New Delhi: Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) on Saturday hailed the regulatory changes introduced by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), simplifying norms for IPO and foreign portfolio investors.  

Sebi, in its recent board meeting, decided to revise the minimum public shareholding (MPS) norms for large companies planning initial public offerings (IPOs).

“We welcome SEBI’s progressive and well-calibrated reforms announced at its recent Board Meeting. The new incentive structures to expand mutual fund penetration beyond the top 30 cities and among women investors align closely with AMFI’s financial inclusion objectives,” said Venkat N Chalasani, Chief Executive, AMFI.

The reduction in the maximum exit load from 5 per cent to 3 per cent further reinforces SEBI’s commitment to investor protection and transparency.

The reclassification of REITs as ‘equity’ for mutual fund investments is also a timely step that will enhance diversification opportunities and support the growth of real estate as an investible asset class, Chalasani added.

Taken together, these initiatives will broaden investor participation, strengthen the long-term health of the mutual fund industry, and strike a thoughtful balance between regulatory rigour, investor protection, and ease of doing business, he said further.

Earlier, SEBI announced a series of regulatory changes, including a major relaxation in IPOs, ease for FPIs planning to invest in the domestic market, and simplifying entry norms for advisory certifications.

Under the new norms, companies with a market capitalisation of Rs 50,000 crore to Rs 1 lakh crore will now get more time to meet the public shareholding requirements.

They will be required to achieve 15 per cent MPS within five years of listing and 25 per cent within 10 years.

At present, companies are required to meet the 25 per cent threshold within three years.

Additionally, a new category of alternative investment funds that are exclusively available to accredited investors (AI) has been approved. According to a SEBI announcement, the minimum ticket size for Large Value Funds has been reduced from Rs 70 crore to Rs 25 crore.

The new SWAGAT-FI framework, which offers 10-year registrations, a single demat account, and exemptions from the FVCI rule requiring 66 per cent of corpus in unlisted equity, will benefit sovereign wealth funds and pension funds.

New Delhi: With only three days remaining to file Income Tax Returns (ITRs) for FY 2024-25, taxpayers are facing technical issues across key e-filing platforms, adding to the usual end-of-season stress. The Annual Information Statement (AIS), Form 26AS, and Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS) portals have been intermittently down due to high traffic, leaving users frustrated and venting on social media.

This year, filings have been slower than last year. By September 11, only 5.47 crore returns had been submitted, compared to 7.28 crore by July 31, 2024. The TRACES portal, which is essential for accessing Form 26AS, downloading TDS certificates, and verifying tax credits, has also been unavailable since September 11, further complicating matters for taxpayers and professionals.

Recommended System Requirements

To avoid technical issues, the Income Tax Department recommends:

Browsers: Microsoft Edge (v88+), Chrome (v88+), Firefox/Mozilla (v86+), Opera (v66+)

Operating Systems: Windows 7 or higher, Linux, Mac OS

Other Requirements: CSS and JavaScript enabled, cookies allowed, and a Class 2 or Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) for certain filings

Late ITR Utility Releases Add Pressure

This year’s filing process has been more challenging due to late release of ITR utilities. The CBDT extended the non-audit ITR deadline from July 31 to September 15, but most utilities became available later than usual:

29 May 2025: ITR-1 & ITR-4 Excel utilities

4 June 2025: ITR-1 & ITR-4 online utilities

11 July 2025: ITR-2 & ITR-3 Excel utilities

17 July 2025: ITR-2 online utility

30 July 2025: ITR-3 offline & online utility

8 August 2025: ITR-5 Excel utility

14 August 2025: ITR-6 Excel utility

Last year, most forms were released by early April, giving taxpayers nearly three months to prepare. This year, the compressed timeline has put extra pressure on both individuals and chartered accountants.

Bank Holidays Could Complicate Cash Payments

The upcoming weekend and bank holiday on September 13-14, combined with the 2nd Saturday on September 13, raises concerns for taxpayers needing to deposit cash for tax payments. Officials have not yet clarified whether banks will remain open.

Penalties for Missing the Deadline

Missing the ITR deadline can be costly:

Late filing fee: Up to Rs 5,000 (capped at Rs 1,000 for incomes below Rs 5 lakh)

Interest: 1 percent monthly on unpaid tax, calculated on a part-month basis

Expert Tips to Avoid Last-Minute Hassles

Check system compatibility: Ensure your browser, OS, and DSC meet requirements

Prepare documents early: Keep Form 26AS, AIS, and TIS ready

File early: Avoid peak hours to reduce portal downtime

Stay informed: Check official e-filing updates and notices

For smooth filing, use the official Income Tax Department e-filing portal: https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/

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Last Updated:September 13, 2025, 15:48 IST

India’s office market is entering a defining decade, marked by both resilience and reinvention, according to CBRE India.

Flex space operators continue to hold a significant share of India’s office leasing, consistently accounting for over 15% of annual absorption.

Office space demand in India is set to get a major boost, with 85% of domestic firms planning to expand their portfolios over the next two years, according to real estate consultancy firm CBRE’s latest India Office Occupier Survey 2025. The intent marks a sharp rise from 73% in 2024, reflecting stronger business sentiment, digital adoption and a shift towards an office-first approach.

The report noted that companies have bounced back strongly since the pandemic years. Leasing by domestic firms during 2023-24 was nearly 86% higher compared to pre-Covid levels in 2018-19. “India’s office market is entering a defining decade, marked by both resilience and reinvention,” said Anshuman Magazine, Chairman & CEO of CBRE for India, South-East Asia, the Middle East & Africa.

Office-First Policies Gaining Ground

The survey found that 94% of firms now prefer employees to work from office at least three days a week. More than half the companies (52%) have already adopted a full return-to-office policy, compared with 36% last year.

Flexible Workspaces On The Rise

Flex space operators continue to hold a significant share of India’s office leasing, consistently accounting for over 15% of annual absorption. The trend is expected to accelerate, with more companies planning to allocate up to half of their office portfolios to flexible workspaces in the coming years. Smaller occupiers, in particular, are leading this shift, 58% of them intend to place more than 10% of their office footprint in flex spaces within two years, according to the CBRE report.

GCCs Fuelling Expansion

Global capability centres (GCCs) remain one of the strongest demand drivers, contributing 35-40% of total annual office absorption. The survey found that 65% of GCCs expect to expand in the next two years, especially in sectors such as banking and financial services, life sciences, and engineering. Average deal sizes by GCCs have also grown, rising to about 108,000 sq. ft. in the first half of 2025 from 91,000 sq. ft. in 2024, it added.

Ram Chandnani, Managing Director-Leasing, CBRE India, said, “GCCs alone account for about 35-40% of absorption, driven by their rapid evolution into high-value innovation hubs. Flexible workspaces are no longer a secondary option; they are becoming integral to occupier strategies.”

ESG and Smaller Cities Gaining Traction

Sustainability has emerged as a key focus, with nearly three-fourths of GCCs already setting ESG targets for their real estate portfolios. At the same time, more occupiers are eyeing tier-II and tier-III cities for growth, citing access to skilled talent, lower costs, and improving infrastructure, CBRE said.

CBRE expects these forces — office-first strategies, flex space adoption, GCC expansion, and sustainability — to shape India’s office market in the years ahead, reinforcing the country’s position as a global office hub.

Mohammad Haris

Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h…Read More

Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h… Read More

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