Improvements in EPFO Claims Settlement Process for FY 2025-26

Weekly Regulatory & Corporate Highlights – July 2025 (Edition: Week 3)

Re-Transfer Window for Physical Shares: SEBI has opened a six-month window (Jul 7, 2025 – Jan 6, 2026) to re-lodge pre-April 2019 physical share transfers that were previously rejected. All such transfers will now be issued in demat form only.
Investor Charter Mandatory: All registered investment advisers must now adopt SEBI’s Investor Charter to improve transparency and service quality.
Equity Market Margins: All margin requirements must be met through the pledge/re-pledge route within the depository ecosystem.
ESG Debt Securities Framework: A dedicated ESG bond framework has been launched, broadening the earlier green bond regime.
Consultation for Research Analysts: A draft circular and FAQs have been issued; public and industry feedback has been invited.
Securities Market Compliance: New centralized platform—Samuhik Prativedan Manch—for broker compliance reporting to go live on Aug 1, 2025.
Additional Notes:
- Pune hosted the first Niveshak Shivir to settle unclaimed shares/dividends.
- VCFs granted more time to migrate under AIF regulations.
- Informal guidance continues under SAST & Insider Trading provisions.
- Minimum ₹1 crore investment and mandatory demat mode proposed for securitized debt.

V3 Platform Now Fully Live: MCA21 V3 now covers all 38 forms (annual, audit, cost audit, legacy) as of July 14, 2025.
Key Enhancements:
- Auto-filled data, compliance flags, and linked filings.
- Support for both offline and online submission.
- V2 system has been fully retired since June 18.

Priority Sector Lending (PSL): Clarity provided on treating contributions to refinance institutions when PSL targets are unmet.
Gold/Silver Lending: Comprehensive collateral norms issued for precious metal-backed loans.
Large Exposures: List of exempt exposures updated to enhance credit discipline.
Monetary Policy:
- Repo Rate: Reduced to 5.50%
- CRR: Cut by 100 bps, easing liquidity
- Updated penal interest rules now benchmarked to repo rate
KYC & Digital Lending: Further rollout of centralized customer data, revised digital lending safeguards, and tighter KYC norms.
Currency Accounts: Revised rules for resident foreign currency accounts.

EPFO 3.0 Rollout: Instant PF withdrawal via ATM/UPI now available; Aadhaar and UAN must be linked. ₹1 lakh withdrawal cap for emergencies applies.
Interest Rate FY25: Fixed at 8.25%.
Gig Worker Choice: Ongoing discussions to give platform workers a choice between EPF and NPS schemes.
Taxation Note: Early withdrawals (before 5 years) remain taxable with TDS.

Targeted CIRP Flexibility:
- RPs can now invite resolution plans for individual assets or business units.
- Enhanced disclosures in IMs for avoidance transactions.
Creditor Protection: New rules ensure dissenting financial creditors are repaid pro-rata, aligning with fair treatment norms.

Company	Open	Close	Price Range (₹)	Issue Size (₹ cr)	Exchange
Samay Project Services Ltd	Jun 16	Jun 18	32.00–34.00	14.69	NSE SME
Monolithisch India Ltd	Jun 12	Jun 16	135.00–143.00	82.02	NSE SME
Jainik Power and Cables Ltd	Jun 10	Jun 12	100.00–110.00	51.30	NSE SME
Sacheerome Ltd	Jun 09	Jun 11	102.00–161.62	Not Disclosed	NSE SME

Motor Insurance: IRDAI has proposed an average 18% hike in third-party premiums for FY26 (first hike in 4 years); higher increases for select vehicle categories under MoRTH clearance.
Health Insurance: Initiatives launched for cashless treatment and shared hospital networks.
Leadership Gap: IRDAI Chairperson post remains vacant.
GST Discussions: Tax relief on insurance products under active discussion.

TRAI Manual: Consultation ongoing for the “Property Rating for Digital Connectivity” document.
Govt Data Networks: DoT urges use of BSNL/MTNL infrastructure for official networks.
Spectrum & Starlink: 6GHz band policy under consultation; Starlink’s India rollout also under review.
Fraud Monitoring: Launch of Financial Fraud Risk Indicator to detect telecom/digital frauds.

New Thresholds: Effective April 1, 2025:
- Investment limits raised 2.5x
- Turnover thresholds doubled
- Aimed to support scaling without losing MSME status
Credit Enhancements:
- Startup credit guarantee limits doubled
- ₹5 lakh MSME credit cards to aid working capital
- Export finance coverage expanded
Infrastructure: QCI-led digital portal in progress; flatted factory models and logistics support being expanded.

M&A Clearances:
- Omnicom–Interpublic acquisition
- Currant Sea–IDFC First Bank stake (up to 9.99%)
Revised FAQs + Cost Regulations, 2025:
- Clarifications on predatory pricing, discounting, and merger thresholds
Key Probes:
- Asian Paints under investigation
- AGI Greenpac’s complaint against INSCO dismissed
- Supreme Court backs INSCO’s HNGIL resolution plan

EV Manufacturing Boost: New incentives rolled out to support domestic electric car production.
E-Commerce Regulation: Self-audit mandate issued to detect and eliminate “dark patterns” on digital platforms within 3 months.

Investor Outreach: SEBI-IEPFA’s first Niveshak Shivir in Pune focused on unclaimed asset settlements.
NHAI: Released its first roadmap for monetizing road infrastructure assets.
MoSPI: Published “EnviStats India 2025”.
Clean Mobility: Aggregators in NCR now required to meet clean vehicle compliance standards.
A PowerPoint-ready version of this summary
A compliance checklist based on these updates
A one-page client briefing for any industry vertical