January 22, 2026

MCA Master Data Guide Verify Company Registration, Directors & Financial Status

MCA Master Data Guide: Verify Company Registration, Directors & Financial Status description: "The ultimate 24x7 guide to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) Master Data. Learn how to check if a company is legitimate, find the list of Directors (DIN), view 'Charges' (Loans) on the company, and download annual reports." date: 2026-01-13 author: Resources Desk | Sansad Online tags: [MCA Master Data, Company Check, CIN Number, Director Identification Number, ROC Search, Due Diligence, Startup India, Corporate Affairs]

🏢 24x7 Resource: MCA Master Data (Company Check)

The Corporate Hub

Access the official registry of every company in India.

  • Official Portal: mca.gov.in
  • Key Tool: Master Data Search (V3 Portal).
  • Key ID: CIN (Corporate Identity Number).
  • Motto: "Empowering Business, Protecting Investors."
⚠️ SCAM ALERT: Thousands of students get fake "Offer Letters" from companies that don't exist. Before you pay any "security deposit" for a job, spend 2 minutes on the MCA portal. If the company name doesn't show up here, it is 100% fake.

Introduction: The "KYC" of Business

(Why You Need to Stalk Companies)

In India, you can print a fancy visiting card and claim to be the "CEO of Apple India Pvt Ltd." But legally, a company is born only when the Registrar of Companies (RoC) issues it a Certificate of Incorporation.

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) maintains a live database of every single registered entity in India—from massive conglomerates like Reliance Industries to the small Mom-and-Pop Pvt Ltd next door.

Why is this public info?

  1. For Job Seekers: To verify if the employer is legitimate.
  2. For Freelancers: To check if your client has a history of defaulting (Status: "Strike Off").
  3. For Activists: To trace the "Shell Companies" used for money laundering (looking at you, Electoral Bonds).
  4. For Home Buyers: To check if the builder's company is actually active or under insolvency.

This "24x7 Resource Page" guides you through the mca.gov.in maze. It teaches you how to decode the CIN, check the Paid-up Capital (is it a ₹1 lakh company or a ₹100 crore company?), and find out who really owns the business.

🔍 How to Check Company Master Data (Free)

You do not need to pay or login to see the basic details.

Step 1: Access the V3 Portal

  • Go to: mca.gov.in -> MCA Services.
  • Click: "Master Data" -> "View Company or LLP Master Data".
  • Company Name: Type the name (e.g., "Tata Motors").
  • Click Search: It will suggest the full legal name. Select it.
  • Enter Captcha: Click Submit.

Step 3: Reading the Result

The screen will show a table. Here is what matters:

  • Company Status:
    • Active: Good.
    • Strike Off: The company is closed (or forced shut by Govt). Run away.
    • Under Process of Striking Off: It is dying.
    • Amalgamated: It has merged with another company.
  • Authorized Capital: The maximum shares they can issue.
  • Paid-up Capital: The actual money the owners put in.
    • Red Flag: If a company claims to have a "Multi-Crore Project" but its Paid-up Capital is only ₹1 Lakh, be suspicious.
  • Date of Incorporation: How old is the company?
  • Registered Address: Is it a fancy office or a random house number?

🆔 Decoding the CIN (Corporate Identity Number)

Every company has a unique 21-digit alphanumeric code. It tells a story.

Example: L28920MH1945PLC004520 (Tata Motors)

  1. L / U:
    • L: Listed on Stock Exchange (Publicly Traded).
    • U: Unlisted (Private/Closely Held).
  2. 28920: Industry Code (Auto/Manufacturing).
  3. MH: State Code (Maharashtra - Registered with RoC Mumbai).
  4. 1945: Year of Incorporation.
  5. PLC / PTC:
    • PLC: Public Limited Company.
    • PTC: Private Limited Company.
    • GOI: Government of India Company.
    • NPL: Non-Profit (Section 8) Company.
  6. 004520: Registration Number.

🕵️ Checking the Directors (Who runs the show?)

Scroll down on the Master Data page to see the "Signatory Details".

  • It lists the Name and DIN (Director Identification Number) of all current directors.
  • Pro Tip: Click on the DIN. (Note: This feature sometimes requires login). It will show you other companies where this person is a director.
  • Use Case: If you find that the Director of your "Real Estate Company" is also a Director of 50 other "Shell Companies" with no revenue, it's a major warning sign.

💳 Index of Charges: Is the Company in Debt?

This is the most underrated feature.

  • Go to: MCA Services -> "Index of Charges".
  • Search: Enter Company Name.
  • Result: It lists every Loan the company has taken from banks against its assets.
    • Lender: HDFC Bank.
    • Amount: ₹500 Crore.
    • Status: Open (Not repaid) or Satisfied (Repaid).
  • Why check: If a builder says "We are debt-free," check this list. If you see an "Open" charge of ₹500 Cr, they are lying.

📂 Downloading Balance Sheets (Paid Service)

If you want the deep details—Profit & Loss Account, Auditor's Report, Shareholder List—you have to pay.

  • Service: "View Public Documents".
  • Cost: ₹100 per company.
  • Process:
    1. Create a login on MCA V3.
    2. Search Company.
    3. Select "Annual Returns" category.
    4. Add to Cart & Pay ₹100.
    5. Download the PDFs.
  • Value: You can see exactly how much profit they made last year and how much salary the directors took.

⚖️ LLP (Limited Liability Partnership)

Many small businesses and law firms register as LLP instead of Pvt Ltd.

  • Search: Use the same "Master Data" tab but select "View LLP Master Data".
  • ID: They have an LLPIN instead of CIN.
  • Difference: LLPs are more flexible and have fewer compliance requirements than companies.

Your corporate intelligence toolkit:

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What does "Strike Off" mean?

It means the Registrar has removed the company's name from the register.

  • Reasons:
    • The company didn't file returns for 2+ years (Dormant).
    • The company was found to be fake/shell.
    • The owners voluntarily closed it.
  • Consequence: A "Strike Off" company cannot legally do business, sign contracts, or operate bank accounts.

Q2. Can I find the address of the Directors?

Not in the free view. The Master Data shows the Company's registered address. To see the Director's personal address, you need to pay ₹100 and download the Form DIR-12 (Appointment of Director) from the "View Public Documents" section.

Q3. Is this data real-time?

Yes. The moment a company files a form, the Master Data is updated. It is the most up-to-date source in the country.

Q4. What is a "Shell Company"?

There is no legal definition, but generally, it refers to a company with:

  • No active business operations.
  • No significant assets.
  • Used only to pass money (layering) or evade tax.
  • How to spot: High "Paid-up Capital" but Zero "Revenue" in the Annual Return.

Q5. Can I complain against a company here?

Yes.

  • Go to "Complaints" -> "Create Service Related Complaint".
  • You can report "Serious Corporate Fraud" directly to the SFIO (Serious Fraud Investigation Office) via this portal.

Bookmark this page. In the world of business, trust is good, but verification is better.