Law Updates

The Central Government has issued the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) (Eleventh Amendment) Order, 2025 under Section 3(1) of the Destructive Insects and Pests Act, 1914. This amendment aims to boost India’s phytosanitary measures and control the safe import of agricultural commodities.

The Order, which comes into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette, introduces specific changes to Schedule VI of the principal Order of 2003. Under Serial Number 262, relating to Pyrus communis (pear), new entries have been added in columns 3, 4, 5, and 6. These amendments establish updated import requirements and inspection conditions to avoid the entry of harmful pests and diseases through imported pears.

The revision shows the government’s ongoing efforts to increase plant quarantine standards, align import protocols with international best practices, and safeguard domestic crops from biosecurity risks. Importers and exporters handling fresh fruit shipments are advised to review the new requirements carefully to ensure compliance with the updated regulations.

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.