Companies (Accounts) Second Amendment Rules 2025 | MCA Updates July 2025

🏛️ MCA Notification: Companies (Accounts) Second Amendment Rules, 2025 – Key Highlights & Implications

Companies (Accounts) Second Amendment Rules 2025
📅 Effective Date: 14th July 2025
📌 Notification No.: G.S.R. 357(E)
📍 Issued by: Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Government of India
🔗 Under Authority of: Sections 128, 129, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, and 469 of the Companies Act, 2013

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has notified significant amendments to the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014 through the Companies (Accounts) Second Amendment Rules, 2025. These changes aim to improve transparency, streamline compliance, and promote better corporate governance.


🔍 What is this Notification About?

On 30th May 2025, the MCA notified amendments to the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014, introducing the Second Amendment Rules, 2025. These changes are crucial for companies filing financial statements and disclosures under various AOC forms.


📌 Key Amendments Introduced

1️⃣ Rule 5 – Disclosure Requirements Updated

  • Amendments ensure alignment with Form AOC-1, relating to subsidiaries, associates, and joint ventures.

2️⃣ Rule 8 – Board’s Report Must Include:

  • Sexual Harassment Disclosures:

    • No. of complaints received & disposed of.

  • Maternity Benefit Act Compliance:

    • Mandatory compliance declaration to be included.

3️⃣ Rule 12 – Filing Financial Statements via e-Forms

  • Companies are now required to upload scanned signed financial statements in PDF (including consolidated ones) when submitting:

    • AOC-4

    • AOC-4 CFS

    • AOC-4 XBRL

    • AOC-4 NBFC (Ind AS)

    • AOC-4 CFS NBFC (Ind AS)

4️⃣ Annexure Updates – Complete Form Overhaul

New versions of the following forms are substituted:

  • 🔹 Form AOC-1 – Subsidiaries & Associates Reporting

  • 🔹 Form AOC-2 – Related Party Transactions

  • 🔹 Form AOC-4 – Financial Statement Filing

  • 🔹 AOC-4 CFS / NBFC / Ind AS Variants

  • 🔹 CSR-2 – Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosures


📑 Compliance Checklist for Companies

RequirementNew Obligation
Board’s ReportInclude details of sexual harassment complaints and maternity compliance
AOC FilingsUpload digitally signed PDF of financial statements
Form CSR-2Compulsory e-filing along with financial forms
Audit ReportsAttach Secretarial and CAG Audit comments if applicable

🛑 Consequences of Non-Compliance

Failure to comply with these rules may result in:

  • Penalties under Section 134, 137 of Companies Act

  • MCA portal rejection of form submissions

  • Legal scrutiny for missing declarations (e.g. maternity benefits)


📈 Why This Amendment is Important?

  • Digitization Push: Supports MCA21 V3’s digital compliance ecosystem

  • Transparency & ESG Compliance: Promotes better reporting on gender-based policies

  • Ease of Doing Business: Unified format ensures streamlined financial submissions


❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Are these rules applicable to private companies too?
✅ Yes, unless specifically exempted under the Companies Act, 2013.

Q2: Is digital signature mandatory?
✅ Yes, forms and attachments must be signed by authorized directors/professionals using DSC.

Q3: Is Form CSR-2 applicable to all companies?
❌ No, only those fulfilling CSR applicability criteria under Section 135.


📎 Download Official Notification

📥 Download PDF – MCA Notification dated 30.05.2025


📢 Final Words

The Companies (Accounts) Second Amendment Rules, 2025 is a significant leap towards improved digital governance, gender-sensitivity, and compliance transparency. All stakeholders – from CFOs to company secretaries – must align their internal processes before 14th July 2025.


🏷️ Tags:

#CompaniesAct2013 #MCAUpdate #CompanyLaw #FinancialStatements #AOCForms #CorporateCompliance #CSR2 #SexualHarassmentDisclosure #MaternityCompliance

MCA Notification 2025, Companies Amendment Rules, AOC-4 Form 2025, CSR-2 Form, Sexual Harassment Disclosure, Maternity Benefit Compliance, MCA Rules July 2025, Company Law India 2025, Board Report Compliance, e-filing MCA, Corporate Governance India


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