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Timeline for NGO Registration

The timeline for NGO registration in India generally depends upon the structure of the NGO chosen:

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Day 10-14

NGO registration under Section 8 of the Indian Companies Act

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Day 18-20

NGO registration under the Indian Trust Act

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Day 22-25

NGO registration under the Societies Registration Act

A Comprehensive Look at NGO Registration in India

People aiming to switch to a social work pattern can fulfil their urges through NGO registration in India. Setting up an NGO, which stands for Non-Government Organization, can be simplified through the cost-effective services offered by Corpfilings.

NGO registration in India requires detailed knowledge about what an NGO is, how it works, registration requirements, and the NGO registration process that must be carried out in India.

NGOs in India are non-profit government organizations that work as catalysts. They usually aim to promote society's welfare by addressing educational, healthcare, environmental, religious, human rights, and other social issues prevalent in and corrupting India's social environment.

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Classification for NGO Registration in India

The social workers aiming at the NGO registration are free to choose on the basis of several classifications as provided below:

Classification based on the level of orientation is further classified into charitable orientation, service orientation, participatory orientation, and empowering orientation;

Classification based on the level of operation is further classified into community-based organization, city-wide organization, national, and international organization;

Classification based on the structure of the NGO, which is further classified into charitable Trust, society, and company under section 8;

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What are the Benefits of NGO Registration in India?

NGOs are normally known as state-independent groups that voluntarily aim to solve the issues and agendas of society. Generally, the NGOs in India can run even without carrying forward the registration process. But, we prefer you to register your NGO to enjoy the following benefits:

  • Organize the small social groups into a voluntary, non-profit, or non-governmental organization;
  • Ensures eligibility to access funds, grants, and donations from the Indian government;
  • Ensures government recognition and credibility of the NGO through Darpan registration;
  • To get exemption from income tax under section 80G of the Income Tax Act of 1961;
  • Guarantees more legal and organizational exposure;
  • To hold and enjoy the legal status of a separate legal entity;
  • To get legal protection from the law;
  • No restriction on the right to transfer the ownership of movable and immovable assets;
  • Ensures the protection from personal liability;
  • To enjoy exemption from the stamp duty tax;
  • Ensure the right of name reservation;
  • Ensures international or foreign funding;
  • Ensures international or foreign funding;

What are the Methods for NGO Registration in India?

Choosing the right method for NGO registration in India totally depends upon the type of NGO, where the social workers can secure their rights for NGO registration under reserved methods. The Indian law doesn’t guarantee any single Act or law for securing the NGO registration process; hence, it provides a detailed structure for NGO registration under the following three different legal methods providing for:

Trust under the Trust Registration Act of 1882

A trust is a form of charitable non-profit organization that is allowed to be registered as an NGO under the Trust Registration Act of 1882. A trust is mainly organized to benefit certain people for a charitable cause. The sub-registrar office of the Revenue Department under the Indian Trust Act of 1882 is organized to govern the process of NGO registration through the formation of Trust in India. Many states in India, including Maharashtra and Gujarat, have their own Trust laws for governing the affairs of the NGO.

Society under the Societies Registration Act of 1860

Society refers to an association or group that combines to deliberately work and promote a common cause. Section 20 of the Societies Registration Act of India aims at the following purposes for which a society must be formed as an NGO.

Gaining charitable assistance, promoting literature, science, arts, useful knowledge, funds for military orphans, public museums, etc., are the key roles a society must register for.

Section 8 Company under the Companies Act of 2013

Section 8 of the Companies Act of 2013 aims to establish a limited liability company for the social welfare of society. The working pattern of the Section 8 Company is somehow similar to the conventional businesses, but the goal of advancing public welfare is a point of difference between the two. Even the profits accrued during the operation of the non-profit business are used in another mission and hence are not distributed among the shareholders.

NGO Darpan Registration under the FCRA Act of 2010

The NGO Darpan portal, an initiative of the National Informatics Centre and NITI Aayog, allows the registration of charitable associations, non-governmental organizations, and other voluntary organizations. The NGO Darpan registration in India is designed to promote strong collaboration between NGOs and governmental and international foreign contributors under the FCRA, which stands for the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act of 2010.

