Firms auditing the accounts of public-interest entities such as listed or large unlisted companies could be debarred from providing non-audit services to them. Government sources said they were considering this move, which would improve corporate governance and address conflicts of interest that arose when the same firm provided audit and non-audit services to a company.

       This will, however, require a change in the Companies Act. The corporate affairs ministry could push for this change in the next round of amendments to company law, according to a senior official. “While ...