The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) on April 08, 2026, issued amendment in Companies (Incorporation) Rules, 2014.
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has undertaken a comprehensive review of the Companies (Incorporation) Rules, 2014, based on inputs from stakeholders, including industry associations, professionals, regulatory authorities, and internal committees.
The proposed amendments aim to streamline company incorporation processes, reduce compliance burden, and further enhance ease of doing business in India.
A draft of the Companies (Incorporation) Amendment Rules, 2026 has been released on the MCA website for stakeholder review. Comments and suggestions, along with justification, can be submitted through the e-Consultation Module by May 9, 2026.
The following have been proposed:
• The draft proposes consolidation of several incorporation-related forms into two simplified e-forms to reduce multiplicity of filings and repetitive disclosures. Forms INC-4, INC-22, INC-23 and INC-24 are proposed to be merged into a single form “E-CHNG” for changes in registered office and name, while forms INC-6, INC-18, INC-12, INC-20, INC-27, RD-1 and INC-28 are proposed to be merged into a single form “E-CON” for various conversions, approvals and orders.
• The requirement of submissions of affidavit by directors for conversion into OPC under Rule 7(4)(iii) is proposed to be done away with. Further, the criminal liability specific to OPCs under Rule 7A is proposed to be omitted.
• Name availability and name reservation provisions are proposed to be simplified. Rule 8 is proposed to be fully redrafted in simpler and clearer language, after examining comparable international practices, and Rule 8A is proposed to be substituted to give more clarity on trade mark related objections and other aspects raised by stakeholders.
• A proviso is proposed to be inserted to the existing Rule 9A to allow for withdrawal of reserved names before incorporation or change of name.
• KYC and document requirements for subscribers at the time of incorporation are proposed to be rationalised through amendment in Rule 16.
• Rule 17, which currently requires filing DIR-12 for first directors along with their particulars and consents at incorporation, is proposed to be omitted since such details are now captured through SPICe+ itself.
• For companies licensed under section 8, documents required along with licence applications are proposed to be streamlined. Clauses requiring manual attachment of MoA/AoA and estimates of future income and expenditure are proposed to be omitted, to promote Ease of Doing Business. Further, existing provisions do not allow conversion of a Section 8 company limited by guarantee to a Section 8 company limited by shares. Rule 39 is proposed to be amended to allow such conversions.
[Notification No. Policy-01/2/2025-CL-V-MCA-Part(2)]
