Other BriefingsModi and Macron Elevate India-France Ties to 'Special Global Strategic Partnership'
On February 17, 2026, India's prime minister and the French president announced the Special Global Strategic Partnership, formalizing deeper defense, aerospace, and advanced technology integration. For foreign firms and investors, the framework enhances policy predictability and long-term industrial and investment alignment.
India's Antitrust Regulator CCI Fines Intel US$3.01 Million for Abuse of Dominant Position
Antitrust regulator CCI has imposed a US$3.01 million fine on Intel Corporation for an India-specific warranty policy deemed discriminatory and restrictive of parallel imports. The ruling clarifies how dominance is assessed under Indian competition law and highlights key compliance risks global companies.
Why German CEOs Are Betting on India: The India-EU FTA Opportunity
The newly concluded India–EU Free Trade Agreement creates one of the world’s largest trade zones and unlocks sweeping tariff reductions, expanded services access, and stronger investment protections. For Germany in particular, the deal opens significant opportunities across manufacturing, technology, and financial services.
India-France Tax Treaty Update Favors Long-Term Investors, Expands Capital Gains Rights
India and France have agreed to revise their bilateral tax treaty. The proposed changes include differentiated dividend withholding rates based on shareholding thresholds, narrowing the scope of taxation on technical service fees, etc.
-
Europe’s India Pivot: Ports, Missiles, and AI
Economy & Trade Feb 18 -
Modi and Macron Elevate India-France Ties to 'Special Global Strategic Partnership'
Economy & Trade Feb 18 -
Investing in Sriperumbudur: Tamil Nadu's High-Value Manufacturing Corridor
Industries Feb 18 -
What Counts as an “Industry” Under Indian Law? Supreme Court to Decide on March 17-18
Human Resources & Payroll Feb 16 -
New FEMA Guarantees Framework: From Approval-Centric Controls to a Principle-Led Regime
Legal & Regulatory Feb 16
Get free access to our subscriptions and publications
Subscribe to receive weekly India Briefing news updates, our latest doing business publications, and access to our Asia archives.
Sign Up Now
Economy & Trade
Europe’s India Pivot: Ports, Missiles, and AI
Feb 18In this op-ed, we discuss how Europe appears to be deepening its engagement with India across maritime connectivity, defense co-production, and AI innovation and governance. A cluster of leadership visits and industrial agreements following the conclusion of the India–EU FTA signals a structural alignment rather than temporary diplomatic momentum.
-
Modi and Macron Elevate India-France Ties to 'Special Global Strategic Partnership'
Economy & Trade Feb 18On February 17, 2026, India's prime minister and the French president announced the Special Global Strategic Partnership, formalizing deeper defense, aerospace, and advanced technology integration. For foreign firms and investors, the framework enhances policy predictability and long-term industrial and investment alignment.
-
India’s Orange Economy: Creative Industries Outlook After Budget 2026
Economy & Trade Feb 16As of 2026, India’s orange economy is emerging as a high-growth services opportunity, spanning media, live concerts, AVGC, and creative industries, supported by policy reform.
-
India Fast-Tracks New Drug & Clinical Trial Approvals with 2026 NDCT Amendments
Economy & Trade Feb 12India’s 2026 amendments to the New Drug and Clinical Trials (NDCT) Rules, 2019, materially improve the operating environment for pharmaceutical companies, contract manufacturers, and foreign investors by compressing approval timelines and reducing pre-licensing bottlenecks.
-
After 10 Months of Tariff Deadlock, US and India Find Common Ground on Trade
Economy & Trade Feb 11The White House has revised its February 2026 factsheet on the interim India-US trade framework, softening procurement language from “committed” to “intends” regarding over US$500 billion in US goods.
-
Regulatory Standards When Selling to the Indian Market
Published: October 2025
Expanding into India requires strong regulatory readiness. Understand product certification, BIS/FSS... -
Tapping into India’s Tier 2 and Tier 3 Cities: A Practical Playbook for Foreign Investors
Published: August 2025India’s Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities are fast emerging as the engines of the country’s next growth w...
