Lok Sabha Question No. 329 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-02
Subject: IEPF and C-PACE
Ministry: CORPORATE AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Jashubhai Bhilubhai Rathva

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 329

ANSWERED ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2026/MAGHA 13, 1947 (SAKA)

## IEPF AND C-PACE 329. SHRI JASHUBHAI BHILUBHAI RATHVA:

Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the steps taken to address the backlog of companies that failed to file Form IEPF-1A (Investor education and Protection Fund) in the prescribed format and the penalties levied;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  evaluated  the  performance  of  the  Centre  for Processing Accelerated Corporate Exit (C-PACE);
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  the  reasons  for  the  Government  mandating  a  geo-tagged  photograph  of  the registered office for forms like MGT-7; and
- (e) the action plan of the Government for faceless adjudication and the manner in which it will ensure fairness and transparency in online corporate default cases?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS AND MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(HARSH MALHOTRA)

(a):-  As  per  Rule  5  (4A)  of  Investor  Education  and  Protection  Fund  Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Rules, 2016 companies are required to file Form No. IEPF-1A along with excel template within sixty days of the notification (20/8/2019)  of  the  amended  rules.  To  resolve  cases  that  have  arisen  due  to companies not filing Form IEPF-1A in the prescribed format, the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) issued a Public Notice on 31.07.2025 to all defaulting companies, giving a compliance window until 30 August 2025, to ensure submission of Form IEPF-1A in the prescribed format.   No penalty has been levied so far.

- (b)  &  (c):-  The  Ministry  has  established  the  Centre  for  Processing  Accelerated Corporate  Exit  (C-PACE)  to  facilitate  and  speed  up  the  voluntary  Strike  off  of companies  and  has  been  operationalized  from  01.05.2023.  A  total  of  22051 applications of companies and Limited Liability Partnership (LLPs) were approved in FY 2024-25 by C-PACE.

(d):-  As per the Companies (Management and Administration) Amendment Rules, 2025  dated  30.05.2025,  it  is  mandatory  to  attach  latest  photograph  of  the registered office of the Company showing external building with name & address prominently  visible.  This  is  aligned  with  the  requirements  specified  in  Section 12(3)(a)  and  Section  92(1)(a)  of  the  Companies  Act,  2013,  under  which  the particulars of registered office, which would mean precise location of such office, are required to be disclosed. The geo-tagging of the registered office would ensure that these forms capture the precise location of the registered office. These steps enhance transparency and traceability of the companies across the country. (e) e-Adjudication or faceless Adjudication module as part of MCA-21 was launched w.e.f.  16.09.2024.  Further,  the  appeals  heard  by  Regional  Directors  (RDs)  on Adjudication order passed by Registrar of Companies (RoCs) also had been made faceless. The Faceless or e-Adjudication system provides for end to end digital process including online generation of notices, hearings, generation of adjudication orders and payments. The above is ensuring transparency in disposal of corporate default cases in the country.

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