The IR (Central) Rules, 2026 prescribe sixteen statutory forms — from Memorandum of Settlement (Form I) to the aggrieved-employee complaint (Form XVI). Below: detailed walkthroughs of Forms I, II, III, IV — the everyday-use ones. Forms V–XVI are launching progressively over the next several weeks.
The official record when an employer and workers reach a settlement — whether during conciliation or otherwise.
Form I is the statutory format for memorialising any written settlement between employer and workers under the IR Code, 2020. Two situations:
| # | Field | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Names of parties | Employer's name & address; representatives of workmen with capacity (President / Secretary / etc.) |
| 2 | Representation of workers | Whether through a Trade Union; if so, name & registration number; if not, mode of authorisation |
| 3 | Nature of dispute | Short statement of the dispute — what was contested |
| 4 | Terms of settlement | Each term written out clearly; dated commencement and duration |
| 5 | Signatures | Of authorised signatories on each side; with names & designations in block letters |
| 6 | Witnesses | Where required by the conciliation officer |
| 7 | Date & place | When and where the settlement was signed |
When conciliation has failed and you want the matter adjudicated. Filed by the aggrieved party within 90 days.
If the conciliation officer's efforts fail and the dispute remains unresolved, the concerned party (employer or worker/union) can take it to the Industrial Tribunal by filing Form II. Time limit: 90 days from the date of the conciliation officer's report.
| # | Field | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Names & addresses of parties | Applicant + opposite party (with full corporate / union details) |
| 2 | Particulars of dispute | Brief statement; date when the dispute arose |
| 3 | History of conciliation | Reference number & date of conciliation officer's report; reasons settlement failed |
| 4 | Reliefs sought | Specific orders / declarations being asked from the Tribunal |
| 5 | Documents relied upon | List with brief description; copies attached |
| 6 | Affidavit of verification | Signed by applicant or authorised representative; sworn before notary |
| 7 | Declaration on limitation | Confirming filing within 90 days |
Maintained electronically by the certifying officer — not by the employer. Useful to know what's being recorded about your establishment.
This is unique among the sixteen forms — Form III is maintained by the Certifying Officer, not filled by an employer or worker. It is the central register of all certified, deemed-certified, or adopted Model Standing Orders for every industrial establishment in the central sphere.
Why HR teams should care: it's the official record of your establishment's standing-orders status. If a dispute arises about whether your standing orders are validly in force, this register is the source of truth. You can request a copy of any entry on payment of ₹2 per page (electronically).
| # | Field | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| a | Unique number | Allocated to each standing order — the citation reference for that establishment |
| b | Establishment name | As registered under the OSH Code or other applicable law |
| c | Nature of establishment | Mining / manufacturing / services — determines which Model Standing Orders apply |
| d | Date of certification | Or date of deemed certification or date of adoption of Model SO |
| e | Areas of operation | Geographic / functional scope of the establishment |
| f | Other relevant details | Such other details as the certifying officer considers helpful for retrieval and database creation |
Used by employers when changing any condition of service listed in the Third Schedule of the IR Code — wages, hours, leave, allowances, classification, and similar.
Whenever an employer wants to change any condition of service that falls within the Third Schedule of the IR Code — typical examples: wage rates and components, hours of work and rest intervals, leave with wages, classification of workers — they must give prior notice in Form IV to affected workers. Failure to give Form IV notice can render the change challengeable.
| # | Field | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Establishment details | Name, address, registration number, principal employer details |
| 2 | Existing condition | The condition of service currently applicable, in tabular form |
| 3 | Proposed change | The new condition, in the same tabular form (so workers can compare) |
| 4 | Reasons for change | Brief, factual rationale — operational, economic, regulatory |
| 5 | Workers affected | Categories / departments / numbers |
| 6 | Date from which proposed | Effective date — must be after expiry of statutory notice period |
| 7 | Signature & date | By the employer or authorised signatory |
We're publishing the remaining forms one or two at a time, starting with the most-requested. Subscribe to the Friday Digest to be notified the moment each goes live.
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