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Public Limited Company Registration in India

Public limited company registration in India uses the same SPICe+ filing on the MCA portal as a private company, with a larger minimum team: at least 7 members and 3 directors. A public company is simply a company that is not a private company, so it does not have to be listed. We handle the filing and explain what extra governance it brings.

What a public limited company is

Under the Companies Act, 2013 a public company is a company that is not a private company. It has none of the private-company restrictions: its shares can be freely transferred, it can have any number of members above the minimum, and, if it follows the prospectus rules, it can invite the public to subscribe to its securities.

What you need to form a public limited company

At least 7 members: A public company needs a minimum of 7 members. There is no upper limit.

  • At least 7 members
  • At least 3 directors
  • Name ending in Limited
  • No minimum capital
  • A registered office in India
  • Foreign shareholders allowed

Public company compared with a private company

The choice usually turns on how many investors you expect and whether you may raise money from the public.

  • Public limited company
  • Private limited company

What a public company must do beyond a private one

Which of these apply depends on your size and whether you list. We confirm the ones that apply to you before you decide.

  • Independent directors
  • A woman director
  • Key managerial personnel
  • Secretarial audit and an annual general meeting

What the government charges, and what drives it

The charges follow the same schedule as for a private company. We do not print a single figure because the amounts depend on your authorised capital and your state, and we confirm each one before we file.

  • Name reservation (SPICe+ Part A): MCA
  • MCA filing fee for SPICe+ Part B: MCA
  • Stamp duty on the MOA and AOA: State government
  • PAN and TAN: Income Tax Department through MCA
  • Digital Signature Certificate: Certifying authority

Documents required

Seven subscribers must sign the MOA and AOA, so collect these for each of them and for each director.

  • PAN card
  • Identity proof
  • Address proof
  • Passport-size photograph, email and mobile number
  • Digital Signature Certificate

How it works step by step

The official sequence on the MCA portal, with where StampMitra helps.

Timeline, validity and the first filings

We have no official approval time to quote, so we do not promise one. These are the dates that run from events.

  • Reserved name: 20 days
  • First auditor: Within 30 days of incorporation
  • INC-20A: Within 180 days of incorporation
  • Financial statements (AOC-4): Within 30 days of the AGM
  • Annual return (MGT-7): Within 60 days of the AGM
  • Director KYC (DIR-3 KYC): Every third financial year, by 30 June

Your first deadlines after incorporation

Enter the incorporation date on your certificate.

What we check before we file

These are the usual causes of a returned or delayed application, based on common filing practice rather than an official MCA list.

  • The form shows at least 7 subscribers and at least 3 directors
  • At least one director is resident in India under the Companies Act
  • The name ends with Limited and is not too similar to an existing company or registered trademark
  • Name and date of birth are identical on PAN, Aadhaar and the form
  • Foreign documents are notarised and apostilled or consularised as required
  • Rented premises have an owner's no-objection letter, and the address proof is dated within 2 months

What StampMitra does for you

StampMitra is a filing assistance platform. We are not the government and not a law firm.

  • Name check and application
  • Digital Signature Certificates
  • MOA and AOA drafting
  • Incorporation filing
  • PAN, TAN and optional registrations
  • Certificate delivery

How it works

  1. Get Digital Signature Certificates Each director obtains a Class 3 DSC to sign on the MCA portal.
  2. Reserve the company name Propose up to two names ending in Limited in SPICe+ Part A.
  3. File SPICe+ Part B Submit at least 3 directors, at least 7 subscribers, authorised capital, registered office, e-MOA and e-AOA.
  4. Pay fees and sign Pay the MCA fee and state stamp duty and sign the form with DSC.
  5. Receive the Certificate of Incorporation The Registrar issues the certificate with the CIN, with PAN and TAN allotted along with it.
  6. Complete the first filings Hold the first board meeting, appoint the first auditor and file INC-20A.

Frequently asked questions

How many members does a public company need?

At least 7. There is no upper limit on the number of members.

How many directors does a public company need?

At least 3. At least one of them must be resident in India under the Companies Act.

Does a public limited company have to be listed?

No. A public company is a company that is not a private company. It can remain unlisted. Listing is a separate process under SEBI rules.

Can it raise money from the public?

Yes, but only by complying with the prospectus provisions of the Companies Act and, for a listed offer, the SEBI rules. Incorporation alone does not authorise a public offer.

Is a company secretary mandatory?

It depends on the company's paid-up capital and whether it is listed. We confirm whether you must appoint one when we plan the board.

What is the minimum capital?

There is no minimum paid-up capital. Your authorised capital affects some government charges and the stamp duty.

Does the resident director have to be an Indian citizen?

No. The requirement is that at least one director is resident in India under the Act, not that they are a citizen.

Can a private company become a public company?

Yes, by a special resolution and a filing with the Registrar. This page covers forming a public company from the start.

What does public company registration cost?

Our fee is ₹29,899 + GST for the standard route, excluding government fees. The two special-case routes cost ₹35,000 + GST, excluding government fees: one with foreign participants or a land-border party, and one where the size-based governance rules already apply.

Can foreigners hold shares in a public company?

Yes, subject to FEMA and the sector rules that apply to the investment.

How is the company name reserved?

Through SPICe+ Part A when you incorporate a new company. A reserved name is valid for 20 days. The RUN service is for changing the name of an existing company.