Quick answer
What is society registration in Delhi?
Society registration is the process of registering a membership body of at least seven people under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. In Delhi you file the Memorandum of Association, Rules and Regulations, affidavits and office proof with the Registrar of Societies, who certifies the society as registered. A Delhi working area needs seven members from Delhi.
- Minimum seven members (section 1 of the 1860 Act)
- MOA and Rules filed in two copies each
- Affidavits on ₹10 non-judicial stamp paper
- Governing body list filed every year
Who needs society registration, and who should pick another form?
Society registration suits a group of people who want to run a not-for-profit body together, with members who elect a governing body under written rules. Section 20 of the Act lists the kinds of societies that can register: charitable societies and bodies for science, literature, fine arts, instruction, libraries, reading rooms and museums.
In Delhi we see societies formed for schools and coaching for poor children, alumni and professional associations, cultural and religious bodies, sports clubs, senior citizen groups and welfare work in a colony.
A society is not the right fit for everyone. If one family or a few founders want to keep control, a trust registration in Delhi is usually simpler. If corporate donors, a formal board and public MCA records matter, look at Section 8 company registration. Our NGO registration guide compares all three side by side.
| Your situation | Society a good fit? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Seven or more people want equal say through elections | Yes | The Act is built around members and an elected governing body |
| Residents, alumni or a professional group forming an association | Yes | Membership, subscriptions and elections sit naturally in society rules |
| A family wants to run a charity it controls | Usually no | A trust lets the founder name trustees and keep control |
| You expect large corporate or institutional donors | Possible | Many funders accept societies, but some prefer a Section 8 company |
| Fewer than seven people are involved | No | Section 1 needs at least seven persons to form a society |
| A housing or credit co-operative | No | Co-operatives register under the Delhi Co-operative Societies Act, 2003, with a different Registrar |
Source: Societies Registration Act, 1860, sections 1 and 20 (text of the Act), checked 10 November 2026.
Society registration rules: how many members and what working area?
You need at least seven people to sign the memorandum. The Delhi Registrar adds a residence rule: for a society whose working area is Delhi, at least seven of the people forming it must be from Delhi; for an All India working area, the founders must come from seven different states, one of them Delhi.
The registered office must be in the National Capital Territory of Delhi. The people named in the governing body (usually President, Secretary, Treasurer and members) must also be among the signatories to the memorandum, so you cannot appoint an outsider to the first governing body. The society's name must not suggest government approval or patronage, and must not clash with the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950.
All income and property must be used only for the objects in the memorandum. Members cannot receive dividends, bonus or profit because of their membership. If the society will manage a temple, gurudwara, mosque, church or other place of worship, the Registrar asks for documents proving the society is legally able to do so.
Need help with society registration? Talk to a chartered accountant in Delhi today. First call is free.
Documents required for society registration in Delhi
The Registrar of Societies (East) publishes a seven-item checklist: a covering letter, two copies each of the MOA and Rules, an affidavit by the President or Secretary, an NOC-cum-affidavit from the owner of the office, proof of the premises and address proof of every founder. Signatures must be witnessed by a notary, Oath Commissioner, Gazetted officer or Magistrate.
| Document | Copies | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Covering request letter | 1 | Addressed to the Registrar of Societies (East) asking for registration under the 1860 Act |
| Memorandum of Association | 2 | Name, registered office, area of operation, objects, governing body and list of founders with witnessed signatures |
| Rules and Regulations | 2 | Membership, subscription, termination, meetings, elections, accounts, amendment and dissolution |
| Affidavit by President or Secretary | 1 original | On ₹10 non-judicial stamp paper, on the relationship between founders and an undertaking to change the name if already registered; attested by a notary (₹5 notarial stamp), Oath Commissioner or Magistrate 1st Class |
| NOC-cum-affidavit from premises owner | 1 original | On ₹10 non-judicial stamp paper, with attested electricity bill, water bill or property tax receipt in the owner's name |
| Proof of the office premises | 1 attested copy | Sale deed, lease deed or GPA for the registered office |
| Address proof of every founder | 1 each | Aadhaar, passport or voter ID, self-attested or attested by a notary, Gazetted officer or Oath Commissioner |
Source: Registrar of Societies and Firms, East District, Govt. of NCT of Delhi (checklist and specimen MOA), checked 10 November 2026. The Registrar's page was last updated in March 2020, so we confirm the current list before filing.
