Insights & Resources

India’s evolving crypto regulations require startups to navigate a complex matrix of tax law, AML norms, data privacy obligations, and consumer protection rules. This insight distils the key legal imperatives—FIU-IND registration, 30% taxation, CERT-In incident reporting, and DPDP compliance—into a strategic roadmap for Web3 founders building in India's regulated VDA ecosystem.

The Delhi High Court has reaffirmed that interim maintenance under Section 125 CrPC cannot be denied based on notional income or presumed earning capacity. Recognising the economic burden on custodial parents, the Court stressed actual income disclosures and caregiving roles, remanding the matter for a fresh assessment of financial documents.

The RBI has released the Draft Co-Lending Arrangements Directions, 2025, proposing a unified, market-enabling framework for regulated entities. The draft aims to streamline risk-sharing, pricing, and borrower protections across digital and traditional lending partnerships while replacing fragmented earlier guidelines. This explainer highlights key provisions, compliance expectations, and systemic implications.

The RBI has issued draft directions to regulate Non-Fund Based Credit Facilities such as guarantees, letters of credit, and partial credit enhancements. This write-up provides a detailed overview of the framework, its applicability to banks and NBFCs, the proposed exposure caps, and disclosure requirements, while highlighting the shift towards electronic guarantees and risk-based credit appraisals.

The RBI has released its draft 2025 Directions on lending against gold collateral, proposing a unified, principle-based framework for all regulated entities. These Directions aim to streamline prudential norms, standardise conduct practices, and strengthen consumer protection, while ensuring fair treatment and systemic stability in gold-backed credit markets.

the US Supreme Court has overruled the four-decade-old Chevron doctrine, reasserting that courts—not agencies—hold the ultimate authority to interpret ambiguous statutes. This decision reshapes administrative law, restoring judicial independence under Article III of the US Constitution and carrying persuasive relevance for jurisdictions like India that value a strict separation of powers.

SEBI’s 2025 amendments to the LODR Regulations introduce a new governance framework for High-Value Debt Listed Entities (HVDLEs) with ₹1,000 crore+ in listed NCDs. These norms align debt entities with equity governance standards, mandating board independence, committee oversight, and compliance timelines. This post unpacks key obligations, implications, and what debt-heavy issuers must do to remain compliant.

The Supreme Court set aside the High Court’s grant of anticipatory bail to accused persons declared proclaimed offenders for evading summons in a major economic fraud. Reaffirming that anticipatory bail is a discretionary relief, the Court held that wilful evasion of judicial process disentitles accused persons from seeking such protection, especially in grave financial crimes involving public interest.

The RBI’s April 2025 Statement outlines key draft measures for co-lending expansion, stressed asset securitisation, harmonised gold loan norms, and UPI limit rationalisation. It further proposes a ‘theme-neutral’ fintech sandbox to foster continuous innovation. These reforms reflect the RBI’s proactive approach to market-based regulation, financial inclusion, and systemic resilience through stakeholder-driven policy development.

The Supreme Court has quashed a cheque bounce complaint under Section 138 of the NI Act, citing deliberate suppression of critical defence documents by the complainant. The judgment reinforces that criminal prosecution cannot proceed where procedural fairness is compromised. This decision underscores the duty of complainants to disclose all material facts when initiating criminal process.

SEBI has passed a landmark order against CNBC anchor Hemant Ghai for abusing media privilege to front-run stock tips for personal gain. By executing trades ahead of on-air recommendations via family accounts, and falsifying records, he violated market integrity norms. The order reaffirms SEBI’s stance on treating media-driven tip-offs as material non-public information under PFUTP regulations.

The Central Government has revised the investment and turnover thresholds for classifying Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises under the MSME Act, effective from 1 April 2025. The updated limits aim to broaden MSME coverage and enhance access to statutory benefits for a wider base of enterprises, subject to timely Udyam re-registration.

Can AI be a legal person? This article explores liability, agency, and the legal challenges of regulating autonomous intelligent systems.

The Delhi High Court, in Christian James Michel v. Directorate of Enforcement, granted bail under PMLA on grounds of prolonged undertrial incarceration. The judgment highlights the constitutional imperative under Article 21 and harmonises it with the stringent bail provisions of Section 45 PMLA, reinforcing the jurisprudence against indefinite pre-trial detention in economic offences.

The SAT’s ruling in CapitalVia Global Research Ltd. v. SEBI offers valuable guidance on regulatory compliance for investment advisers under the SEBI framework. While upholding nine out of thirteen charges—including KYC failures, risk profiling lapses, and misleading disclosures—the Tribunal reduced the penalty from ₹1 crore to ₹70 lakhs, reaffirming the importance of proportionality in enforcement and the fiduciary obligations of advisory firms.

In K.S. Mehta v. Morgan Securities, the Supreme Court decisively addressed the vicarious liability of non-executive directors under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881. Reinforcing strict construction principles, the Court quashed criminal proceedings against directors lacking active involvement, setting a clear precedent on the necessity of specific allegations for liability under Section 141.

SEBI’s 2025 amendment to the Insider Trading Regulations expands the definition of Unpublished Price Sensitive Information (UPSI), introduces new disclosure triggers, and streamlines compliance with structured data protocols. This regulatory update signals a decisive shift toward pre-emptive corporate transparency and robust market integrity safeguards.

The IFSCA has issued a comprehensive framework on cyber security and resilience for regulated entities operating in IFSC. These guidelines mandate robust governance, data protection, IT asset management, and incident reporting measures to counter escalating cyber threats. Regulated entities must adopt structured protocols, undergo annual audits, and manage third-party risk to ensure financial system stability.

In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court has clarified that maintenance and alimony under Sections 24 and 25 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 may be granted even in void marriages. While affirming judicial discretion based on parties’ conduct and circumstances, the Court refrained from laying down fixed standards. This ruling addresses long-standing ambiguity but leaves key interpretive questions open for future litigation.

CCI’s 2025 regulations overhaul penalty recovery with expanded scope, third-party liability, and legal heir accountability.