Foreign direct investment approvals advance multiple projects, with a major bank equity increase referred to a higher economic committee.
Government approved thirteen FDI proposals totaling about Rs. 1258.53 crore, authorising foreign equity induction, share transfers, warrants issuance and overseas restructuring across sectors including defence, pharma, microfinance, payments and media. One large banking proposal increasing foreign equity was referred to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. Additionally, eight proposals were deferred, two rejected, one advised for the automatic route, one found not to require FIPB approval, one outside FIPB's purview, and five were kept in abeyance pending regulatory or structural clarifications.

Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority draft rules: public consultation invites comments ahead of submission deadline.
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has published draft rules in the fourth tranche under the Companies Act, 2013 seeking public suggestions on the establishment and regulatory framework of the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority, with a fixed deadline for submissions. The release notes this tranche forms part of a phased consultation alongside prior tranches and confirms that all draft rules and the Act are available on the Ministry website to enable informed public comments.

Institutional partnerships promote corporate governance and capacity building, enhancing training and policy support for corporate sector stakeholders.
Five memoranda of understanding were executed between the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs and five leading institutions to establish institutional partnerships for research, education, advocacy, and policy-relevant knowledge in the corporate domain, with emphasis on advancing corporate governance, multi-disciplinary collaboration, capacity building, and practical training for Indian Corporate Law Service probationers.

Draft rules consultation extended for Companies Act tranche; stakeholders may submit comments on deposits, accounts and investigations.
Extension granted for public submissions on the third tranche of draft rules, covering Acceptance of Deposits by Companies, Accounts of Companies (including financial reporting oversight), and Inspection, Inquiry and Investigation, and inviting stakeholder suggestions on scope, procedures and compliance obligations; all draft rules are available on the Ministry website as part of an ongoing multi phase rulemaking process.

National Financial Reporting Authority rules open for public suggestions; comment deadline set and drafts available online.
The Ministry has opened public consultation on the third tranche of draft rules under the Companies Act, covering Acceptance of Deposits by Companies; Accounts of Companies with provisions for the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA); and Inspection, Inquiry and Investigation. Stakeholders are invited to submit suggestions by the stated deadline and all draft rules and the Act are available on the Ministry website.

Draft Rules submission deadline under Companies Act: final opportunity to submit comments for the second tranche before closure.
Final deadline for submitting suggestions on the Draft Rules under the Companies Act, 2013 for the second tranche; nine chapters are covered (including Prospectus and Allotment of Securities; Share Capital and Debentures; Management and Administration; Appointment and Remuneration of Managerial Personnel; Compromises, Merger and Amalgamations; Registered Valuers; Companies Authorized to Register Under This Act; National Company Law Tribunal and Appellate Tribunal; and Special Courts), and forms for these chapters have been released for public comment on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs website.

Extension of deadline for submissions on Draft Rules under the Companies Act allows additional public comments before closure.
Extension of the public comment period is announced for the second tranche of draft rules under the Companies Act, allowing additional submissions within a new limited window before the comment portal closes. The extension covers nine chapters, including Prospectus and Allotment of Securities; Share Capital and Debentures; Management and Administration; Appointment and Remuneration of Managerial Personnel; Compromises, Merger and Amalgamations; Registered Valuers; companies authorised to register under the Act; and procedural chapters on tribunal and special courts. Draft rules and the Act are available on the Ministry website.

Investor awareness programmes expanded nationwide, engaging professional institutes and e governance services to extend outreach including rural areas.
The Ministry conducted extensive Investor Awareness Programmes via three professional institutes with budgetary provision for implementation, tracking aggregate event counts across the financial year and expanding outreach into rural areas through engagement of an e governance service provider.

National Competition Policy urged to remove systemic entry barriers and strengthen market governance for economic welfare.
There is a pressing need to adopt a National Competition Policy to address systemic entry barriers and market distortions that competition law enforcement alone cannot fully remedy, particularly where state control of economic sectors persists; the policy would align regulatory settings to promote competitive market structures and enhance economic welfare, while its implementation requires institutional redesign and targeted interventions informed by policy research.

Draft rules under the Companies Act seek public comments on corporate governance and compliance provisions for key company matters.
Stakeholders are invited to submit suggestions on the first tranche of draft rules under the Companies Act, which cover sixteen chapters including Company Incorporation, registration of charges, declaration and payment of dividend, accounts, audit and auditors, appointment and qualification of directors, board meetings and powers, prevention of oppression and mismanagement, removal of company names, revival and rehabilitation of sick companies, registration offices and fees, Nidhi provisions, and miscellaneous procedural matters; drafts are available on the Ministry website.

