Manufacturing is the most regulation-dense sector in India — a single plant must simultaneously satisfy company law, the Factories Act 1948, the four new Labour Codes, environmental clearances under the Water Act 1974 and Air Act 1981, indirect tax under GST, customs and foreign-trade rules under the DGFT / Customs Act 1962, product-quality regimes under BIS and Legal Metrology, and a web of incentive schemes such as the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) and state industrial subsidies. Getting any one of these wrong can stall production, trigger penalties, or forfeit a tax holiday.
Our manufacturing advisory practice gives promoters, plant heads, and CFOs a single team for the entire lifecycle — greenfield factory setup and licensing, labour and payroll compliance under the new codes, pollution-control consents (Consent to Establish / Consent to Operate), GST structuring, e-invoicing and input-credit optimisation, Section 115BAB concessional-rate planning, PLI and subsidy claims, EXIM / IEC and customs advisory, cost records and cost audit, transfer pricing for MNC plants, and M&A or restructuring. Whether you are commissioning a new unit, expanding across states, transitioning to the Labour Codes, or responding to a pollution board notice, we make compliance a competitive advantage rather than a cost.
Factories Act
Factory Licensing
4 Codes
Labour Law Compliance
Sec 115BAB
15% Tax Regime
Laws & Frameworks We Work Under
Factories Act 1948
Code on Wages 2019
OSH Code 2020
Social Security Code 2020
IR Code 2020
EPF & ESI
Water & Air Acts
Hazardous Waste Rules 2016
EIA 2006
GST & e-Invoicing
Sec 115BAB
BIS / QCO
Legal Metrology 2009
Customs & IEC (DGFT)
FAQs on Manufacturing Compliance in India
What licences are required to set up a factory in India?
A new factory typically needs: entity registration, factory building / layout plan approval, a factory licence under the Factories Act 1948 from the state inspectorate, fire NOC, boiler registration (if applicable), Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate from the State Pollution Control Board, GST and IEC registration, and labour registrations such as EPF, ESI, and Professional Tax. Industry-specific licences (BIS, drug, food, explosives) apply depending on the product.
What are the four new Labour Codes and how do they affect manufacturers?
India is consolidating 29 central labour laws into four codes — the Code on Wages 2019, the Industrial Relations Code 2020, the Code on Social Security 2020, and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code 2020. The biggest impact is the new statutory definition of 'wages', which generally requires basic pay to be at least 50% of total remuneration, increasing PF, gratuity, and leave-encashment costs. Manufacturers should re-structure salary, registers, and HR policy before the codes are fully notified.
What environmental consents does a factory need?
Under the Water Act 1974 and Air Act 1981, a factory needs Consent to Establish (CTE) before construction and Consent to Operate (CTO) before production, issued by the State Pollution Control Board. The category — Red, Orange, Green, or White — determines fees and validity. Additional approvals include hazardous-waste authorisation, EPR registration for plastic / e-waste / batteries, and, for larger projects, environment clearance under the EIA Notification 2006.
Is the 15% corporate tax rate under Section 115BAB available to new manufacturers?
Section 115BAB offers an optional 15% concessional tax rate (plus surcharge and cess) to eligible new domestic manufacturing companies that do not claim specified incentives. However, the benefit is tied to commencement-of-manufacturing timelines set in the section, so availability depends on when the company was set up and began production. We assess eligibility against the current statutory cut-off and model it against the normal regime before recommending an election.
What is the PLI scheme and who qualifies?
The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes provide cash incentives, usually as a percentage of incremental sales of manufactured goods, across sectors such as electronics, pharma, auto components, textiles, and white goods. Eligibility depends on minimum investment and incremental-production thresholds, with applications open only during scheme windows. We map your sector to the right scheme, file the application, track thresholds, and prepare the certified claims required at disbursement.
When is a cost audit mandatory for a manufacturing company?
Under Section 148 of the Companies Act 2013 and the Cost Records and Audit Rules, companies in specified regulated and non-regulated sectors must maintain cost records once turnover crosses prescribed thresholds, and undergo a cost audit at higher thresholds. Applicability depends on the product / industry and overall and product-wise turnover. We assess applicability, maintain records, and file Form CRA-2 (appointment) and CRA-4 (cost-audit report).
How is GST input tax credit handled in manufacturing?
Manufacturers can claim input tax credit (ITC) on GST paid on raw materials, input services, and capital goods under Section 16, provided the supplier has reported the invoice (reflected in GSTR-2B) and the goods / services are used in business. Credits blocked under Section 17(5) cannot be claimed, and an inverted duty structure (inputs taxed higher than output) may allow a refund. We optimise the credit chain, reconcile GSTR-2B, and file inverted-duty and export refunds.
Compliant Plant. Optimised Tax. Faster Approvals.
Partner with our manufacturing experts for factory setup, Labour Code compliance, pollution consents, GST and Section 115BAB structuring, PLI claims, and EXIM advisory for FY 2026–27.
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