Sansa Law Desk

India has consolidated 29 existing labour laws into four unified Labour Codes: the Code on Wages, 2019; the Industrial Relations Code, 2020; the Code on Social Security, 2020; and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020. While these codes were enacted between 2019 and 2020, the central government targeted April 1, 2026 for full operational implementation across all sectors. The most significant change for employers in 2026 is the 50 percent wage rule

The Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was introduced in Lok Sabha on March 23, 2026. The Bill proposes amendments to both the Companies Act, 2013 and the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008. It covers a wide range of reforms including decriminalisation of minor offences, changes to corporate social responsibility thresholds, recognition of new employee compensation instruments, restructuring of the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA), and the creation of a n

The Reserve Bank of India issued the Commercial Banks Credit Facilities Amendment Directions, 2026 on February 13, 2026, comprehensively revising the regulatory framework governing bank lending for acquisitions, loans against securities, and credit facilities to capital market intermediaries. The directions came into force on April 1, 2026. The amendments introduce a new Chapter XIII A dedicated to credit facilities for capital market intermediaries (CMIs), covering stock bro

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has notified the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, which came into force on April 1, 2026, superseding the earlier Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. The new rules were notified on January 28, 2026, under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. India generates approximately 160,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily, and the 2016 framework had proved inadequate to address the scale of the problem. The 2026

The Securities and Exchange Board of India's new algorithmic trading framework became fully mandatory for all stock brokers on April 1, 2026. Originally issued through a circular in February 2025, the framework introduces a registration, identification, and compliance regime for all automated trading strategies executed through broker platforms. The rules apply equally to institutional and retail participants, though the compliance burden varies depending on the scale and nat

In a recent order passed in April 2026, the Bombay High Court highlighted a severe systemic problem in the disposal of motor accident and railway compensation appeals. Justice Jitendra Jain, while dismissing an appeal filed by The Oriental Insurance Company Limited against a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) award of Rs 74,422, observed that the appeal had waited 15 years just to come up for admission. The Court directed that a copy of the order be sent to the Ministry of

On April 21, 2026, the Delhi High Court held YouTuber Gulshan Pahuja guilty of criminal contempt of court for publishing videos containing scandalous allegations against judicial officers. The proceedings were initiated suo motu after judicial officers flagged objectionable content on Pahuja's YouTube channel titled Fight 4 Judicial Reforms. The videos featured interviews with advocates, displayed banners naming specific judges alongside sensational captions, and made baseles

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology notified the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026 on April 22, 2026. These rules operationalise the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 (commonly referred to as the PROGA), and will come into force on May 1, 2026. The 26-rule, six-part regulatory architecture establishes a comprehensive framework for governing online gaming in India. For years, gaming regulation in India was a fragmented a

India does not yet have a standalone artificial intelligence law. Unlike the European Union, which enacted the AI Act in 2024 with binding rules across all member states, India has adopted a principles-first, risk-based approach that relies on existing legislation, sector-specific regulation, and voluntary guidelines to govern AI deployment. The key legislation affecting AI systems is the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, with its Rules notified in 2025 for phased r

The Election Commission of India (ECI) derives its authority from Article 324 of the Constitution, which vests in it the superintendence, direction, and control of all elections to Parliament, state legislatures, and the offices of President and Vice President. This constitutional mandate gives the ECI sweeping powers that extend well beyond merely conducting polls. From deploying central armed police forces across state boundaries to enforcing the Model Code of Conduct, the

The Reserve Bank of India issued comprehensive directions on 26 September 2025 titled 'Settlement of Claims in respect of Deceased Customers of Banks', requiring all commercial and cooperative banks to implement a simplified and time-bound framework for processing claims by legal heirs and nominees of deceased account holders. These directions, effective from 31 March 2026, address a long-standing grievance: the ordeal families face when attempting to access the bank accounts

Indian banks have written off lakhs of crores in non-performing assets over the past decade, a fact that periodically generates public outrage when presented alongside statistics about agricultural debt or small borrower distress. However, the legal distinction between a write-off and a waiver is fundamental, and misunderstanding it leads to confusion about what banks actually do when they 'write off' a loan. Under RBI guidelines, a write-off is an accounting adjustment that

The role of independent directors on Indian company boards has evolved from a governance formality to a position carrying genuine personal liability. Recent enforcement actions by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and rulings by the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) have established that independent directors can be held personally liable for financial misconduct at companies where they serve, even without direct involvement in day-to-day operations. This re

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has significantly expanded its Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) framework for the Indian securities market. Through the SMART ODR portal, investors can now resolve disputes with brokers, depository participants, and other market intermediaries through a structured two-tier process of conciliation and arbitration, all conducted online. The 2026 amendments bring depositories within the ODR ambit, introduce direct arbitration for

The Delhi High Court has restrained the Shark Tank-featured Indian footwear brand Bacca Bucci from manufacturing, selling, or advertising shoes that allegedly copy the design of American brand Skechers' popular Go Walk range. Justice Tushar Rao Gedela granted an ex parte interim injunction in favour of Skechers, finding the two designs 'nearly identical' and capable of misleading consumers. The order highlights the growing importance of trade dress protection in India, a lega