Company Law Ready Reckoner is a comprehensive, practice-oriented reference work designed to serve as a single-volume operational manual for Indian company law under the Companies Act 2013. It is expressly conceived as a ready reckoner—a book to be consulted repeatedly in the course of daily professional work—rather than as a purely academic or theoretical treatise. The editorial philosophy of this book is grounded in practical necessity. It focuses primarily on routine, recurring, and compliance-critical issues faced by companies, directors, and professionals in corporate functioning. Matters that are not typically encountered on a day-to-day basis—such as detailed NCLT litigation or public issues of securities (largely governed operationally by SEBI)—are covered at a foundational level, thereby preserving the book’s usability, clarity, and speed of reference. The Edition reflects the mature, enforcement-oriented phase of Indian corporate regulation, in which governance standards, management accountability, procedural discipline, and electronic compliance systems play a central role.

This publication is intended for readers who apply company law in practice, including:

• Practising Company Secretaries, Chartered Accountants, Cost Accountants, Advocates, and corporate consultants
• In-House Legal, Secretarial, Compliance, & Governance Teams
• Directors, Independent Directors, Key Managerial Personnel, and senior management
• Professionals engaged in ROC filings, board and general meetings, corporate governance, and statutory compliance
• Students of CS, CA, CMA, & Law, seeking a procedural and application-oriented understanding of company law beyond bare provisions

The Present Publication is the 18^th Edition | 2026, and is updated till 20^th December 2025. This book is authored by Taxmann’s Editorial Board with the following noteworthy features:

• [Ready-reckoner Design] Focused on routine, practical company law issues encountered in everyday corporate operations
• [Integrated Treatment of Law and Procedure] Explains not only statutory provisions but also approval routes, compliance steps, and filing realities
• [Governance-centric Coverage] Strong emphasis on shareholder democracy, board functioning, directors’ duties, and managerial accountability
• [Procedural & E-Governance Alignment] Extensive coverage of MCA-21, electronic filings, registers, records, and returns
• [Compliance-at-a-Glance Tools] Use of structured summaries and tabular presentations to enable quick decision-making
• [Drafting and Practical Guidance] Includes drafting-oriented discussion where customisation is commonly required (e.g., Articles of Association)
• [Clear Scope Delimitation] NCLT matters and public issue mechanisms are addressed at a basic level, maintaining focus on day-to-day compliance
• [Comprehensive Indexing] Section-wise and subject indexing ensure fast and precise navigation

The book is structured as a complete company-law operating system, covering the entire lifecycle and regulatory ecosystem of a company through 42 logically sequenced chapters, including:

• Foundations & Incorporation
  • Concept and evolution of company law
  • Separate legal entity, limited liability, and lifting of the corporate veil
  • Incorporation process, name approval, ROC filings, and certificate of incorporation
  • Memorandum and Articles of Association—drafting, alteration, and legal effect
• Capital & Securities Framework
  • Share capital and its alteration
  • Issue and further issue of securities
  • Reduction of capital and buy-back
  • Debentures and public deposits
  • Public issue of securities (foundational coverage)
• Membership & Shareholder Democracy
  • Membership and register of members
  • Transfer, nomination, and transmission of securities
  • Voting rights and shareholder decision-making
  • Procedure of general meetings, including the Secretarial Standards linkage
• Board, Directors & Governance
  • Appointment, qualifications, disqualifications, and removal of directors
  • Duties, rights, liabilities, and fiduciary responsibilities
  • Restrictions on directors and board powers
  • Meetings of the Board, committees, circular resolutions, and virtual meetings
  • Corporate governance principles aligned with regulatory expectations
• Key Managerial Personnel & Management
  • Appointment, role, remuneration, and cessation of KMP
  • Managerial accountability and statutory controls
• Finance, Audit & Reporting
  • Accounts and financial statements
  • Declaration and payment of dividend
  • Financial audit
  • Cost audit and secretarial audit
• Special Classes of Companies
  • Private companies
  • Holding and subsidiary companies
  • Section 8 companies
  • Government companies
  • Foreign companies
  • NBFCs, Nidhis, Chit Fund companies
  • Other specialised forms (OPC, Small Companies, Dormant Companies, Producer Companies, Start-ups, etc.)
• Regulatory Oversight & Enforcement
  • Inspection and investigation
  • Offences, penalties, compounding, and relief provisions
  • Overview of NCLT-related issues
  • Administration of company law by the Central Government, ROC, Regional Directors, SEBI, and courts
• E-Governance & Procedural Compliance
  • MCA-21 framework and electronic governance
  • Digital signatures, e-filing mechanics, SRN tracking
  • Registers and records (physical and electronic)
  • Periodic statutory returns and ongoing compliance requirements

The structure of the book is as follows:

• Chapter-Based Architecture – 42 chapters arranged in a functional, lifecycle-oriented sequence
• Procedure-led Sub-headings – Emphasis on approvals, compliance steps, and execution pathways
• Index-driven Navigation – Section-wise index maps statutory provisions to practical discussion; subject index enables issue-based access
• Designed for rapid consultation, not prolonged theoretical reading.

Taxmann’s Editorial Board

At the core of Taxmann’s commitment to delivering insightful and reliable information is a highly skilled Research & Editorial Team consisting of Chartered Accountants, Company Secretaries, and Lawyers. Guided by Editor-In-Chief Mr Rakesh Bhargava, this team upholds Taxmann’s role as a leading content provider in the professional knowledge space.

Operating with Six Sigma-inspired precision, the team is driven to eliminate errors and maintain excellence across all content outputs. Their content creation follows strict editorial principles to ensure authority, depth, and insight. Key guidelines include:

• Verified Sourcing – All statutory content is carefully curated from credible, authorised sources, ensuring authenticity and dependability
• Up-to-Date Information – With a commitment to timely updates, the team ensures readers are informed of the latest judicial and legislative changes
• Analytical Depth – Focused on high-impact issues, the team provides deep analysis to help readers understand the implications and nuances of recent developments
• Precise and Accurate Communication – Each publication is crafted for clarity and precision, making complex topics accessible and practical for professionals
• Rigorous Referencing – Analytical insights are thoroughly referenced with relevant sections, circulars, notifications, and rulings, enhancing trustworthiness
• Consistency and Quality – Taxmann adheres strictly to standards of style, grammar, and format, ensuring a smooth and professional reading experience
• Reader-Friendly Design – Both print and digital formats are designed with legibility in mind, enhancing accessibility across platforms

By adhering to these standards, Taxmann’s Editorial Team strengthens its position as a trusted content company, empowering professionals with authoritative resources to make informed decisions.

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