Overview on Companies Act, 1956 (2024)

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The Companies Act of 1956 was a parliamentary act passed in the year 1956. It empowered companies all over India to register themselves as legal entities. It also enabled an informed and systematic structure of roles, responsibilities, and organisations within a business organisation. The Indian Companies Act, 1956 set forth a systematic organisation of business ventures and enabled a smoother functioning of the businesses. Through the Indian Company Act, the government made it mandatory for any business organisation to be considered legal to register themselves to obtain a licence. The Companies Act also specified the kind of roles and responsibilities of managerial positions.

Companies Act 1956

The Indian government passed and enacted the Indian Companies Act of 1956 under the guidance of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. The Indian Company Act had been the centre of many repeals taking place almost periodically after its conception. The Act was mandated by the Government through institutions like the Official Liquidators, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Director of Inspector, Offices of Registrar of Companies, and Public Trustee. Not only did it provide a thorough line for businesses but it also set forth precedence. This was the basic law that guided all other associated laws regarding businesses. The Act comprised of sections such as:

  • Membership of company,
  • AoA (Articles of Association)
  • Memoranda and related provisions
  • Private Companies
  • Changes made to the registration details of companies
  • Naming Companies
  • Matters of Companies
  • Preliminary
  • Law Administration
  • Service documents
  • Contracts and deeds
  • Prospectus
  • Shares Capitals and more

There were many other Parts to the Act as well, all that laid down the functioning and organisation of the company.

Companies Act

There are 13 Parts in the Companies Act and many Schedules with lots of articles. The entire document is an exhaustive and comprehensive list of important rules and regulations that are provided by the government. This aids businesses to operate within a set boundary by constitutional validation. The provision of AoA and an MoA (Memorandum of Association) are two of the most important documents for any legally recognised business organisation. These provisions are provided for in the Act. The AoA has defined the various responsibilities of a company and contains the MoA. The MoA is the official charter of any company and is prepared during the registration and naming process. There are around 70 provisions that a company has to follow. The Act also lays down how a company should handle its shares and capital. It also contains certain clauses regarding employee and workplace relations. The Companies Act also specified the kind of roles and responsibilities of managerial positions. Through many amendments made to the Act, it was made to reflect the changing time and requirements.

Indian Company Act Repeal

The Company Act of 2013 is divided into 470 sections, with 29 Parts and 658 sections. Most of these sections have been removed and only around 484 sections remain in their present state. An additional 183 sections were enforced since 2014 under the Company Act. The 2013 Act increased the responsibilities and stipulations that corporate sectors, IT sectors, and other tech sectors had in the country to increase accountability. Another Amendment was introduced to the 2013 Company Act in 2020.

Conclusion

The Indian Companies Act, 1956, was responsible for consolidating many important rules and regulations regarding business operations, relations, and responsibilities. The 1956 Company Act was repealed in 2013 and was almost partially replaced by the Companies Act of 2013.

Overview on Companies Act, 1956 (2024)

FAQs

What is the Companies Act, 1956 in simple words? ›

In our country, the Companies Act, 1956 primarily regulates the formation, financing, functioning and winding up of companies. The Act prescribes regulatory mechanism regarding all relevant aspects including organisational, financial and managerial aspects of companies.

What is the Companies Act summary? ›

The Companies Act 2013 regulates the formation and functioning of corporations or companies in India. The first Companies Act after independence was passed in 1956, which governed business entities in the country. The 1956 Act was based on the recommendations of the Bhabha Committee.

What are the key differences between Companies Act 1956 and 2013? ›

As per Companies Act of 1956, one person cannot form a company and as per Companies Act of 2013, one person can form a one person company. You can read about the Companies Act 2013 – Indian Companies Act Definition, Companies Act 1956 in the given link.

What is the rule 6 of the Companies Act, 1956? ›

6. No alteration shall be made to this Memorandum of Association or to the Articles of Association of the company which are for the time being in force, unless the alteration has been previously submitted to and approved by the Regional Director.

