The MCA V3 portal provides free public access to the master data of every company and LLP registered in India — company status, registered address, directors, share capital, charges, and filing history. Knowing how to search effectively saves hours, whether you're doing counterparty due diligence, verifying a director's background, or checking your own company's records before filing.
What Is a CIN Number?
A Corporate Identification Number (CIN) is the unique 21-character alphanumeric identifier assigned to every company at incorporation. It encodes key facts about the company:
- 1st character: L (listed) or U (unlisted)
- Characters 2–6: NIC industry code for the main business activity
- Characters 7–8: State code (MH = Maharashtra, DL = Delhi, KA = Karnataka, etc.)
- Characters 9–12: Year of incorporation
- Characters 13–15: Company type (PTC = private limited, PLC = public limited, OPC = one person company)
- Characters 16–21: ROC registration number
Example: U74999MH2020PTC123456 — an unlisted company (U), in services (74999), incorporated in Maharashtra (MH) in 2020, as a private limited company (PTC).
How to Search for a Company on MCA V3
By Company Name (No Login Required)
- Go to mca.gov.in
- Click MCA Services in the top navigation
- Select Master Data → View Company/LLP Master Data
- Type the company name (partial names work) and click Search
- Click any result to view the full master data record
By CIN (Fastest Method)
- Go to MCA Services → Master Data → View Company/LLP Master Data
- Switch the search type to "CIN" from the dropdown
- Enter the 21-character CIN and click Search
Global Search Bar
The MCA V3 portal has a search bar on every page. Type a company name, CIN, or DIN — results appear across companies, LLPs, and directors simultaneously. For more detail on what the master data record contains, see our guide on MCA V3 master data.
What You Can Find in a Company's MCA Record
| Information | Where to Find It |
|---|---|
| CIN, name, status (Active / Strike Off / Under Liquidation) | Master Data main record |
| Registered office address | Master Data main record |
| Authorised and paid-up share capital | Master Data main record |
| Date of incorporation and ROC jurisdiction | Master Data main record |
| Current directors with DINs | Master Data → Directors tab |
| Charge details (secured loans against assets) | MCA Services → Charges |
| Annual return and financial statement filing history | Master Data → Filing History tab |
| PDF copies of filed forms | MCA Services → View Public Documents |
How to Look Up a Director by DIN
- Go to MCA Services → Master Data → View DIN Master Data
- Enter the DIN (8-digit number) or the director's name
- The portal shows the director's status, name, nationality, and a list of all current and past directorships
A director whose DIN shows as Deactivated has missed the DIR-3 KYC deadline; a status of Disqualified indicates a Section 164(2) disqualification triggered by a defaulting company. For details on disqualification, see our guide on director disqualification under Section 164(2).
How to Check Charges Against a Company
Charges are security interests — mortgages, hypothecations, pledges — created on a company's assets in favour of a lender, and registered with the ROC via CHG-1.
- Go to MCA Services → Charges → View Charges
- Enter the CIN or company name
- The portal lists all registered charges: lender name, amount secured, assets charged, creation date, and status (Open or Satisfied)
An "Open" charge means the underlying loan has not been fully repaid. This is critical for due diligence before lending to, investing in, or acquiring a company — undisclosed charges on physical assets can significantly affect recovery in default scenarios.
Checking a Company's Compliance Status
The Filing History tab shows whether AOC-4 (financial statements) and MGT-7/MGT-7A (annual return) were filed for recent financial years. Gaps in consecutive years are a red flag — three consecutive years of default in either filing triggers automatic director disqualification under Section 164(2), and may also indicate an "Active (non-compliant)" or strike-off risk status.
Common Issues with MCA Company Search
- Company not found by name: Try searching with fewer words (e.g., "Acme Tech" instead of "Acme Technology Private Limited") — the portal matches against the exact registered name.
- Data not updated after a filing: MCA master data typically refreshes within 24–72 hours after a form is approved. For urgent verification, check View Processed Documents — it reflects approvals sooner than the master data search.
- CIN format errors: Ensure all 21 characters are entered correctly, including the leading letter (L or U). A wrong character returns no results.
- Director not appearing: If a DIR-12 for a recent appointment is still "In Processing", the director won't appear in the master data yet.