Public Limited Company Registration Process and Timeline in India (Step by Step, 2026)
The public limited company registration process has six main steps: get DSCs, choose a name, file SPICe+ with a public-company MOA and AOA, respond to any Registrar query, receive the Certificate of Incorporation, then complete post-incorporation filings such as INC-20A. Filing sources put the whole journey at a few weeks; no official service level exists, so treat any exact day count as an estimate.
What is the process to register a public limited company?
You register a public limited company by filing one integrated online form, SPICe+ (Simplified Proforma for Incorporating Company Electronically Plus), on the MCA portal, along with an electronically signed memorandum and articles. Before that you need DSCs and a name; after it you have a short list of statutory filings.
Take Kavita, a healthcare-logistics founder in Chennai, as an illustration. She has eight promoters and plans an authorised capital of ₹25 lakh for a public limited company. Her timeline depends less on the MCA form and more on getting eight people to complete DSCs and send matching documents. This is an invented example.
Below you get the steps in order, a realistic timeline with what stretches it, and a split between what you do and what a CA does. Figures and rules are as of September 2026.
What are the steps to incorporate a public limited company?
There are eight steps from first call to a company that is ready to trade, and steps 1 to 5 must happen in order.
- Confirm the structure. You need at least 3 directors and 7 members. If that is more than your plan needs, compare a Private Limited company first.
- Get DSCs. Each director and subscriber signs electronically with a Digital Signature Certificate.
- Propose a name. The name must end in "Limited". Name approval is part of the SPICe+ filing, or it can be reserved separately in Part A of the form.
- Prepare and file SPICe+. Part B carries the director and subscriber details, the e-MOA (INC-33) and e-AOA (INC-34), the authorised capital and the stamp duty payment. The same filing applies for PAN and TAN through the integrated services.
- Answer any Registrar query. If the Registrar rejects or queries the filing, you generally get 15 days to correct and resubmit.
- Receive the Certificate of Incorporation, with your company's CIN, PAN and TAN.
- Hold the first board meeting and appoint the first auditor within 30 days of incorporation.
- File the commencement declaration (INC-20A) within 180 days, confirming that every subscriber has paid for the shares.
DIN (Director Identification Number) allotment for new directors runs through the same form, for up to three fresh DINs at a time. More than three new directors need a separate application, which your CA sequences. See our general step-by-step guide for the parts common to every company type.
How long does public limited company registration take?
Public limited company registration typically takes a few weeks end to end, and the Registrar's own review of a clean filing takes only a few working days. There is no official service-level timeline, so any exact number is an estimate, and this is not a promise from Shunya.
Filing sources publish very different numbers: some cite two to five working days for Registrar processing, others seven to ten, and end-to-end estimates from roughly two to three weeks. The gap comes from what each source counts. Some start the clock at filing, others at your first call.
| Stage | What sets the pace | Who controls it |
|---|---|---|
| Collecting documents and DSCs | Number of people (3 directors, 7 members) | You, with CA guidance |
| Name selection | Whether your first choice is available | You and the CA |
| Drafting the MOA, AOA and form | Complexity of capital and objects | CA |
| Registrar review | Filing quality; a few working days when clean | Registrar of Companies |
| Correction and resubmission | Up to 15 days allowed per resubmission | You and the CA |
| Post-incorporation steps | First meeting and auditor in 30 days; INC-20A in 180 days | Company and CA |
Compare this with our general guide on how long company registration takes in India.
Share your directors and capital on a free callback and a CA maps the steps for your case.
Start Public Limited registration →What delays public limited company registration?
The most common delays are collecting seven sets of documents, mismatched details across PAN, Aadhaar and DIN, an unavailable name, and a Registrar query that needs a resubmission. Almost all of them are avoidable with a pre-filing check.
- Headcount: with 3 directors and 7 members, one slow signer holds up everyone.
- Mismatches: a spelling or date-of-birth difference between PAN, Aadhaar and DIN records, or a DSC that does not match the PAN.
- Stale address proof: a utility bill older than two months, or a missing owner NOC for rented premises.
- Name conflict: a name similar to an existing company or trademark.
- Objects and activity code: an objects clause that does not match the activity code selected.
Our documents checklist shows what to gather so these do not surface after filing.
What must a public company do right after incorporation?
