<h1>Unlisted Public Companies Required to Dematerialise Shares from October 2018 to Boost Transparency and Governance Standards.</h1> The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) announced that starting October 2, 2018, all unlisted public companies must issue and transfer shares in dematerialised form. This move aims to enhance transparency, investor protection, and corporate governance. Key benefits include eliminating risks associated with physical certificates, improving governance by preventing malpractices like benami shareholding, exemption from stamp duty on transfers, and easing securities transfer and pledge processes. Unlisted public companies must coordinate with Depositories and Share Transfer Agents for dematerialisation, with the IEPF Authority addressing any grievances. This initiative is expected to significantly improve corporate governance standards.