By S&S Co. Advocates & Solicitors · Published 28 September 2026 · Informational content, not legal advice: see our disclaimer
Admission of the Petition. The Trigger Point
The Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) formally begins on the date the Adjudicating Authority (the National Company Law Tribunal) admits a petition filed under Section 7 (by a financial creditor), Section 9 (by an operational creditor), or Section 10 (by the corporate debtor itself). This admission date is the reference point from which every subsequent timeline under the IBC is calculated. It is not the date the petition is filed, nor the date of the underlying default.
On admission, a moratorium under Section 14 comes into effect, an interim resolution professional is appointed, and the process of inviting, verifying and admitting claims from creditors begins. This initial claims-verification phase runs in parallel with the constitution of the Committee of Creditors (CoC) and is foundational to everything that follows.
The 180-Day Initial Period and the 90-Day Extension
The IBC prescribes an initial period of 180 days from the date of admission for completion of the CIRP: covering claims verification, constitution of the CoC, invitation and evaluation of resolution plans, and approval of a plan by the requisite majority of the CoC. Where more time is genuinely required, the Adjudicating Authority may, on an application made by a resolution professional based on a CoC decision (backed by the requisite voting share), extend this period by up to 90 days.
This extension is not automatic. It requires a reasoned application demonstrating that the extension is genuinely necessary, and the Adjudicating Authority retains discretion to grant a shorter extension or none at all, depending on the specific circumstances and how the process has proceeded to that point.
The 330-Day Outer Limit
Taking the initial period and the permissible extension together, the CIRP is subject to an overall outer limit of 330 days, which importantly includes not only the resolution-process time itself but also the time consumed in any legal proceedings connected with the CIRP: for instance, litigation over a claim, a resolution plan challenge, or other disputes that arise during the process. This 330-day limit was introduced specifically to prevent litigation from being used as a mechanism to indefinitely extend the resolution timeline beyond what the statute contemplates.
Courts have recognised that the 330-day limit is directory rather than absolutely inflexible in truly exceptional circumstances. Where delay is attributable to the resolution process itself rather than any party's conduct, limited additional time may be excluded from the computation. This is treated as a narrow exception, applied cautiously, and not a routine basis for extending an already-delayed process.
What Happens If the Timeline Is Not Met
Where the CIRP timeline runs its full course, including any extension and any exceptional exclusion of time, without approval of a resolution plan, the Adjudicating Authority is empowered to order liquidation of the corporate debtor under the provisions governing liquidation, subject to the specific process, safeguards, and preferences (including any last-minute settlement options) the IBC and applicable regulations provide for at that stage. This makes the resolution timeline a genuinely consequential deadline, not merely a procedural guideline, and is one of the reasons the IBC framework places such emphasis on time-bound claims verification, CoC decision-making, and plan evaluation from the earliest stages of the process.
Practical Implications for Stakeholders
For a resolution professional and the CoC, the timeline places a premium on early, efficient claims verification and prompt engagement with prospective resolution applicants, since delay in these early stages consumes time that cannot later be recovered without a formal extension application. For a prospective resolution applicant, understanding where a particular CIRP stands within its overall timeline is important context for assessing how much real time remains to negotiate and finalise a viable plan. For creditors, the timeline shows that participation in CoC decision-making, including decisions on extensions, has direct consequences for how much time is realistically available to maximise recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the outer time limit for completing CIRP?
330 days from admission, including any extension of time and time taken in related legal proceedings, subject to limited exceptions recognised by courts in exceptional circumstances.
How long does the initial CIRP period last before any extension?
180 days from admission, extendable by up to 90 days by the Adjudicating Authority on application by the CoC, subject to the overall 330-day limit.
What happens if no resolution plan is approved within the timeline?
The Adjudicating Authority may order liquidation of the corporate debtor, subject to the process and safeguards prescribed under the IBC.
Can the 330-day outer limit ever be exceeded?
Courts have recognised narrow, fact-specific circumstances for excluding time from the computation, applied cautiously and not as a routine extension.
References & Further Reading
This article references the following statutory provisions. It is educational content, not advice on any specific CIRP.
- Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, Sections 7, 9, 10, 12 and 14: admission, moratorium and CIRP timelines.
- See our IBC & Insolvency practice area and recent Legal News on claims verification for further reading.