Section 149 — Company to have Board of Directors

(1) Every company shall have a Board of Directors
consisting of individuals as directors and shall have—
(a) a minimum number of three directors in the case of a public company, two directors in the case
of a private company, and one director in the case of a One Person Company; and
(b) a maximum of fifteen directors:
Provided that a company may appoint more than fifteen directors after passing a special resolution:
Provided further that such class or classe s of companies as may be prescribed, shall have at least one
woman director.
(2) Every company existing on or before the date of commencement of this Act shall within one year
from such commencement comply with the requirements of the provisions of sub-section (1).
1[(3) Every company shall have at least one director who stays in India for a total period of not less than
one hundred and eighty-two days during the financial year:
Provided that in case of a newly incorporated company the requirement under th is sub-section shall
apply proportionately at the end of the financial year in which it is incorporated];
(4) Every listed public company shall have at least one -third of the total number of directors as
independent directors and the Central Government ma y prescribe the minimum number of independent
directors in case of any class or classes of public companies.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub -section, any fraction contained in such one -third number
shall be rounded off as one.
(5) Every company existing on or before the date of commencement of this Act shall, within one year
from such commencement or from the date of notification of the rules in this regard as may be applicable,
comply with the requirements of the provisions of sub-section (4).
(6) An independent director in relation to a company, means a director other than managing director or
a whole-time director or a nominee director,—
(a) who, in the opinion of the Board, is a person of integrity and possesses relevant expertise and
experience;
(b) (i) who is or was not a promoter of the company or its holding, subsidiary or associate company;
(ii) who is not related to promoters or directors in the company, its holding, subsidiary or associate
company;

1. Subs. by Act 1 of 2018, s. 46, for sub-section (3) (w.e.f. 7-5-2018).

(c) who has or had no 1[pecuniary relationship, other than remuneration as such director or having
transaction not exceeding ten per cent. of his total income or such amount as may be prescribed,] with
the company, its holding, subsidiary or associate company, or their promoters, or directors, during the
two immediately preceding financial years or during the current financial year;
2[(d) none of whose relatives—
(i) is holding any security of or interest in the company, its holding, subsidiary or associate
company during the two immediately preceding financial years or during the current financial year:
Provided that the relative may hold security or interest in the company of face value not exceeding
fifty lakh rupees or two per cent. of the paid -up capital of the company, its holding, subsidia ry or
associate company or such higher sum as may be prescribed;
(ii) is indebted to the company, its holding, subsidiary or associate company or their promoters,
or directors, in excess of such amount as may be prescribed during the two immediately prece ding
financial years or during the current financial year;
(iii) has given a guarantee or provided any security in connection with the indebtedness of any
third person to the company, its holding, subsidiary or associate company or their promoters, or
directors of such holding company, for such amount as may be prescribed during the two immediately
preceding financial years or during the current financial year; or
(iv) has any other pecuniary transaction or relationship with the company, or its subsidiary, or its
holding or associate company amounting to two per cent. or more of its gross turnover or total income
singly or in combination with the transactions referred to in sub-clause (i), (ii) or (iii);]
(e) who, neither himself nor any of his relatives—
(i) holds or has held the position of a key managerial personnel or is or has been employee of
the company or its holding, subsidiary or associate company in any of the three financial years
immediately preceding the financial year in which he is proposed to be appointed;
3[Provided that in case of a relative who is an employee, the restriction under this clause shall
not apply for his employment during preceding three financial years.]
(ii) is or has been an employee or proprietor or a partner, in any of th e three financial years
immediately preceding the financial year in which he is proposed to be appointed, of—
(A) a firm of auditors or company secretaries in practice or cost auditors of the company or
its holding, subsidiary or associate company; or
(B) any legal or a consulting firm that has or had any transaction with the company, its
holding, subsidiary or associate company amounting to ten per cent. or more of the gross
turnover of such firm;
(iii) holds together with his relatives two per cent. or mo re of the total voting power of the
company; or
(iv) is a Chief Executive or director, by whatever name called, of any nonprofit organisation
that receives twenty-five per cent. or more of its receipts from the company, any of its promoters,
directors or its holding, subsidiary or associate company or that holds two per cent. or more of the
total voting power of the company; or
(f) who possesses such other qualifications as may be prescribed.
(7) Every independent director shall at the first meeting of the Board in which he participates as a
director and thereafter at the first meeting of the Board in every financial year or whenever there is any
change in the circumstances which may affect his status as an independent director, give a declaration that
he meets the criteria of independence as provided in sub-section (6).

1. Subs. by Act 1 of 2018, s. 46, for “pecuniary relationship” (w.e.f. 7-5-2018).
2. Subs. by s. 46, ibid., for clause (d) (w.e.f. 7-5-2018).
3. The proviso ins. by s. 46, ibid., (w.e.f. 7-5-2018).

Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, “nominee director” means a director nominated by any
financial institution in pursuance of the provisions of any law for the time being in force , or of any agreement,
or appointed by any Government, or any other person to represent its interests.
(8) The company and independent directors shall abide by the provisions specified in Schedule IV.
(9) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Act, but subject to the provisions of
sections 197 and 198, an independent director shall not be entitled to any stock option and may receive
remuneration by way of fee provided under sub -section ( 5) of section 197, reimbursement of expenses for
participation in the Board and other meetings and profit related commission as may be approved by the members.
1[Provided that if a company has no profits or its profits are inadequate, an independent director may receive
remuneration, exclusive of an y fees payable under sub -section ( 5) of section 197, in accordance with the
provisions of Schedule V.]
(10) Subject to the provisions of section 152, an independent director shall hold office for a term up to five
consecutive years on the Board of a compan y, but shall be eligible for reappointment on passing of a special
resolution by the company and disclosure of such appointment in the Board's report.
(11) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (10), no independent director shall hold office fo r
more than two consecutive terms, but such independent director shall be eligible for appointment after the
expiration of three years of ceasing to become an independent director:
Provided that an independent director shall not, during the said period of three years, be appointed in or be
associated with the company in any other capacity, either directly or indirectly.
Explanation.—For the purposes of sub-sections (10) and (11), any tenure of an independent director on the
date of commencement of this Act shall not be counted as a term under those sub-sections.
(12) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act,—
(i) an independent director;
(ii) a non-executive director not being promoter or key managerial personnel,
shall be held liable, only in respect of such acts of omission or commission by a company which had occurred
with his knowledge, attributable through Board processes, and with his consent or connivance or where he had
not acted diligently.
(13) The provisions of sub-sections (6) and (7) of section 152 in respect of retirement of directors by rotation