Legal Requirements for NGO Registration in India

The checklist required to be maintained by social workers in India is divided into legal requirements for the NGO registration into a Trust, Society, and Company under Section 8 of the Companies Act of 2013. The following are the legal requirements for registering an NGO as a Company under section 8 of the Companies Act, as a trust under the Trust Registration Act, and as a Society under the Societies Registration Act of India:

  • At least 2 directors are required to register Section 8 company as a private limited company;
  • At least 3 directors are required to register Section 8 company as a public limited company;
  • At least 1 director of the Section 8 Company must be a resident of India;
  • Must have a registered office address in India;
  • The aim of the NGO must target the charitable or social purposes;
  • The shareholders must not be granted shares in the profits of the registered company under section 8.
  • Must possess a legal intent to either create a trust or society or a company under section 8 of the Companies Act;
  • There must be at least 2 members who are residents of India required for the registration of an NGO as a trust;
  • There must be at least 9 members who are residents in India required for the registration of an NGO as a society;
  • There must be a President, Secretary, and Treasurer required for the registration of an NGO as a Society.

Documents Required for the NGO Registration Process

The process of NGO registration in India is governed by various laws entailing different documentary requirements under the provisions of the Indian Trust Act of 1882, the Societies Registration Act of 1866, and the Companies Act of 2013.

Documents Required for NGO Registration as a Trust

The Indian Trust Act of 1882 allows the registration of an NGO as a trust along with the following documents:

  • The complete details of the trustee;
  • The electricity or water bill for verifying the registered office address;
  • The electricity or water bill for verifying the registered office address;
  • The facsimile of the Certificate of no objection from the property owner;
  • The facsimile of the Aadhar and PAN card of the trustees.

Documents Required for NGO Registration as a Society

The Societies Registration Act of 1866 requests the list of following documents for NGO registration in India in the form of society:

  • The facsimile of the cover letter requesting the NGO registration in India;
  • The list of the members of the society;
  • The list of the documents providing for the rules and regulations of the society;
  • The facsimile of the affidavit born by the resident or Secretary of the Society;
  • The signed consent letters from all the registered members of the society;
  • The facsimile containing the proof of the registered office address;
  • The facsimile of the Certificate of non-objection from the landlord;
  • The facsimile of the identity proof of all the society members;
  • 2 relevant copies of the Memorandum of Association and the By-Laws.

Documents for NGO Registration as a Company under Section 8 Companies Act

The social workers aiming for NGO registration in India must mandatorily fulfil the following documentation requirements as prescribed under the Companies Act of 2013:

  • The facsimile of the rent agreement or the utility bills of the registered office;
  • The Digital Signature Certificate and the Director Identification Number;
  • The facsimile of the Certificate of no objection from the owner’s office;
  • The facsimile of the identification documents of all the directors of the company;
  • The facsimile of the incorporation documents of the company;
  • The facsimile of the passports of the NRIs;
  • The facsimile of the bank statement.

NGO Registration Process in India

Most social entrepreneurs widely search for NGO registration in India and the governing laws that secure the NGO registration process. The NGO registration process runs similarly for a profitable and non-profit business in India. The list of documents required for processing the NGO registration in India contains the following generalized documents:

Collecting Initial Documents

Gather the necessary documents and get them verified for the incorporation process.

Determine the Structure of the NGO

In the first step, we ensure that the structure or the type of NGO registration required in India is depicted. The determination of the structure of the NGO has to be done based on the legal requirements (including the object and mission) of the organization.

The NGOs in India mainly aim at offering services (like constructing schools, medical treatment facilities, etc.); resolving social issues (like raising public awareness, equal rights, clean air, safe drinking water, etc.); working for human rights (like advocating for the fair and equal treatment, etc.); and research to better understand the causal difficulties of the nation. In simple, understanding the social cause is necessary for determining the structure of the NGO.

Issuance of DIN and Digital Signature Certificate

The next step mandatorily requires issuing the Director Identification Number for the potential directors of the company or the Digital Signature Certificate in case an NGO registration in India is carried out in the form of Section 8 Company. The issuance of the DIN can be carried through the successful filing of Form DIR-3, and the DSC Certificate either in the Class 2 or Class 3 category.

Ensure Filing Online NGO Registration Forms

In the next step, we at Corpfilings ensure that the necessary online NGO registration forms are filed, such as Form DIR-12 for the appointment of directors, Form DIR-2 for obtaining the directors' consent, Form DIR-3 for applying to the Registrar of the Company for the DIN, Form INC-14 for the declaration from the practising Chartered Accountant, and Form INC-16 for ensuring the license for the incorporation of an NGO.

