Society
A society is a membership-based entity registered under the applicable state Societies Registration Act, built for charitable, cultural, educational or social objectives. We handle the registration and the compliance calendar that follows.
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A registered, member-run non-profit
A society is a legal entity registered under the Societies Registration Act as adopted by the relevant state — for instance the Karnataka Societies Registration Act, 1960 — established for charitable, social, cultural, educational or religious objectives. Once registered, it becomes a separate legal entity that can own property, enter contracts, and sue or be sued in its own name.
A Registrar of Societies oversees compliance under the applicable state Act, and the society is expected to keep proper governance and financial records throughout its life, not just at the point of registration.
- Formed for a nonprofit purpose — education, charity, culture or public service
- Registered under the relevant state Societies Registration Act
- Overseen by the state Registrar of Societies
- Separate legal identity once registered
- Must maintain proper books, minutes and member records
Groups formalising a shared social purpose
Formalising charitable or cultural work
Groups running education, welfare or cultural activity who want a registered legal entity behind that work.
Governance for a member body
Associations and clubs that need a formal structure for meetings, elections and financial accountability to members.
Staying compliant year after year
Registered societies need audits, filings and record-keeping kept current on an ongoing basis — we take that on as a standing engagement.
Registration to ongoing compliance
Memorandum and rules drafting
The society’s memorandum of association and by-laws prepared to reflect its actual objectives and governance.
Registration filing
Filed with the Registrar of Societies in the relevant state, along with founding member documentation.
Annual audit
Coordinating the yearly audit by a qualified chartered accountant that every society needs.
Meeting and record compliance
Keeping minutes of AGMs and board meetings, and member records, properly maintained.
Property and registration filings
Reporting property acquisition or disposal, and handling registration renewal where the state Act requires it.
FCRA guidance
Advice on registering under the FCRA before the society accepts any foreign contribution.
Four steps to a registered society
We draft the memorandum
Objectives and by-laws set out clearly for founding members.
We file for registration
Submitted to the state Registrar of Societies.
Governance is set up
Meeting cadence and record-keeping established.
Ongoing compliance runs
Audit and filings handled as a standing engagement.
Questions companies ask first.
Is a society the same as a Trust or a Section 8 Company?
No. All three pursue non-profit goals, but a society is registered under a state Societies Registration Act with a member-elected governing body, while a Trust is created by a trust deed and a Section 8 Company is incorporated under the Companies Act.
Does a society need its accounts audited every year?
Yes, societies are expected to have their accounts audited annually by a qualified chartered accountant to maintain their legal standing.
Can a society own property?
Yes, once registered a society is a separate legal entity and can own property, enter contracts, and sue or be sued in its own name — though property transactions typically need to be reported to the Registrar.
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