MCA has issued notification on 18th June 2021 by Companies (Creation and
Maintenance of databank of Independent Directors) Amendment Rules, 2021 inserting sub rule 8 in Companies (Creation and Maintenance of databank of Independent Directors) Rules, 2019.
As per new sub rule 8,
In case of delay on the part of an individual in applying to the institute under sub-rule (7) for inclusion of his name in the data bank or in case of delay in filing an application for renewal thereof, the institute shall allow such inclusion or renewal, as the case may be, under rule 6 of the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Rules, 2014 after charging a further fees of one thousand rupees on account of such delay.”.
Refer rule 3(7) as below
(7) The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs, shall with the prior approval of the Central Government, fix a reasonable fee to be charged from :-
(a) individuals for inclusion of their names in the data bank of independent directors; and
(b) companies for providing the information on independent directors available on the data bank.
Refer rule 6 of the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Rules, 2014
[6. Compliances required by a person eligible and willing to be appointed as an independent director.
(1) Every individual –
(a) who has been appointed as an independent director in a company, on the date of commencement of the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Fifth Amendment Rules, 2019, shall within a period of 7[thirteen months] from such commencement; or
(b) who intends to get appointed as an independent director in a company after such commencement, shall before such appointment,
apply online to the institute for inclusion of his name in the data bank for a period of one year or five years or for his life-time, and from time to time take steps as specified in sub-rule (2), till he continues to hold the office of an independent director in any company:
Provided that any individual, including an individual not having DIN, may voluntarily apply to the institute for inclusion of his name in the data bank.
(2) Every individual whose name has been so included in the data bank shall file an application for renewal for a further period of one year or five years or for his life-time, within a period of thirty days from the date of expiry of the period upto which the name of the individual was applied for inclusion in the data bank, failing which, the name of such individual shall stand removed from the data bank of the institute:
Provided that no application for renewal shall be filed by an individual who has paid life-time fees for inclusion of his name in the data bank.
(3) Every independent director shall submit a declaration of compliance of sub-rule (1) and sub-rule (2) to the Board, each time he submits the declaration required under sub-section (7) of section 149 of the Act.
(4) Every individual whose name is so included in the data bank under sub-rule (1) shall pass an online proficiency self-assessment test conducted by the institute within a period of 8[Two years from] the date of inclusion of his name in the data bank, failing which, his name shall stand removed from the databank of the institute:
9[Provided that an individual shall not be required to pass the online proficiency self-assessment test when he has served for a total period of not less than three years as on the date of inclusion of his name in the data bank,-
(A) as a director or key managerial personnel, as on the date of inclusion of his name in the databank, in one or more of the following, namely:-
(a) listed public company; or
(b) unlisted public company having a paid-up share capital of rupees ten crore or more; or
(c) body corporate listed on any recognized stock exchange or in a country which is a member State of the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering and the regulator of the securities market in such member State is a member of the International Organization of Securities Commissions; or
(d) bodies corporate incorporated outside India having a paid-up share capital of US$ 2 million or more; or
(e) statutory corporations set up under an Act of Parliament or any State Legislature carrying on commercial activities; or
(B) in the pay scale of Director or above in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs or the Ministry of Finance or Ministry of Commerce and Industry or the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises and having experience in handling the matters relating to corporate laws or securities laws or economic laws; or
(C) in the pay scale of Chief General Manager or above in the Securities and Exchange Board or the Reserve Bank of India or the Insurance Regulatory and Exchange Board or the Reserve Bank of India or the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India or the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority and having experience in handling the matters relating to corporate laws or securities laws or economic laws :
Provided further that for the purpose of calculation of the period of three years referred to in the first proviso,any period during which an individual was acting as a director or as a key managerial personnel in two or more companies or bodies corporate or statutory corporations at the same time shall be counted only once.]
Explanation: For the purposes of this rule,-
(a) the expression “institute” means the ‘Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs at Manesar’ notified under sub-section (1) of section 150 of the Companies Act, 2013 as the institute for the creation and maintenance of data bank of Independent Directors;
(b) an individual who has obtained a score of not less than 10[fiftypercent]. in aggregate in the online proficiency self-assessment test shall be deemed to have passed such test;
(c) there shall be no limit on the number of attempts an individual may take for passing the online proficiency self-assessment test.
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