Tax & Accounting
India's Component Warehousing Safe Harbor: A Competitive Tax Proposition for Global Manufacturers
Feb 11India’s Budget 2026-27 introduces a 2 percent safe harbor for bonded component warehousing and a five-year tax exemption for non-resident suppliers, offering transfer pricing certainty and strengthening India’s role in global manufacturing supply chains.
-
India Unveils Draft Income Tax Rules, 2026 Ahead of April 1 Rollout
Tax & Accounting Feb 09India’s tax administration has released the draft Income Tax Rules, 2026. The proposal streamlines the compliance framework, reducing it to 333 rules and 190 statutory forms. Public consultation remains open until February 22, 2026.
-
Budget 2026 Explainer: Tax Clarity and Incentives for Cloud, Data Centers & AI Players
Tax & Accounting Feb 02Budget 2026–27 elevates data centers to strategic infrastructure, pairing tax exemptions and regulatory certainty with India’s fast-growing digital demand. For global cloud players, India is moving from an emerging data center market to a scale-and-stability play position.
-
Budget 2026 Resets GIFT City Economics for Banks with 20-Year IBU Tax Holiday
Tax & Accounting Feb 02India’s Union Budget 2026 proposes a 20-year tax holiday during a 25-year period for International Banking Units in GIFT City, followed by a concessional 15 percent tax rate.
-
What the Binny Bansal Tax Residency Ruling Means for HNIs Moving Abroad
Tax & Accounting Jan 30The ITAT’s ruling on the Binny Bansal tax residency case highlights that global mobility without meaningful economic disengagement does not eliminate tax exposure. For founders and investors, substance and timing outweigh physical location or day-count management when seeking treaty benefits.
-
The Corporate Taxation and Compliance Regime in India
Published: April 2025Discover India’s evolving corporate tax landscape in this essential guide. Covering income tax rat... -
Navigating India’s Export-Import Landscape: Customs, Trading, and Industrial Clusters
Published: November 2024In this edition of India Briefing Magazine, we explore India’s evolving trade landscape, focusing ...
Legal & Regulatory
What Counts as an “Industry” Under Indian Law? Supreme Court to Decide on March 17-18
Feb 16India’s Supreme Court will revisit the definition of “industry” under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, a ruling that could directly influence the interpretation and implementation of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020.
-
New FEMA Guarantees Framework: From Approval-Centric Controls to a Principle-Led Regime
Legal & Regulatory Feb 16The RBI has replaced the Foreign Exchange Management (Guarantees) Regulations, 2000, with the 2026 Regulations, introducing a principle-based, eligibility-driven framework under FEMA while retaining the underlying statutory prohibition structure.
-
India's Antitrust Regulator CCI Fines Intel US$3.01 Million for Abuse of Dominant Position
Legal & Regulatory Feb 13Antitrust regulator CCI has imposed a US$3.01 million fine on Intel Corporation for an India-specific warranty policy deemed discriminatory and restrictive of parallel imports. The ruling clarifies how dominance is assessed under Indian competition law and highlights key compliance risks global companies.
-
Deepfake, Content Labeling & Safe Harbor Risks for Global Platforms: India’s 2026 AI Regulation
Legal & Regulatory Feb 12India’s latest updates to the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, tighten artificial intelligence (AI) and deepfake regulation with mandatory labeling and 2-3 hour takedowns, putting safe harbor protection at risk for foreign platforms.
-
India Fast-Tracks New Drug & Clinical Trial Approvals with 2026 NDCT Amendments
Legal & Regulatory Feb 12India’s 2026 amendments to the New Drug and Clinical Trials (NDCT) Rules, 2019, materially improve the operating environment for pharmaceutical companies, contract manufacturers, and foreign investors by compressing approval timelines and reducing pre-licensing bottlenecks.
-
Regulatory Standards When Selling to the Indian Market
Published: October 2025Expanding into India requires strong regulatory readiness. Understand product certification, BIS/FSS... -
The Corporate Taxation and Compliance Regime in India
Published: April 2025Discover India’s evolving corporate tax landscape in this essential guide. Covering income tax rat...
