This book is a thoroughly updated and comprehensive work that analyses India’s corporate legal framework with clarity and depth. Building upon the legacy of its highly acclaimed earlier editions, this edition integrates the latest amendments—such as the Companies (Amendment) Acts of 2018 and 2020—and updated rules under the Companies Act, 2013, including the Companies (Prospectus and Allotment of Securities) Second Amendment Rules, 2023. In addition, it incorporates provisions of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, as applicable to companies, ensuring that readers receive a holistic and contemporary understanding of the legal environment that governs corporate entities in India.

This book is designed with a broad audience in mind. It is an indispensable resource for:

• Undergraduate Students – Particularly those pursuing B.Com. (Hons.), B.Com. (Programme), BBA, BBE from Delhi University and various other universities across India, which require a thorough and exam-oriented guide to Company Law
• Professional Learners and Examinees – Students preparing for IPCC and MBA examinations will find the book’s examination questions, case law references, and structured approach invaluable for both conceptual clarity and scoring well in assessments
• Professionals and Practitioners – Company secretaries, corporate legal advisors, and business professionals seeking to stay current with the latest legal amendments will benefit from the book’s concise explanations and up-to-date references

The Present Publication is the 14^th Edition | 2025, amended upto 15^th December 2024. This book, authored by Prof. Anil Kumar, has the following noteworthy features:

• [Comprehensive Coverage] Includes all relevant legislative updates and amendments, ensuring that readers are well-versed with the most recent changes in the corporate legal landscape
• [Reader-Friendly Approach] Complex legal provisions are explained in clear, accessible language. Case laws and real-life illustrations are woven seamlessly into the narrative, enabling readers to grasp practical applications easily
• [Visual Aids] Flowcharts and summary tables are provided to break down complicated legal procedures, allowing for quick understanding and revision
• [Exam-Orientation] Each chapter concludes with examination-style questions, past exam references, and key case laws, empowering students to prepare methodically for their tests

The structure of the book is as follows:

• The book is thoughtfully structured into thirteen chapters, each building on the foundational concepts established in the preceding ones
• The initial chapters introduce the basic concepts and regulatory framework, and the subsequent chapters discuss detailed aspects such as company formation, the role of the memorandum and articles of association, the issuance of prospectuses, share capital management, corporate governance practices, and the powers and duties of directors and key managerial personnel
• A dedicated chapter on winding up, including insolvency resolution procedures, ensures that readers gain a complete life-cycle perspective of a company—from its inception to its dissolution.

The detailed contents of the book are as follows:

• Company | Meaning and Features – Introduction to the concept of a company, its core attributes, and the significance of corporate personality
• Overview of Administration of Company Law – A look at regulatory authorities, their roles, and the institutional framework underpinning the Companies Act
• Kind of Companies – Classification of companies, including private, public, government, foreign, one-person, small, dormant, and producer companies, and the notion of lifting the corporate veil
• Formation of Company – Step-by-step procedures for incorporating a company, the role of promoters, and online registration processes
• Memorandum of Association – Detailed coverage of the Memorandum, its clauses, legal significance, and the procedure for alterations
• Articles of Association – Explanation of the Articles, their binding nature, relationship to the Memorandum, and methods for amendments
• Prospectus – Insights into different types of prospectuses (including Red Herring and Shelf), the concept of book building, and liabilities for misstatements
• Shares and Share Capital – Essential aspects of share issuance, transfer, forfeiture, bonus issues, buyback of shares, sweat equity, and dematerialisation
• Directors and Key Managerial Personnel – Legal framework governing directors, their qualifications, duties, powers, and accountability, as well as the significance of KMPs
• Shareholders’ Meetings – Procedures and legal requirements for convening and conducting annual general meetings, extraordinary meetings, and the requisites of a valid meeting, including virtual and postal ballot provisions
• Audit – Provisions for appointment, rotation, and removal of auditors, qualifications and disqualifications, and an introduction to secretarial audits
• Dividend Provisions – Legal constraints and procedures for declaring and distributing dividends
• Winding Up of Companies – Modes of winding up and an overview of the insolvency resolution process under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, culminating in an understanding of how companies end their legal existence
• Concluding Chapters – Each chapter includes examination questions, case problems, and a quick overview of key points, making the learning experience thorough and tailored for academic success. The book also includes a section on previous examination questions (2019–2024), allowing students to track changes in examination patterns and prepare accordingly.