Public Limited Company Registration in India

Public Company Incorporation — Min. 7 Members, 3 Directors, SEBI Advisory and Annual Compliance

A Public Limited Company can offer its shares to the general public and have them listed on a stock exchange (BSE/NSE). It requires a minimum of 7 shareholders and 3 directors, with unrestricted share transferability. The higher compliance burden is justified by its ability to raise public capital through an IPO or rights issue — making it the preferred structure for large businesses, infrastructure projects, banks, and companies planning eventual listing. Our team provides complete Public Limited Company registration, director compliance advisory, and annual statutory compliance.

Key Facts at a Glance

Parameter	Details
Min. Members	7 shareholders; no maximum
Min. Directors	3; at least 1/3 independent for listed companies
Name	Must end with 'Limited' (not 'Private Limited')
Share Transfer	Freely transferable; cannot be restricted in Articles
Public Issue	Can raise capital via IPO, FPO, rights issue
Listing	Can be listed on BSE/NSE; subject to SEBI LODR
CSR	Mandatory for net worth Rs 500 crore+ or turnover Rs 1000 crore+ or net profit Rs 5 crore+
Annual Compliance	AGM + AOC-4 + MGT-7 + audit committee + 4 board meetings

Our Services

Name Reservation

Name reservation for public company — must end with 'Limited', no confusion with existing companies, and not prohibited under incorporation rules.

MOA and AOA Drafting

Comprehensive MOA and AOA — objects clause, no share transfer restrictions in Articles, and governance provisions for a public company.

SPICe+ Filing

Complete SPICe+ filing for incorporation — DSC, DIN, PAN, TAN, EPFO, ESIC, bank account, and GST in one integrated form.

Director Compliance

Advisory on independent director requirements, DIR-3 KYC, audit committee and NRC constitution, and director disclosure obligations.

SEBI Pre-Listing Advisory

Advisory for companies planning IPO — SEBI ICDR Regulations, offer document requirements, and listing obligations under SEBI LODR.

Annual Compliance

AGM within 6 months of FY end, AOC-4 within 30 days, MGT-7 within 60 days, statutory audit, directors' report, and CSR compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between Public and Private Limited Company?

(1) Members — min. 7 for public vs 2 for private; (2) Share transfer — unrestricted for public, restricted for private; (3) Capital raising — public can offer shares to the public and seek stock exchange listing; (4) Directors — min. 3 for public vs 2 for private; (5) Compliance — higher for public with independent directors, audit committees, and SEBI requirements.

Can a Private Limited Company convert to Public?

Yes. By special resolution to alter Articles removing private company restrictions, filing MGT-14 within 30 days, and filing INC-27 (conversion) with ROC. After conversion: appoint a third director, increase membership to 7, and comply with public company requirements.

Is a Public Limited Company required to be listed?

No. Many public companies operate as unlisted — unlimited shareholders and freely transferable shares without listing. Listing requires a separate IPO process and SEBI LODR compliance. The decision to list is strategic based on capital requirements and shareholder liquidity.

Setting Up a Public Limited Company? Our CA Team Ensures Full Compliance.

Name reservation, MOA/AOA, SPICe+ filing, director compliance, SEBI advisory, and annual ROC compliance.