Corporate Law

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has extended the deadline for the Companies Compliance Facilitation Scheme 2026 from July 15 to August 31, 2026, through General Circular No. 03/2026 dated July 8, 2026, following disruptions caused by the MCA21 data centre fire on June 5, 2026.

Increasing the authorized share capital of a company in India is a common corporate action required when the company needs to issue additional shares beyond its current authorized limit. The process is governed by Section 61 and Section 64 of the Companies Act, 2013, and involves amending the Memorandum of Association, obtaining shareholder approval, and filing Form SH-7 with the Registrar of Companies. When Is an Increase Required? A company must increase its authorized shar

Changing the name of a company in India is a structured process under Section 13 of the Companies Act, 2013, that requires board approval, shareholder approval by special resolution, name reservation through the MCA portal, and formal application to the Registrar of Companies. This guide outlines each step, the forms involved, and the typical timeline. Step 1: Board Resolution The board of directors must pass a resolution approving the proposal to change the company name. The

The Mumbai Bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) admitted Future Consumer Limited, part of the Kishore Biyani-promoted Future Group, into the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) after finding a default of Rs 263.77 crore owed to Resurgent India Special Situations Fund. The Financial Debt Future Consumer Ltd. had issued Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs) aggregating Rs 200 crore in 2018. Despite being granted multiple waivers, restructuring arrangements,

Legal due diligence is a critical step before any business acquisition, merger, or investment in India. It involves a systematic review of the target company's legal documents, compliance records, contracts, and litigation history to identify risks and inform the deal structure. This guide outlines the key steps and areas of review for conducting effective legal due diligence. Step 1: Execute a Non-Disclosure Agreement Before accessing any confidential information about the t

A Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) combines the flexibility of a partnership with the limited liability protection of a company. It is governed by the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008, and is a popular choice for professionals, startups, and small businesses in India. This guide walks you through the step-by-step process of registering an LLP through the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) V3 portal in 2026. Step 1: Obtain Digital Signature Certificates (DSC) Every

The Supreme Court on July 9, 2026, dismissed appeals filed by the suspended director of Parsvnath Developers Ltd, affirming that once a financial debt and default are established under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016, settlement negotiations between the parties cannot be used as a ground to stall or defer the admission of a Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP). Background of the Dispute ARCIL, the assignee of Sammaan Capital's claim of approximately R

From Blanket Restrictions to Beneficial Ownership Analysis The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) released Press Note 2 (2026 Series), introducing a fundamental shift in how India regulates Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from countries sharing a land border. Moving beyond the jurisdiction-based blanket restrictions of Press Note 3 (2020), the new framework centres on beneficial ownership analysis and control-based thresholds to determine when gov

MCA extends DPT-3 filing deadline to July 31 2026 and grants e-form resubmission relief after the June 5 data centre fire via General Circular 02/2026.

Companies and their officers may sometimes default on compliance requirements under the Companies Act 2013, leading to penalties and prosecution. Section 441 of the Companies Act 2013 provides a mechanism called "compounding" that allows offenders to settle certain offences by paying a compounding fee, thereby avoiding prolonged litigation and criminal proceedings. This guide explains the compounding process, which offences qualify, the role of the Regional Director and NCLT,

A Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) is a popular business structure in India, governed by the LLP Act 2008. However, when an LLP has ceased operations, never commenced business, or is no longer financially viable, the partners may need to close or wind it up. The process involves either a voluntary strike-off through Form 24 filed with the Registrar of Companies (RoC) or a formal winding up through the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). This guide explains both methods i

The Delhi High Court has held that an order suspending or debarring a company from participating in future tenders cannot be passed without following the principles of natural justice. Setting aside an order by a public sector entity that suspended a solar module manufacturer from future tenders, the Court reaffirmed that debarment is a serious civil consequence which requires a show cause notice and a fair hearing before it can take effect. The Dispute A public sector renewa

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has announced the permanent decommissioning of the legacy MCA21 V2 portal, with the final shutdown scheduled for June 30, 2026. All remaining filing forms, including those related to charge creation (CHG-1, CHG-9), Director KYC (DIR-3 KYC), and annual returns (MGT-7/MGT-7A), have been migrated to the V3 platform. Companies that have not yet transitioned must complete the switch before the deadline. Background: The MCA21 V3 Migration Th

Registering a company in India has become significantly more streamlined since the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) introduced the SPICe+ integrated web form. Whether you are planning a Private Limited Company, a One Person Company (OPC), or a Section 8 entity, the incorporation process now consolidates multiple registrations into a single digital application. This guide walks through every stage of the MCA SPICe+ process, the documents you need, the government fees applic

Startup India recognition by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, known as DPIIT recognition, unlocks a range of benefits for early stage companies, from self certification under several laws to access to a possible income tax holiday. This guide explains who is eligible, how to apply online, how the Section 80-IAC tax benefit works, and what documents to keep ready, so founders can decide whether recognition is worth pursuing for their venture. Who Is

The Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has admitted an insolvency petition filed by Paytm's parent company One97 Communications against gaming firm Fabzen Technologies, the operator of Ludo Empire, over unpaid digital advertising dues of more than Rs 3.41 crore. By an order dated June 18, 2026, the tribunal initiated the corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP) against Fabzen under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC), and appointed an in

Registering a company in India is governed by the Companies Act, 2013 and administered through the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) portal. The process has been significantly streamlined through the SPICe+ (Simplified Proforma for Incorporating Company Electronically Plus) form, which integrates ten registrations, including PAN, TAN, GST, EPFO, and ESIC, into a single filing. This guide walks through every step of the process, from obtaining a Digital Signature Certificate

The Supreme Court of India has taken suo motu cognisance of alarming delays at the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) in approving resolution plans under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC). A bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice KV Viswanathan acted on a Registrar report from the NCLT Principal Bench, revealing that 383 applications for approval of resolution plans are pending across various NCLT benches. The delays range from 48 days to 738 days, with some

On July 15, 2026, the India-UK Free Trade Agreement will formally enter into force, marking the most significant bilateral trade arrangement either country has concluded in over a decade. The deal spans 26 sectors, eliminates or reduces tariffs on the vast majority of traded goods, and introduces provisions that go well beyond traditional market access. For businesses operating in either jurisdiction, understanding the core terms of this agreement is a commercial necessity. T

To register a sole proprietorship in India, it helps to understand one key point at the outset: there is no single incorporation step the way there is for a company or a limited liability partnership. A sole proprietorship is the simplest business form, owned and run by one individual, and it gains legal recognition through a combination of registrations such as GST, Udyam (MSME) and a Shop and Establishment licence. If you later expand, you can move to a more formal structur