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ICA Chapter 10: Agency

Plain-language guide

What this part covers

Chapter X defines principal and agent, creation and extent of authority, sub-agents, ratification, termination, the agent's duties and accounts, and how agency affects third parties. It also covers undisclosed principals and unauthorized acts.

Key provisions

  1. Section 182. "Agent" and "Principal" defined
  2. Section 183. Who may employ agent
  3. Section 184. Who may be an agent
  4. Section 185. Consideration not necessary
  5. Section 186. Agent's authority may be expressed or implied
  6. Section 187. Definitions of express and implied authority
  7. Section 188. Extent of agent's authority
  8. Section 189. Agent's authority in an emergency
  9. Section 190. When agent cannot delegate
  10. Section 191. "Sub-agent" defined
  11. Section 192. Representation of principal by sub-agent properly appointed
  12. Section 193. Agent's responsibility for sub-agent appointed without authority
  13. Section 194. Relation between principal and person duly appointed by agent to act in business of agency
  14. Section 195. Agent's duty in naming such person
  15. Section 196. Right of person as to acts done for him without his authority: effect of ratification
  16. Section 197. Ratification may be expressed or implied
  17. Section 198. Knowledge requisite for valid ratification
  18. Section 199. Effect of ratifying unauthorized act forming part of transaction
  19. Section 200. Ratification of unauthorized act cannot injure third person
  20. Section 201. Termination of agency
  21. Section 202. Termination of agency, where agent has an interest in subject-matter
  22. Section 203. When principal may revoke agent's authority
  23. Section 204. Revocation where authority has been partly exercised
  24. Section 205. Compensation for revocation by principal, or renunciation by agent
  25. Section 206. Notice of revocation or renunciation
  26. Section 207. Revocation and renunciation may be expressed or implied
  27. Section 208. When termination of agent's authority takes effect as to agent, and as to third persons
  28. Section 209. Agent's duty on termination of agency by principal's death or insanity
  29. Section 210. Termination of sub-agent's authority
  30. Section 211. Agent's duty in conducting principal's business
  31. Section 212. Skill and diligence required from agent
  32. Section 213. Agent's accounts
  33. Section 214. Agent's duty to communicate with principal
  34. Section 215. Right of principal when agent deals, on his own account, in business of agency without principal's consent
  35. Section 216. Principal's right to benefit gained by agent dealing on his own account in business of agency
  36. Section 217. Agent's right of retainer out of sums received on principal's account
  37. Section 218. Agent's duty to pay sums received for principal
  38. Section 219. When agent's remuneration becomes due
  39. Section 220. Agent not entitled to remuneration for business misconducted
  40. Section 221. Agent's lien on principal's property
  41. Section 222. Agent to be indemnified against consequences of lawful acts
  42. Section 223. Agent to be indemnified against consequences of acts done in good faith
  43. Section 224. Non-liability of employer of agent to do a criminal act
  44. Section 225. Compensation to agent for for injury caused by principal's neglect
  45. Section 226. Enforcement and consequences of agent's contracts
  46. Section 227. Principal how far bound, when agent exceeds authority
  47. Section 228. Principal not bound when excess of agent's authority is not separable
  48. Section 229. Consequences of notice given to agent
  49. Section 230. Agent cannot personally enforce, nor be bound by, contracts on behalf of principal
  50. Section 231. Rights of parties to a contract made by agent not disclosed
  51. Section 232. Performance of contract with agent supposed to be principal
  52. Section 233. Right of person dealing with agent personally liable
  53. Section 234. Consequence of inducing agent or principal to act on belief that principal or agent will be held exclusively liable
  54. Section 235. Liability of pretended agent
  55. Section 236. Person falsely contracting as agent, not entitled to performance
  56. Section 237. Liability of principal inducing belief that agent's unauthorised acts were authorised
  57. Section 238. Effect, on agreement, of misrepresentation or fraud by agent

Study check

Check the law of agency

Choose an answer, then check it. Scoring stays in your browser and every explanation links to the statutory text.

  1. 1.What does section 185 say about consideration for creating an agency?
  2. 2.What is the general rule in section 190 about delegating an agent's acts to another person?

Official reference: India Code, Legislative Department — checked: 29 September 2026.