The Enforcement Directorate, India's premier agency investigating money laundering and financial violations, is set for its most significant organisational overhaul in recent memory, with a new structural framework scheduled to take effect from 1 January 2027. The reform will see the number of zones handling Proceedings of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) cases jump to 50 nationwide, alongside five dedicated zones for Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) matters.
Under the restructured model, FEMA zones will be headquartered in Delhi, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai — cities chosen for their concentration of banking, corporate and international trade activity. The PMLA zone expansion is expected to cover every major metropolitan centre as well as smaller regional hubs that currently lack a dedicated ED presence.
Perhaps the most consequential change is the agency's target to slash the average investigation timeline from the current four to five years down to approximately one and a half years. Money laundering cases in India have long been criticised for dragging on indefinitely, with accused individuals often enjoying bail for years while proceedings stall. The new timeline mandate, if achieved, would mark a dramatic shift in how swiftly economic offences are adjudicated.
To support the expansion, the ED's sanctioned strength will rise from 2,029 approved positions to 3,256 — an increase of more than 60 percent. The number of functional units will nearly double, climbing from 131 to 241, enabling wider geographic coverage and reducing the caseload burden on existing offices. Officials have indicated the additional posts will be filled through targeted recruitment drives across investigative, legal and technical roles, though details on the hiring timeline remain limited.
