Section 210: Registration of Information Utility
Section 210 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 governs the statutory process for registration of an information utility with the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India. It covers the application, grant and renewal of registration and the grounds and safeguards applicable to suspension or cancellation.
Text of Section 210
(1) Every application for registration shall be made to the Board in such form and manner, containing such particulars, and accompanied by such fee, as may be specified by regulations:
Provided that every application received by the Board shall be acknowledged within seven days of its receipt.
(2) On receipt of the application under sub-section (1), the Board may, on being satisfied that the application conforms to all requirements specified under sub-section (1), grant a certificate of registration to the applicant or else, reject, by order, such application.
(3) The Board may issue a certificate of registration to the applicant in such form and manner and subject to such terms and conditions as may be specified.
(4) The Board may renew the certificate of registration from time to time in such manner and on payment of such fee as may be specified by regulations.
(5) The Board may, by order, suspend or cancel the certificate of registration granted to an information utility on any of the following grounds, namely:-
(a) that it has obtained registration by making a false statement or misrepresentation or any other unlawful means;
(b) that it has failed to comply with the requirements of the regulations made by the Board;
(c) that it has contravened any of the provisions of the Act or the rules or the regulations made thereunder;
(d) on any other ground as may be specified by regulations:
Provided that no order shall be made under this sub-section unless the information utility concerned has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard:
Provided further that no such order shall be passed by any member except whole-time members of the Board.
Meaning of Information Utility
Section 3(21) of the Code defines an "information utility" as a person registered with the Board as an information utility under Section 210. Section 209 complements this provision by requiring an information utility to carry on business under the Code only under and in accordance with a certificate of registration issued by the Board.
Application and Registration
An applicant must apply to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India in the form and manner prescribed by the applicable regulations, provide the required particulars and pay the prescribed fee. Section 210 expressly requires the Board to acknowledge receipt of every application within seven days.
After examining the application, the Board may grant a certificate where the statutory and regulatory requirements are satisfied. If the requirements are not met, the Board may reject the application by order. A certificate may be issued subject to the terms and conditions specified under the regulatory framework.
Renewal of Registration
Section 210(4) authorises the Board to renew a certificate of registration from time to time in the manner and on payment of the fee specified by regulations. Registration therefore operates together with the continuing conditions and compliance requirements prescribed under the Code and the Information Utilities Regulations.
Suspension or Cancellation of Registration
Under Section 210(5), IBBI may suspend or cancel the certificate where registration was obtained through a false statement, misrepresentation or other unlawful means; where the information utility fails to comply with Board regulations; where it contravenes the Act, rules or regulations; or on another ground specified by regulations.
The provision also contains procedural safeguards. The information utility must be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard before an order under Section 210(5) is made, and such an order can be passed only by a whole-time member of the Board.
Current Information Utilities Regulations
The detailed registration and regulatory framework is contained in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Information Utilities) Regulations, 2017. The official IBBI legal framework lists the consolidated regulations as amended up to 2 June 2026. IBBI also notified the Information Utilities Amendment Regulations, 2026 and issued updated formats under the regulations in June 2026.
Official Legal Resources
For current statutory text, regulations, amendments and circulars, consult the official IBBI legal framework. The official material should be checked for any amendment or notification issued after the date this page was updated.