Generative AI is the latest technological wave transforming the Company Secretary's desk. From paper registers to MCA21, and from physical board meetings to video conferencing, every innovation has reshaped workflows without diminishing the profession's strategic role. But Generative AI is different. Unlike prior tools that processed or stored information, GenAI reasons with it. This article is not a caution against AI.

Pre-IPO placements are no longer just a niche trend; they’ve become a critical bridge for Indian companies moving toward a public listing. This is essentially the 'final call' for private funding before a company makes its public debut. In practice, it’s a tight window right before the IPO where a few chosen investors pick up securities at prices negotiated behind closed doors.Legally, you’re looking at a three-pronged framework: SEBI’s ICDR Regulations (2018), the Companies Act (2013), and FEMA rules if there’s foreign money involved. But even with these rules on the books, the market is still split. Critics often argue these deals are just a way to play the regulatory system, while others see them as a perfectly standard way to tidy up the books and lock in capital before the opening bell."In most cases, there isn’t a straight yes-or-no answer and it depends largely on timing, disclosure quality and investor profile rather than the structure itself.Key TakeawaysBasically, a pre-IPO placement is a private sale of shares to a select group of investors just before the company goes public.These deals have to follow SEBI’s ICDR Regulations and the Companies Act, plus FEMA rules if foreign investors are involved.While pricing disclosures focus on transactions within 18 months prior to DRHP filing, the offer document is required to disclose a broader capital history, including past issuances (typically up to 3 years or more).Promoter lock-in is split, 18 months applies only to the minimum promoter contribution (20% of post-issue capital), while the balance promoter holding is typically locked in for 6 months.Lock-in provisions under ICDR Regulations apply to pre-IPO shares in India, typically for 6 months post listing for non-promoter investors.In most real transactions, but the practical challenges are less about the law and more about timing, valuation alignment, and documentation readiness.What are Pre-IPO Placements?Before getting into regulations, it helps to understand how this works in most cases:Broadly, there are two markets involved, primary (where companies issue shares) and secondary (where investors trade among themselves).

Indian SaaS and IT companies grew up in a GST-first world. Many assume that surviving Indian compliance means they are globally ready. That assumption breaks the moment you invoice a European customer or bill a Latin American entity. Global e invoicing is no longer just a tax topic. In 2026, it directly affects revenue recognition, collections, and contract enforceability for Indian SaaS exporters.Key TakeawaysGlobal e invoicing does not apply merely because you export SaaS from India.

Tracking your E-way bill status ensures smooth and hassle-free transportation of goods. It's a simple yet effective way to stay informed about your shipments and avoid compliance issues, as it provides real-time updates, allowing quick resolution of any potential problems.Understanding E-way Bill TrackingE-way bill tracking helps businesses track the journey of their goods, ensuring they are on schedule and complying with GST regulations.Threshold for E-way Bill trackingConditionGoods ValueMore than ₹50,000Distance TravelledMore than 10 kilometresHow to Track E-way Bill Status?Tracking your E-way bill is straightforward. You can do it on the official GST portal, and companies like Clear offer a unified e-invoicing and e-way bill solution where they maintain a single repository for easy tracking of e-invoices and e-way bills. Here's a quick guide to help you track your E-way bill status step by step:Go to the GST E-way Bill portal and click on Login.Enter your User Name and Password, then the Captcha Code.Once logged in, click the "Reports" option on the left.The following screen will appear. Select the option to generate reports based on the various masters, i.e.

The E-Way Bill system streamlines goods transport under GST, but understanding its distance limits and validity is key for compliance. The distance must be entered while generating the E-way bill, as it defines how far a consignment can travel under one e-way bill. Currently, a maximum distance of 3,000 km can be entered in the distance field while generating a waybill online.Knowing when it's needed, its validity, and its exemptions help avoid penalties. E-Way Bill Distance Limit MeaningThe E-Way Bill distance can be an approximation, which can be ascertained by using the MAP feature to compute the distance between the place of dispatch and the place of delivery. Along the distance, the supplier must ensure that the goods reach the recipient's place within the e-way bill's validity period. Its validity is typically 1 day for every 200 km of travel. The consignor must know the distance between the place of origin and the place of delivery of the consignment because the longer the distance, the higher the validity of the eway bill.The rule helps streamline logistics and ensure compliance with GST regulations during the movement of goods​.E-Way Bill Minimum Distance LimitNo E-Way Bill is required for distances under 20 km. But suppose the value of the goods exceeds ₹50,000 and the movement is even 1 km within the state.

