Rebranding your company? Changing from "ABC Technologies" to "ABC Digital Solutions"? Our CS team handles the complete name change process — Board Meeting, EGM, RUN form, MGT-14, INC-24, and new Certificate of Incorporation.
Under Section 13 of the Companies Act, 2013, a company can change its name at any time by passing a Special Resolution at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) and obtaining approval from the Central Government (Registrar of Companies). The name change involves amending the first clause of the Memorandum of Association (MOA) — which is the company's official "Name Clause."
Importantly, a name change does not create a new company — the CIN remains the same, all contracts, liabilities, and rights continue under the new name, and the company's legal existence is unaffected.
Central Government approval (through the ROC/CRC) is required for ALL name changes except one: adding or deleting the word "Private" to/from the name (e.g., converting a Pvt Ltd to a Public Ltd or vice versa). That specific change does not require Central Government approval — only a Special Resolution and ROC intimation.
Under Section 13(2) of the Companies Act, 2013, a company may not be permitted to change its name if it has failed to file its Annual Return (MGT-7), Financial Statements (AOC-4), or any other document to the ROC on time. Ensure all ROC filings are current before initiating a name change application — the ROC will check the company's compliance status before approving INC-24.
Company's business activity has changed significantly and the current name no longer reflects the business (e.g., from "ABC Textiles" to "ABC Digital").
Existing name conflicts with a registered trademark or another company's name — ROC direction or court order requires name change.
Post-merger or acquisition, the surviving company needs to adopt the acquiring entity's brand name.
Aligning Indian subsidiary's name with the global parent company's brand for uniformity across markets.
Modernising a dated business name to reflect current positioning, target market, or product focus.
Converting from Private Limited to Public Limited (or vice versa) requires addition/deletion of "Private" in the name.
Web service on MCA portal for name reservation. Submit up to 2 proposed names. Fee: ₹1,000. Approved name is reserved for 60 days for existing company name changes (vs 20 days for new companies). Board Resolution authorizing name check required as attachment.
Filed within 30 days of passing the Special Resolution at EGM. Contains: copy of resolution, explanatory statement, and altered MOA. Non-STP form — manually reviewed by ROC. Late fee: ₹100/day with no maximum cap.
Application to the Central Government (processed through CRC/ROC) for approval of the new name. Filed after RUN name approval and after MGT-14 is processed. Contains: Board Resolution, Special Resolution, MOA copy, auditor certificate. ROC issues INC-25 upon approval.
Issued by the ROC after INC-24 is approved. Contains the new company name. This is the conclusive proof of the name change — effective from the date of issue. The CIN remains unchanged. Old COI becomes invalid after INC-25 is issued.
Check proposed name availability on the MCA portal under "Search Company Name" and also check trademark availability on the IP India portal. The proposed name must be unique, must not closely resemble any existing company or LLP name, and must not infringe on any registered trademark. We shortlist 2–3 name options with you as backups.
Convene a Board Meeting with at least 7 days' notice to all directors. Pass a Board Resolution to: (a) approve the name change proposal, (b) authorize a director to check and apply for name availability via RUN, and (c) call an EGM to pass the Special Resolution. Minutes documented.
File RUN on MCA portal with the proposed new name, Board Resolution copy, and ₹1,000 fee. CRC reviews and approves/rejects within 1–3 working days. If approved, the name is reserved for 60 days — all filings must be completed within this period. You may propose 2 names per application.
After name is approved, call an Extraordinary General Meeting with 21 days' notice to all shareholders. At the EGM, pass a Special Resolution (requires ≥75% votes) to change the company name and amend Clause I (Name Clause) of the MOA. Explanatory statement attached to the notice as required by Section 102.
Within 30 days of passing the Special Resolution at EGM, file Form MGT-14 with the ROC. Attachments: certified copy of Special Resolution, explanatory statement, altered MOA, and EGM notice. Government fee applicable. ROC reviews and records the resolution.
After MGT-14 is processed, file INC-24 (application for name change) with CRC/ROC. Attachments: Board Resolution, Special Resolution, MOA, INC-25 (if applicable), auditor certificate (if required). ROC verifies compliance status, filing history, and RUN approval before processing.
Upon approval of INC-24, the ROC issues the new Certificate of Incorporation (Form INC-25) with the company's new name. The new name is effective from the date mentioned on INC-25. Total process typically takes 15–20 working days from Board Meeting.
After receiving INC-25, update: MCA master data (automatic), company's statutory registers, GST registration (core amendment), PAN/TAN (intimation letter + new certificate), bank accounts (all banks), letterheads, invoices, website, contracts, and any regulatory licences. We prepare the checklist and assist with all updates.
No — absolutely not. A name change under Section 13 does not create a new company. The company's legal identity continues — the same CIN, same directors, same shareholders, same contracts, same PAN, and same GST number. Only the name changes. You receive a new Certificate of Incorporation (INC-25) with the new name, but it carries the same CIN. Think of it like a person legally changing their name — the identity is the same, just the name is different.
No. Under Section 13(2) of the Companies Act, 2013, the ROC will check your company's compliance status before approving INC-24. If annual returns (MGT-7), financial statements (AOC-4), or any other ROC filings are pending for any financial year, the name change application will be delayed or rejected. You must clear all pending filings and pay applicable late fees before applying for a name change. Our team checks and clears compliance arrears before initiating the process.
After receiving INC-25, you must update: (1) GST registration — file core amendment on GST portal (no fresh registration, just update trade/legal name). (2) Bank accounts — intimate all banks with INC-25 copy and update account records. (3) PAN/TAN — submit intimation letter to Income Tax Department for name update in their records. (4) All contracts, letterheads, invoices, and agreements — update to show new name. (5) Company's statutory registers. (6) Any other regulatory licences or registrations. The old company name can no longer be used on any official documents after INC-25.
The complete process — from Board Meeting to receiving INC-25 — typically takes 15–20 working days. Key timelines: RUN approval: 1–3 days. EGM notice period: 21 days. MGT-14 processing: 5–7 days. INC-24 processing: 5–10 days. Total elapsed calendar time including notice periods: approximately 30–45 calendar days. Starting the process early — before the reserved name (60-day validity) expires — is critical.
Expert CS-handled name change — Board Meeting, EGM documentation, RUN, MGT-14, INC-24, and post-approval updates. Transparent pricing.