FreeComplianceIs a company seal mandatory in India?
Older guides still tell founders to order a common seal right after incorporation. Since the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2015, a common seal is optional. Documents can be authenticated by signatures instead.
What changed
The 2015 amendment removed the requirement for a common seal from Section 9 of the Companies Act. Where the law or the articles once required a document to be executed under seal, a company without a seal can authenticate it with the signatures of:
- Two directors, or
- One director and the company secretary, if one is appointed.
When a seal is still useful
- If your AOA still says documents must be executed under seal, either use one or amend the articles.
- Some banks, government departments and foreign counterparties still expect one.
- A rubber stamp with the company name (different from the common seal) is widely used on invoices and letters for convenience.
Frequently asked questions
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Government fees and procedures change; confirm current figures before you file.
- Issuing share certificates after incorporation
Share certificates must be issued to subscribers within two months of incorporation. Format, stamp duty, SH-1, and the move to demat shares.
- Company name board, letterhead and invoice rules under Section 12
What a company must display on its office name board, letterheads, invoices and website under Section 12(3) of the Companies Act.
- MOA vs AOA: the difference between Memorandum and Articles of Association
MOA and AOA explained: what each document contains, the clauses required by the Companies Act, Table A and Table F, and how to change them.