Company registry composition highlights active, dormant and closed classifications impacting corporate compliance and registration trends.
The corporate registry shows many companies recorded as closed, pending closure, or classified as dormant for failing to file Annual Returns/Balance Sheets for more than three consecutive years, reducing the number of active companies. Recent activity includes registration of government owned entities as public limited companies and notable monthly incorporation volumes under the Companies Act, 1956, indicating ongoing corporatisation and registration trends relevant to compliance and registry administration.

Regulatory reform report public consultation seeks comments on recommendations and implementation timeframe for business regulation improvement
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has opened a public consultation on the Committee's Report, inviting written comments to a designated contact by a stated deadline and seeking stakeholder input to inform consideration of recommendations covering legal reforms, regulatory architecture, regulatory process efficacy, MSME enabling measures, and State-level regulatory issues.

Foreign direct investment approvals permit certain inbound investments while other proposals were deferred or withdrawn.
Central Government actions on foreign direct investment proposals approved three applications including post facto approval for a wholly owned foreign subsidiary, approval for a foreign owned asset management company to act as investment manager to AIFs and meet SEBI(AIF) contribution requirements, and approval for increased non resident shareholding via resident to non resident share transfer; two proposals were deferred (NR to NR promoter share transfer and capitalisation of collaborator payments for land lease) and one merger proposal was withdrawn by the applicant.

Companies Act 2013 guidance: ICSI launches video primers and a compliance certificate to support implementation and capacity building.
The Institute of Company Secretaries of India published 16 video primers explaining the Companies Act 2013, made freely accessible online, and is running seminars, workshops and MOOCs to build capacity for implementation. It also introduced the Corporate Compliance Executive Certificate, available to registered ICSI students who have passed one group of the Intermediate/Executive program and completed six months' training; the certificate requires a registration fee, is valid for three years, and is renewable subject to continuing professional education.

Consolidated pay package revised for regulatory body chairpersons and members; new monthly pay rates effective from July.
Revision of the consolidated pay package for senior office holders of specified regulatory bodies was approved by the Union Cabinet, effective from 01.07.2013. The decision sets distinct consolidated monthly remuneration levels for Chairpersons and full time members, excludes house and car provisions, and applies uniformly to nine named regulators covering sectors such as insurance, telecommunications, electricity, competition, securities, pensions, petroleum and natural gas, warehousing, and airport economic regulation.

Corporate governance ethics demand stronger stakeholder participation and conversion of listing clause into binding regulations for compliance.
Corporate governance ethics require going beyond the letter of law to emphasise moral responsibility, continuous evaluation and deterrents focused on individuals; active engagement by shareholders, directors and other stakeholders is integral. Recommendations from multi stakeholder conferences will be considered by the regulator, and a key listing standard (Clause 49 of the Listing Agreement) is indicated to be converted into formal regulations to shape compliance and enforcement.

Foreign direct investment approvals issued across sectors, with high-value cases referred to higher executive consideration.
Central Government approved fifteen foreign direct investment proposals totaling approximately Rs. 2000.49 crore across sectors including retail, pharmaceuticals, engineering and medical devices, employing structures such as joint ventures, wholly owned subsidiaries, LLPs, equity issuances, CCPS, acquisitions of non-resident shareholdings, post-facto approvals and downstream investments; separate dispositions included deferred, rejected, withdrawn, automatic route advisories, two proposals recommended to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs and one proposal kept in abeyance.

CSR Index to benchmark mandatory CSR compliance and performance, guiding investor decisions toward responsible investment.
A collaborative MoU proposes creation of a sector neutral Corporate Social Responsibility index that combines companies' mandated CSR spend and impact assessments with market performance, prioritises publicly disclosed and assured CSR information, and uses compliance with Section 135 as a core eligibility and evaluation criterion; an Advisory Committee will guide index design and the programme includes capacity building and stakeholder consultation to align with global best practices.

Ordinance continuation secures SEBI's enhanced powers to combat illegal deposit schemes and regulate securities markets.
The promulgation sustains amendments providing the legal basis for SEBI's powers to address illegal deposit taking and Ponzi schemes and preserves operative measures including framing regulations, appointing Recovery Officers, organizing capacity-building programmes, and taking action against irregularities and frauds in the securities market.

Company incorporation and statutory compliance support expands - MOU enables guidance, clinics, and compliance tools for MSMEs.
A tripartite memorandum creates a framework for ICSI, ASSOCHAM and MSSET to provide MSMEs with on-site guidance on Company incorporation and management under the Companies Act and LLP Act, advisory clinics on finance, law and corporate governance, an information kiosk and help desk, a plenary session on company law, and to develop a simple Company Law summary and a statutory compliance checklist for publication on the MSSET website.