Section 8 Company Registration Online in India : How to Register as NGO

At First Startup, we manage your section 8 company registration end-to-end – documentation, MCA filings, and incorporation support—so you can focus on the mission.

• Fast, guided section 8 company registration process with checklist-based execution
• Expert help drafting MOA/AOA aligned to charitable objectives for section 8 company registration
• MCA-ready documentation support (DSC, DIN, SPICe+, INC-12) for section 8 company registration
• Practical compliance guidance after section 8 company registration in India (returns, audits, governance)
• Transparent guidance on timelines and Section 8 company registration fees

Before starting section 8 company registration, it helps to understand how NGOs can be legally formed in India. NGOs are commonly registered under one of the following routes:

• Trust under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 (typically managed by trustees under a trust deed)
• Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (typically governed by state-level registrar provisions)
• Company under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 (regulated by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs)

If your priority is a structured corporate-style framework for governance and compliance, section 8 company registration in India is often the preferred option—especially when you expect institutional donors, CSR partnerships, or multi-state operations.

The core purpose of section 8 company registration is to incorporate an organisation for non-profit objectives, where profits (if any) are reinvested into the mission and not distributed as dividends.

Common objective areas that can be promoted through section 8 company registration in India include:

• Commerce
• Art
• Science
• Sports
• Education
• Research
• Social welfare
• Religion
• Charity
• Protection of environment
• Any other similar objective aligned to public benefit

In practical terms, during section 8 company registration, the MOA/AOA and declarations must clearly show that the company is formed for charitable/non-profit purposes and that income is applied only towards its objects.

Choosing section 8 company registration can offer several structural and credibility advantages for an NGO:

No Minimum Capital Requirement

There is no mandatory minimum paid-up capital for section 8 company registration. This makes it easier to start lean and raise funds later via donations, subscriptions, or grants.

Tax and Donor-Related Advantages

While incorporation itself is one step, many Section 8 entities later pursue registrations/approvals under the Income-tax framework (commonly discussed in the ecosystem as 12A/12AB and 80G) to strengthen donor confidence. During section 8 company registration, we help you plan the structure so the next steps are smoother.

No/Low Stamp Duty Impact

Section 8 entities are often discussed as having stamp-duty advantages for incorporation documents compared to certain other company types, depending on state rules and current MCA/Stamp interpretations.

Separate Legal Identity

After section 8 company registration, the company becomes a separate legal entity distinct from its members—enabling continuity, contracts, and asset holding.

Limited Liability

Members' liability is limited, which helps with governance confidence and institutional relationships.

Higher Credibility

Because it is governed under the Companies Act framework, section 8 company registration in India is widely seen as a more robust NGO structure—particularly for CSR and institutional funding scenarios.

To proceed with section 8 company registration, typical eligibility and condition expectations include:

• Individuals (and certain entities such as HUFs in many contexts) may be eligible to promote the entity, depending on the structure and role.
• At least two persons are generally involved (as directors/members) for a private limited Section 8, and at least three directors for a public Section 8 setup.
• At least one director should be a resident in India.
• The objects must be charitable/non-profit and fall within accepted categories (education, social welfare, research, charity, environment, etc.).
• Founders/directors/members should not operate with a profit-distribution intent; the entity should reinvest income into its objectives.
• The constitutional documents must reflect the non-profit character required for section 8 company registration.

If you're unsure whether your planned activities qualify, we recommend validating your objects and draft MOA before you spend time on filings—this reduces rejection risk during section 8 company registration online.

Here are the key requirements you should plan for before filing your section 8 company registration application.

Directors for Section 8 Company Registration

• Private limited Section 8: minimum 2 directors (commonly used for most NGO incorporations)
• Public limited Section 8: minimum 3 directors

Member limits also differ (private has a cap; public typically does not). Choosing the right structure early avoids rework in section 8 company registration documentation and forms.

Capital Requirement and Name for Section 8 Company Registration

There is generally no minimum paid-up capital requirement for section 8 company registration. Also, Section 8 companies may be permitted to operate without "Limited/Private Limited" in the name (subject to approval and licensing conditions), which aligns better with the NGO identity.

Charitable Objects for Section 8 Company Registration

Your MOA/AOA must clearly describe:

• The charitable/non-profit objects
• How funds/income will be applied
• Restrictions on distribution of profits
• Governance structure and member/director roles

Well-written objects are not just legal text—they directly influence approval confidence during section 8 company registration in India.

Management for Section 8 Company Registration

A Section 8 company is managed by a Board of Directors as per MOA/AOA. This is a key difference from many trusts (managed by trustees) and several societies (committee-driven under society rules).

