A Society is a traditional, widely recognized form of Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in India. Governed primarily by the Societies Registration Act, 1860, it is formed when individuals come together to promote a common, non-profit objective—such as education, charity, science, or social welfare.
Unlike a Trust (which is managed by a few trustees) or a Corporate structure, a Society operates on a highly democratic setup. The power lies with the "General Body" of members who vote to elect a "Governing Body" to manage day-to-day affairs.
When forming a society, you must choose its geographical jurisdiction, which dictates your minimum member requirements:
The society's operations are confined to one specific state. You need a minimum of 7 members to register.
Residency Rule
All founding members can legally reside within the same state.
If you intend to operate across India, you must register a National-level society. This requires a minimum of 8 members.
Residency Rule
Crucially, members must be drawn from different states across the country to prove its national character.
Once registered, a society becomes a separate legal entity. It can buy/hold property in its own name, open bank accounts, and legally sue or be sued.
Societies are purely non-commercial. Income must be utilized entirely for public upliftment. No individual member can use assets for personal usage, and profits cannot be distributed.
Just like trusts, a registered society is eligible to apply for Section 12A and 80G registrations. This exempts the society's income from tax and allows its donors to claim tax deductions.
Registered societies are highly preferred for government grants, state subsidies, and lucrative Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding.
To register a society, two critical documents must be custom-drafted and signed by the founding members:
This is the charter of the society. Under Section 2 of the Act, it must explicitly state the society's Name, its Registered Office address, its exact Objectives, and the names, addresses, and occupations of the Governing Body members.
This acts as the internal rulebook. It governs membership eligibility, subscription fees, the frequency of General Body meetings, voting rights, dispute resolution, and the election process for office bearers.
Because society registration is managed by State Governments, exact procedural nuances vary. Our legal team handles the localized process for you:
We cross-check the proposed name to ensure it is unique and does not violate the Emblems and Names Act, 1950 (avoiding prohibited words).
We cross-check the proposed name to ensure it complies with legal guidelines.
We meticulously draft the Memorandum and Rules & Regulations tailored to your specific charitable goals and state guidelines.
We compile the signed MoA, Bye-laws, affidavits, and KYC documents, submitting them in duplicate to the local State Registrar.
We compile and submit all required documentation to the local State Registrar.
Upon successful vetting of your documents, the Registrar issues the official Certificate of Registration.
We assist you in immediately securing the Society's PAN card, opening its bank account, and filing for 12A & 80G tax exemptions.
We assist in securing PAN, bank accounts, and tax exemptions.