Get your NGO ready to receive CSR funds. Legal Startup reviews your eligibility, prepares Form CSR-1 with the required documents and coordinates professional certification, so you can obtain your CSR registration number and start working with corporate donors.
Free call & custom quote · Professional fee + government fee
CSR registration means filing Form CSR-1 with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs so that an NGO or other implementing agency can receive a unique CSR registration number and carry out Corporate Social Responsibility projects for companies under Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013.
Last updated: October 2026. CSR Rules, forms and eligibility conditions can change, so we confirm the current position before filing.
Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013 requires certain larger companies to spend a share of their profit on Corporate Social Responsibility. Many of them carry out these projects through external partners such as NGOs. Since April 2021, an NGO that wants to be such a partner must first register itself by filing Form CSR-1.
The CSR registration number works as an identifier for the implementing agency. Companies quote it in their CSR reporting, and it helps the Government keep track of who receives and uses CSR funds. Typical projects include education, healthcare, sanitation, skill development, rural development and environmental work listed in Schedule VII of the Act.
Registration is done online. For forms and notifications, visit the MCA portal (mca.gov.in), the official website of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India.
The CSR Rules look at your legal form, tax approvals and who signs the application.
Who may apply.
Income-tax registrations.
Who signs and certifies.
Evidence of genuine work.
Not sure whether your NGO qualifies, or whether your 12A and 80G are in order? Share your documents and our experts will tell you, free of charge.
Why NGOs get a CSR registration number before approaching corporates.
Companies look for registered implementing agencies when they select CSR partners.
A CSR number shows that your NGO has been recorded with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
Many companies request it, along with 12A and 80G, before signing a CSR agreement.
Companies use your CSR number to report spending in their CSR filings.
Preparing for CSR-1 puts your records, approvals and signatories in order.
File from anywhere in India without visiting a Registry office.
From eligibility check to your CSR registration number.
Timelines depend on document accuracy and any queries raised. Not to scale.
We confirm your entity type and review your 12A and 80G status and validity period.
The authorised signatory needs a Digital Signature Certificate and a resolution authorising the filing.
We check registration papers, PAN, tax certificates and activity details for gaps or mismatches.
A practising CA, CS or Cost Accountant certifies Form CSR-1, as the rules require.
The form is filed on the MCA portal with attachments and the prescribed fee.
After the Registrar approves, a unique CSR registration number is generated. We respond to any queries.
Keep these ready to avoid delays. Our expert will confirm the exact list for your case.
The total cost depends on how complete your records are and whether other approvals need attention first. It generally has these parts:
The MCA charges a filing fee for Form CSR-1. The amount can change, so we confirm the current fee before filing.
Our fee covers preparation, coordination of certification and filing. Call free for a custom quote before you pay anything.
Professional certification, DSC and any 12A or 80G work needed first are quoted separately.
We share a clear, itemised quote before you begin. Get your free quote →
Choose the situation that matches your NGO, or call free for a custom quote.
NGOs with 12A and 80G already in place.
NGOs that still need tax approvals before CSR-1.
Setting up a Section 8 company, trust or society, or company-side CSR reporting.
Our professional fee is quoted after a free call. Government fee is separate. Approval is decided by the authorities and is never guaranteed. Not sure which option fits? Ask for a free consultation.
People often mix up these registrations and forms. Here is how they differ.
| Item | Who it concerns | Purpose | Authority | Filed on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSR-1 | NGO or implementing agency | Get a CSR registration number | MCA | MCA portal |
| CSR-2 | Company with a CSR obligation | Report CSR activities | MCA | MCA portal, with financial statements |
| 12A and 80G | Trust, society or Section 8 company | Tax exemption and donor deduction | Income Tax Department | Income tax portal |
Most delays come from mismatched details and expired approvals.
The CSR number is the start. Working with corporates calls for continuing discipline.
Give your CSR registration number to corporate partners for their records and reporting.
Track the validity of your tax approvals and apply for renewal in time.
Maintain project records, utilisation details and reports for the companies funding you.
Keep proper accounts and separate CSR funds so audits and donor reviews go smoothly.
File the annual returns of your trust, society or Section 8 company and keep signatory details current.
Quick answers on CSR registration in India.
CSR registration is the filing of Form CSR-1 with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs by an entity that wants to undertake CSR activities on behalf of companies. Once the form is approved, the entity receives a unique CSR registration number, which companies use when reporting their CSR spending.
Implementing agencies such as Section 8 companies, registered trusts and registered societies that want to receive CSR funds from companies need it. Companies themselves do not file CSR-1 as an implementing agency. They have their own obligations under Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013.
The applicant must be a Section 8 company, a registered public trust or a registered society, and must hold a valid registration under Sections 12A and 80G of the Income-tax Act, 1961, unless it falls in a category the rules specifically exempt. We check your status and certificates against the current rules before filing.
Form CSR-1 is the electronic registration form for entities that wish to undertake CSR activities. It is signed by an authorised person and certified by a practising Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary or Cost Accountant. It captures the entity's identity, registration details, PAN, 12A and 80G status and past activities.
File Form CSR-1 on the MCA portal with the required attachments and fee. After the Registrar approves the application, a unique CSR registration number is generated for the entity. The time taken depends on the accuracy of the filing and any queries raised.
Typically the registration certificate and constitutional document (trust deed, society memorandum or Section 8 MoA and AoA), PAN of the entity, 12A and 80G certificates, details of the authorised signatory with a digital signature, and details of past activities and financial statements where applicable. We confirm the exact list for your case.
For most implementing agencies, yes. The CSR rules require registration under Sections 12A and 80G of the Income-tax Act. These approvals are time-bound and must be kept valid, so we check their status before you apply for CSR-1.
The cost has two parts: the MCA filing fee and the professional fee, which includes preparation, professional certification and filing. The professional fee depends on how complete your records are, so we share an itemised quote after a free call.
CSR-2 is the form a company files to report its CSR activities, as an addition to its financial statements. It is a company-side filing and is separate from the CSR-1 registration of an NGO or implementing agency.
Under the CSR rules, a company's CSR spending through an external implementing agency is expected to go to an entity that has a CSR registration number. Many corporates also ask for it during due diligence, so an NGO without one may find it hard to receive CSR funding.
Planning to apply for CSR registration? Speak to our compliance expert today – the consultation and the quote are free.
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