E-Vroom! An Overview of the Electric Vehicle (EV) Sector in India
The road transportation sector accounts for a significant proportion of global emissions, making electric vehicles (“EVs”) a key focus area, including in India’s union budget announced a few days ago (the “Budget”). Meanwhile, the Indian government remains committed to its national mission on transformative mobility and battery storage (the “E-Mobility Mission”).[1] Over the last few …
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Building Bonds: The Mechanics of India’s Debut Sovereign Green Issuance
Introduction Last year, in India’s Union Budget for the present fiscal, the country’s finance minister had announced[1] that the Reserve Bank of India (“RBI”) would issue ‘sovereign green bonds’ (“SGrBs”) for the purpose of mobilizing resources for green infrastructure, and the proceeds from such bond issuance would be deployed in public sector projects to reduce …
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Liberalized Rules for Overseas Investment by Indian Entities: Laying the “Round Tripping” Ghost to Rest (or not just yet)
On August 22, 2022, the Ministry of Finance and Reserve Bank of India (the “RBI”) introduced a new overseas investment regime comprising of Foreign Exchange Management (Overseas Investment) Rules, 2022 (the “OI Rules”), Foreign Exchange Management (Overseas Investment) Regulations, 2022 (the “OI Regulations”) and Foreign Exchange Management (Overseas Investment) Directions, 2022 (the “OI Directions”) (collectively, …
Great Expectations: India’s Tryst with Climate Change
While presenting the Union Budget this year, the Indian Finance Minister had announced the government’s intention to issue ‘green bonds’ [1] with a sovereign rating, the proceeds of which would be used to finance a variety of public-sector green infrastructure projects. According to recent media reports, [2] it appears that the government is about to …
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The Elephant in the Room: India’s Place in the International Investment Regime
A recent Delhi High Court judgement, issued on August 29, 2022 (the “August verdict”),[1] set aside an arbitral award rendered in 2015 by the International Chamber of Commerce (“ICC”)[2] in respect of the protracted Antrix-Devas dispute. While the August verdict is being hailed as a significant win for the Indian government, it also presents an …
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New Overseas Investments Regime in India
On August 22, 2022, the Government of India issued the much-awaited revised rules, regulations and directions applicable to overseas investments by Indian entities and individuals. These include: (i) the Foreign Exchange Management (Overseas Investment) Rules, 2022 (the “Overseas Investments Rules”) issued by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India; (ii) the Foreign Exchange Management (Overseas …
Competition Amendment Bill, 2022: Key Changes to the Competition Act, 2002
On August 5, 2022, the Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2022 (the “Bill”), to amend the Competition Act, 2002 (the “Competition Act”), was introduced in the Indian Parliament. The timing of approval of the Bill, and its coming into effect, is uncertain at present.
Changes to Quarterly Shareholding Disclosures by Listed Entities in India
On June 30, 2022, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI”) issued a circular amending the quarterly shareholding pattern disclosed by listed entities in India (the “2022 Circular”). This amended an earlier SEBI circular dated November 30, 2015 (the “2015 Circular”). The 2022 Circular comes into force with effect from the quarter ending September …
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Indian Legal Regime for ESG
The need for addressing Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) related aspects, has never had more prominence than now. There is growing recognition of the financial and economic impacts of ESG risks across the globe. ESG is also attaining significance as the investors are increasingly relying on ESG as an important metric to guide their investment …
Shareholder Activism in India: The Zee-Invesco Decision
India has witnessed a significant increase in institutional shareholder activism over the past few years. As a consequence of the rapid rise in shareholder activism, there has been much greater focus on the rights of minority shareholders in relation to a company. In this context, the judgment of the division bench (“Division Bench”) of the …
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