What is Section 4 of the Companies Act, 1956? ›

(4)Every public company, existing on the commencement of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2000, with a paid-up capital of less than five lakh rupees shall, within a period of two years from such commencement, enhance its paid-up capital to five lakh rupees.

What is 43 of the Companies Act, 1956? ›

Kinds of share capital. (b) preference share capital: Provided that nothing contained in this Act shall affect the rights of the preference shareholders who are entitled to participate in the proceeds of winding up before the commencement of this Act.

What are the purposes of Companies Act? ›

The importance of the Act is to provide for the incorporation, registration, management and capitalisation of profits in every company.

What does the Companies Act cover? ›

It imposes a duty to 'promote the success of the company for the benefit of its members as a whole' having regard to various factors including the longer term, and the interests of employees, suppliers, consumers and the environment.

What is the rule 7 of Companies Act? ›

(1) A private company other than a company registered under section 8 of the Act having paid up share capital of fifty lakhs rupees or less or and average annual turnover during the relevant period having paid up share capital of fifty lakhs rupees or less and average annual turnover, during the relevant period is two ...

What is Section 23 of the Companies Act, 1956? ›

Sec 23 - Registration of change of name and effect thereof.

(2) The Registrar shall also make the necessary alteration in the memorandum of association of the company.

What is Section 301 of the Companies Act, 1956? ›

(1)Every company shall keep one or more registers in which shall be entered separately particulars of all contracts or arrangements to which section 297 or section 299 applies, including the following particulars to the extent they are applicable in each case, namely:- (a)the date of the contract or arrangement; (b)the ...

What is Section 200 of the Companies Act, 1956? ›

(1)No company shall pay to any officer or employee thereof, whether in his capacity as such or otherwise, remuneration free of any tax, or otherwise calculated by reference to, or varying with, any tax payable by him, or the rate or standard rate of any such tax, or the amount thereof.

What is Section 5 of the Companies Act, 1956? ›

(5) Where the articles contain provisions for entrenchment, whether made on formation or by amendment, the company shall give notice to the Registrar of such provisions in such form and manner as may be prescribed.

What is Section 111 of the Companies Act, 1956? ›

(1)If a company refuses, whether in pursuance of any power of the company under its articles or otherwise, to register the transfer of, or the transmission by operation of law of the right to, any shares or interest of a member in, or debentures of, the company, it shall, within two months from the date on which the ...

What is Section 100 of the Companies Act, 1956? ›

(1)Subject to confirmation by the [Tribunal], a company limited by shares or a company limited by guarantee and having a share capital, may, if so authorised by its articles, by special resolution, reduce its share capital in any way; and in particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, may ...

What are deposits as per Companies Act 1956? ›

Companies Act, 1956-S. 58A-Companies (Acceptance of Deposit) Rules, 1975-R 3A-Imposition of obligation on Companies inviting/accepting deposits from public to deposit or invest 10 per cent of deposits maturing during the year with a Scheduled bank or in government securities, etc.

What is 54 of Companies Act 1956? ›

Authentication of documents and proceedings . - Save as otherwise expressly provided in this Act, a document or proceeding requiring authentication by a company may be signed by a Director, [* * *] the manager, the secretary or other authorised officer of the company, and need not be under its common seal.

What is the Companies Act definition of capital? ›

Introduction. The concept of 'capital' has a restricted and technical meaning within company law. A company's capital adds up to all of the cash or the value of assets received by a company from investors in return for the company's shares. This is an important source of finance for companies.

What is an independent director under the Companies Act, 1956? ›

9.2 The expression 'independent director' should mean a non-executive director of the company who :- a) Apart from receiving director's remuneration, does not have, and none of his relatives or firms/companies controlled by him have, any material pecuniary relationships or transactions with the company, its promoters, ...

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