India

Trilegal | English | AcademicThink | Jan. 16, 2026 | UndeterminedBizdev-Partnering

Trilegal advised Mynavi Corporation on its investment in Virohan Private Limited as part of Virohan’s ongoing Series B funding round. Mynavi acted as the lead investor, with participation from Virohan’s existing backers including Blume Ventures, Rebright Partners, Bharat Inclusive Technologies, and several angel investors. The Trilegal Corporate Team was led by Partner Abhishek Dubey, supported by Senior Associate Sarthak Sood and Associate Sagnik Sarkar.

Virohan is a healthcare edtech company partnering with higher education institutions to offer undergraduate programs in allied healthcare, nursing, and healthcare management. Its academic partners include universities such as UPES, BBD University, CMR University, Assam Don Bosco University, MIT University Shillong, and GH Raisoni University. Virohan also collaborates with employers like Medanta, Dr. Lal PathLabs, Healthians, and Lenskart to align curricula with industry needs and establish direct hiring pipelines.

Trilegal is a leading full-service Indian law firm with over 25 years of experience and more than 1,200 professionals across cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Gurugram. The firm is recognized for its expertise and client-centric approach, having received numerous accolades such as Best Overall Law Firm by India Business Law Journal in 2025 and M&A Firm of the Year by IFLR Asia-Pacific in 2024.

Hindu Business Line | English | News | Jan. 16, 2026 | Regulation

Telecom service providers represented by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), including Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Vodafone-Idea, have sought intervention from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) regarding connectivity issues at the Navi Mumbai International Airport Limited (NMIAL). COAI alleges that NMIAL has denied Right of Way (RoW) permissions needed to install 4G/5G infrastructure, resulting in poor connectivity and fostering a monopolistic environment with high fees for shared infrastructure.

The telcos are requesting TRAI to examine NMIAL’s conduct and implement a cost-based pricing framework with price ceilings for in-building telecom infrastructure where a single entity monopolizes access, such as airports and metro stations. They stress the importance of TRAI's involvement to prevent similar structural issues from spreading to other public infrastructure, which could harm competition and consumer experience.

COAI also urges TRAI to ensure public entities grant RoW permissions to licensed TSPs on a non-discriminatory basis or that shared infrastructure is provided on regulated, transparent, and cost-oriented terms. They highlight misleading public statements made by NMIAL about network coverage and seek guidance to prevent misattribution of blame to TSPs when RoW denial is the underlying issue. The letter stresses that exclusive RoW arrangements or monopolistic control over telecom infrastructure contradict the Telecommunications Act, 2023, and can lead to rent-seeking behaviors, delays in network deployment, and consumer harm.

Obhan & Associates | English | AcademicThink | Jan. 16, 2026 | Regulation

On December 31, 2025, India’s Ministry of Labour and Employment released draft rules for implementing four major labour codes: the Code on Wages, Industrial Relations Code, Social Security Code, and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code. These draft rules provide procedural clarity on administering key provisions related to wages, industrial relations, social security, and workplace safety, and the Ministry has invited stakeholder feedback before finalization.

The Draft Code on Wages Rules aim to replace 18 existing central labour laws related to wage payments, bonuses, and minimum wages. Key provisions include methods for calculating minimum wages based on basic family needs, detailed wage payment and deduction procedures, mandatory display of notices about fines, and requirements for issuing wage slips and maintaining records.

The Draft Industrial Relations Code Rules replace two existing rules and emphasize strengthening grievance redressal, collective bargaining, and dispute resolution mechanisms. Industrial establishments with 20 or more workers must form grievance committees, unions have defined negotiation rights lasting three years, and employers must notify workers of service condition changes. The rules promote transparency and formalize arbitration procedures for industrial disputes.

The Draft Social Security Code Rules replace 12 central labour rules and expand social security coverage to gig, platform, and unorganized workers. Eligibility criteria for gig workers under social security schemes are clarified, including registration requirements via Aadhaar or self-declaration. A National Social Security Board will oversee welfare efforts, and establishments must register on the Shram Suvidha Portal to ensure compliance.

The Draft Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code Rules consolidate 13 rules to strengthen workplace safety. Employers must conduct annual health checkups for employees over 40, issue detailed appointment letters, observe a 48-hour maximum workweek, and provide travel allowances and a helpline for interstate migrant workers. Employees are required to report unsafe conditions through specified channels to enhance workplace safety.

While these draft rules represent a significant reform step, their effective implementation depends on corresponding state-level rules, as labour falls under the Concurrent List of the Indian Constitution. Since several states, including West Bengal, have not issued their draft rules, enforcement is expected to be phased and uneven across different regions.