In a notable development, the Government of Maharashtra and Haryana have exempted establishments from registration related requirements under the respective shops and establishments legislations (S&E Acts) after the enactment of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (OSH Code).
Through a series of notifications dated 8 May 2026, the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India (Central Government) has brought into force the central rules under the labour codes (Rules), namely: (i) Code on Wages 2019 (Wages Code); (ii) Code on Social Security 2020 (SS Code); (iii) Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code 2020 (OSH Code); and (iv) Industrial Relations Code 2020 (IR Code).
India approaches 2026 amid a climate of sustained global uncertainty. Geopolitical fragmentation, armed conflict, sanctions escalation, and strategic decoupling are reshaping capital flows, supply chains, and regulatory priorities across jurisdictions. For businesses and investors, volatility is no longer episodic, it is structural. In this environment, India’s policy posture has shifted decisively toward resilience, strategic autonomy, and controlled openness, seeking to balance growth ambitions with national security, systemic stability, and regulatory discipline.
As we enter 2025, India Inc finds itself at the cusp of an era marked by transformation and disruption, where established traditions are being reimagined in response to new challenges and opportunities. The convergence of time-tested legal practices with modern innovations sets the stage for a transformative year.
