Volume I Issue 3 (December, 2025)

The Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Rules, 2014 amended
In December 2025, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs notified amendments to the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Rules, 2014, by rationalizing compliances related to directors. The major amendment relaxes the requirement under the Director KYC framework, especially shifting the mandatory DIN KYC filing from an annual requirement to a periodic cycle, with the continuance of timely intimation in case of any change in personal details. It also standardizes procedural references and mandates the use of the web-based DIR-3-KYC-Web system for filings. Overall, changes have been made to reduce the compliance burden on directors by streamlining regulatory processes under the Companies Act, 2013.
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The Companies (Removal of Names of Companies from the Register of Companies) Rules, 2016
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has notified the Companies (Removal of names of Companies from the Register of Companies) Amendment Rules, 2025. The Rules amend the Companies (Removal of names of Companies from the Register of Companies) Rules, 2016. This amendment provides relief from the process of executing Indemnity Bonds for strike-off of Government Companies. This requirement may be fulfilled if the Indemnity Bonds are signed by an authorized government representative not below the rank of Under Secretary.
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The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025
The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025 has been introduced in the Lok Sabha. This aims to reform the governing mechanisms governing higher education institutions. According to the Bill, a single apex body has to be created to replace the present regulators such as the UGC, AICTE, and NCTE. This can be done with the formation of the single apex body. It reflects the National Education Policy, 2020. For a thorough review, the Parliamentary Committee has been empowered.
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India and New Zealand conclude Free Trade Agreement
The two nations have successfully concluded negotiation talks regarding reaching a significant Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in December 2025. The landmark agreement signifies the significant improvement in relations pertaining to economic relations between the two nations. The Free Trade Agreement grants zero duty access to 100% of exports from India. On the same note, New Zealand agrees to provide zero duties to a majority of exports headed to India. The trade deal encompasses services, investment, and professional mobility. It aims to double bilateral trade over the next five years and enhance market access for Indian businesses. The free trade deal now needs to be duly signed and ratified in parliament.
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India and Oman sign Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)
The India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which allows for the importation of products into Oman on zero customs duty on over 98% of the Omani customs lines, has already been signed on the 18th of December, 2025, as a result of the visit to Muscat by the Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Comprehensive CEPA essentially allows Oman to open its doors to over a majority of India's key sectors on a zero- Import duty basis, in addition to offering similar access to India on a majority of Omani import customs lines. It also allows for the diversification of the services segment, investment, as well as increased provisions regarding the mobility of professionals that can work in Oman on a greater majority on the country’s soil.
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The Securities Markets Code, 2025 introduced in Lok Sabha
"The Securities Markets Code, 2025" is a new era for securities regulation in India, which will replace the current major securities’ legislative regime, which includes the SEBI Act, Securities Contracts Regulation Act, and Depositories Act. This will help in regulating and making the relevant legislative regime more efficient. New regulations have been designed for digital financial instruments, which will be added to the current securities’ legislative regime. This includes new and improved governance for market intermediaries, thereby making it more comprehensive for enforcing relevant regulations. This new legislative regime, titled "The Securities Markets Code, 2025," was presented to the Lok Sabha, which referred it to a Parliamentary Committee for examination.
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