When a company is incorporated in India, one of the most essential identifiers it receives is a CIN, which stands for Corporate Identification Number. This alphanumeric code serves as the company's unique identity in the regulatory, legal, and business ecosystem.

What is a CIN?

The full form of CIN is Corporate Identification Number. It is a 21-digit alphanumeric code issued by the Registrar of Companies under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to companies incorporated in India. The CIN is assigned at the time of a company's registration and is printed on the Certificate of Incorporation. It becomes a primary reference for the company's identity in all subsequent regulatory filings, official documents, disclosures and public profiles.

Structure of a CIN: How to decode it?

The 21-character CIN is typically broken into six parts, each part carrying specific information. Below is how to read a CIN.

• Section 1 – First character: Indicates the listing status of the company on the stock market.

• ‘L’ = Listed company

• ‘U’ = Unlisted company

• Section 2 – Next five digits: The industry or economic activity code as per the ROC classification.
• Section 3 – Next two letters: The state code where the company is registered (for example: KA = Karnataka, MH = Maharashtra, DL = Delhi, TN = Tamil Nadu, etc).
• Section 4 – Next four digits: The year of incorporation of the company.
• Section 5 – Next three letters: The company type or ownership classification, for instance, PTC for Private Limited Company, PLC for Public Limited Company, GOI for Government of India company, SGC for State Government Company, etc.
• Section 6 – Last six digits: The unique registration number allotted by the ROC to that company.

Who receives a CIN and when?

Any company incorporated under the Companies Act in India, a government company, a not-for-profit Section 8 company, a Nidhi company, etc., is issued a CIN by the Registrar of Companies at the time of incorporation. The CIN is printed on the Certificate of Incorporation issued by the ROC.

From that point onwards, the company must use the CIN in its statutory filings, communications, documents and disclosures. As mentioned, Limited Liability Partnerships are not issued a CIN. Instead, they get an LLPIN.

Uses & benefits of the CIN

1. Looking at a company's CIN on the MCA website, stakeholders can verify its registration details, incorporation date, type, status, address, directors, etc.
2. The ROC uses the CIN to track the company's annual filings, audit reports, changes in structure, compliance history and regulatory standing.
3. Since the CIN must appear on official documents, it helps avoid confusion among companies with similar names and ensures each company is linked to the correct identity.

Conclusion

A CIN number is mandatory for companies registered in India other than LLPs and must be used for all statutory documents, filings, and disclosures. While powerful, the CIN is just a starting point; it must be supplemented with detailed filings and data sources for complete company analysis.