We are delighted to share this month's AKP Dispute Resolution Monthly Digest. Please feel free to write to us with your feedback at info@akandpartners.in. 1. Arbitration and Conciliation 1.1. Mining Industry 1.1.1. The Hon’ble Supreme Court holds that an unstamped Arbitration Agreement survives, and any objections must first be raised before the Arbitrator The Supreme Court has held that an arbitration agreement does not become invalid merely because i

We are delighted to share this week's AKP Corporate & Compliance Weekly Digest. Please feel free to write to us with your feedback at info@akandpartners.in. 1. Labour Law & Employment Law 1.1. Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) issues draft rules for digital payment of wages and unemployment allowance The Ministry of Rural Development (“MoRD”) has issued draft rules under the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2

We are delighted to share this week's AKP Banking & Finance Weekly Digest. Please feel free to write to us with your feedback at info@akandpartners.in. 1. Regulatory Updates 1.1. India Reserve Bank of India (RBI) 1.1.1. Reserve Bank of India issues Amendment Directions introducing cooling-off period for Co-operative Bank Directors The Reserve Bank of India (“RBI”) has issued final Amendment Directions relating to governance of Urban Co-opera

The Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 (the “Bill”) introduces a comprehensive restructuring of the director and governance framework under the Companies Act, 2013, raising eligibility thresholds, tightening disqualification triggers, formalising the lifecycle of Director Identification Numbers, and materially expanding the scope of independent director obligations. Read together, these provisions mark a clear legislative intent: accountability at the board level is no lon

I. The Policy Architecture: Why Decriminalisation Matters Now India's corporate regulatory framework is undergoing a structural reset. The Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 (the “Bill”), currently under review by a Joint Parliamentary Committee, represents the most comprehensive recalibration of the Companies Act, 2013 and the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 (“LLP Act”) since the 2019 decriminalisation cycle. At its core, the Bill does what Indian corporate law

Introduction The Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposes consequential reforms to audit, valuation, and financial reporting regulation that fundamentally reconstitute the compliance landscape. National Financial Reporting Authority (“NEFRA”) would transition from a standards body into a fully empowered enforcement regulator with eleven new statutory powers. Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (“IBBI”) would become India's first-ever Valuation Authority with cri

Introduction Modern family businesses in India are now using structured setups like family trusts, holding companies, and Special Purpose Vehicles (“SPVs”) to manage ownership, control, and succession within their complex family. As these businesses grow over time and across different sectors, family relationships, ownership rights, and business operations often start overlapping, which can lead to confusion and conflicts. A properly designed layered structure helps separat

The Quiet Risk in Wealth Conversations: What Happens When There Is No Plan? Most conversations around wealth tend to stop at its accumulation, with far less attention given to how that wealth is to pass on death, particularly in the absence of a will. Yet, it is precisely in such situations that the law assumes complete control. Where a person dies intestate, the devolution of their estate is not guided by intention or convenience, but by a predetermined statutory scheme th

Executive Summary On 09th February 2026, the Reserve Bank of India notified the Foreign Exchange Management (Borrowing and Lending) (First Amendment) Regulations, 2026, effecting the most consequential recalibration of India’s External Commercial Borrowings (“ECB”) regime in over a decade. The amendments signal a decisive shift in regulatory philosophy from calibrated control to structural facilitation of cross‑border debt. For Indian corporates, private credit and specia

We are delighted to share this week's AKP Corporate & Compliance Weekly Digest. Please feel free to write to us with your feedback at info@akandpartners.in. 1. Labour Law & Employment Law 1.1. ESIC strengthens procurement Transparency Norms The Employment State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has introduced significant reform aimed at ensuring greater transparency and fairness in its procurement process. Under the new directive, bidders, contractors, su