Ministry of Corporate Affairs enlists various measures taken to fight Covid-19 pandemic

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs(MCA) through press release dated 20th July, 2021, has announced
various measures taken by the ministry to fight Covid-19 pandemic. The relief measures includes the following:

1. The companies have been allowed to hold Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs) through Video Conferencing (VC) or other audio-visual means (OAVM) complemented with e-Voting facility/simplified voting through registered emails till 30th June, 2021. Considering the second wave of COVID-19, the Ministry has extended the aforesaid time limit to 31st December, 2021.
2. The companies have been allowed to conduct their Annual General Meetings (AGMs) by Video Conferencing (VC) or other audio-visual means (OAVM) whose AGMs were due to be held in the year 2020 or become due in the year 2021 to conduct their AGMs on or before 31.12.2021. Owing to the difficulties in sending physical copies of the financial statements, the companies are also allowed to send the financial statements, along with Board’s reports, Auditor’s reports and other documents required to be attached therewith, only through email.
3. Quality of disclosures strengthened through amendments made in the formats of financial statements, Companies (Accounts) Rules, Companies (Audit and Auditor’s) Rules and the Companies (Auditor’s Report) Order, 2020. The Companies (Auditor’s Report) Order, 2020 has now been made applicable from the audit of financial statements for the financial year 2021-22 to ease the compliance requirement by auditors and the companies.