Want to add a new business activity or shift your company's main business? Legal Startup reviews your Memorandum of Association, drafts the new object clause and resolutions, handles the notice and explanatory statement, and files Form MGT-14 with the Registrar of Companies within the 30-day limit.
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To change the object clause of a company in India, the board approves the new objects, the shareholders pass a special resolution at a general meeting under Section 13 of the Companies Act, 2013, and the company files Form MGT-14 with the Registrar of Companies within 30 days. The Registrar then registers the altered Memorandum of Association.
Last updated: October 2026. Forms, fees and time limits can change, so we confirm the current position before filing.
The object clause is the part of a company's Memorandum of Association that states what business the company is set up to do. It lists the main objects and the matters necessary for furthering them. A company is expected to carry on only the activities covered by its objects, and banks, regulators and licensing authorities often check them.
When the business grows, pivots or adds a new line, the written objects may no longer cover what the company actually does. Changing the object clause updates the Memorandum so that the new activity is formally within the company's objects. Under Section 13 of the Companies Act, 2013, this needs a special resolution of the shareholders, followed by a filing with the Registrar in Form MGT-14.
Some situations carry extra requirements. A Section 8 company generally needs prior approval of the Regional Director, a company that raised money through a prospectus and has not fully used it must follow the additional steps in Section 13(8), and activities regulated by bodies such as the RBI or IRDAI may need their own permission. For official forms, fees and filing, visit the Ministry of Corporate Affairs portal at mca.gov.in, the official website of the Government of India for company and LLP filings.
Important limits and requirements every company should know before altering its objects.
The right steps depend on what you want to change and what kind of company you are.
You want to start a new line of business alongside the current one.
The company is moving to a completely different main activity.
Old or unused activities need to be dropped from the Memorandum.
A licence, lender or investor requires specific wording in the objects.
A non-profit company wants to change its objects.
The company raised public money, or the 30 days have passed.
Not sure which situation applies to your company? Send us your Memorandum and the business you want to add, and our experts will review it free of charge.
Why companies keep their objects in line with the business they actually run.
New activities are formally covered by the Memorandum.
Banks and lenders check that the business matches the registered objects.
Authorities often look at the objects before granting a licence for an activity.
Clean, current objects make due diligence easier for investors and buyers.
Reduces the risk of acting beyond the company's stated objects.
Filing Form MGT-14 within 30 days avoids additional fees and penalty exposure.
Share documents and sign digitally from anywhere in India.
From review to filed Form MGT-14, here is how a change in object clause works.
Timelines depend on notice period, member availability and Registry processing. Not to scale.
We read your current MOA and AOA, check what the objects already cover and identify what must be added, replaced or removed.
We word the new objects clearly so they fit your business, licences and lender or investor needs, and stay consistent with the rest of the Memorandum.
The board approves the alteration, fixes the date of the general meeting and approves the notice with the explanatory statement.
Notice goes to the members, and the special resolution is passed at the general meeting. Minutes and the resolution are recorded properly.
Form MGT-14 is filed on the MCA portal with the resolution and altered Memorandum, using the director's digital signature, within 30 days.
Once the Registrar registers the alteration, we share the acknowledgement and advise on updating licences, tax registrations and bank records.
Keep these ready to avoid delays. Our expert will confirm the exact list for your case.
The total cost of changing an object clause depends on the type of company, the authorised capital, the number of changes and whether the 30-day period has passed. It generally has three parts:
Paid to the MCA when filing Form MGT-14, and it can depend on the company's authorised capital. Additional fees apply for late filing. The schedule can change, so we confirm it before filing.
Our fee depends on the scope: a simple addition, a full change of main objects or a special case. Call free for a custom quote before you pay anything.
Newspaper publication in prospectus cases, Regional Director approval for Section 8 companies, and updates to licences or registrations are charged separately.
We share a clear, itemised quote before you begin – no hidden charges. Get your free quote →
Choose the situation that matches your company, or call free for a custom quote.
