NGO, Trust and Society Registration in India
Choose the right structure — Trust, Society or Section 8 company — and unlock funding with 12A, 80G, CSR-1 and FCRA. End-to-end registration and compliance for non-profits anywhere in India.
Who Should Register an NGO, Trust or Society
Starting a non-profit begins with one important decision, and getting NGO, trust and society registration in India right at the outset saves years of avoidable friction. India offers three legal vehicles for charitable work — a Trust formed under the applicable state Public Trust Act (or the Indian Trusts Act principles), a Society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, and a Section 8 company incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013. Each is a legitimate way to run an NGO, but they differ in governance, credibility with funders, cost and ongoing compliance. Choosing the structure that matches your mission, your funding plans and the number of founders is the foundation everything else is built on.
Registration alone, however, does not unlock money. The compliance that actually enables an NGO to raise and deploy funds sits on top of the entity: 12A registration for income-tax exemption, 80G registration so that donors can claim a deduction, CSR-1 to become eligible to receive corporate CSR funds, FCRA registration to legally accept foreign contributions, and a NITI Aayog Darpan (Unique ID) to apply for most government grants. Miss one of these and a genuine funding opportunity can slip away simply because the paperwork was not in place.
Aidwish is a pan-India consulting firm, headquartered in Lucknow and serving founders across every state and union territory. We help you select the correct structure, draft a watertight trust deed or memorandum, complete registration, and then sequence your 12A, 80G, CSR-1 and FCRA applications in the right order — followed by the annual filings that keep your registrations valid year after year.
Social entrepreneurs and founders starting a charitable, educational, medical, cultural or relief organisation who need a recognised legal entity
Groups of individuals or families wanting to formalise philanthropic activity into a Trust or Society with proper governance
Existing informal community initiatives that now need 12A and 80G to accept tax-deductible donations at scale
NGOs seeking to receive corporate CSR funds (which requires CSR-1 registration on the MCA portal)
Organisations that expect or already receive foreign donations and therefore need FCRA registration or prior permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs
Non-profits planning to apply for central or state government grants, which almost always require a NITI Aayog Darpan Unique ID
Companies and foundations setting up a Section 8 company for professional governance, board structure and higher funder credibility
NGO / Trust / Society Registration — end to end
A clear comparison of Trust vs Society vs Section 8 company mapped to your mission, founders, budget and funding goals, so you register once and correctly.
Professionally drafted Trust Deed, or Memorandum and Rules & Regulations for a Society, or MOA/AOA for a Section 8 company — with objects clauses funders accept.
Filing and follow-through with the sub-registrar (Trust), Registrar of Societies (Society) or MCA/ROC (Section 8) until your certificate is issued.
Application for the entity's PAN and TAN and guidance on opening the organisational bank account required before you can operate or receive funds.
Preparation and filing of Form 10A/10AB for income-tax exemption (12A) and donor deduction eligibility (80G) under the current provisional-then-regular regime.
Filing of Form CSR-1 with the MCA so your NGO is eligible to receive and utilise corporate CSR funding from companies.
Eligibility assessment and application for FCRA registration or prior permission with the Ministry of Home Affairs to legally accept foreign contributions.
NITI Aayog Darpan registration for grant eligibility, plus a calendar for annual returns, audited accounts and renewal filings that keep you compliant.
Documents required
- Identity and address proof (KYC) of all founders, trustees, members or directors — PAN and Aadhaar, plus passport-size photographs
- Registered office address proof — a recent utility bill or property document, along with a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the owner if premises are rented
- The governing document — Trust Deed for a Trust, Memorandum of Association with Rules & Regulations for a Society, or MOA and AOA for a Section 8 company
- Details of the minimum required members (typically two or more trustees for a Trust, at least seven members for a Society, and two or more directors/shareholders for a Section 8 company)
- Digital Signature Certificates (DSC) and Director Identification Numbers (DIN) for a Section 8 company, and PAN of the entity for tax and funding registrations
- A clear statement of objects and proposed activities, plus (for 12A/80G, CSR-1 and FCRA) financial statements, activity reports and bank details as applicable
Eligibility & who qualifies
- The organisation must be formed for a genuine charitable, religious, educational, scientific, literary or social-welfare purpose — not for profit distribution to members
- Founders/trustees/members must meet the minimum-number and KYC requirements for the chosen structure and generally should not be disqualified under law
- For 12A and 80G, the entity must be validly registered, maintain proper books of account and apply its income towards its stated objects
- For CSR-1, the NGO should typically hold valid 12A and 80G (or be a specified eligible entity) before it can register to receive CSR funds
- For FCRA registration, the organisation usually needs to have existed and undertaken reasonable charitable activity for a defined qualifying period, with a designated FCRA bank account as required by the rules
Fees & what you pay
No hidden charges. Government fees are billed at actuals; our professional fee is agreed upfront.
