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Section 8 Company Registration in Delhi NCR

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Section 8 non-profit company registration services in Delhi NCR by Startup Advisory

In a Nutshell: How to Register a Section 8 Company in India

A Section 8 company is a non-profit company under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013, formed to promote objects like education, charity, science, art, sport, social welfare or the environment – with all income applied to those objects and no dividend to members. For a new company, incorporation runs through the integrated SPICe+ form, and since 2019 the Section 8 licence is issued along with the Certificate of Incorporation – a separate Form INC-12 is generally no longer needed. Startup Advisory handles the full setup 100% online, typically in 15–20 working days, plus 12A/80G and CSR-1 afterwards.

  • What it is: A non-profit company – the governance-grade NGO vehicle under a single national law.
  • How it's registered: SPICe+ on the MCA portal; licence issued with the COI (no separate INC-12 for new companies).
  • No dividend: Surplus is allowed but must be applied to the objects, never distributed to members.
  • Tax & CSR: 12A/80G for tax benefits and donor deductions; CSR-1 to receive corporate CSR funds.
  • Timeline: Typically 15–20 working days, fully online.
  • Provider: Startup Advisory, Saket, New Delhi – call 9311972982.

Reviewed by CA Neeraj Rohilla, FCA — Chartered Accountant, Startup Advisory, Saket, New Delhi. Last reviewed: June 2026.

Startup Advisory provides CA-led, 100% online Section 8 company registration in Delhi NCR and across India. A Section 8 company is the most credible legal structure for NGOs, foundations, social enterprises and CSR arms – it carries the governance and transparency of a company under the Companies Act, 2013, which is exactly why donors, grant agencies and corporate CSR funders trust it over a trust or society.

The trade-off is real and we say it plainly: a Section 8 company gives you the strongest credibility and pan-India recognition, but it also carries the heaviest compliance of the non-profit options. If your work will depend on institutional grants, foreign or corporate funding, or CSR money, that compliance is a feature, not a burden. If you are a small, local, volunteer-run initiative, a trust or society may fit better – and we will tell you so honestly before you commit.

How a Section 8 Company Is Registered in India

For a new Section 8 company the entire process runs through the integrated SPICe+ form on the MCA portal – the Section 8 licence is issued along with the Certificate of Incorporation:

Step What Happens
1. Digital Signatures (DSC) Class 3 DSC for each proposed director and subscriber, to sign MCA filings
2. Name reservation (SPICe+ Part A) Reserve a unique name with a suitable word – Foundation, Association, Council, Federation – and the main charitable object
3. MOA (INC-13) & AOA Draft the objects, the prohibition on dividend, and the governance structure – the most scrutinised part of the application
4. SPICe+ Part B + declarations File with INC-14 & INC-15 declarations, a 3-year income-and-expenditure projection, INC-9 and the AGILE-PRO-S form (PAN, TAN, GST, EPFO, ESIC, bank)
5. Licence + COI issued The Registrar issues the Section 8 licence together with the Certificate of Incorporation and CIN – no separate INC-12 for a new company since the 2019 rules
6. Post-incorporation INC-20A commencement within 180 days, plus 12A/80G, CSR-1 and NGO Darpan as applicable

Converting an existing entity? An existing company applying for a Section 8 licence files Form INC-12 with the Regional Director – we handle that route too.

Planning an NGO or CSR arm? Call 9311972982 – we'll map the right structure

Documents Required for Section 8 Company Registration

  • PAN & Aadhaar of all directors and subscribers

  • Passport-size photos and identity/address proof

  • Registered office proof – utility bill (plus rent agreement & NOC if rented)

  • Draft MOA (INC-13) & AOA stating the charitable objects

  • Three-year income-and-expenditure projection

  • Declarations in Form INC-14 (by a professional) & INC-15 (by subscribers)

Section 8 Company vs Trust vs Society

Feature Section 8 Company Trust Society
Governing Law Companies Act, 2013 Indian Trusts Act / state trust law Societies Registration Act, 1860
Registration Authority MCA (national) Sub-Registrar (state) Registrar of Societies (state)
Separate Legal Entity

Limited

Donor / CSR Credibility Highest Moderate Moderate
Pan-India Recognition

Varies by state Varies by state
Compliance Level Highest Lowest Medium

Not sure which non-profit structure fits? Book a Free Consultation

Why Founders Choose Startup Advisory

  • CA-Reviewed MOA & Objects – the drafting that decides whether your licence is granted or queried

  • End-to-End – incorporation plus 12A, 80G, CSR-1 and NGO Darpan, not just the COI

  • Honest Structure Advice – Section 8, trust or society, we recommend what actually fits your funding plan

  • Ongoing Compliance – AOC-4, MGT-7, ITR-7 and DIR-3 KYC handled, so your non-profit stays clean


Ready to Register Your Section 8 Company?

