CorpConnect Corporate Law News October 2025

Government Expands Apprentices Act, 1961 Coverage: What Employers Need to Know

Unemployment in India remains stubborn. The government’s PLFS survey placed it at 5.6% in June 2025, while independent estimates such as CMIE suggest a higher 7%. This mismatch between rising educational qualifications and limited employability is where the Apprentices Act, 1961 (“Act”) plays a critical role. The Act seeks to bridge this gap by mandating structured, on-the-job training through apprenticeships, ensuring that students and young workers gain industry-ready skills. Earlier certain industries were explicitly included, while others were left guessing whether they had obligations under the law. This grey area ended on 3 September 2025, when the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) issued Notification S.O. 4072(E).

Differences in the Roles and Responsibilities of DPO and CISO

The enactment of Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (hereinafter referred to as “DPDP Act”) has clarified and differentiated the roles of Data Protection Officers (“DPO”) and the Chief Information Security Officer (“CISO”), moving away from the previous tendency of organizations merging these roles or having an overlap in responsibilities. The DPO drives privacy governance at a policy and compliance level, while the CISO ensures that the technical safeguards meet those legal expectations.

No Quick Fixes: VLCC Penalised for Misleading Fat- Loss Ads

In today’s digital age, misleading advertisements have become a pervasive concern in India. According to the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), a staggering 81% of ad violations in FY 2023-24 stemmed from misleading claims, with over 10,000 complaints filed and 8,299 advertisements scrutinized making healthcare, personal care, and betting sectors particularly problematic. Alarmingly, 94% of these misleading ads were found online in FY 2024-25, largely on sponsored social media posts,requiring modifications in 98% of the flagged cases.

Government Proposes Draft Registration Bill for Online Registration of Property Documents

Property transactions in India have traditionally been burdened with excessive paperwork, repeated visits to registration offices, and a system that often leads to delays, mistakes, and frequent disputes. The draft Registration Bill, 2025 (“Bill”) represents a significant step towards modernizing this outdated framework by replacing the more than century-old Registration Act, 1908. With the rapid digitisation of governance and the growing need for transparent property dealings, the Bill seeks to introduce a seamless, online-first mechanism for the registration of property documents. It not only aims to simplify the process for citizens but also seeks to curb fraudulent practices, enhance legal certainty, and integrate property records with other government databases. At its core, the proposed law reflects India’s broader vision of building a transparent, efficient, and technology-driven real estate ecosystem.

Earn-Out Negotiations in India’s Startup M&A Landscape

India’s dealmaking story in 2025 has been defined by resilience. Even as global macroeconomic uncertainty dampened sentiment, the country recorded transactions worth USD 50 billion in the first half of the year, with renewable energy, financial services and consumer businesses drawing the largest flows. Beneath this momentum lies an old problem. Buyers and sellers often cannot agree on what a company is worth today. For startups, where value rests on potential more than past earnings, the gap can be wide. The mechanism most frequently used to bridge it is the earn-out. An earn-out allows part of the consideration to be paid on closing and the remainder only if the target achieves specific milestones over an agreed period. In essence, the buyer pays for performance once it is delivered, while the seller gets an opportunity to prove the growth story they are confident about. It is a device that aligns incentives, reduces immediate risk for the acquirer, and keeps the founder motivated post-transaction.

India’s Carbon Credit Market: from Compliance to ESG Advantage

In 2023, India accounted for over 7% of global CO2 emissions, making it the world’s third-largest emitter. The same year, record- breaking heatwaves pushed peak electricity demand above 250 GW, exposing the country’s energy vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, Indian exporters brace for the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which from 2026 will impose tariffs on carbon-intensive imports like steel and cement.
In 2023, India accounted for over 7% of global CO2 emissions, making it the world’s third-largest emitter. The same year, record- breaking heatwaves pushed peak electricity demand above 250 GW, exposing the country’s energy vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, Indian exporters brace for the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which from 2026 will impose tariffs on carbon-intensive imports like steel and cement.

The ‘E’ in ESG: Driving Sustainability and Competitive Advantage

In today’s business landscape, success is no longer measured only by profits and market share. Stakeholders ranging from investors to consumers are increasingly evaluating how responsibly companies operate, which is why the ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) framework has become central to business strategy. Globally, more than 2,000 companies have set net-zero targets through the Science Based Targets initiative, while in India, leading firms such as Dabur, Infosys, and JSW Steel have announced ambitious goals and reported measurable progress in reducing emissions and conserving resources.

The Social Pillar of ESG: Building People-First Businesses

In today’s business environment, a company’s social character matters just as much as its financial health. Stakeholders from investors and consumers to employees and regulators are increasingly evaluating how organisations treat people, uphold rights, and foster inclusion. Yet many firms struggle to translate intent into action. A recent Deloitte survey found that only about 27% of Indian organisations feel confidently prepared to meet ESG requirements, and similarly, only 25% believe they’re ready when it comes to inclusion, diversity, and equity practices. This growing gap between expectations and preparedness highlights why the “Social” pillar must move beyond symbolic commitments to measurable action. Companies that embed diversity, equity, fair labour practices, and community engagement into their core strategies are not only building trust but also securing long-term resilience. As social responsibility becomes a defining factor in competitiveness, the question is no longer whether to act, but how effectively organisations can deliver meaningful change.