Industries
Investing in Sriperumbudur: Tamil Nadu's High-Value Manufacturing Corridor
Feb 17Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu is one of India’s most strategic high-value corridors, propelled by electronics production and a strong global OEM presence, including Foxconn. The region offers a scalable and de-risked platform for investment in India through 2026.
-
What Counts as an “Industry” Under Indian Law? Supreme Court to Decide on March 17-18
Industries Feb 16India’s Supreme Court will revisit the definition of “industry” under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, a ruling that could directly influence the interpretation and implementation of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020.
-
India’s Orange Economy: Creative Industries Outlook After Budget 2026
Industries Feb 16As of 2026, India’s orange economy is emerging as a high-growth services opportunity, spanning media, live concerts, AVGC, and creative industries, supported by policy reform.
-
India Fast-Tracks New Drug & Clinical Trial Approvals with 2026 NDCT Amendments
Industries Feb 12India’s 2026 amendments to the New Drug and Clinical Trials (NDCT) Rules, 2019, materially improve the operating environment for pharmaceutical companies, contract manufacturers, and foreign investors by compressing approval timelines and reducing pre-licensing bottlenecks.
-
India's Textile PLI Scheme: Extended Window till March 31
Industries Feb 10India has extended the application window for the Textile PLI Scheme to March 31, 2026. Businesses in the textile sector should act quickly to secure incentives for scaling production and strengthening export competitiveness.
-
Regulatory Standards When Selling to the Indian Market
Published: October 2025Expanding into India requires strong regulatory readiness. Understand product certification, BIS/FSS... -
Tapping into India’s Tier 2 and Tier 3 Cities: A Practical Playbook for Foreign Investors
Published: August 2025India’s Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities are fast emerging as the engines of the country’s next growth w...
HR & Payroll
What Counts as an “Industry” Under Indian Law? Supreme Court to Decide on March 17-18
Feb 16India’s Supreme Court will revisit the definition of “industry” under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, a ruling that could directly influence the interpretation and implementation of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020.
-
Uttar Pradesh Updates Shops & Establishments Law: Check Applicability, Working Hours, and Compliance
HR & Payroll Feb 11The Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has overhauled its Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, expanding statewide applicability and modernizing employer compliance. The latest updates include threshold-based coverage, digital registration, revised working hours, and stronger enforcement for businesses operating in the state.
-
Madhya Pradesh Shops & Establishments Act Amendment: Digital Compliance Reforms and Employer Implications
HR & Payroll Feb 10The Madhya Pradesh Shops & Establishment Act, Second Amendment, enacted on December 15, 2025, brings digital registration, online inspections, real-time updates, and simplified compliance for employers operating in the state.
-
One Central Registration: India's Answer to Labor Compliance Complexity
HR & Payroll Feb 09India’s one central registration under the new labor codes streamlines employer registrations, licenses, and returns, while preserving statutory worker protections.
-
Gujarat Updates Labor Rules for Shops & Commercial Establishments
HR & Payroll Jan 14Gujarat’s Shops & Establishments amendments, notified on December 16, 2025, introduce key labor compliance changes, including higher applicability thresholds, extended working and overtime limits, and regulated night-shift employment for women.
-
The Corporate Taxation and Compliance Regime in India
Published: April 2025Discover India’s evolving corporate tax landscape in this essential guide. Covering income tax rat... -
Optimizing Returns: Strategies for Success in India's Service Sector
Published: September 2024India's service sector is a dynamic driver of economic growth and a key destination for foreign dire...
Expert Guidance about Business in Asia
Dezan Shira & Associates is a pan-Asia, multi-disciplinary professional services firm, providing market entry, legal, accounting, tax, HR, technology and operational advisory to international investors.
Business Updates for All Asia Markets
Asia Briefing publishes articles, magazines, and guides on doing business in Asia. Dezan Shira & Associates has produced the publication since 1999.
Need More Guidance?
India Briefing Publications
Download magazines and guides on doing business in India.
Download Now
