🏛️ Society Registration in India

🔹 Overview

A Society is a non-profit, voluntary association of individuals, formed to promote charitable, cultural, religious, scientific, educational, or similar purposes. The concept of society as a legal structure emerged to provide a legal entity capable of managing assets, finances, and organizational responsibilities for sustained social development.

Societies are governed under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. Upon registration, a society gains legal recognition and becomes capable of operating under its own name, entering into contracts, and owning property.

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🎯 Purpose of Society Registration

The main objective of registering a society is to promote activities related to the upliftment of society. As per the Act, the purposes include:

• Promotion of fine arts
• Political education and awareness
• Charitable objectives
• Advancement of science and literature
• Creation of military orphan funds
• Social welfare activities and community development

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✅ Benefits of Society Registration

• 📜 Legal status to the society
• 🏦 Can open a bank account in society’s name
• 🧾 Legal recognition before courts and authorities
• 💼 Can enter into contracts under its own name
• ⚖️ Ability to sue or be sued
• 💸 Eligible for Income Tax exemptions
• ✅ Improved governance and accountability

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👥 Eligibility for Society Registration

• Minimum 7 members required to form a society
• The following entities can also be part of the society:
  • Indian citizens
  • Registered societies
  • Foreigners
  • Partnership firms
  • Limited companies
  • Other registered entities
• ❌ Minors are not eligible to be founding members

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🗂️ Documents Required for Society Registration

1. PAN Card of all members (minimum 7)
2. Residence proof of members (Aadhaar, DL, Voter ID, Utility Bill, Passport, etc.)
3. Memorandum of Association (MoA)
4. Rules and Regulations of the Society
5. Proof of registered office address (Utility bill, Rent agreement + NOC if not owned)
6. Declaration from the President confirming willingness to act
7. Any state-specific documents as required by the local registrar

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📛 Naming a Society – Precautions to Follow

• Name must not be identical to an existing registered society
• Should not imply any connection to the Government of India or State Governments
• Must not violate the provisions of the Emblems and Names Act, 1950
• Avoid names that offend public sentiment or the community

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📝 Procedure for Society Registration (Example: Rajasthan)

🔹 Offline Process

1. Submit 2 copies of all required documents to the Registrar of Societies
2. Registrar verifies and retains one copy, returns the other with acknowledgment
3. Upon satisfaction, Incorporation Certificate is issued along with a registration number

🔹 Online Process (Rajasthan Example)

1. Login to SSO Portal (https://sso.rajasthan.gov.in)
   • New users must register with an email ID
2. Select “Society Registration” from the main menu
3. Fill in member and office details, and upload documents
4. Verify and save the application
5. Pay registration fees and submit the application
6. Track status using the application number
7. Upon approval, download the MoA and Bye-laws from the portal

After receiving the MoA and Bye-laws, the society is officially recognized as a legal person.

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🕐 Time Required

• Typically takes 12–15 working days after submission of documents and application

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📌 Post-Registration Legal Compliances

Once the Society is registered, the following must be done:

1. Apply for PAN Card in the name of the Society
2. Open a bank account in the Society’s name
3. File Income Tax Return (ITR) annually
4. Conduct Annual General Meetings (AGM)
5. Submit:
   • Annual financials
   • List of governing body members
   • Any resolutions passed to the Registrar of Societies

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