Section2
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016

Application

In force Act 31 of 2016 As on 14 Oct 2026

Act 31 of 2016 Ministry Corporate Affairs Enacted 28 May 2016 Cited by 1 provision Instruments 34

Section 2 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 deals with application. The provisions of this Code shall apply to-- (a) any company incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013) or under any previous company law; The Act was enacted on 28 May 2016.

The provisions of this Code shall apply to--

(a) any company incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013) or under any previous company law;

(b) any other company governed by any special Act for the time being in force, except in so far as the said provisions are inconsistent with the provisions of such special Act;

(c) any Limited Liability Partnership incorporated under the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 (6 of 2009);

(d) such other body incorporated under any law for the time being in force, as the Central Government may, by notification, specify in this behalf; 1***

2[(e) personal guarantors to corporate debtors;

(f) partnership firms and proprietorship firms; and

(g) individuals, other than persons referred to in clause (e),]

Section 2, The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (Act 31 of 2016).

Cross-references

Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.

Related judgements & precedents

These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.

  1. Mahendra Kumar Rajpal vs Ministry of Corporate Affairs

    Supreme Court of India 21 May 2021 Binding (Supreme Court) Reportable

    Court's Decision & Legal Precedent

    The Central Government, acting under Section 1(3) of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, has the power to bring into force different provisions of the Code at different times for different categories of persons. The 2018 Amendment Act, by creating personal guarantors as a distinct category in Section 2(e) and mandating the NCLT as the adjudicating authority in Section 60, provided sufficient legislative guidance for the Central Government to selectively apply the Code to personal guarantors to corporate debtors. The notification dated 15.11.2019 is a valid exercise of conditional legislation, not an instance of excessive delegation or impermissible legislative exercise. Personal guarantors, though individuals, are intrinsically connected to corporate debtors and warrant unified adjudication before the NCLT. The approval of a corporate resolution plan does not discharge the personal guarantor's liability, which remains enforceable as an independent contractual obligation under the Indian Contract Act, 1872.

    On this section: Definitions of personal guarantors, partnership firms, and individuals; whether personal guarantors are distinct category

    Read the full order on eCourts India

  2. Sanjay Singal vs Union of India

    Supreme Court of India 21 May 2021 Binding (SC) Reportable

    Court's Decision & Legal Precedent

    The impugned notification dated 15.11.2019 bringing into force provisions of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 only in so far as they relate to personal guarantors to corporate debtors is a valid exercise of power conferred by Section 1(3) of the Code. The Central Government acted within its constitutional powers in selectively applying Code provisions to personal guarantors as a distinct category of individuals, as this classification was created by Parliament through the 2018 Amendment Act which amended Section 2(e) and Section 60 to provide unified adjudication of corporate debtors and personal guarantors before the NCLT. The notification does not constitute impermissible delegation of legislative power or excessive modification of statutory provisions, but rather operationalizes the Parliamentary intent to treat personal guarantors differently from other individuals due to their intrinsic connection with corporate debtors. Approval of a resolution plan relating to a corporate debtor does not operate to discharge the liabilities of personal guarantors to such corporate debtors, as the guarantor's liability is co-extensive with the principal debtor and continues notwithstanding involuntary discharge of the principal debtor by operation of law.

    On this section: Definition of personal guarantors to corporate debtors as a distinct category of debtors to whom the Code applies

    Read the full order on eCourts India

  3. Lalit Kumar Jain vs Union of India

    Supreme Court of India 21 May 2021 Binding (SC) Reportable

    Court's Decision & Legal Precedent

    The Central Government, in exercise of powers conferred by Section 1(3) of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, has authority to bring into force different provisions of the Code at different times for different categories of persons, including personal guarantors to corporate debtors. The 2018 Amendment Act, by creating distinct classification of personal guarantors under Section 2(e) and amending Section 60, provided sufficient parliamentary guidance for such selective application. The impugned notification, which brings into force provisions of Part III of the Code only in relation to personal guarantors to corporate debtors, is valid exercise of power conferred by Section 1(3) and does not amount to excessive delegation or modification of Code provisions. Furthermore, approval of a resolution plan for a corporate debtor does not discharge the personal guarantee liabilities of guarantors, as such liabilities arise from independent contracts of guarantee and are not discharged by involuntary discharge of principal debtor by operation of law.

    On this section: Definition of personal guarantors to corporate debtors as distinct category of debtors to whom Code applies; amended in 2018

    Read the full order on eCourts India

The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.

Made under this section, and citing it

9 instruments state that it was made under this provision — the power to make it comes from here, so a change to any of them changes what this section requires in practice. Newest first.

Another 25 instruments name this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.

All subordinate legislation

Questions about Section 2

What have the courts held on Section 2 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code?

Mahendra Kumar Rajpal vs Ministry of Corporate Affairs (21 May 2021) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Definitions of personal guarantors, partnership firms, and individuals; whether personal guarantors are distinct category. Another 2 judgments on this section are set out below, all of them from the Supreme Court.

How do I find court cases under Section 2 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code?

In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2, section 2 Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, section 2 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 3 reported judgments on this section are set out on this page, beginning with Mahendra Kumar Rajpal vs Ministry of Corporate Affairs (21 May 2021).

What should I read with Section 2 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, and has it changed?

1 other provision in this corpus refers back to it. The rules and notifications made under it are where it actually bites, and there are 9: most recently Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Bankruptcy Process for Personal Guarantors to Corporate Debtors) (Amendment) Regulations, 2024 (2024), then Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Insolvency Resolution Process for Personal Guarantors to Corporate Debtors) (Amendment) Regulations, 2024 (2024), and 7 more.

When was Section 2 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code enacted?

Section 2 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, cited as Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2, was enacted on 28 May 2016 as Act 31 of 2016. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.

Other sections of this Act

Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 14 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.