How to get society registration in Delhi: step by step
Most of the work is in drafting. A clear MOA and a complete set of rules, signed correctly on every page, is what gets a society through without objections. Here is the order we follow for a Delhi society.
- 1
Fix the founders, objects and working area
Confirm at least seven founders, decide whether the working area is Delhi or All India, and agree on specific objects that fall within section 20 of the Act.
- 2
Choose and check the name
Pick two or three names that do not imply government patronage and do not copy an existing society, trademark or protected emblem.
- 3
Draft the MOA and Rules
Write the memorandum (name, office, objects, governing body, founders) and rules covering membership, meetings, elections, accounts, amendments and dissolution.
- 4
Prepare the affidavits and office NOC
Get the President or Secretary affidavit and the owner's NOC-cum-affidavit on ₹10 non-judicial stamp paper, attested as the Registrar requires.
- 5
Sign and witness every page
At least three office bearers sign every page of the MOA and Rules, and every founder's signature is witnessed by a notary, Oath Commissioner, Gazetted officer or Magistrate.
- 6
File with the Registrar and pay the fee
Submit the set with founders' KYC and office proof to the Registrar of Societies and pay the registration fee set by the Delhi government.
- 7
Answer queries and collect the certificate
Reply to any objection from the Registrar; once satisfied, the Registrar certifies under section 3 that the society is registered.
How much does society registration cost in Delhi, and how long does it take?
Your cost has three parts: the Registrar's registration fee, stamp paper and notary charges for the affidavits, and professional fees for drafting and filing. Section 3 of the Act leaves the registration fee to the state government, and we did not find a current official Delhi fee schedule, so we confirm it before you pay.
Online platforms quote package prices and timelines that disagree with each other, so we show you the actual challan at filing. CA in Delhi gives you a fixed quote for drafting, attestation coordination and filing before any work starts.
| Item | What applies | Source or status |
|---|---|---|
| Registration fee to the Registrar | Fee as directed by the Delhi government under section 3 | Amount not published on the Registrar's page; confirmed at filing |
| Affidavit stamp paper | Two documents on ₹10 non-judicial stamp paper | Delhi Registrar checklist |
| Notarial stamp | ₹5 notarial stamp on attested affidavits | Delhi Registrar checklist |
| Copies | MOA and Rules in two copies each | Delhi Registrar checklist |
| Processing time | Depends on the Registrar's queue and objections | No official timeline published |
| Professional fee | Drafting, coordination and filing | Fixed quote from CA in Delhi before work starts |
Sources: Societies Registration Act, 1860, section 3; Delhi Registrar of Societies (East) checklist. Checked 10 November 2026.
What must a registered society file after registration?
The main legal duty is the annual list of the governing body. Under section 4 of the Act, the society files the names, addresses and occupations of its governing body once a year, within 14 days after its annual general meeting, or in January if the rules do not provide for an AGM.
- Membership register: keep it up to date with name, address, date of joining, date of leaving and signature. The Registrar asks for it when certifying a governing body list.
- Minutes and election records: keep notices and signed minutes for every meeting where members join or leave and every election. These records are what protect the society in a dispute.
- Changes: any change of name, address, objects or rules is filed with the Registrar. Changing objects needs a three-fifths vote of members confirmed at a second special meeting a month later (section 12).
- Accounts and income tax: keep books, file the society's income tax return and, if it wants tax exemption, apply for the registrations known as 12A and 80G registration. The Income-tax Act 2025 has applied from 1 April 2026, so check current form names on the e-filing portal.
Our accounting and bookkeeping service can keep the society's books and yearly filings in order.
Why are society applications in Delhi sent back?
Most objections come from paperwork, not from the idea behind the society. Fixing these before filing saves weeks of back and forth with the Registrar's office.