A taxpayer registered under GST must generate an e-way bill while transporting goods exceeding Rs.50,000 in a single invoice/bill/delivery challan. It can be generated by the consignor/consignee or the transporter before the movement of goods. But what if the vehicle breaks down during the transit? Do you require a new e way bill, or can you extend its validity?Read and find out!Latest Updates18 December, 2024The government, via an advisory dated 17 December 2024, clarified that a taxpayer would only be able to generate e-way bills for documents dated no earlier than 180 days. For instance, invoices dated earlier than 5 July 2024 will not be eligible for e-way bill generation from 1 January 2025.Also, one can extend the validity of an e-way bill up to 360 days from its original generation date. For example, an e-way bill generated on 1 January 2025 can only be extended until 25 December 2025.The above changes will be made effective from 1 January 2025.E-Way Bill Validity PeriodAn e-way bill's validity depends on factors like the type of transport and pin-to-pin distance travelled. The consignor must know the distance between the place of origin and the place of delivery of the consignment because the longer the distance, the higher the validity of the e way bill.The consignor has two options:He can either calculate the approximate distance between the source and destination location before generating the e way bill orHe can use the free tool provided by the e way bill official portal for pin-to-pin distance calculation.Once the type of transport and distance are calculated, the system will generate the e-way bill based on the following rule:Nature of ConveyanceDistanceOver Dimensional Cargo1 day for any distance up to 20 km and after that additional one day for every 20 km or part thereofOther than Over Dimensional Cargo1 day for any distance up to 200 km and thereafter, an additional one day for every 200 km or part thereofTime Limits for E-Way Bill GenerationThe e-way bill has two parts, i.e., parts A and B. Part A requests details such as the recipient's GSTIN, place of delivery, invoice or challan number and date, HSN code, value of goods, transport document number (Goods Receipt Number in the case of road transport), and reasons for transportation.Part B comprises transporter details (Vehicle number and transporter ID).

An e-way bill is a mandatory electronic document required under GST for transporting goods valued above Rs. 50,000. It should be generated on the government portal before movement begins, and applies to all registered persons, transporters, and in specific cases, unregistered persons. Any non-compliance attracts a penalty of Rs.10,000 or the tax evaded, whichever is higher.Key TakeawaysUpdate as on 17th June 2026: The GSTN has released an advisory outlining changes to the APIs of the e-Invoice and e-Way Bill systems, effective from 1st August 2026. The Ship-to GSTIN would become mandatory in IRN & e-Way Bill APIs when Ship-to information is present ("URP" if the consignee is unregistered).

The Goods and Services Tax Network is constantly streamlining its GST portal and introducing new features to simplify compliance and auditing for taxpayers. The latest is the Invoice Management System (IMS), which went live on 14th October 2024. It aims to help significantly manage the process of ITC claims more accurate and faster.  This article explores the latest features, core benefits, and workflow of IMS, including updates rolled out through October 2025.Latest Updates 21st April 2026The GSTN has launched an MS Excel-based offline tool to simplify the access to invoice management system (IMS). The IMS facility has been active since October 2024 as per its advisory dated 21st April 2026. 30th October 2025Effective October 2025 period onwards, a new section for "Import of Goods" has been introduced in IMS wherein the Bill of Entry (BoE) filed by the taxpayer for import of goods including import from SEZ, will be made available in the IMS for taking allowed action on individual BoE. 17th October 2025GSTN, in its recent advisory, stated that the IMS functionality has been enhanced to allow taxpayers to modify ITC reversal amounts upon acceptance of credit notes and other specified records, ensuring ITC is reversed only to the extent actually availed.What is the Invoice Management System (IMS) Under GST? The Invoice Management System, or IMS, is a relatively new feature within the GST portal introduced in the late 2024 to allow recipient taxpayers accept, reject, or keep invoices pending when saved or filed by their supplier taxpayers. Mismatches between invoices filed by suppliers and returns submitted by recipients are a significant issue taxpayers face when claiming input tax credits. The IMS allows registered recipients to match their records with invoices reported by suppliers in their GSTR-1.

For decades, “Sd/-” has been casually used across corporate documents in India to indicate a signature. It has appeared everywhere from board resolutions to filings without any scrutiny. But that practice is no longer considered to be valid enough. Under today’s regulatory framework, documents submitted to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs must carry a valid signature either physical or digital. Simply writing “Sd/-” doesn’t meet the legal requirement anymore.

Many companies in India fall behind on ROC filings. Not because they want to ignore compliance, but because operations move faster than paperwork. Years pass, penalties pile up, directors start worrying about disqualification. The Companies Compliance Facilitation Scheme 2026 (CCFS-2026) is the government’s way of cleaning this backlog. It allows defaulting companies to file pending documents and regularise compliance without heavy additional penalties.Key TakeawaysThe companies compliance facilitation scheme 2026 allows defaulting companies to file pending ROC documents with normal filing fees.Companies are required to pay only 10% of the additional fees applicable for delayed filings under the schemeCompanies can regularise old compliance gaps or move towards dormancy or strike-off.