Society Registration
A society suits membership-based non-profits — associations, clubs, educational and welfare bodies. We draft your memorandum and rules, register under the Societies Registration Act in your state, and set you up for 12A, 80G and Darpan.
Starts at
₹7,999
Government fees, department fees, inspection requirements, professional fees, renewal fees, penalties and state/local authority charges may vary based on business type, location, turnover, employee count, licence category and official requirements.
Timeline
Often 2–4 weeks
Documents
Members, MOA & rules
Membership-based NGO
MOA + rules drafted
Registrar of Societies
Expert-reviewed
Pricing
Society registration
State Registrar of Societies fees are statutory and shown separately. Pricing covers drafting the MOA/rules and registration support.
Society Registration
Membership NGO
+ GST + state fee
- MOA & rules drafting
- Registrar filing
- PAN application
- Expert review
Society + NGO Setup
Ready to operate
Bundle
- Society registration
- 12A & 80G
- NGO Darpan
- Compliance guidance
Prices are professional fees and indicative. Government fees, stamp duty, DSC, PAN/TAN, state charges and third-party costs are extra and may change. A final engagement summary separates each component before payment.
Overview
What is Society Registration?
A society is a membership-based association of persons formed for a charitable, literary, scientific, educational or similar purpose, registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (and its state adaptations). It's well suited to bodies that are run by and accountable to members — associations, clubs, educational and welfare organisations.
Registration involves a minimum number of members (often seven, with members from different states for an all-India society), a Memorandum of Association stating the objects, and rules & regulations for governance, filed with the state Registrar of Societies. A governing body (president, secretary, treasurer, etc.) runs the society.
We draft the MOA and rules, register the society with the Registrar in your state, obtain the PAN, and set you up for 12A, 80G and NGO Darpan.
Is it for you?
Who needs it — and who doesn't
Recommended if
- Membership-based non-profits and associations
- Educational, cultural, sports and welfare bodies
- Groups wanting member-run governance
- NGOs preferring a society over a trust/Section 8
May not be needed if
- For-profit ventures (use a company/LLP)
- Single-founder charities better suited to a trust (we advise)
Benefits
Why it's worth doing right
Member-run structure
A society fits bodies that want democratic, member-based governance with a governing council.
Recognised non-profit
Society registration is a well-established NGO form accepted by donors, authorities and funders.
Function-ready setup
We take you beyond registration to PAN, 12A, 80G and Darpan so the society can operate.
Eligibility
Eligibility & key conditions
- You have the minimum required members
- You have charitable/educational/similar objects
- Members can provide identity/address proofs
Documents
Documents required
What we need
- ID and address proof of all members
- Photographs of members
- Proposed society name and objects
- Memorandum and rules content (we draft)
- Registered-office address proof and NOC
- Covering/affidavit documents as the state requires
Process
A clear path from start to filed
Official filing
How the State Registrar of Societies (and Income Tax/NGO Darpan portals) flow works
A society is registered with the state Registrar of Societies by filing the Memorandum of Association, rules and member details with the state fee; it then obtains a PAN and pursues 12A/80G on the income-tax portal and a Darpan ID on the NITI Aayog portal.
We draft, file and follow up through the official state and central portals. We never claim a private API or guaranteed grant — registration rests with the Registrar and the respective authorities.
Costs
Fees & cost breakdown
| Cost component | Indicative amount |
|---|---|
| Professional feeDrafting and registration support | From ₹7,999 |
| State Registrar feeStatutory; shown separately | By state |
| 12A/80G/DarpanQuoted as a bundle | Separate |
Deliverables
What you receive on completion
After this filing
What you need to stay compliant next
Get 12A & 80G
For exemption and donor benefits, the society should obtain 12A and 80G — we handle these next.
Annual filings
Societies have annual general meetings, governing-body filings and (in many states) annual returns; we can support them.
Avoid delays
Common mistakes & reasons for rejection
Common mistakes
- Too few or ineligible members
- Vague MOA objects affecting 12A/80G
- Choosing a society when a trust/Section 8 fits better
- Missing state annual filings
AI-powered assistance
AI does the heavy lifting. Experts make the call.
AI assists with checks, drafting and explanations only. A qualified professional reviews every defined checkpoint and the final filing before submission. AI does not make consequential compliance decisions on its own.
Start your NGO as a society
We draft the MOA and rules, register with the Registrar of Societies and set you up for 12A, 80G and Darpan — ready to operate.
Compare
Society Registration vs Trust Registration
| Factor | Society Registration | Trust Registration |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Members + governing body + MOA | Settlor + trustees + deed |
| Governing law | Societies Registration Act | Trust Acts / general trust law |
| Best for | Membership-based bodies | Smaller, trustee-run NGOs |
Use cases
Built for how real businesses operate
Alumni/association
Need: Member-run body
We suggest: Society registration with a governing council.
Education society
Need: Run a school/programme
We suggest: Society with MOA, then 12A/80G.
Why MyFinancialAdvisory
A more accountable way to stay compliant
Quality & accountability
Reviewed by compliance experts
Every society registration engagement is prepared with structured checks and signed off by qualified professionals before anything is filed — speed without sacrificing accuracy.
Reviewed by
Reviewed by MyFinancialAdvisory Compliance Team
Business registration & licensing review
Our registration and licensing applications are prepared with AI-assisted checks and reviewed by qualified professionals experienced in MSME, FSSAI, IEC, labour and NGO registrations before anything is submitted. Business compliance, powered by AI — verified where possible, reviewed by experts, tracked by you.
Structured document checks
Documents and eligibility follow structured checks before expert review.
Expert-reviewed before filing
A qualified professional signs off every defined checkpoint.
Compliance-safe guidance
Advice mapped to current rules — no shortcuts, no guesswork.
Resources
Related guides & reading
Keep exploring
Hub
Registrations & Licences
Every licence and registration to run your business legally in India.
Service
Trust Registration
Register a public/private charitable trust.
Service
12A Registration
Income-tax exemption registration for NGOs.
Service
80G Registration
Donor tax-deduction registration for NGOs.
Service
NGO Darpan Registration
NITI Aayog NGO Darpan unique ID.
FAQs
Society Registration — frequently asked questions
What is society registration?
Registration of a membership-based non-profit under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (and state adaptations), with a Memorandum of Association and rules filed with the state Registrar of Societies.
How many members are needed?
Commonly a minimum of seven members; an all-India society often needs members from different states. We confirm your state's requirement.
Society or trust — which is better?
A society suits member-run bodies with a governing council; a trust suits smaller, trustee-run charities; a Section 8 company offers a corporate form. We advise based on your goals.
What documents are required?
ID/address proof and photos of members, the proposed name and objects, the MOA and rules (we draft), registered-office proof with NOC, and state-specific affidavits.
What happens after registration?
The society obtains a PAN and pursues 12A and 80G and an NGO Darpan ID — we handle these so it can function and raise funds.
Does a society have annual compliance?
Yes — typically AGMs, governing-body filings and (in many states) annual returns to the Registrar. We can support these.
How long does it take?
Often two to four weeks for registration, depending on the state Registrar; downstream exemptions take additional time.
Ready to get society registration done?
Start with a quick conversation. We’ll confirm scope, documents, fees and the next deadline.