Call Now:- 9311972982 Email:- hello@startupadvisory.in
Or simply Get Free Consultation

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

A Section 8 company is a non-profit company incorporated under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 (which replaced Section 25 of the 1956 Act) to promote objects such as commerce, art, science, sports, education, research, social welfare, religion, charity or protection of the environment. It has a separate legal identity and limited liability like any company, but all its income and profits must be applied to its objects and it cannot pay any dividend to its members.

All three are non-profit vehicles, but a Section 8 company is registered with the MCA under a single national law (the Companies Act, 2013), giving it stronger governance, uniform pan-India recognition and higher credibility with donors, grant agencies and CSR funders. A Trust is registered under trust law (often state-specific) and a Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 with the state Registrar. Section 8 companies carry heavier compliance than trusts and societies, which is precisely why funders tend to trust them more.

For a new Section 8 company, incorporation is done through the integrated SPICe+ form on the MCA portal: reserve the name in SPICe+ Part A, then file SPICe+ Part B with the MOA in Form INC-13, the AOA, the INC-14 and INC-15 declarations, a three-year income-and-expenditure projection and the AGILE-PRO-S form. Since the Companies (Incorporation) Sixth Amendment Rules, 2019, the Section 8 licence is issued as part of SPICe+ itself, so a separate Form INC-12 is generally no longer filed for a new company. INC-12 to the Regional Director still applies where an existing company seeks a Section 8 licence.

A Section 8 company set up as a private company needs a minimum of two directors and two members, while one set up as a public company needs at least three directors and seven members. At least one director must be resident in India. There is no cap that forces a small non-profit to become a public company.

No. There is no prescribed minimum paid-up capital for a Section 8 company. You can start with a nominal capital and bring in funds through donations, grants and contributions as the organisation grows.

No. A Section 8 company is exempt from using the words "Limited" or "Private Limited" in its name. Instead it typically uses a word reflecting its purpose such as Foundation, Association, Council, Federation, Forum or Institute.

A Section 8 company can generate a surplus from its activities and can pay reasonable salaries to staff and remuneration for services. What it cannot do is distribute that surplus as dividend or profit to its members – all income must be applied towards promoting its objects. This is the core condition of Section 8(1)(b) and (c).

Incorporation alone does not grant income-tax exemption. To exempt its income, a Section 8 company must obtain registration under Section 12A/12AB of the Income-tax Act, and to let donors claim a deduction it should obtain 80G registration – both applied for separately on the income tax portal. We handle these applications after incorporation.

Yes. To receive and implement corporate CSR funds, a Section 8 company must register on the MCA portal in Form CSR-1 and obtain a CSR Registration Number. Corporates prefer Section 8 companies as implementing agencies because of their governance and statutory transparency. We assist with CSR-1 registration.

NGO Darpan is the registration platform of NITI Aayog. A Section 8 company that intends to apply for central or state government grants and schemes should register on NGO Darpan to obtain a unique ID, which many government departments require before releasing funds. It is free to register.

A Section 8 company must get its accounts audited, file Form AOC-4 (financial statements) and Form MGT-7 (annual return) with the Registrar, and file its income tax return in Form ITR-7. Directors also file DIR-3 KYC. Where 12A/80G registrations are held, related conditions and periodic renewals must be maintained. Compliance is heavier than for a trust or society, so a proper calendar matters – see our ROC compliance calendar.

Yes. An existing entity can move to the Section 8 structure, and an existing company seeking a Section 8 licence files Form INC-12 with the Regional Director along with the required declarations and projections. We assess whether a fresh Section 8 incorporation or a conversion is the cleaner route for your situation.

Section 8 Company Registration Across Delhi NCR

Startup Advisory is based in Saket, South Delhi, and helps founders incorporate Section 8 companies across the National Capital Region – and, because the process is fully online, anywhere in India. We regularly help clients in:

  • Section 8 / NGO registration in Delhi & South Delhi (Saket, Hauz Khas, Nehru Place, Connaught Place)

  • Section 8 company registration in Gurugram (Gurgaon)

  • Section 8 company registration in Noida & Greater Noida

  • Section 8 company registration in Ghaziabad

  • Section 8 company registration in Faridabad

Setting up an NGO or foundation anywhere in Delhi NCR? Talk to our experts on 9311972982

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