Laws in Vidhan Atlas

Vidhan Atlas currently covers 170 laws relevant for commercial and corporate concerns, arranged below by area of practice. Coverage expands every month — when you apply for early access, tell us what you work on so we can prioritise.

Core Legal Framework18

  • Indian Penal Code, 1860 (replaced by BNS)
  • Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
  • Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (replaced by BNSS)
  • Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
  • Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023
  • Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
  • Limitation Act, 1963
  • General Clauses Act, 1897
  • Right to Information Act, 2005
  • Interest Act, 1978 (interest in commercial disputes where contracts are silent)
  • Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 (Lok Adalats)
  • Contempt of Courts Act, 1971
  • Powers-of-Attorney Act, 1882
  • Majority Act, 1875 (orig. Indian Majority Act)
  • Commercial Documents Evidence Act, 1939
  • Court-Fees Act, 1870
  • Suits Valuation Act, 1887
  • Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 1891

Corporate Governance and Formation17

  • Companies Act, 2013
  • Companies Act, 1956 (predecessor, largely replaced by 2013 Act)
  • Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008
  • Indian Partnership Act, 1932
  • Societies Registration Act, 1860
  • Chartered Accountants Act, 1949
  • Company Secretaries Act, 1980
  • Cost and Works Accountants Act, 1959
  • Advocates Act, 1961 (Bar Council of India; regulates the legal profession)
  • Companies (Donations to National Funds) Act, 1951
  • Indian Trusts Act, 1882
  • Co-operative Societies Act, 1912
  • Charitable Endowments Act, 1890
  • Charitable and Religious Trusts Act, 1920
  • Comptroller and Auditor-General's (DPCS) Act, 1971 (PSU audit)
  • Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970
  • Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946 (CBI; corporate fraud probes)

Securities and Capital Markets5

  • Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Act, 1992
  • Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956
  • Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999
  • Depositories Act, 1996
  • Preference Shares (Regulation of Dividends) Act, 1960

Commercial Transactions and Dispute Resolution13

  • Indian Contract Act, 1872
  • Specific Relief Act, 1963
  • Commercial Courts Act, 2015
  • Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996
  • India International Arbitration Centre Act, 2019
  • Sale of Goods Act, 1930
  • Transfer of Property Act, 1882
  • Mediation Act, 2023
  • Marine Insurance Act, 1963
  • Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925
  • Multimodal Transportation of Goods Act, 1993
  • Indian Succession Act, 1925 (family business structuring, share transmission)
  • Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 (asset/share transfer to minor beneficiaries)

Insolvency and Bankruptcy6

  • Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016
  • SARFAESI Act, 2002
  • Recovery of Debts Due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act, 1993
  • Provincial Insolvency Act, 1920 (largely superseded by IBC)
  • Presidency-Towns Insolvency Act, 1909 (largely superseded by IBC)
  • Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provisions) Act, 1985 (SICA, superseded by IBC)

Competition and Antitrust2

  • Competition Act, 2002
  • National Food Security Act, 2013 (food supply-chain distribution mandates)

Intellectual Property7

  • Patents Act, 1970
  • Trade Marks Act, 1999
  • Copyright Act, 1957
  • Designs Act, 2000
  • Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999
  • Semiconductor Integrated Circuits Layout-Design Act, 2000
  • Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act, 2001

Labor and Employment31

  • Code on Wages, 2019
  • Industrial Relations Code, 2020
  • Code on Social Security, 2020
  • Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020
  • Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 (subsumed by SS Code)
  • Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 (subsumed by SS Code)
  • Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 (subsumed by SS Code)
  • Factories Act, 1948 (subsumed by OSH Code)
  • Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (subsumed by IR Code)
  • Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH)
  • Apprentices Act, 1961
  • Trade Unions Act, 1926
  • Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986
  • Payment of Bonus Act, 1965 (subsumed by Code on Wages)
  • Minimum Wages Act, 1948 (subsumed by Code on Wages)
  • Payment of Wages Act, 1936 (subsumed by Code on Wages)
  • Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970 (subsumed by OSH Code)
  • Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976
  • Employees' Compensation Act, 1923 (subsumed by SS Code)
  • Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 (subsumed by Code on Wages)
  • Building and Other Construction Workers (RE&CS) Act, 1996 (subsumed by OSH Code)
  • Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946 (subsumed by IR Code)
  • Employment Exchanges (Compulsory Notification of Vacancies) Act, 1959
  • Inter-State Migrant Workmen (RE&CS) Act, 1979 (subsumed by OSH Code)
  • Motor Transport Workers Act, 1961 (subsumed by OSH Code)
  • Sales Promotion Employees (Conditions of Service) Act, 1976 (subsumed by OSH Code)
  • Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees (CoS) Act, 1955
  • Plantations Labour Act, 1951 (subsumed by OSH Code)
  • Beedi and Cigar Workers (Conditions of Employment) Act, 1966 (subsumed by OSH Code)
  • Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1981 (ESMA)
  • Weekly Holidays Act, 1942

Environmental Compliance9

  • Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
  • Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
  • Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
  • National Green Tribunal Act, 2010
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
  • Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
  • Energy Conservation Act, 2001
  • Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (gazette 2003)
  • Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991

Banking, Insurance and Financial Services10

  • Banking Regulation Act, 1949
  • Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934
  • Insurance Act, 1938
  • Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881
  • Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007
  • Factoring Regulation Act, 2011
  • Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation Act, 1961
  • Chit Funds Act, 1982
  • Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Act, 2019
  • Prize Chits and Money Circulation Schemes (Banning) Act, 1978

Taxation4

  • Income Tax Act, 1961
  • Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act, 2017
  • Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) Act, 2017
  • Customs Act, 1962

Anti-Corruption and Economic Offences6

  • Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988
  • Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002
  • Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018
  • Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988
  • Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015
  • Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2014 (enacted title says 2011)

Consumer Protection and Standards8

  • Legal Metrology Act, 2009
  • Essential Commodities Act, 1955
  • Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016
  • Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
  • Consumer Protection Act, 2019
  • Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940
  • Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 (COTPA)
  • Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954

Procedural and General10

  • Indian Stamp Act, 1899
  • Registration Act, 1908
  • Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951
  • Special Economic Zones Act, 2005
  • Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006
  • Information Technology Act, 2000
  • Aadhaar Act, 2016
  • Notaries Act, 1952
  • Oaths Act, 1969
  • Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971

Sector-Specific Regulation20

  • Actuaries Act, 2006
  • Government Securities Act, 2006
  • Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, 2006
  • Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act, 1956
  • Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005
  • Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act, 2005
  • Coconut Development Board Act, 1979
  • Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Act, 2017
  • Airports Authority of India Act, 1994
  • Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008
  • Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958
  • Fatal Accidents Act, 1855
  • Legal Representatives' Suits Act, 1855
  • Export (Quality Control and Inspection) Act, 1963
  • Spices Board Act, 1986
  • Warehousing (Development and Regulation) Act, 2007
  • Tea Act, 1953
  • Coffee Act, 1942
  • Rubber Act, 1947
  • Jute Packaging Materials (Compulsory Use) Act, 1987

Marketing, Branding and Media2

  • Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950
  • Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986

E-commerce and Restricted Sales2

  • Poisons Act, 1919 (online sale of regulated acids/chemicals)
  • Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infant Foods Act, 1992