This March newsletter covers categories of updates relating to labour, corporate, environment and industry related laws. The advisory for employers to encourage women workforce participation and revision of Secretarial Standard on Meetings of Board of Directors (SS-1) and revision of Secretarial Standard on General Meetings (SS-2) are some of the major updates covered in this newsletter.

Central / State Labour Laws updates

Advisory for employers to encourage women workforce participation

The Ministry of Labour and Employment has released an advisory to employers for promoting gender equality and women’s workforce participation. 

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Rate enhancement of Permanent Disablement Benefit / Dependent's Benefit under Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948

The Employees State Insurance Corporation has issued a notification relating to the increase in rate of Permanent Disablement Benefit / Dependent Benefit under Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948.

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Restrictions on deposits and credit transactions in Paytm Payment Bank Accounts

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation has issued a Circular relating to restrictions on deposits and credit transactions in Paytm Payment Bank Accounts.

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Regulating EPS entitlement of members having Multiple Account Numbers

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation has issued a circular relating to pension entitlement of members having Multiple Account Numbers for concurrent employment.

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Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Amendment) Rules, 2024

Every establishment should comply with the standards relating to physical environment, transport and information and communication technology including Guidelines for Accessibility Standards in Port Sector, as specified in the notification of the Ministry of Port Shipping and Waterways, Government of India vide notification number F. No. CD-11053/63/2021-Coord, dated the 8th November, 2023.

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Corporate Laws updates

Revised Secretarial Standard on Meetings of Board of Directors (SS-1) 

The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) has revised the Secretarial Standard on Meetings of Board of Directors (SS-1) which will come into effect from 1st April, 2024.

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Revised Secretarial Standard on General Meetings (SS-2)

The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) has revised the Secretarial Standard on General Meetings (SS-2) which will come into effect from 1st April, 2024.

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The Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Amendment Rules, 2024

A new Rule -10A has been added to the Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014 regarding establishment of a Central Processing Center to examine every application/ e-Form/ document required or authorized to be filed or delivered for approval, registration or taking on record by the Registrar.

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Deployment and usage of Change Request Form on MCA-21

Change Request Form has been made available on the V3 portal for the convenience of the users.

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Environment Laws updates

Inclusion of new industrial sectors under orange category - KSPCB

The categories of industries, organizations and activities has been revised by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board for the purpose of obtaining consent for establishment and consent for operation under the Air (Prevention and control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and the Water (Prevention and control of Pollution) Act, 1974.

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Industry Related Laws updates

Electricity (Amendment) Rules, 2024

According to the amended Rules, a generating company or a person setting up a captive generating plant, or an energy storage system or consumer having specified quantity of load will be allowed to establish, operate, and maintain dedicated transmission lines without the requirement of a license.

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Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Amendment Rules, 2024

The amended Rules covers provisions relating to easier and faster installation of roof top solar system and separate connections for electric vehicle charging stations.

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FSSAI directs Airline Caterers to comply with Food Safety Regulations

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed all flight caterers and airlines to strictly comply with the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020.

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Guidelines for advertisements making environmental/ green claims

The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has issued guidelines for advertisements making environmental/ green claims, to ensure that the environmental claims made by advertisers can be relied upon and are transparent.

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Contributors to the newsletter:

• Prasanta Kumar Sahu, Partner
• Rajan Dubey, Associate Partner
• Rashmi Vinod, Consultant
• Sangeetha Sembieyan, Consultant
• Karishma Singh, Associate