<h1>Central Government Amends Nidhi Rules, 2014: New Companies Must Get Approval, Have 200 Members, Rs. 20 Lakh Fund.</h1> The Central Government has amended the Nidhi Rules, 2014 to protect public interest by requiring public companies seeking to operate as Nidhis to obtain prior approval from the government. Initially, under the Companies Act, 2013, no such declaration was necessary, but amendments in 2019 reinstated this requirement. Companies must apply for declaration within specific timeframes using Form NDH-4. Despite a large number of incorporations, compliance has been low. The recent amendments mandate that new Nidhi companies must have a minimum membership of 200 and a Net Owned Fund of Rs. 20 lakh, with approval deemed granted if no decision is made within 45 days.