Section 6(1) in The Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Rules, 2014
(1)Every individual -(a)who has been appointed as an independent director in a company, on the date of commencement of the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Fifth Amendment Rules, 2019, shall within a period of [five months] from such commencement; or(b)who intends to get appointed as an independent director in a company after such commencement, shall before such appointment,apply online to the institute for inclusion of his name in the data bank for a period of one year or five years or for his life-time, and from time to time take steps as specified in sub-rule (2), till he continues to hold the office of an independent director in any company:Provided that any individual, including an individual not having DIN, may voluntarily apply to the institute for inclusion of his name in the data bank.
