LEX-LUMIS

India overhauls Overseas Investment Regulations for ease of doing business

The Government of India in consultation with the Reserve Bank Of India (RBI) on 22 August 2022 notified the Foreign Exchange Management (Overseas Investment) Rules, 2022 (Overseas Investment Rules) and Foreign Exchange Management (Overseas Investment) Regulations, 2022 (Overseas Investment Regulations) in supersession of Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of

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Nationals from Countries sharing Land-Border with India considering appointment as Directors in Indian Companies now to obtain prior Security Clearance from the Government of India

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Government of India (GoI) through its notification dated 01 June 2022 (Notification), notified the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Amendment Rules, 2022 (Amendment Rules) to further amend the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Rules, 2014 (Rules). Pursuant to the Rules, every person

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SEBI tightens rules pertaining to Related Party Transactions

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the Indian securities market regulator, notified through a press release (Press Release), amendments to the provisions of SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 relating to related parties (RP) and related party transactions (RPT) (Amendments). The Amendments will come into effect

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India scraps retrospective tax on indirect transfer of Indian assets

In a major development providing significant relief to the foreign investors, the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021 (“Amendment Act”) was enacted on 13 August 2021, amending the contentious retrospective tax provisions under section 9 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (“IT Act”) and section 119 of the Finance Act, 2012

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SUPREME COURT OF INDIA UPHOLDS ENFORCEMENT OF ARBITRAL AWARD

On 6 August 2021, in Amazon.Com NV Investment Holdings LLC Versus Future Retail Limited & Ors. the Supreme Court of India decided two important questions of law: whether an emergency award under the Arbitration Rules of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (“SIAC Rules”) can be said to be an order

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SEBI notifies amendments pertaining to Independent Directors

The Indian securities market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), in its Board Meeting held on 29 June 2021 took various significant decisions, including approving certain amendments to the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 (LODR) pertaining to Independent Directors (IDs), based on which, on

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Key Highlights of the Indian Budget 2021-2022

The Finance Minister of India presented the Union Budget for the financial year 2021-2022 on 1 February 2021 (Budget).  The Budget is geared towards a hopeful reset of the Indian economy amidst the Covid-19 crisis and seeks to facilitate strategic disinvestment, and bolster several sectors such as infrastructure, roads and

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India releases Consolidated FDI Policy, 2020

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has on 28 October 2020 released the “Consolidated Foreign Direct Investment Policy 2020” (FDI Policy 2020) that has come into effect from 15 October 2020. The FDI Policy 2020 subsumes and supersedes all previous Press Notes/ Press Releases/Clarifications issued prior

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The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2020

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2020 (FCRA Amendment Act) which has come into force on 29 September 2020  amends the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 (FCRA) and in order to enhance transparency and accountability in the receipt and utilisation of foreign contribution and facilitate genuine non-governmental organisations or associations

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India amends Companies Act to further promote Ease of Doing Business

The Indian Parliament has recently passed the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2020 (Amendment Act), which has also been notified, to further amend the Companies Act, 2013 (Act) in another attempt to further decriminalize and rationalize certain offences under the Act, in case of defaults which can be determined objectively and which

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Government revises Foreign Direct Investment in the Defence Sector

The foreign direct investment (FDI) policy earlier permitted investment in the defence sector  through the automatic route up to 49% (forty nine percent) and FDI beyond 49% (forty nine percent)  through the government (approval) route. However, the  press note issued by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade,

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40 under 40 Best Lawyers and Legal Influencers in India

The 40 Under 40 is a National Award recognizing and celebrating the fortitude of the top legal minds and best talent under the age of 40 years in India, who have shown unprecedented legal acumen, grit, leadership, achievement and dedication in their young career spans, driving the Indian Legal Industry

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No fees for Company Incorporation in India

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), vide two notifications issued on 20 January 2018, revised the Companies (Incorporation) Rules, 2014 and the Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014 (together, “Amendments”). The Amendments, effective from 26 January 2018, revise the procedure in relation to incorporation of a company in India and the associated fee. The Amendments further promote India’s continuing efforts in Ease of Doing Business as the revised process is intended to be simpler and quicker.

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The Insolvency and Bankruptcy (Insolvency and Liquidation Proceedings of Financial Service Providers and Application to Adjudicating Authority) Rules, 2019

On 15 November 2019, the Central Government notified the Insolvency and Bankruptcy (Insolvency and Liquidation Proceedings of Financial Service Providers and Application to Adjudicating Authority) Rules, 2019 (FSP Rules). The FSP Rules aim to provide a framework for insolvency and liquidation of systemically important financial service providers (FSPs) other than

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Government Slashes Corporate Tax Rates

On 20 September, 2019, the Finance Minister announced a reduction in corporate tax rates estimated to provide cumulative tax relief of INR 1,45,000 Crore (approx. USD 21 billion) to corporate tax-payers. A Press Note issued by the Ministry of Finance on 20 September 2019 (Press Note) highlights the key amendments to the corporate tax regime introduced by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019 (Ordinance) and further proposes increased avenues for corporate social responsibility spending. Some of the key features of the

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Government Committee Recommends Important Amendments to Indian Anti-trust Law

The Indian Government had constituted the Competition Law Review Committee on 1 October 2018, with members from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) and the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India and headed by the Corporate Affairs Secretary (Committee). The Committee was tasked with reviewing the competition regulations and suggesting necessary changes to re-calibrate and strengthen the existing legal framework in order to promote best practices. The Committee submitted its report to the Indian Finance Minister on 14 August 2019 (Report),

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Most Productive Indian Parliament Session in Last Six Decades Concludes

The first session of the Indian Parliament after re-election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded on 7 August 2019 (Session). The Session witnessed passage of more than 30 bills with the Lower House of the Indian Parliament (Lok Sabha) sitting for 281 hours in 37 days (approx. 135% of its scheduled hours) and the Upper House of the Indian Parliament (Rajya Sabha) sitting for 195 hours (approx. 103% of its scheduled hours) in 35 days – significantly higher than their respective average in past decades.

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Relaxation of end-use provisions under the External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) Policy

Based on the recommendations of stakeholders, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has liberalised end-use provisions for external commercial borrowings (ECBs) through a circular dated 30 July 2019 (Circular). Per the Circular, eligible borrowers are now permitted to raise ECBs from recognised lenders, except foreign branches/ overseas subsidiaries of Indian banks, for the following purposes: Working capital purposes and general corporate purposes, with a Minimum Average Maturity Period (MAMP) of 10 years. Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) can also raise ECBs for

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Key Highlights of the Union Budget 2019-2020

The Finance Minister of India presented the Union Budget for India for the financial year 2019-2020 on 5 July 2019 (Budget), which aims to bolster several sectors such as infrastructure, roads, railways, agriculture, education, rural development, banking and finance thereby increasing jobs and bringing rural and urban India closer together to make India a USD 5 Trillion economy by 2024, as it moves towards becoming a USD 3 Trillion economy this year with the focus being on promoting ease of living for its citizens and ease of doing business in India and with India maintaining a 7% GDP growth in 2019-2020 as per the Economic Survey presented by the Government prior to the Budget.

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