How long it takes
Structure selection, document collection, and drafting of the Trust Deed, Society MOA or Section 8 MOA/AOA for your approval.
Filing and certificate issuance. Section 8 incorporation via MCA is often quickest; Trust and Society timelines depend on the local sub-registrar or state Registrar and are subject to the authority.
Obtaining the entity PAN and TAN and opening the organisational bank account, which must be in place before applying for tax and funding registrations.
Filing Form 10A/10AB and CSR-1. Processing time depends on the Income Tax and MCA authorities; timelines are indicative, not guaranteed.
NITI Aayog Darpan ID is usually fast. FCRA registration is scrutiny-heavy and processed by MHA over an extended period entirely at the authority's discretion.
A clear, guided process
Consult & Choose Structure
We understand your mission, founders and funding plans, then recommend a Trust, Society or Section 8 company and explain the trade-offs clearly.
Draft & Register the Entity
We draft your deed or memorandum, collect KYC, and file with the sub-registrar, state Registrar or MCA until the registration certificate is issued.
Set Up PAN, TAN & Bank Account
We apply for the entity's PAN and TAN and guide you through opening the organisational bank account needed to operate and receive funds.
Secure Funding Registrations
We sequence and file 12A, 80G, CSR-1, FCRA and NITI Aayog Darpan in the correct order so each unlocks the next source of funding.
Maintain Annual Compliance
We keep you compliant with annual returns, audited accounts and renewals so your hard-won registrations never lapse.
Why choose Aidwish
Pan-India service from a Lucknow-headquartered team — we register and support non-profits in every state and union territory
One partner for the whole journey: structure advisory, entity registration, and 12A, 80G, CSR-1, FCRA and Darpan under a single roof
Correct sequencing of registrations so you never redo work or miss a funding window because a prerequisite was skipped
Transparent, fixed-scope quotes with a clear split between government/statutory fees and our professional fees — no hidden charges
Realistic expectations: we frame authority-driven timelines honestly and never promise a guaranteed government approval date
Ongoing annual-compliance support so your tax exemption, donor eligibility and FCRA status stay valid year after year
What our clients say
Real, verified reviews from businesses Aidwish has helped.
“We had a great experience working with Aidwish Consulting. Their team guided us professionally throughout the process and helped us understand the right government schemes and documentation for our food ingredients business, Bio White Foods.”
“Excellent experience with the Aidwish team. They understood our requirements, suggested the right strategy and handled the work professionally. Their approach is transparent, practical and result-oriented.”
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Questions, answered
Which is better for an NGO — Trust, Society or Section 8 company?
It depends on your goals. A Trust is simplest and quickest for family-led or focused charitable work; a Society suits membership-based groups with democratic governance; and a Section 8 company offers the most professional structure and tends to carry the highest credibility with corporate and institutional funders. We assess your mission, number of founders and funding plans before recommending one.
What is the difference between 12A and 80G registration?
12A registration gives the NGO itself exemption from income tax on its surplus, provided income is applied to its objects. 80G registration is for the benefit of donors — it lets them claim a deduction on donations they make to your organisation. Most NGOs apply for both together, as 80G makes fundraising significantly easier.
Is CSR-1 registration mandatory to receive corporate CSR funds?
Yes. To be eligible to receive CSR funding from companies, an NGO must file Form CSR-1 with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and obtain a CSR registration number. Companies are generally required to route CSR spending only through entities that hold a valid CSR-1, so it is essential if corporate funding is part of your plan.
Do I need FCRA registration to accept foreign donations?
Yes. Any organisation accepting foreign contributions must be registered under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act or hold prior permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs, and must operate a designated FCRA bank account. FCRA is scrutiny-intensive, usually requires a track record of activity, and processing timelines are entirely at the authority's discretion.
How long does the whole registration and compliance process take?
Entity registration typically takes one to four weeks depending on the structure and the local authority, followed by PAN, TAN and bank setup. 12A, 80G and CSR-1 usually take a few weeks each, while FCRA can take several months. All timelines are indicative and subject to the concerned government authority.
What is the NITI Aayog Darpan ID and do I need it?
The NITI Aayog Darpan Unique ID is a registration for NGOs on the government's portal. It is generally required to apply for most central and state government grants and schemes, and it improves your organisation's transparency and discoverability. If you intend to seek government funding, obtaining a Darpan ID early is strongly recommended.
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