Company name reservation and incorporation now use SPICe+ and AGILE-PRO, adding profession tax and bank account steps.
Rule 9 now mandates name reservation via the MCA web service using SPICe+ (INC-32) and name change via RUN; the Central Registration Centre may approve or reject and allow web-form resubmission within fifteen days to rectify defects. Multiple rules and annexed forms are amended to replace SPICe with SPICe+ (INC-32), retitle rule 38 to SPICE+, substitute AGILE with AGILE-PRO, and add Profession Tax Registration and Opening of Bank Account to AGILE-PRO, all effective 23 February 2020.

Companies registration form GNL-2 amended to substitute standardised document submission fields including attachments, verification and digital signature requirements.
The amendment substitutes Form No. GNL-2 under the Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014, mandating a standardised e form for filing specified company documents with the Registrar that requires CIN/GLN, company name and registered office, identification of the document type (including prospectus, private placement records and specified Court Rules forms), related resolution and filing details, applicable Act provisions, requisite attachments, verification and digital signature by an authorised officer.

Compliance period extension under Nidhi Rules amends timing for specified rule provisions, delaying required action accordingly.
The Nidhi (Second Amendment) Rules, 2020 substitute the previously prescribed six-month period with nine months for the specified provisions in the Nidhi Rules, 2014 identified as rule 23A and the first proviso to rule 23B, thereby extending the time for compliance; the amendment takes effect on publication in the Official Gazette and was accompanied by a corrigendum correcting a textual reference.

Depository receipts issuance rules now permit flexible issuance methods and IBU remittance under RBI guidance.
The amendments substitute the scheme reference with the Depository Receipts Scheme, 2014, define "overseas depository" as the foreign depository in the Scheme, permit depository receipts to be issued by public offering, private placement or any other method recognised in the relevant jurisdiction and to be listed or traded on the jurisdictional platform, remove certain references to "abroad," and allow proceeds to be remitted to an International Financial Services Centre Banking Unit (IBU) for utilisation in accordance with Reserve Bank instructions.

Nidhi (Amendment) Rules, 2020 substitute NDH 1/NDH 2/NDH 3, prescribing revised returns, attachments and professional certification requirements.
The Nidhi (Amendment) Rules, 2020 substitute Forms NDH 1, NDH 2 and NDH 3, effective 10 February 2020, prescribing revised return and application templates for Nidhi companies that set out required identification, membership and financial disclosures (including Net Owned Funds and deposit schedules), attachment lists, board authorisation and mandatory professional certification, and procedures for seeking extensions and filing half yearly returns.

Scheme of arrangement applications under company law now require prescribed form, documents and a tribunal fee for unlisted takeovers.
The amendment inserts Rule 80A requiring applications under section 230 to be filed in Form NCLT-1 with the documents listed in Annexure B, adds a fee entry for takeover offer applications in unlisted companies to the Schedule of Fees, and expands Annexure-B to specify an affidavit, memorandum of appearance with board resolution or vakalatnama, documents supporting the grievance, and other relevant documents.

Takeover arrangement requires supermajority member applicant to file registered valuer report and deposit prescribed consideration in separate account.
The amendment permits a member-led takeover arrangement where a member with a supermajority shareholding applies to acquire remaining equity shares; it defines covered "shares" and excludes certain transfers. Applications must include a registered valuer's report using specified valuation parameters and details of a separately opened bank account holding a prescribed portion of the takeover consideration. The Schedule of Fees is updated to prescribe the application fee.

Commencement of section 230 provisions: specified sub-sections brought into force by government notification on an appointed date.
Central Government, exercising powers under sub-section (3) of section 1 of the Companies Act, 2013, appoints the 3rd day of February, 2020 as the date on which the provisions of sub-sections (11) and (12) of section 230 shall come into force by formal notification.

NBFCs complying with Ind AS must file AOC-4 NBFC Ind AS and consolidated AOC-4 CFS NBFC Ind AS with the Registrar.
The Companies (Accounts) Amendment Rules, 2020 require every NBFC that is required to comply with Ind AS to file standalone financial statements with the Registrar together with Form AOC-4 NBFC Ind AS and consolidated financial statements, if any, with Form AOC-4 CFS NBFC Ind AS; the amendment adds these two detailed e-forms to the Annexure of the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014.

Companies winding up procedure: petitions, liquidator appointment, asset realisation, creditor proofs, accounting and dissolution timelines.
The Rules provide a detailed procedural regime for the winding up of companies under the Companies Act, 2013: prescribed petition and statement-of-affairs forms and verification; notice, advertisement and service duties; appointment, duties, disclosures and limitations for provisional and Company Liquidators; creditor and contributory meeting, list-settlement and proof-of-debt procedures; Tribunal-sanctioned asset realisation and dividend distribution processes; mandatory accounting, investment, banking, audit and filing obligations; disclaimer, vesting and dissolution processes; and summary liquidation modifications for the Official Liquidator.

Recruitment and service terms: NCLAT staffing governed by pay matrices, selection/deputation procedures and service conditions.
These rules govern recruitment, appointment, classification and service conditions for National Company Law Appellate Tribunal staff, applying to posts in Schedule I and deeming specified incumbents as duly appointed. Appointments are by the Central Government or delegate, with posts at or above Level 11 requiring Central approval. Recruitment methods include direct recruitment, promotion, deputation and absorption with detailed eligibility, qualifying service, maximum deputation periods and committee compositions. Service conditions, pay, allowances, medical entitlements and disciplinary regimes align with corresponding Central Government rules; deputationists retain parent service retirement and insurance rules while the Tribunal remits contributions.

Tribunal recruitment and service rules: appointments, deputation and pay matrix alignment determine recruitment and service conditions.
Rules establish recruitment, appointment and service conditions for National Company Law Tribunal staff: appointments by the Appointing Authority (higher levels requiring Central Government approval), recruitment by direct recruitment, promotion, deputation or absorption, with Schedule I specifying posts, pay matrix levels, eligibility, probation and selection/promotion committee compositions. Service conditions mirror Central Government rules for corresponding pay levels; deputationists retain parent department pension and insurance entitlements while the Tribunal remits contributions. Schedule II governs medical reimbursement and authorised hospitals.

Company secretary requirement: thresholds for private companies and large borrowers now trigger obligation to appoint a whole-time company secretary.
The amendment requires that every private company meeting the paid up share capital threshold must have a whole time company secretary, and it adds that every company with outstanding loans or borrowings from banks or public financial institutions above the prescribed borrowing threshold is captured by rule 9(1); figures are to be taken as at the last date of the latest audited financial statement.