You want to add a business activity or reword the existing objects.
The company is moving to a different main activity and its records must follow.
Section 8 company, prospectus money involved, or Form MGT-14 is overdue.
Our professional fee is quoted after a free call. Government fee is separate; additional fees apply if Form MGT-14 is filed after 30 days. Not sure which option fits? Ask for a free review.
If your business no longer matches the objects written in your Memorandum, it is time to update them.
A new product line or service should be covered by the objects before it begins.
The business model changed, but the Memorandum still describes the old idea.
Authorities and lenders often need the objects to mention the specific activity.
Investors expect objects that reflect the business and are properly filed.
Changes to charitable or non-profit objects need extra approvals and care.
If the resolution was passed but never filed, speak to us quickly about late filing.
A quick view of how the common routes differ. Ask us which one suits your company.
| Route | When it applies | What is prepared or filed | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Add new objects | Existing business continues with a new activity | Special resolution and Form MGT-14 | Lower drafting effort | Expanding the business |
| Replace main objects | Company is moving to a different main business | Special resolution, MGT-14 and altered MOA | Higher, with record updates | Pivots and restructuring |
| Section 8 company | Non-profit company changes its objects | Regional Director approval and filings | Higher, with approval steps | Charitable and non-profit bodies |
| Late filing | More than 30 days since the resolution | Form MGT-14 with additional fee | Fee plus additional fee | Regularising a missed filing |
A careful review and timely filing prevent most problems.
Filing Form MGT-14 is one step. Here is how to bring the rest of your business in line.
Store the altered Memorandum, the resolution and the MGT-14 acknowledgement with your statutory records.
Share the altered Memorandum with your bank, lenders and other parties that rely on your objects.
Apply for any licence the new activity needs, and update business details in tax and other registrations.
Review the objects whenever the business grows, so annual filings and operations stay consistent.
Running an LLP instead of a company? Business objects there are changed through the agreement – see our change LLP Agreement service.
Quick answers on changing the object clause of a company in India.
The object clause is the part of a company's Memorandum of Association that states the business the company is formed to carry on. It lists the main objects and the matters necessary for furthering them, and the company's activities are expected to stay within it.
The board approves the proposed change and calls a general meeting with an explanatory statement, the shareholders pass a special resolution, and the company files Form MGT-14 with the Registrar of Companies within 30 days. The altered Memorandum is then registered by the Registrar.
Yes. Under Section 13 of the Companies Act, 2013, a company can alter its Memorandum, including the object clause, only by a special resolution, which needs votes in favour that are at least three times the votes against.
Yes. A copy of the special resolution must be filed with the Registrar in Form MGT-14 within 30 days of passing it. Late filing attracts additional fees.
For most companies no prior approval is needed, as the change is made by special resolution and filed with the Registrar. Section 8 companies generally need Regional Director approval, and activities regulated by bodies such as the RBI or IRDAI may need separate regulatory permission.
The certificate of incorporation, current Memorandum and Articles, the proposed new object clause, the board resolution and meeting notice with explanatory statement, the special resolution and minutes, the list of directors and shareholders, and the DSC of the director signing the filing.
A general meeting normally needs 21 clear days of notice, unless shorter notice is validly agreed by the required majority of members. After the resolution is passed, Form MGT-14 is filed within 30 days, and Registry processing time varies.
If money raised through a prospectus is still unutilised, Section 13(8) adds extra steps. The change needs a special resolution, newspaper publication with the justification, and an opportunity to exit for dissenting shareholders, so professional guidance is advisable.
A company should carry on only the business covered by its objects. Starting a new activity outside them can create legal, licensing and banking problems, so the object clause should be altered first.
The Registrar charges additional fees for the delay, and penalties may apply to the company and its officers. The filing can still be made late, so do not wait if the period has passed.
An LLP does not have a Memorandum of Association. Its business objects are changed by amending the LLP Agreement, and the change is filed with the Registrar in Form 3 within 30 days.
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