Section 1 - Short title and commencement. - The Insolvency And Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021

MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE (Legislative Department) New Delhi, the 4th April, 2021/Chaitra 14, 1943 (Saka) THE INSOLVENCY AND BANKRUPTCY CODE (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE, 2021 NO. 3 OF 2021 Promulgated by the President in the Seventy-second Year of the Republic of India. An Ordinance further to amend the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. WHEREAS COVID-19 pandemic has impacted businesses, financial markets and economies all over the world, including India, and has impacted the business operations of micro, small and medium enterprises and exposed many of them to financial distress; AND WHEREAS the Government has taken several measures to mitigate the distress caused by the pandemic, including increasing the minimum amount of default for initiation of corporate insolvency resolution process to one crore rupees, and suspending filing of applications for initiation of corporate insolvency resolution process in respect of the defaults arising during the period of one year beginning from 25th March 2020; AND WHEREAS such suspension for filing of applications for initiation of corporate insolvency resolution process has ended on 24th March 2021; AND WHEREAS the country has shown remarkable resilience, be it tackling the pandemic or ensuring economic recovery; AND WHEREAS micro, small and medium enterprises are critical for India s economy as they contribute significantly to its gross domestic product and provide employment to a sizeable population; AND WHEREAS it is considered necessary to urgently address the specific requirements of micro, small and medium enterprises relating to the resolution of their insolvency, due to the unique nature of their businesses and simpler corporate structures; AND WHEREAS it is considered expedient to provide an efficient alternative insolvency resolution process for corporate persons classified as micro, small and medium enterprises under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, ensuring quicker, cost-effective and value maximising outcomes for all the stakeholders, in a manner which is least disruptive to the continuity of their businesses and which preserves jobs; AND WHEREAS in order to achieve these objectives, it is considered expedient to introduce a pre-packaged insolvency resolution process for corporate persons classified as micro, small and medium enterprises; AND WHEREAS Parliament is not in session and the President is satisfied that circumstances exist which render it necessary for him to take immediate action; NOW, THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (1) of article 123 of the Constitution, the President is pleased to promulgate the following Ordinance: - Short title and commencement. 1 . (1) This Ordinance may be called the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021. (2) It shall come into force at once.