A company's name change in India goes through the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), not just a rebrand on paper. It needs board approval, a shareholder vote, a reserved name through the RUN service, and formal sign-off from the Registrar of Companies before it's legally effective. Skip a step and the reserved name lapses, the filing gets sent back, or worse, the new name gets challenged later.
This page walks through exactly how a company, LLP, or partnership can change its registered name in India: the legal process under Section 13 of the Companies Act, 2013, the documents you'll need, current government fees, realistic timelines, and where most applications go wrong. If you're here to get it done rather than just read about it, LegalDev handles the filing end to end.
Changing a company's name doesn't create a new legal entity. The company's CIN, PAN, bank accounts, contracts, assets, and liabilities all carry over unchanged. Only the name on record changes, and with it, the company's Memorandum of Association (MOA) and Articles of Association (AOA), which both need formal alteration.
A name change requires, at minimum:
Pending legal proceedings, contracts, and obligations continue exactly as they were. The company simply continues under the new name.
Company name changes in India are governed by Section 13 of the Companies Act, 2013, read with the Companies (Incorporation) Rules, 2014. Section 13 covers alteration of the memorandum, including the name clause, and sets out the approvals needed: board resolution, special resolution of members, and Central Government approval (delegated to the Registrar of Companies in practice).
Section 4 of the Act governs name reservation itself, which is where the RUN service comes in for both new incorporations and existing companies changing their name.
If the Registrar directs a company to change its name (for instance, where a name too closely resembles an existing registered company or trademark), the company must comply within the time specified, and this falls under a separate compulsory-change route rather than the voluntary process described here.
Any private limited company, public limited company, One Person Company (OPC), Section 8 company, or Nidhi company registered under the Companies Act can apply for a name change, provided:
There's generally no restriction on how many times a private company can change its name, though frequent changes can raise scrutiny and complicate ongoing compliance, banking, and vendor relationships.
All attachments are filed digitally in PDF format through the MCA portal.
Step 1: Board Meeting and Board Resolution — The directors meet, discuss the proposed new name, and pass a board resolution approving it. The board also authorises a director or company secretary to check name availability and proceed with the RUN filing, and fixes the date, time, and agenda for the EGM.
Step 2: Name Availability Check and RUN Filing — The company applies to reserve the proposed new name through the RUN (Reserve Unique Name) service on the MCA portal. Up to two name options can be submitted with a brief justification for each. The Central Registration Centre (CRC) checks the name against existing company names, LLP names, and registered trademarks before approving it. If both proposed names are rejected, a fresh RUN application is needed, with the fee paid again.
Step 3: Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) and Special Resolution — Once the name is reserved, the company convenes an EGM. Shareholders vote on a special resolution to alter the name clause of the MOA (and AOA, if relevant). Passing this requires at least 75% of the votes cast in favour.
Step 4: Filing Form MGT-14 — Within 30 days of passing the special resolution, the company files Form MGT-14 with the ROC, along with a certified copy of the resolution and the explanatory statement.
Step 5: Filing Form INC-24 — The company then files Form INC-24, the formal application seeking the Central Government's (in practice, the Registrar's) approval for the name change. This includes the altered MOA/AOA and the special resolution.
Step 6: ROC Review and Approval — The Registrar reviews the application, verifies compliance status, and may raise queries or ask for clarification. Assuming everything is in order, the Registrar approves the change.
Step 7: Issuance of Fresh Certificate of Incorporation (Form INC-25) — On approval, the ROC issues a fresh Certificate of Incorporation in the new name (Form INC-25). This is the point at which the name change becomes legally effective, and the company's master data on the MCA portal is updated.
Step 8: Post-Approval Updates — With the new Certificate of Incorporation in hand, the company updates its PAN, TAN, GST registration, bank accounts, licences, letterheads, signage, and contracts. More on this in Section 11.
Government fees for MGT-14 and INC-24 are tied to authorised share capital slabs and change periodically, so it's worth confirming the current schedule on the MCA fee calculator before filing. Professional fees for a CA or CS handling the full process (drafting resolutions, filing all forms, and following up with the ROC) typically add to the government fee, and vary with company size and complexity. LegalDev quotes this upfront, with no surprise add-ons once the engagement starts.
Note: RUN name reservation validity currently runs for a limited window from the date of approval (verify the exact number of days on the MCA portal at the time of filing, since this has changed more than once in recent years). Missing that window means the name lapses and the ₹1,000 RUN fee has to be paid again.
Complex cases, such as a simultaneous change in the main object clause, a name too close to an existing trademark, or ROC queries on compliance status, can push this out further.
The keyword "change registered business name" and "change limited company name" often cover more than just private limited companies. The process differs by entity type:
LegalDev handles all three, so if your query is really about an LLP or a proprietorship rather than a private limited company, mention that upfront and the process gets scoped accordingly.
Getting the new Certificate of Incorporation is the legal milestone, but it's not the finish line. Businesses typically need to update:
For a period after the change (display of the old name alongside the new one is a common requirement outside the registered office and on official communications), the company should keep both names visible where the MCA rules specify, to avoid confusion with vendors, banks, or regulators who haven't yet updated their own records.
