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India's official company registers. Where each record lives and how to use it.
India has no single national business register. A company sits on the MCA register, its tax status on the GST portal, small firms hold a Udyam number, importers an IEC, and a shop registers with its state. This guide explains each record and the order to check them in.
Six records that describe an Indian business
| Record | Kept by | What you can look up |
|---|---|---|
| MCA21, Registrar of Companies | Ministry of Corporate Affairs, mca.gov.in | Every incorporated company and LLP. A 21-character CIN (LLPs: LLPIN). Status, incorporation date and registered office through "View Company/LLP Master Data". |
| GST portal, GSTIN | Goods and Services Tax Network, gst.gov.in | A 15-digit GSTIN that contains the PAN and state code. "Search Taxpayer" shows legal name, trade name, place of business and registration status. |
| Udyam Registration | Ministry of MSME, udyamregistration.gov.in | Micro, small and medium enterprises. Number format UDYAM-XX-00-0000000. Replaced Udyog Aadhaar. |
| Importer Exporter Code (IEC) | Directorate General of Foreign Trade, dgft.gov.in | Required for importing or exporting. A 10-digit code issued against the PAN. "View/Verify IEC" shows name, address and status. |
| PAN and TAN | Income Tax Department, incometax.gov.in | The tax identity. The PAN is the base of both the GSTIN and the IEC. |
| Shops and Establishments | State labour departments | Registration of physical premises. Each state has its own act and portal. |
Looking up an Indian company, step by step
- Start on MCA, by name or CIN. View Company/LLP Master Data at mca.gov.in gives status, incorporation date and registered office for free. This confirms the legal entity exists.
- Check tax status on GST. Search Taxpayer on gst.gov.in. An active status and matching legal name suggest the business is trading.
- Check the specialised records. If the company says it imports or exports, verify the IEC. If it claims MSME status, verify the Udyam number.
- Match the details. Compare the legal name, PAN and address across the portals. When they agree, you have a verifiable business rather than a single listing.
Real business or shell?
Signs that hold up
- A CIN or LLPIN with active status on mca.gov.in
- A GSTIN whose legal name and address match, with returns filed
- The same PAN behind the GSTIN and, where relevant, the IEC
- A Udyam number that verifies, for MSME claims
Warning signs
- An identifier that returns nothing on the official portal
- A name or address that differs between MCA and GST
- A cancelled or suspended GST registration
- A polished website but no registration anywhere
The catch
Each register is authoritative for its own part, and the full picture of one company is spread across several portals with different identifiers. Many Indian companies also have no website: in Atlas's data on 1 July 2026, 96.8 % had none. For other countries, see the list of company registers.
Questions
How do I look up an Indian company for free?
Use View Company/LLP Master Data on mca.gov.in, by CIN or by name. Basic master data is free.
What is the difference between a CIN, a GSTIN and a Udyam number?
A CIN identifies an incorporated company on the MCA register. A GSTIN is the tax registration on the GST portal. A Udyam number identifies a registered MSME.
Are Indian company records public?
The basic registration data is public on the government portals, often without logging in. Full documents on MCA may require a fee.