India: Corporate/Commercial Law

India is perhaps one of the first countries in the world to make a robust and mandatory Corporate Social Responsibility (“CSR”) initiative which requires the corporations to contribute a portion of their earnings...

Indian trust law was conceived in a very different economic era. Public charitable trusts were traditionally viewed as custodians of philanthropic intent and were institutions established to preserve charitable objects, administer donations and safeguard public beneficiaries.

SEBI has issued a circular deferring penal consequences for listed entities that fail to meet minimum public shareholding norms during periods of external economic disruption. This regulatory relief measure allows companies additional time to achieve compliance under more favorable market conditions while maintaining the long-term integrity of public shareholding requirements.

Hot on the heels of adoption of the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Insurance for All, Protection for All) (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Act, 2025 (Amendment Act), the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has begun translating the “Insurance 2.0” reforms into its operating framework. Our coverage of the journey so far is set out in our Ergos dated 9 December 2024, 3 February 2025, 5 September 2025, 18 December 2025, 16 January 2026, 4 February 2026 and 15 June 2026.

For an early-stage founder, acceptance into an incubator or accelerator often feels like the first real validation of the business. It may bring workspace, mentors, grant access, technical support, investor introductions and credibility. But the document signed at that moment is rarely just programme paperwork. It can quietly become part of the company’s financing history, carrying equity, warrants, conversion rights, IP clauses, vetoes, reporting obligations and restrictions that a future investor will eventually diligence.

Merger and Acquisitions are in inherently complex transaction, often involving investments running into millions of dollars.

Within this framework, contra trade restrictions act as a critical safeguard against short-term speculative trading by insiders. Crucially, liability under this rule is objective, triggered entirely by the timing and sequencing of trades rather than the actual use of UPSI, to eliminate even the perception of an unfair advantage.

The Delhi High Court examined whether tax authorities can pursue proceedings against a company that has ceased to exist following a court-approved amalgamation. The case centered on show cause notices and orders issued in the name of a defunct entity, despite clear notification of the merger to tax authorities. The judgment addresses fundamental questions about legal personality, procedural validity, and the limits of statutory provisions in rectifying jurisdictional errors.

Choosing the right business structure is one of the most important decisions entrepreneurs make when starting a venture. The legal framework governing a business influences taxation, compliance obligations...

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) through the circular HO/19/34/11(2)2026-AFD-POD1/I/13764/2026 dated 16 June 2026 (Circular) has issued guidelines for AIFs seeking ‘Inoperative Fund’ status. The Circular follows SEBI’s consultation paper dated 5 February 2026 titled ‘Flexibility to Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) in Winding up the Scheme / Surrendering the Registration’, which proposed granting AIFs / VCFs greater flexibility to retain liquidation proceeds beyond the expiry of their permissible tenure in specified circumstances.

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (“DPIIT”), through its revised Standard Operating Procedure (“SOP”) dated 4 May 2026 for processing Foreign Direct Investment (“FDI”) proposals, has introduced what appears at first glance to be a procedural reform.

Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI”), vide its circular dated April 8, 2026, has operationalised the mechanism for lock-in of pledged shares under the SEBI (Issue of Capital and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2018 (“ICDR Regulations”), as part of its ease of doing business initiatives.