Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code outreach expands; regulator marks progress with lectures, publication and stakeholder engagement.
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India is marking its Annual Day with an IBC Annual Day Lecture Series, keynote lectures and release of the publication "IBC: Idea, Impressions and Implementation," convening insolvency professionals, valuers, debtors, creditors, business leaders and researchers. The regulator reiterates its mandate to implement the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) to achieve time bound reorganisation and resolution aimed at maximizing asset value, promoting entrepreneurship and credit availability, and balancing stakeholder interests; it notes the IBC's expanding use as a rescue mechanism and substantial resolution of distressed assets.

Scheduled Caste financial inclusion: banks directed to fill vacancies, expand credit coverage and improve grievance redressal.
Banks must fill remaining backlog vacancies time bound, expand Scheduled Caste coverage in credit and welfare schemes, and provide capacity building and entrepreneurship support. Interdepartmental convergence should link financial assistance with other government schemes. Banks must maintain digital records for outsourced positions from 1 October and participate in a DFS special drive from 2 October to redress pending Scheduled Caste grievances. DFS will consult stakeholder agencies when improving schemes, and public sector banks must report to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes twice yearly on recruitment and credit outreach.

Fund of Funds for Startups mobilises domestic venture capital, anchoring AIFs and accelerating startup investment and scale-up.
The Fund of Funds for Startups channels budgetary support through DPIIT and SIDBI to SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds, which invest in startups at seed, early and growth stages; the Scheme aims to mobilise domestic capital, anchor AIFs (including first-time managers), and require AIF co-investment such that startup investments materially exceed FFS disbursements, while SIDBI reforms have expedited drawdowns and increased deployment activity.

Scheduled Caste welfare review to assess bank credit schemes and institutional grievance and reservation compliance.
Review of credit and welfare implementation for Scheduled Castes in Public Sector Banks will assess performance under targeted schemes such as Stand-Up India, PMMY, NRLM, NULM, CGTMSE, Education Loans, CEGSSC and the Venture Capital Fund for SCs, and will examine reservation compliance, backlog vacancies and measures like Welfare Associations, Chief Liaison Officers and Grievance Redressal Cells to evaluate institutional welfare mechanisms.

Academic collaboration enables joint degrees and research centre recognition between two institutions to expand management and corporate affairs programs.
A Memorandum of Understanding establishes institutional collaboration to deliver joint long-term courses and award degrees, diplomas and certificates in business management and corporate affairs; to create Centre(s) of Excellence; and to organise joint seminars, conferences and workshops. The MoU provides for research centre recognition to support doctoral and post doctoral fellowships and for reciprocal faculty exchange and sharing of academic materials and publications to facilitate sustained collaborative education and research.

Threshold increase for small companies expands eligibility for compliance relaxations and reduced filing and audit obligations.
Revision raises the small company eligibility thresholds by increasing paid up capital and turnover limits to broaden the class eligible for reduced compliance. Eligible small companies are exempted from preparing a cash flow statement, may file an abridged annual return, are not subject to mandatory auditor rotation, do not require auditor reporting on internal financial controls, may hold only two board meetings annually, may have the annual return signed by the company secretary or a director, and face reduced penalties.

Corporate fraud involving shell companies prompts SFIO probe and arrest of alleged mastermind responsible for dummy directors.
SFIO and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs investigated Jilian Consultants India Pvt Ltd and affiliated companies, finding a network of shell entities with Chinese links using paid dummy directors, recovered company seals and digital signatures, and cross-border communications. An erstwhile listed company reportedly acted under a pact with the Hong Kong parent. After the alleged mastermind fled, SFIO arrested him and secured transit remand, forming the basis for continued criminal and regulatory inquiry.

Settlement scheme for reversal trades enables online settlement with mandatory undertakings and waiver of appellate remedies.
SEBI's Settlement Scheme, 2022 permits entities that executed reversal trades in the illiquid BSE stock options segment during the specified period and against whom proceedings are pending to apply online for settlement. Applicants must submit a prescribed form, notarised undertakings and PAN copy, pay a non refundable registration fee (corporate/individual rates) and the settlement amount calculated by number of contracts via SEBI's payment portal. A composite settlement order will be issued after closure; failure to opt in allows continuation of securities law actions. Annexure 2 requires extensive admissions and waivers, including limitation exclusion, enforcement rights, and waiver of appellate remedies.