SOCIETY REGISTRATION

An entity or group of people working together not for profits but for the welfare of the general public with an agenda of helping the community has an option of Society registration to gain a legal status. A non-commercial organization with seven or more persons coming together for any scientific, literary or charitable purposes or for purposes as mentioned under section 20 of the Society Registration Act, 1860, may get Society Registration by subscribing their names to a Memorandum of Association and filing the same with the registrar.

As per Section 20 of the Society Registration Act, 1860 following are eligible to apply for society registration:

1. Charitable Societies

2. The military orphan funds or societies established at the several presidencies of India

3. Societies established for
the promotion of science, literature, or the fine arts for instruction
the diffusion of useful knowledge
the diffusion of political education
the foundation or maintenance of libraries or reading-rooms for general use among the members or open to the public

4. Public museums and galleries of
Paintings and other works of art
Collections of natural history
Mechanical and philosophical inventions
Instruments
Designs.

Main features of Society registration
There are following features of Society registration:

For Society Registration, there is a requirement of a minimum of seven or more members.
In case of people, companies or societies registered outside India are interested in starting a society in India then they would have to subscribe to the Memorandum of a society in India.
In India, it is not obligatory to register a society however with society registration they get legal protection and become eligible for the advantages offered by the government.

The Minimum Requirements for Society Registration
For society registration, a minimum of 7 or more persons are required who can be Indian residents, companies, foreigners, as well as other registered societies. However, it is not mandatory to apply for society registration but there are numerous benefits to society registration. Society registration is governed by the Society Registration Act, 1860 which is done with the state government. An application for society registration is filed with the specific state authority where the registered office of society is situated. Before applying for society registration with the registrar, the establishing members must agree with the name of society after that the Memorandum of Association is finalized. Memorandum of Association of society describes the Rules & Regulations of the society.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR SOCIETY REGISTRATION
Following documents are required for society registration in India:

A cover letter with a request of society registration under the law.
A Memorandum of Association
Copy of Rules and Regulation of the Society
List of all members of the Society
Affidavits of the office bearers
Residential proof of all the members
Proof of address of the registered address, or NOC from the Landlord
ALL the above-mentioned documents are required to be submitted to the Registrar of the Societies with the requisite fee as prescribed in 2 copies, one which shall be returned as an acknowledgment. Upon careful examination of the documents, an Incorporation Certificate with a registration number shall be allotted. The procedure of society registration takes around 1 one to get completed.