It is a legal process under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, to form association of individuals united for literary, scientific, charitable, educational, or fine-arts purposes.
A minimum of seven individuals, Indian nationals or foreigners, can form a society.
- Signed Memorandum and Rules & Regulations of Society
- Identity and address proofs
- Office address proof
- NOC from property owner
- Other relevant forms
Societies offer a cost effective, democratic structure with an elected governing body, flexible membership criteria, and lower initial compliance, making them ideal for community-driven, non-profit initiatives.
Yes. Besides Indian citizens, foreign individuals, companies, and even other registered societies can join, provided the Memorandum of Association explicitly allows such membership.
Some of the pitfalls to avoid when drafting comprise:
- Ambiguous objectives that exceed Act’s scope
- Vague membership eligibility clauses
- Lack of clear procedures for AGM and elections
- Missing dispute-resolution mechanism
- No clause for amendment or dissolution etc
Yes. You must provide proof of a bona fide office address within the state’s jurisdiction. A rent agreement or utility bill in the society’s name typically suffices.
A Society can amend their objective or name if the convene a special general meeting, pass a two-thirds majority resolution, amend the Memorandum and Rules, and file the changes with registrar.
Yes, a resolution to dissolve can pass when at least 60% of members vote in favour at a specially convened meeting (in person or by proxy). If the state government is a member, contributor, or otherwise interested party, its written consent is required before any dissolution can proceed.