instructions for Authorised Money Changers including licensing and renewal criteria requiring company form, prescribed minimum Net Owned Funds, audited accounts, banker's confidential report, KYC/AML/CFT policies and absence of enforcement/criminal proceedings; selective issuance and RBI finality. Sets pre approval and documentation requirements for additional branches and airport counters. Authorises restricted franchisees subject to minimum NOF and franchiser due diligence, contract terms and reporting. Prescribes operational, reporting, audit, register and inspection obligations, permitted write offs, and ''fit and proper'' governance for directors.

Compounding of contraventions enables voluntary settlement of admitted FEMA breaches upon prescribed procedure and payment.
Compounding under FEMA, 1999 provides a voluntary administrative mechanism by which persons admitting quantifiable contraventions may apply to the Compounding Authority for settlement on payment of a specified sum. The Master Circular consolidates procedures, application formats and supporting annexures, delegates compounding powers among RBI officers and Regional Offices (with certain jurisdictional limits), and prescribes timelines, optional personal hearings, factors for determining the compounding quantum, post-order payment obligations and exclusions including referral of serious or money laundering related matters to enforcement agencies.

Repatriation limits for non-residents govern remittance from NRO/NRE accounts and sale proceeds, subject to tax compliance.
Consolidates FEMA instructions on remittance facilities for NRIs, PIOs and foreign nationals, defining eligibility and bank duties; permits repatriation of current income and sale proceeds from NRO/NRE/FCNR(B) accounts subject to tax compliance, documentary evidence and bank verification; prescribes annual repatriation limits with specified exclusions and RBI permission requirements for certain property proceeds; addresses re-designation of resident accounts, student and salary remittances, mandatory tax undertakings, and issuance of international credit cards to eligible non-residents.

Establishment of foreign liaison, branch and project offices in India requires RBI-authorised application, eligibility, reporting and compliance.
The Master Circular consolidates RBI rules under FEMA 1999 governing foreign entities establishing Liaison, Branch and Project Offices in India: applications via AD Category - I banks in Form FNC, eligibility based on profit track record and minimum net worth, distinct permissible activities by office type, reporting obligations including annual activity certificates and DGP notification, conditions for extensions and closures, general permission criteria for Project Offices and foreign currency accounts, and special restrictions on certain nationalities and property acquisition.

Liberalised Remittance Scheme permits resident individuals to remit abroad for permitted transactions subject to compliance and reporting.
Consolidates RBI instructions under FEMA and the Current Account Transactions Rules, delegating to Authorised Dealers the release of foreign exchange for permitted current and specified capital account transactions, while delineating prohibited transactions and those requiring Government or Reserve Bank approval. It operationalises the Liberalised Remittance Scheme for resident individuals with eligibility, permitted uses, documentation (Form A 2, declaration, PAN), AD reporting obligations, KYC/AML and tax compliance, rules on surrender/redemption of unspent foreign exchange, and procedural safeguards for issuance of guarantees and use of international cards and prepaid instruments.

Foreign exchange risk management: RBI permits specified derivative hedges with eligibility, prudential limits and mandatory reporting.
Master Circular sets a regulatory framework permitting specified foreign exchange derivatives (forwards, cross currency options not involving the rupee, foreign currency INR options, swaps) for defined users and purposes, mandates AD Category I banks as market makers with documentary verification, undertakings and auditor certificates, stipulates eligibility, notional and tenor limits (including ETCD participant caps of USD 15 million for USD INR and aggregate USD 5 million for other pairs), restricts exotic/leveraged products, prescribes prudential position and capital limits, and requires extensive periodic reporting to the Reserve Bank.

Acquisition of Immovable Property: rules for NRIs, PIOs and foreign nationals govern permissible purchases, transfers and repatriation.
Regulation permits NRIs and PIOs to purchase residential and commercial immovable property in India (excluding agricultural land, plantation property and farm houses) with payments made by inward remittance through normal banking channels or by debits to specified non-resident accounts; purchases under general permission need no Reserve Bank filing. Persons resident outside India establishing a branch or office may acquire property necessary for the permitted activity subject to laws and filing Form IPI. Repatriation of sale proceeds is allowed only under prescribed conditions and limits, with inheritance and rupee-funded holdings subject to documentary proof and tax compliance; citizens of certain countries and non-resident foreign nationals face additional restrictions or require prior approval.

Rupee Vostro Account rules impose structured funding, collateral, and KYC/AML controls for inward remittances and permitted payments.
This Master Circular consolidates procedures for opening and maintaining Rupee and foreign currency vostro accounts of non resident Exchange Houses under Rupee Drawing Arrangements and Foreign Currency Drawing Arrangements. It prescribes three operational procedures-DDA, Non DDA and Speed Remittance-specifying funding, auditing/monitoring, lien, float and collateral measures, permissible inward personal remittances and narrowly defined payments, strict KYC/AML/CFT compliance, prohibition of cash disbursements, credit only account operation, and detailed reporting and board review obligations using prescribed annexed formats.

Non-Resident Ordinary Rupee Account rules permit specified rupee credits, limited repatriation and restricted operations subject to tax and documentation.
Consolidated regulatory instructions govern opening, types, joint-holding, permissible credits and debits, repatriation conditions, and operational limits for Non-Resident Ordinary Rupee (NRO) Accounts. Eligible non-residents (NRIs/PIOs) may hold various account forms; credits include inward remittances, India-sourced income and sale proceeds; debits permit local rupee payments and specified remittances abroad subject to tax and documentation. Rules cover visiting foreign nationals, loans/overdrafts against fixed deposits, change of residential status, operations by resident Power of Attorney holders, international card settlement, tax compliance and periodic reporting obligations.

Money transfer regulation: inward personal remittances allowed with authorised agents abiding KYC/AML controls and reporting requirements.
The Master Circular prescribes the regulatory framework for the Money Transfer Service Scheme (MTSS): only inward personal remittances are permitted; Indian Agents must be specified authorised entities meeting minimum net owned funds, documentary and KYC/AML/CFT requirements; Overseas Principals must be licensed, AML compliant and maintain minimum net worth and outreach; collateral is required from Overseas Principals and operational limits and recordkeeping apply; Indian Agents remain fully responsible for Sub Agents and must submit periodic reports and comply with inspections and renewal procedures.