Big MCA Change: Govt Companies Face New Indemnity Bond Rule for Strike-Off:

Big MCA Change: Govt Companies Face New Indemnity Bond Rule for Strike-Off The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has released an Official Notification dated December 31, 2025, informing amendments to the Companies (Removal of Names of Companies from the Register of Companies) Rules, 2016.

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Key Update For Government Companies (including subsidiaries), the Indemnity Bond (Form STK-3A), which is normally signed by the directors can now be signed by an authorised representative of the Central/State Government. The authorised representative must be not below the rank of Under Secretary (or equivalent) in the concerned Ministry/Department. This change applies specifically when such companies apply for removal of their name under Section 248 of the Companies Act, 2013. Amendment takes effect from the date of publication in the Official Gazette (31 Dec 2025). The following are the changes introduced in the same:

• The amended rules will now be called the Companies (Removal of Names of Companies from the Register of Companies) Amendment Rules, 2025.
• The amendments notified in the notification have already come into effect from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette, i.e., December 31, 2025.
• After the proviso, in sub-rule (3), rule 4 of the Companies (Removal of Names of Companies from the Register of Companies) Rules, 2016, the following proviso has been added:

"Provided further that in case of any other Government Company, including its subsidiaries, the indemnity bond in Form STK-3A, in respect of one or more directors appointed or nominated by the Central Government or State Government, shall be given by an authorised representative not below the rank of under secretary or equivalent, in the administrative Ministry or Department of the Government of India or the State Government, as the case may be, on behalf of the Company.”

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The MCA has introduced the aforesaid amendments in exercise of its powers granted under sub-sections (1), (2), and (4) of section 248 read with section 469 of the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013). Refer to the official notification for complete information.