CSR Registration for NGO: Filing Form CSR-1 Step by Step

CSR registration for NGO groups is the step that lets a trust, society or section 8 company work as an "implementing agency" for company CSR money. It is done by filing Form CSR-1 with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). Please note: this is an independent guide, not a government website. You file the form only on the official MCA portal, mca.gov.in.

What CSR registration for NGO groups means

CSR is short for Corporate Social Responsibility. So the CSR funding full form is Corporate Social Responsibility funding. Under section 135 of the Companies Act, larger companies must spend part of their profits on activities listed in Schedule VII. They can do the work themselves or through an implementing agency.

Under the CSR rules, every implementing agency must now be registered with the Central Government before it handles CSR work. That registration is Form CSR-1. When it is done, the entity gets a unique CSR registration number. Companies put this number in their own CSR filings, so most will ask for it before they sign anything with you.

Many people search "what is CSR registration for NGO groups" thinking it is a licence to raise money. It is not. CSR-1 only makes you eligible. Finding a company partner is a separate task, explained in our CSR funding guide.

You will see many names for this one step: NGO CSR registration, CSR NGO registration, registration for CSR funding, NGO registration for CSR, or CSR 1 registration for NGO groups. They all mean Form CSR-1. There is no other CSR licence.

Who can file Form CSR-1

The form itself lists the types of entity that can register. In simple terms:

The key point: without 80G approval, a private trust or society cannot file CSR-1. If you only have provisional 12A or 80G, read our 12A and 80G registration page and check the latest rules and FAQ on mca.gov.in for how provisional approval is treated.

CSR registration for trust and society groups

A lot of searches are about CSR registration for trust bodies, so here is the short answer. A trust CSR registration is the same Form CSR-1. There is no separate "CSR trust registration" with a state office. Registration of trust for CSR activities only needs:

• a trust that is registered under the law of your state, as covered in trust registration
• 12A (now income tax registration under the new Act) and 80G under the income tax law
• three years of work in the area the company wants to fund, or set up by a company

The same goes for a registered society. For a section 8 company, the CIN takes the place of the registration number in the form.

Papers, signatures and people you need

CSR-1 is short, but three things hold most groups up: the DSC, the professional and mismatched details.

• Registration certificate of the trust, society or company, as a clear PDF.
• PAN of the entity. The name must match the certificate exactly.
• Details of authorised people: directors, trustees, chairperson, CEO or secretary, with DIN or PAN and a working email for each. The form sends an OTP to each email.
• A board or trust resolution naming the person who signs.
• Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) of the signatory.
• A practising professional: a chartered accountant, company secretary or cost accountant in whole-time practice, who certifies the form with their own DSC and membership number.

Keep your 12A and 80G orders open while filling in. The form asks which exemption route you have, and a wrong choice is a common reason for trouble.

How the CSR-1 form is laid out

Doing CSR-1 registration for NGO online for the first time? It helps to know the parts before you start. The form has these sections:

1. Nature of the entity: pick your category from the list in the table above.
2. Established by a company? If yes, give that company's CIN and name. If no, confirm the three year track record.
3. Entity details: type, CIN or registration number, name, date of incorporation, address, email (verified by OTP) and PAN.
4. Authorised representatives: a table of names, designation, DIN or PAN and email, each verified by OTP.
5. Attachments: registration certificate and PAN.
6. Declaration: resolution number and date, signed with DSC.
7. Professional's certificate: filled and signed by the CA, CS or cost accountant.

The professional signs under a warning about penalties for false statements in the Companies Act. Give them true and complete records. They will check your deed, 12A and 80G orders and accounts before signing.

Your number: how to check CSR registration number of trust or society

After the form is processed, MCA issues a unique CSR registration number for the entity. Save the email and the SRN receipt. Put the number on your letterhead, proposals and website so companies can quote it.

To check it, start with the filing receipt and the MCA email. MCA also publishes CSR-1 registration data under the data and reports area of mca.gov.in. Page names change, so search the site for "CSR-1 registration" if you cannot find it. A company doing due diligence can also ask you for the acknowledgement.

Common problems and fixes

For the fee, check the MCA fee schedule and the form's payment page at the time of filing. CSR-1 does not replace NGO Darpan registration, which you need for government grants such as those on the Ministry of Social Justice grant portal.