CHAPTER II POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE BOARDCentral

Section 196 of The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.

(1)The Board shall, subject to the general direction of the Central Government, perform all or any of the following functions namely:—
1. (a)register insolvency professional agencies, insolvency professionals and information utilities and renew, withdraw, suspend or cancel such registrations; 1 [(aa) promote the development of, and regulate, the working and practices of, insolvency professionals, insolvency professional agencies and information utilities and other institutions, in furtherance of the purposes of this Code;]
2. (b)specify the minimum eligibility requirements for registration of insolvency professional agencies, insolvency professionals and information utilities;
3. (c)levy fee or other charges 2 [for carrying out the purposes of this Code, including fee for registration and renewal] of insolvency professional agencies, insolvency professionals and information utilities;
4. (d)specify by regulations standards for the functioning of insolvency professional agencies, insolvency professionals and information utilities;
5. (e)lay down by regulations the minimum curriculum for the examination of the insolvency professionals for their enrolment as members of the insolvency professional agencies;
6. (f)carry out inspections and investigations on insolvency professional agencies, insolvency professionals and information utilities and pass such orders as may be required for compliance of the provisions of this Code and the regulations issued hereunder;
7. (g)monitor the performance of insolvency professional agencies, insolvency professionals and information utilities and pass any directions as may be required for compliance of the provisions of this Code and the regulations issued hereunder;
8. (h)call for any information and records from the insolvency professional agencies, insolvency professionals and information utilities;
  1. (i)publish such information, data, research studies and other information as may be specified by regulations;
9. (j)specify by regulations the manner of collecting and storing data by the information utilities and for providing access to such data;
10. (k)collect and maintain records relating to insolvency and bankruptcy cases and disseminate information relating to such cases;
11. (l)constitute such committees as may be required including in particular the committees laid down in section 197;
12. (m)promote transparency and best practices in its governance;
13. (n)maintain websites and such other universally accessible repositories of electronic information as may be necessary;
14. (o)enter into memorandum of understanding with any other statutory authorities;
15. (p)issue necessary guidelines to the insolvency professional agencies, insolvency professionals and information utilities;
16. (q)specify mechanism for redressal of grievances against insolvency professionals, insolvency professional agencies and information utilities and pass orders relating to complaints filed against the aforesaid for compliance of the provisions of this Code and the regulations issued hereunder;
17. (r)conduct periodic study, research and audit the functioning and performance of to the insolvency professional agencies, insolvency professionals and information utilities at such intervals as may be specified by the Board;
18. (s)specify mechanisms for issuing regulations, including the conduct of public consultation processes before notification of any regulations;
19. (t)make regulations and guidelines on matters relating to insolvency and bankruptcy as may be required under this Code, including mechanism for time bound disposal of the assets of the corporate debtor or debtor; and
20. (u)perform such other functions as may be prescribed.
(2)The Board may make model bye-laws to be to adopted by insolvency professional agencies which may provide for—
1. (a)the minimum standards of professional competence of the members of insolvency professional agencies;
2. (b)the standards for professional and ethical conduct of the members of insolvency professional agencies;
3. (c)requirements for enrolment of persons as members of insolvency professional agencies which shall be non-discriminatory; Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, the term “non-discriminatory” means lack of discrimination on the grounds of religion, caste, gender or place of birth and such other grounds as may be specified;
4. (d)the manner of granting membership;
5. (e)setting up of a governing board for internal governance and management of insolvency professional agency in accordance with the regulations specified by the Board;
6. (f)the information required to be submitted by members including the form and the time for submitting such information;
7. (g)the specific classes of persons to whom services shall be provided at concessional rates or for no remuneration by members;
8. (h)the grounds on which penalties may be levied upon the members of insolvency professional agencies and the manner thereof;
  1. (i)a fair and transparent mechanism for redressal of grievances against the members of insolvency professional agencies;
9. (j)the grounds under which the insolvency professionals may be expelled from the membership of insolvency professional agencies;
10. (k)the quantum of fee and the manner of collecting fee for inducting persons as its members;
11. (l)the procedure for enrolment of persons as members of insolvency professional agency;
12. (m)the manner of conducting examination for enrolment of insolvency professionals;
13. (n)the manner of monitoring and reviewing the working of insolvency professional who are members;
14. (o)the duties and other activities to be performed by members;
15. (p)the manner of conducting disciplinary proceedings against its members and imposing penalties;
16. (q)the manner of utilising the amount received as penalty imposed against any insolvency professional.
(3)Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, while exercising the powers under this Code, the Board shall have the same powers as are vested in a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), while trying a suit, in respect of the following matters, namely:—
1. (i)the discovery and production of books of account and other documents, at such place and such time as may be specified by the Board;
2. (ii)summoning and enforcing the attendance of persons and examining them on oath;
3. (iii)inspection of any books, registers and other documents of any person at any place;
4. (iv)issuing of commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents.

Summary

Registers and regulates service providers, which are professionals and agencies like insolvency professionals and information utilities that assist in insolvency.
Specifies minimum eligibility requirements, standards of functioning, and fees for service providers.
Carries out inspections, investigations, and audits on service providers and redresses grievances, meaning complaints, against them.
Publishes data and maintains websites, electronic repositories, and registers of insolvency and bankruptcy cases.
Formulates regulations and guidelines, including standards of conduct and timelines for the committee of creditors, which is the group of decision-making lenders.
Holds civil court powers to discover documents, summon witnesses, inspect books, and issue commissions, which are official requests to record external testimonies, under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.

Practical examples

1An insolvency professional named Ananya fails to maintain proper client accounts. Under Section 196 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, the Board conducts an inspection, discovers the misconduct, and suspends Ananya's registration.

2A group of home buyers files a grievance, which is a formal complaint, against a resolution professional for delaying meetings. The Board uses its powers under Section 196 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 to investigate the complaint.

3The Board decides to update the syllabus for the national insolvency exam in 2026. Under Section 196 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, the Board drafts and publishes the updated examination curriculum via regulations.

FAQ

1. What are the main regulatory powers of the Board over service providers under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016?

Under Section 196 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, the Board has the power to register, renew, withdraw, suspend, or cancel the registrations of service providers, who are the professionals managing insolvency.

2. Does the Board have any powers of a civil court under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016?

Yes, under Section 196 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, the Board is vested with the same powers as a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, for discovering documents, summoning witnesses, inspecting books, and issuing commissions, which are orders to gather external evidence.

3. Can the Board set standards for the committee of creditors under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016?

Yes, under Section 196 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, the Board can specify standards of conduct and timelines within which the committee of creditors must take decisions.

4. Who is responsible for laying down the exam curriculum for insolvency professionals under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016?

Under Section 196 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, the Board has the specific power to lay down the minimum curriculum for the examination of insolvency professionals.

Test yourself

Q1.Under Section 196 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, which of the following is NOT a power of the Board when exercising civil court powers?

Q2.Under Section 196 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, what must the Board do before notifying any new regulations?

Q3.Under Section 196 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, which body can the Board establish to assist in the efficient discharge of its functions?

Q4.Under Section 196 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, what standard of non-discrimination must be maintained in the model bye-laws, which are template internal rules, for enrolling members?

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