1. Understanding the Naming Guidelines

• The name of a Section 8 company must reflect its charitable or non-profit nature.
  
• Names that suggest profit-making or commercial motives are not allowed.
  
• Words like “Foundation”, “Association”, “Society”, “Council”, “Institute”, or “Trust” are preferred.
  
• The words “Limited” or “Private Limited” are not used, even though the entity enjoys limited liability.
  
• The proposed name should not be identical or too similar to an existing company or trademark.
  

2. Preparation Before Applying

• Ensure the proposed names align with the company’s main objectives.
  
• Prepare at least two suitable and meaningful names as alternatives.
  
• Draft a brief object clause (up to 500 characters) describing the company’s purpose.
  
• Confirm that the chosen names are available using the MCA Name Search facility.
  
• Avoid using restricted, offensive, or misleading terms as per the Companies (Incorporation) Rules.
  

3. Filing SPICe+ Part A Form

• The application for name approval is filed through the SPICe+ Part A form on the MCA portal.
  
• This form is part of the integrated SPICe+ application used for incorporation.
  
• It requires details such as the proposed name, type of company (Section 8), and brief objectives.
  
• The applicant must also mention whether the company is private or public.
  
• A fee of ₹1,000 is payable at the time of submission of SPICe+ Part A.
  

4. Review by Central Registration Centre (CRC)

• The application is processed by the Central Registration Centre (CRC) of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
  
• CRC examines the name based on rules, availability, and alignment with Section 8 requirements.
  
• The proposed name must not violate the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950.
  
• Approval is usually granted within 2 to 3 working days if all conditions are satisfied.
  
• If rejected, the applicant may be asked to submit a new name or correct errors.
  

5. Validity and Further Steps

• Once approved, the name is reserved for 20 days from the date of approval.
  
• The approved name must be used in the SPICe+ Part B form for company incorporation.
  
• Failure to complete the incorporation within this period may require a fresh name reservation.
  
• After name approval, proceed with applying for the license under Section 8 (Form INC-12).
  
• Ensure consistency in name and object description across all registration documents.