Law Updates

The Central Government has published the draft Insecticides (Amendment) Rules, 2025, under Section 36 of the Insecticides Act, 1968, for public consultation. The notification invites objections and suggestions from individuals, industry stakeholders, and relevant organizations likely to be affected by the proposed amendments. Feedback must be submitted within thirty days from the date the notification is made available in the Gazette of India. Submissions may be sent to the Joint Secretary (Plant Protection), Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

The proposed amendment modifies Rule 10(1A) of the Insecticides Rules, 1971, by substituting the earlier compliance deadline of June 30, 2024, with a new deadline of June 30, 2026. This extension aims to provide additional time for licensing authorities, manufacturers, and stakeholders to ensure smooth compliance with procedural and safety requirements. The Rules will come into force on their final publication in the Official Gazette. Stakeholders are encouraged to review the draft carefully and submit their comments within the stipulated timeframe.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) issued a new notification on 24 October 2025 under the Bureau of Indian Standards Rules, 2018. It announced the establishment of twelve new Indian Standards covering various sectors such as leather, orthotic devices, geospatial information, fibre optics, IoT, and Digital Twin technologies.

Key updates include IS 2960:2025 for bookbinding leather, replacing the 1964 version, and IS 9471 (Part 1):2025 for modular lower limb orthotic components. The IS 11646 (Part 1):2025 sets standards for canes for persons with visual impairment, while IS 16439:2025 updates metadata standards for geospatial information.

New technology-focused standards include IS 19386:2025, IS 19394:2025, IS 19395:2025, and IS 19398:2025, which define IoT and Digital Twin frameworks, vocabulary, and compatibility requirements. The IS 18651 (Part 14):2025 covers power and control systems for powered wheelchairs, and IS 18888 (Part 2):2025 introduces a model for assessing online course content quality.

These new Indian Standards aim to enhance product reliability, digital trust, accessibility, and industrial innovation across India, aligning national quality norms with global benchmarks and supporting BIS compliance and certification initiatives.

The Electrical Equipment (Quality Control) Order, 2020 (EEQCO 2020), issued under the authority of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, sets out mandatory conformity requirements for specified electrical equipment. Following the Electrical Equipment (Quality Control) Amendment Order, 2023, and the Electrical Equipment (Quality Control) Second Amendment Order, 2024, the Ministry of Heavy Industries has now issued a notification deferring the enforcement dates for most product categories listed in the amendment table, excluding those at Sr. No. 1.1(a), which came into force on 10 November 2024.  The deferment, announced under S.O. 2007(E) dated 5 May 2025, extends the timeline for compliance “until further orders”. Manufacturers, importers, and distributors of product categories such as low-voltage switchgear and control gear should take note: while the compliance obligation remains operative in principle, enforcement will not begin until a later date. Stakeholders are advised to monitor updates and align their certification and supply-chain processes accordingly.

The Ministry of Power has granted Section 164 authorization under the Electricity Act, 2003, to Project Nine Renewable Power Private Limited. This approval allows the company to lay overhead transmission lines for its 450 MW solar project in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

The order empowers the company with the same rights as a telegraph authority under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, for laying electric lines. The authorization remains valid for 25 years, provided that several compliance conditions are met.

Project Nine must get approvals from local bodies, railways, and highway authorities before construction. It must also follow Central Government inspection norms, seek civil aviation and defence clearances, and comply with the Supreme Court’s directives on the Great Indian Bustard protection.

This move reinforces India’s renewable power infrastructure and supports the government’s commitment to sustainable energy expansion across key solar zones in Rajasthan.

The Central Government has notified the Companies (Meetings of Board and its Powers) Amendment Rules, 2025, which update the 2014 Rules under the Companies Act, 2013. This amendment revises Rule 11 to clearly define the term “business of financing industrial enterprises” under Section 186(11)(a) of the Act. 

For Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) registered with the Reserve Bank of India, the definition now includes giving loans or providing guarantees or security for loan repayments in the normal course of business. For finance companies registered with the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), it includes these activities and other financial services allowed under the IFSCA (Finance Company) Regulations, 2021. 

This clarification helps companies, directors, and regulators understand which financial activities Section 186 covers, ensuring smoother compliance and better corporate governance, covers. The amendment brings consistency between the Companies Act and financial regulatory frameworks, strengthening oversight on company loans, guarantees, and investment decisions.

The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, through the Department of Pharmaceuticals, released an addendum on 4th November 2025. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) updated its earlier orders related to the ceiling price fixation of scheduled IV fluid formulations with special features. This new order adds five manufacturers and marketers to Table B under the existing NPPA order. 

The new entries include IV Tech Healthcare, Safal Lifescience Pvt. Ltd., One Drip Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., Life Infusion Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd., Virchow Biotech Pvt. Ltd., Klokter Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., and Zee Laboratories Ltd. Each company has been assigned specific applicable formulations from Table A, defining which IV fluid variants fall under NPPA’s controlled pricing. Clauses (h5) to (h8) specify these details, ensuring that only certain formulations are subject to the notified ceiling prices. 

For instance, IV Tech Healthcare and Life Infusion Pharmaceuticals can apply ceiling prices only for formulations at serial numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8. Similarly, Virchow Biotech, Safal Lifescience, and Klokter Life Sciences have defined applicable formulations based on their product categories. This NPPA update ensures uniform pricing and transparency across the pharmaceutical market, preventing overpricing of essential IV fluids and promoting fair access to life-saving medicines in India.