The Union Government has introduced the Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to amend the Companies Act, 2013, and the LLP Act, 2008.

The Bill proposes decriminalizing minor offences by replacing prison terms with monetary penalties and raising the CSR applicability threshold from a net profit of Rs 5 crore to Rs 10 crore.

The Bill also enables hybrid AGMs and allows the conversion of specified trusts into LLPs to promote ease of doing business.

Following objections from the Opposition regarding excessive delegation of powers to the Centre and regulators like NFRA, the Bill has been referred to a 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee.

The Lok Sabha has passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, by voice vote following an Opposition walkout.

The Bill removes the right to self-determined gender identity, introduced by the 2014 NALSA judgment, and mandates a medical board examination instead.

Social Justice Minister Virendra Kumar stated the move prevents "forced" gender presentation and protects the community from those misusing self-identification for benefits. Conversely, Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, termed the Bill "regressive" and an attack on constitutional dignity.

While the NDA hailed the "scientific approach" to identity, rights groups condemned the legislation as a significant blow to transgender autonomy and privacy.

The Government of Kerala notified the Kerala Advocates' Welfare Fund (Amendment) Act, 2026, which came into force on March 9, amending provisions of the Kerala Advocates' Welfare Fund Act, 1980.

The amendment changes the composition of the Welfare Fund Trustee Committee by increasing government-nominated members from one to two and providing that the Secretary of the Committee will be appointed by the government instead of the Bar Council.

It also expands the investment options for the Welfare Fund, allowing funds to be invested in government bonds, pension schemes, and insurance schemes for advocates, with prior government approval.

Senior Advocate Dr. Menaka Guruswamy has been elected to the Rajya Sabha on a ticket from the All India Trinamool Congress, becoming India’s first openly LGBTQ Member of Parliament.

A prominent constitutional lawyer and Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India, Guruswamy played a key role in the landmark case that led to the decriminalisation of homosexuality under Section 377.

Her election marks a historic milestone for LGBTQ representation in Indian politics. Along with her, other TMC candidates including Babul Supriyo, Rajeev Kumar and Koel Mallick were also elected to the Upper House.

The Supreme Court permitted the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment for 32-year-old Harish Rana, who has remained in a permanent vegetative state for over 12 years. 

A bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice KV Viswanathan applied the 2018 Common Cause guidelines, marking the first time the Court has judicially authorized passive euthanasia.

The bench ruled that Clinically Administered Nutrition (CAN) constitutes medical treatment that can be withheld if there is no hope of recovery.

Following unanimous recommendations from primary and secondary medical boards, the Court directed AIIMS Delhi to admit Rana to its palliative care center to ensure the process is carried out with dignity.

[Harish Rana v. UOI]

Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court following a notification by the Union Government based on the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium.

He took oath on 6th March 2026, with the oath administered by Tamil Nadu Governor R. N. Ravi. Prior to this elevation, Justice Dharmadhikari was serving as a judge of the Kerala High Court, and his parent High Court is the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

He began his legal career in 1992 and was appointed as an additional judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in 2016 before becoming a permanent judge in 2018.

He succeeds Chief Justice M. M. Shrivastava, who recently retired.

The All India Trinamool Congress has nominated Senior Advocate Dr. Menaka Guruswamy as its candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.

If elected, she will become the first openly LGBTQ member of the community to serve in Parliament.

Alongside Guruswamy, the party has also announced the candidature of Rajeev Kumar, Babul Supriyo and Koel Mallick.

A noted constitutional expert, Guruswamy has represented the State of West Bengal and the party in several significant matters, including the SIR and IPAC-ED raid cases.

The Supreme Court Collegium has introduced a new policy enabling judges who are in line to become Chief Justices of High Courts to be transferred approximately two months before the anticipated vacancy arises.

The objective is to allow the incoming Chief Justice to familiarise themselves with the court’s administrative structure and functioning, ensuring a smooth transition without disruption to judicial work.

As per the policy, the judge will initially serve as a puisne judge in the transferee High Court and assume charge as Chief Justice once the incumbent retires.

Pursuant to this approach, the Collegium has recommended the transfer of Justice Lisa Gill from the Punjab and Haryana High Court to the Andhra Pradesh High Court.

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has introduced the Companies Compliance Facilitation Scheme, 2026 (CCFS-2026), offering defaulting companies a one-time opportunity to regularise delayed annual returns and financial statements. The Scheme will operate from April 15 to July 15, 2026.

Under the Scheme, companies can complete pending filings by paying only 10% of the additional fees otherwise payable.

Inactive companies may apply for dormant status on payment of 50% of normal filing fees, while companies seeking strike-off can do so by paying 25% of the applicable fee.

The initiative aims to ease compliance burdens and ensure updated corporate records.

The Centre has named former district judge Deep Chandra Joshi as the acting President of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).

A notification issued by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs states that Joshi will function as President under Section 415(1) of the Companies Act, 2013, from February 14 to March 16, or until a regular President is appointed, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Joshi has been serving as a Judicial Member of the NCLT since 2021, initially at the Jaipur Bench and later at the Cuttack Bench.

The appointment ensures continuity in leadership pending selection of a permanent President.

Thanya Nathan has created history by becoming the first visually challenged person to be appointed to Kerala’s judicial services.

She secured first rank among persons with disabilities in the Civil Judge (Junior Division) examination. A 100% visually challenged candidate, Nathan graduated with first rank in LLB from Kannur University and practised as an advocate in Taliparamba, Kannur district.

Her appointment follows the Supreme Court’s March 2025 ruling affirming that visually impaired candidates are eligible for judicial service appointments and must not face discrimination.

The Court emphasised the State’s duty to provide affirmative action and ensure inclusivity in judicial services.