LegalDev's team handles secretarial and compliance filings for companies and LLPs across India every month, and a name change is one of the filings where a missed date or a rejected name option costs real time. Here's what that looks like in practice for this service:
Start your company name change with a document checklist tailored to your entity type.
Yes. Both the Memorandum of Association and, where the name appears, the Articles of Association must be formally altered to reflect the new name.
No. Any pending legal proceedings by or against the company continue under the new name, exactly as they would have under the old one.
No. All existing contracts, rights, assets, and liabilities carry over unchanged. Only the name on record changes.
Yes. The Registrar of Companies, acting on behalf of the Central Government, must approve the change before a fresh Certificate of Incorporation is issued.
Yes. A special resolution, approved by at least 75% of the votes cast at a general meeting, is a mandatory step.
Section 13 of the Companies Act, 2013, governs the alteration of a company's name, read alongside Section 4 for name reservation.
Government fees include ₹1,000 for RUN name reservation, plus slab-based fees for MGT-14 and INC-24 tied to authorised share capital. Professional fees for filing assistance are separate and vary by provider and company complexity.
Typically around 20-30 working days from the board resolution to the fresh Certificate of Incorporation, assuming no ROC queries or rejected name options.
RUN, or Reserve Unique Name, is the MCA's online service for reserving a company name, whether for a new incorporation or an existing company's name change.
Up to two proposed names can be submitted in a single RUN application, each with a brief justification.
A fresh RUN application must be filed with a different name, along with the ₹1,000 fee again.
The reservation is valid for a limited number of days set by current MCA rules, so it's best to confirm the exact window on the MCA portal at the time of filing and file INC-24 promptly within it.
MGT-14 files the special resolution passed at the EGM with the Registrar, and must be submitted within 30 days of the resolution being passed.
INC-24 is the formal application seeking the Registrar's approval for the company's name change, filed after MGT-14.
INC-25 is the fresh Certificate of Incorporation the ROC issues once the name change is approved.
No. The Corporate Identity Number stays the same; only the name associated with it changes.
The PAN number itself stays the same, but the name on the PAN record needs to be updated to match the new Certificate of Incorporation.
There's no fixed legal limit, but frequent changes draw scrutiny and complicate banking, vendor, and compliance relationships, so it's generally treated as a considered, occasional decision rather than a routine one.
Public companies face somewhat tighter scrutiny given wider public and shareholder interest, though the core Section 13 process is similar.
It's not a mandatory MCA filing step, but skipping it is one of the most common reasons a newly approved company name later runs into a trademark dispute.
Board and special resolutions, the altered MOA and AOA, EGM minutes and notice, the existing Certificate of Incorporation, and the authorised signatory's Digital Signature Certificate, among others.
No DSC is required specifically for the RUN application itself, but it is needed for filing MGT-14 and INC-24.
They remain valid and enforceable. It's good practice to notify counterparties and, where appropriate, obtain a ratification acknowledging the same legal entity continues under the new name.
Yes. Banks need to be notified and account records, cheque books, and related documentation updated to reflect the new name.
Yes. The legal name on the GST registration must be amended to match the new Certificate of Incorporation.
A name change alters what the company is called; a change in the object clause alters what the company is legally permitted to do. The two are often related (a business pivot triggers both) but are legally separate alterations, sometimes processed together.
No. LLPs follow a parallel but distinct process under the LLP Act, 2008, using RUN-LLP for name reservation and Form 5 for the name change itself.
Yes, through a supplementary partnership deed and, for registered firms, an application to the state Registrar of Firms.
No. A proprietorship isn't a separate registered entity under the Companies Act, so there's no MCA filing. The trade name update happens through GST, Udyam/MSME, and bank records instead.
A special resolution is a shareholder decision requiring at least 75% of votes cast in favour, used for significant structural changes like altering the company's name or objects, as opposed to ordinary matters that need only a simple majority.
Current MCA rules require the previous name to be displayed alongside the new one for a specified period wherever the company's name is displayed publicly, so it's worth confirming the exact duration in force at the time of the change.
The Registrar typically raises a query or seeks clarification before outright rejection. Common triggers are incomplete documentation, non-compliant ROC filing status, or a name too similar to an existing entity, all of which can usually be resolved and resubmitted.
They're separate filings, but a company going through a broader restructuring sometimes handles both around the same time. Each still needs its own resolution and form.
An authorised director, manager, company secretary, CEO, or CFO of the company signs the form using their Digital Signature Certificate.
No, employment contracts and obligations remain valid. Internal records and communication should be updated to reflect the new name, and it's good practice to inform employees directly.
A company name change in India is entirely doable without disrupting the business underneath it, but it runs through several sequential legal steps, each with its own deadline: board approval, RUN name reservation, a properly noticed EGM, MGT-14, INC-24, and finally a fresh Certificate of Incorporation from the ROC. Most delays come from avoidable issues: a name too similar to an existing one, a lapsed RUN reservation, or outstanding ROC compliance that surfaces only once the application is already filed.
If you'd rather have someone track the deadlines and file the forms correctly the first time, LegalDev's team manages the process from the board resolution through to your updated PAN, GST, and licences.