After the Certificate of Incorporation, a public company must hold its first board meeting and appoint its first auditor within 30 days, and file the commencement declaration, INC-20A, within 180 days of incorporation. These are statutory steps, not optional add-ons.
The first auditor is appointed by the board within 30 days; if the board does not, an extraordinary general meeting must do so within 90 days. INC-20A is the director's declaration that every subscriber has paid the value of the shares agreed in the memorandum. It applies to companies with share capital incorporated on or after 2 November 2018, and public companies are not exempt.
Missing INC-20A carries a penalty of ₹50,000 on the company and a daily penalty on the officers in default, and the Registrar may start strike-off. Confirm current penalty details with your CA. To open a bank account you generally need the certificate, PAN and the board resolution, though banks differ. From here, your ongoing calendar is in our annual compliance guide.
What does the CA do and what do you do?
At Shunya, you supply directors, the proposed name, the shareholder base, the capital structure and the source documents, and a practising CA does the rest of the incorporation work. A CA reviews every filing before it is submitted.
| Step | You | Shunya's CA |
|---|---|---|
| Share details | Directors, name, shareholders, capital | Sends a document checklist |
| Verify and prepare | Provide documents | Checks name availability, obtains DSC and DIN for directors, prepares SPICe+ with a Public Limited MOA/AOA |
| File | Approve and e-sign | Files on the MCA portal and handles officer queries |
| Deliver | Receive documents | Delivers the Certificate of Incorporation, PAN and TAN |
Shunya's professional fee is ₹1,999. It does not include the DSC issuer's charge, government fees, stamp duty or other third-party costs, which are billed separately; your CA explains them on your callback.
Can you do the process yourself, or is another structure faster?
You can file a public limited company yourself on the MCA portal, and many founders with legal or finance backgrounds do. The trade-off is time spent on re-filing if a detail is rejected, and drafting a MOA and AOA that suit a public company.
If your plan is only to run a business with a few owners, a public company may be more structure than you need. A private company needs 2 directors and 2 members, and an LLP is lighter still. Our comparison of public and private limited companies helps you decide.
If public capital, freely transferable shares or an eventual listing are in your plan, a public company is the right route. You can start by requesting a free callback (name and phone; a CA calls within the hour) or by paying the professional fee online. WhatsApp or call +91 80809 18797.
How long does it take to register a public limited company in India?
Filing sources describe a few weeks end to end, with the Registrar's review of a clean filing taking a few working days. There is no official service-level timeline, so treat any exact day count as an estimate. Collecting documents from 3 directors and 7 members often takes longest.
What is SPICe+ and is it used for public companies?
SPICe+ (Simplified Proforma for Incorporating Company Electronically Plus) is the integrated MCA web form used to incorporate companies, including public limited companies. It carries the name, directors, subscribers, e-MOA and e-AOA, capital and stamp duty, and applies for PAN and TAN.
What is INC-20A and when is it due?
INC-20A is the commencement of business declaration. A director confirms that every subscriber has paid for the shares agreed in the memorandum. It is due within 180 days of incorporation for companies with share capital. Missing it attracts a penalty and possible strike-off.
What happens if the Registrar rejects my SPICe+ filing?
You generally get 15 days to correct the issues and resubmit. Typical causes are name or date-of-birth mismatches across PAN, Aadhaar and DIN, stale address proof, a missing owner NOC, or a name too similar to an existing one. A CA cross-checks these before filing.
What must be done within 30 days of incorporation?
The board must hold its first meeting and appoint the first auditor within 30 days of incorporation. If the board does not appoint the auditor in that time, the company must call an extraordinary general meeting within 90 days to do so.
Can I register a public limited company online without a CA?
Yes, the process is online and you can file it yourself. Government fees and stamp duty are the same either way. A CA helps by drafting a public-company MOA and AOA, cross-checking documents and handling Registrar queries, which reduces the chance of rejection.
This article is for general information only. For your specific situation, consult a practicing CA.
Ready to register your Public Limited?
Request a free callback or pay the ₹1,999 professional fee online and a CA starts your filing. Government fees and other statutory costs are billed separately at actual cost.
Professional fee ₹1,999. Government fees, statutory costs and any third-party charges are billed separately; your CA walks you through them on your callback.