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Abstract Smriti Kashyap, Subekcha Prasad There is a growing emphasis on the role of independent directors in discussions on corporate governance in India. The institution of independent directors (IDs) has evolved from being a policy recommendation in the Kumar Mangalam Birla Committee Report (1999) to a mandatory institution under the Companies Act, 2013 and the SEBI LODR Regulations. But persistent structural, legal, and cultural barriers limit their impact. This article examines the development of independent directorship in India from a doctrinal and evaluative perspective. It includes important committee reports, legislative developments, and regulatory changes such as the 2021 and 2025 amendments to SEBI (LODR) Regulations. It further considers fundamental issues like tokenism in the boardroom, information asymmetry and legal liability in terms of Section 149(12). Recent case laws such as Tata-Mistry, IL&FS, Dish TV language is used to drive home the point on GIMP failures in actual practice. Comparative perspectives from the UK, USA and OECD benchmarks help to position India in a global perspective. The paper concludes by envisioning routes for cultural, legal, and institutional change.