An Introduction to Doing Business in India 2026
Published: January 2026India enters 2026 on the back of strong economic momentum and one of the most consequential regulatory overhauls introduced in 2025, reshaping the operating environment for both new and established investors. This latest edition of An Introduction to Doing Business in India provides a clear, practical roadmap to navigating GST 2.0 reforms, the full rollout of the four Labor Codes, the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules 2025, and updates to incorporation processes, entity selection, audit requirements, and financial reporting. It also examines India’s near-fully digitalized trade ecosystem, newly secured trade deals, latest HS classifications and export-control rules aligned with global standards. The guide equips foreign companies with the insights needed to confidently enter, expand, or optimize their footprint in the world’s fastest-growing major economy.
India enters 2026 with strong economic momentum and one of its most comprehensive waves of regulatory reform in recent years. As growth continues across manufacturing, services, and investment, businesses face a rapidly modernizing operating environment shaped by major updates in taxation, labor compliance, digital governance, and trade procedures.
The rollout of GST 2.0 in late 2025 introduces a simplified rate structure, correction of inverted duty issues, tighter GST–customs–e-invoicing integration, and smoother compliance workflows – creating more predictable cash-flow conditions for companies. In parallel, the full implementation of India’s four Labor Codes significantly modernizes wage definitions, social security entitlements, industrial relations processes, and inspection systems. These changes require firms to adjust payroll models, HR frameworks, and workforce management practices.
India’s digital regulatory landscape has also evolved. The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules 2025 establish new standards for consent, data retention, breach notification, cross-border transfers, and cybersecurity safeguards, all overseen by the Data Protection Board. Corporate establishment and compliance processes – from incorporation and entity selection to audit and reporting – are now more standardized and digitally integrated.
Foreign investors must also navigate a diverse set of operational structures, weighing tax exposure, compliance obligations, and commercial priorities when choosing between liaison offices, LLPs, joint ventures, and wholly owned subsidiaries. Meanwhile, India’s trade ecosystem has undergone near-complete digitalization, with updated HS codes and strengthened export-control rules aligned to global frameworks.
Together, these reforms – explained across the chapters of this Guide – reflect India’s shift toward a more predictable, globally aligned, and investment-friendly business environment. However, they also heighten the need for proactive compliance planning, internal restructuring, and informed strategic decision-making.
Prepared by the experts at Dezan Shira & Associates, An Introduction to Doing Business in India 2026 provides practical, actionable insights for companies looking to enter, expand, or optimize their operations in India. With decades of on-the-ground experience supporting multinational firms across Asia, our team equips you with the clarity and confidence needed to navigate India’s evolving regulatory and business landscape.
For business inquiries, contact our India specialists: india@dezshira.com
In this issue:
- Policy overhaul of 2025
- India’s investment climate
- Structuring India operations
- Audit and financial reporting
- HR and payroll
- Trade environment
- DPDP law