Apply for Name Reservation

In the next step, we prefer the directors, trustees, or the members of the Section 8 Company, Trust, or Society respectively to choose and decide upon a name for the registration of an NGO in India. The name of the NGO can only be reserved in case it fulfils the conditions providing for a novel, unique name that should not resemble or portray the government of India or the already trademarked names.

Prepare and File NGO Incorporation Documents

Corpfilings, in the next step of NGO registration in India, ensures the preparation and filing of the Incorporation documents in the form of MOA through Form INC-33, AOA through Form INC-34, By-Laws, and the Trust Deed. The Memorandum of Association and the Articles of Association must be drafted to contain information regarding the goals and policies of the Section 8 Company. The Trust Deed, which is a memorandum for the Trust, must contain information about the object of the Trust, trustees, registered office address, general clauses, etc., and the By-Laws containing rules and regulations for the registration of Societies.

Payment of NGO Registration Fees

The next step ensures the payment of the NGO registration fees, which depends upon the structure of the NGO chosen under the provisions of the Indian Companies Act, the Indian Trust Act, or the Societies Registration Act. The NGO registration fees, which generally include administrative expenses, legal fees, and expenditures, are paid in addition to the documents submitted, varying from state to state. The NGO registration fees are mainly governed by certain factors providing for the size of the NGO, the work pattern of the NGO, the kind of work carried out in the NGO, and the regulatory environment of the NGO.

File Registration Application

The NGO registration in India mandatorily provides for filing the registration application form to complete the entire procedure of registering either a Trust, Society, or Section 8 Company. The procedure of applying can be done either through the online portal or the respective authorities such as the Registrar of the Societies (for the NGO registration as a society), the Registrar of the Trust (for the NGO registration as a trust), and the Registrar of the Companies (for the NGO registration as a section 8 company).

Receive NGO Registration Certificate

The respective registration authority issues a certificate of registration after successfully reviewing and approving the duly submitted and signed application form. The Certificate of registration issued for the formation of a Society, Trust, or Company acts as Conclusive proof. The issuance of the Certificate of Registration for the Section 8 Company also allows the issuance of a license under Form INC-12.

Post-Registration Mandates for NGO Registration in India

The social workers must also comply with certain NGO registration requirements in India. The legal mandates for completing the successful registration process in India include the following:

  • Apply for PAN of the organization;
  • Open a Bank Account to receive funds for the NGO;
  • Raise domestic funds in collaboration with the other business structures;
  • Raise foreign funds for the NGO after the successful NGO Darpan Registration under the FCRA Act of 2010;
  • Formulate the governing body or a management committee for operative decision-making in the organization.

How Corpfilings Simplifies NGO Registration?

We at Corpfilings guarantee end-to-end business solutions through the registration of all Indian and global companies. Corpfilings has a team of the largest business professionals with expertise in the industry and the laws governing company registration and regulation in India. The services ensured by Corpfilings maintain a client rate retention of up to 99.4%. Corpfilings is dedicated to registering thousands of NGOs in India and fulfilling philanthropic dreams.

  • Conducts a thorough consultation for deciding the structure of the NGO;
  • 24/7 availability of the business experts;
  • We guarantee the best NGO registration fees;
  • We provide one-stop corporate solutions;
  • Ensures simplified NGO registration process;
  • We possess a dedicated support staff;
  • Ensures drafting of relevant incorporation documents for the NGO registration in India;
  • Provides services for GST registration in India;
  • Ensures filing of relevant forms for NGO registration in India;
  • Provide assistance for the grant of EPF Certificate.

Frequently Asked Questions

The process of NGO registration in India depends upon the choice of the structure of the NGO. The generalized NGO registration process provides for the issuance of DIN and Digital Signature Certificate, filing of online NGO registration forms, name reservation, preparation of the NGO incorporation documents, the payment of the NGO registration fees, and filing of the registration application to receive an NGO registration Certificate.

The cost of NGO registration in India basically varies according to the structure of the NGO. The registration cost also includes various other charges like administrative, legal, and other professional costs mandatory for successful compliance with the NGO registration guidelines of the Indian government.

A minimum of 2 members are required for successful NGO registration in India which may vary according to the structure of the NGO.

No, one person cannot form an NGO. Hence, at least 2 members are mandatorily required for NGO registration in India.

Any person, or body of individuals, institution, etc. who are of legal age, competent to contract, and dedicated towards social work are eligible for NGO registration in India.

The company under section 8 of the Companies Act, a Trust under the Indian Trust Act, and the Societies under the Societies Registration Act are the three different types of NGOs registered in India.

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