Reforming corporate distress resolution in India: A financial and legal analysis of the insolvency and bankruptcy code (IBC), 2016

The enactment of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016 marked a transformative milestone in India’s legal and financial framework for resolving corporate distress. Replacing the earlier fragmented regime, the IBC introduced time-bound mechanisms, empowered creditor control, and streamlined resolution processes through specialized tribunals and professional intermediaries. This paper evaluates the IBC’s real-world performance by analyzing more than 50 insolvency cases between 2017 and 2024 across diverse sectors. It measures resolution timelines, recovery rates, and post-resolution financial viability, while comparing India’s framework with international insolvency regimes such as the U.S. Chapter 11 and UK’s Administration model. Based on stakeholder performance and empirical insights, the study recommends policy reforms for enhancing systemic efficiency, judicial capacity, and economic impact.