Regulation Under Various Acts for Section 8 Company Registration Online in India

After section 8 company registration, the company must generally:

• Maintain books of account
• File returns with the Registrar of Companies (ROC)
• Conduct board meetings and maintain minutes
• Follow applicable Income-tax and GST provisions based on activities
• Seek approval for certain constitutional changes (for example, changes in MOA/AOA may require specific permissions depending on the clause and licensing conditions)

Planning compliance early reduces long-term operational risk.

Obtain DSC (Digital Signature Certificate) for Section 8 Company Registration Online

For section 8 company registration online, filings are electronic and require digital signatures for directors and authorized signatories. DSC is typically the first execution step because without DSC, you can't smoothly proceed with MCA e-forms.

If you want predictable timelines, start DSC collection early—identity/address proof mismatches are a common delay point in section 8 company registration.

Apply for Director Identification Number (DIN) for Section 8 Company Registration

Directors must have a DIN. DIN application is commonly handled through the MCA workflow (often integrated within incorporation filings or via DIR-3 depending on the filing route and case specifics).

For section 8 company registration in India, we typically prepare a director document pack in advance so DIN/DIR-related steps don't pause the incorporation timeline.

Below is a practical list of the commonly-used MCA forms and documents involved in section 8 company registration.

Here's what each critical form typically does in the section 8 company registration journey.

Form INC-12

INC-12 is used to apply for the Section 8 licence. Along with INC-12, you typically submit draft constitutional documents and declarations.

Attachments commonly prepared for INC-12 in a section 8 company registration online flow include:

• MOA in prescribed format (INC-13)
• Draft AOA
• Declarations and estimates (such as projected income/expenditure)
• Lists of promoters/directors and supporting identity/address proofs

This stage is where many applications succeed or fail based on clarity of objects and proper attachments—so we treat INC-12 preparation as the "core" of section 8 company registration quality control.

Form SPICe+

SPICe+ is the main incorporation application. It is used to reserve the name (as applicable) and proceed with incorporation filings and linked registrations.

For section 8 company registration online, common attachments include:

• Signed MOA/AOA
• Subscriber and director declarations
• Proofs of identity/address for subscribers and directors
• Photographs (where required)
• Registered office proofs (ownership documents or rent/lease + NOC, as applicable)

Name selection is also a practical hurdle—avoid names that are too close to existing companies or contain restricted words unless you can justify them.

Form INC-22

INC-22 is used to intimate the registered office address within the required timeline after incorporation (where applicable). Office proof quality matters: incorrect utility bills, incomplete NOCs, or mismatched addresses commonly create resubmissions.

Form DIR-12

DIR-12 relates to appointment of directors and related director updates. Proper board composition and accurate director details are critical to keep the company compliant immediately after section 8 company registration.

A simplified, practical flow for section 8 company registration often looks like this:

1. Obtain DSC for proposed directors and authorized signatories
2. Apply for DIN (if not already available / as required in the filing route)
3. Prepare INC-12 with MOA/AOA drafts, declarations, and financial estimates; submit to ROC/MCA for licence processing
4. Receive Section 8 licence (commonly issued in the relevant licence form upon approval)
5. File SPICe+ with incorporation attachments after licence approval
6. Receive Certificate of Incorporation and CIN upon successful processing

Because this is typically handled as section 8 company registration online, document readiness and consistency (names, addresses, spellings, proof validity) directly determine timeline reliability.

If your team wants cost clarity up front, we provide a breakup that distinguishes government charges from professional fees and explains Section 8 company registration fees based on your specific case (members, authorized capital structure if any, document drafting scope, and add-ons).

To localize expectations: for most applicants, section 8 company registration in India is smoother when the charitable objects are narrowly defined, the name is not sensitive/restricted, and the office proofs are complete.

Your total cost and duration depend on document readiness, name availability, complexity of objects, and how quickly promoters/directors share correct proofs.

To help you plan, we provide a transparent estimate that clearly explains:

• Government components and filing charges
• Professional drafting and filing scope
• Optional add-ons (post-incorporation compliance setup, documentation templates, etc.)
• What affects Section 8 company registration fees in your specific case

If you want to begin right away, we can also execute section 8 company registration online with a structured checklist and milestone tracking so you always know what's pending and what's completed.

Ready to incorporate your NGO the right way? First Startup can handle your section 8 company registration end-to-end. Contact us to begin your section 8 company registration and receive a clear, itemized estimate of timelines and Section 8 company registration fees aligned to your case.