- Fewer than seven founders from Delhi for a Delhi working area, or fewer than seven states for an All India society.
- A governing body member who is not among the founders who signed the memorandum.
- Pages of the MOA or Rules missing the signatures of three office bearers, or founder signatures not witnessed.
- A name that suggests government backing, uses a protected emblem or matches an existing society.
- Office NOC from someone who is not the owner or GPA holder, or a utility bill in another name.
- Objects that are vague, commercial or mixed with personal benefit to members.
- A place of worship mentioned without proof that the society can manage it.
Later problems usually come from skipped annual lists and missing minutes. The Registrar certifies a governing body list only when the membership register, meeting records and a no-dispute affidavit on ₹10 stamp paper by the President and Secretary are produced.
Society registration in Delhi: which office handles it?
In Delhi, societies under the 1860 Act are registered by the Registrar of Societies of the Government of NCT of Delhi. The East District office at L.M. Bundh, Shastri Nagar, Delhi 110031 publishes the checklist, specimen MOA, affidavits and forms for amendments and governing body certification on its website.
Co-operative societies are a separate system run by the Registrar of Co-operative Societies under the Delhi Co-operative Societies Act, 2003, so do not mix the two. The Delhi government also runs a firms and societies portal; we check at the time of filing whether your application goes through it or over the counter. Organisations near our office can see CA in Pitampura.
How CA in Delhi handles your society registration
None of the three firms listed on CA in Delhi lists society registration as a service. CA in Delhi passes your enquiry to the listed firm or partner professional that handles it, and you get the scope and a fixed quote before work starts. For trusts, Moneymji lists trust registration; you can read every profile on our list of Delhi CA and compliance firms.
What you send us: the proposed names, objects, working area, the list of founders with Aadhaar or other address proof, and the office documents with the owner's details.
What you get back: a drafted MOA and Rules for your purpose, ready-to-sign affidavits and NOC, a signing and attestation checklist, filing with the Registrar, replies to objections, and a reminder plan for the annual governing body list.
Send the enquiry form, or call or WhatsApp +91 99114 92897. Our office is at 411, Best Sky Tower, Netaji Subhash Place, next to the Red and Pink line metro station, and we work online for founders anywhere in Delhi. Comparing local options first? See CA near me for how to pick one.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum number of members for society registration?
Seven. Section 1 of the Societies Registration Act, 1860 allows any seven or more persons to form a society. In Delhi, a society with a Delhi working area needs at least seven founders from Delhi, and an All India society needs founders from seven different states including Delhi.
Can society registration in Delhi be done online?
The Delhi government runs a firms and societies portal, but official guidance on whether every new society application is fully online was not available when we checked in November 2026. Document drafting, signatures and attestation still happen offline. We confirm the current filing route for your case before you sign anything.
Is stamp paper needed for society registration in Delhi?
Yes, for the affidavits. The Registrar's checklist asks for the President or Secretary affidavit and the premises owner's NOC-cum-affidavit on ₹10 non-judicial stamp paper each. The MOA and Rules themselves are filed as signed copies, two of each.
Can a society own property and open a bank account?
Yes. Once registered, a society can open a bank account in its own name, take a PAN and hold property for its objects. The rules should state who signs cheques and documents for the society, usually two office bearers jointly.
Do societies need to file anything every year?
Yes. Section 4 requires a list of the governing body to be filed every year, within 14 days after the annual general meeting, or in January if the rules have no AGM. The society also keeps accounts and files an income tax return.
Can a society get 12A and 80G tax registration?
Yes. A registered society doing charitable work can apply to the Income Tax Department for registration as a charitable entity and for approval so donors can claim deductions. These are separate applications after society registration, and the 2025 Act forms apply from 1 April 2026.
How do we change the objects or rules of a society later?
Changing objects needs a written report sent to every member ten days before a special meeting, a three-fifths vote, and confirmation by three-fifths at a second special meeting one month later. The amendment is then filed with the Registrar.
Can a registered society be closed?
Yes. Under section 13 at least three-fifths of members must vote for dissolution at a general meeting. Property and liabilities are settled under the society's rules, and the Registrar's office has a closure process.