What is Corporate Identification Number (CIN) of the company?

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Hiral Vakil

PLC
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Last updated on May 6th, 2021

Company CIN (Corporate Identification Number) is a unique identification number assigned by Registrar of Companies (ROCs) functioning in various states under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Government of India. It is used for finding primary details of companies registered in India under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

Moreover, CIN which is unique in its kind helps to reveal the identity of a company, finding basic and essential information of its corporate entity. Also, It is obligatory to mention the same in all the communications made with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

Presently, the ministry has also mandated mentioning CIN on all the important documents and communications with any third party (e.g. Letterhead of Company).

Corporate Identification Number (CIN) can be read as follows:

Digits Significance Remarks
First digit Listing Status If Company is Listed it will start with ‘L’ and if Company is not Listed it will start with ‘U’
Next 5 digits Industry Code Different activities have different 5 digit codes and also it is used to classify the type of company being registered.
Next 2 digits State Code It represents the state of incorporation. E.g. A Company incorporated in Gujarat would have GJ likewise one incorporated in Maharashtra would have MH
Next 4 digits Year of Incorporation It represents the year of incorporation
Next 3 digits Ownership

It determines the nature as well as structure of ownership of the company.

Moreover, Abbreviations used in the Company CIN Code and their meaning

  • FLC: Financial Lease Company as Public Limited
  • FTC: Subsidiary of a Foreign Company as Private Limited Company
  • GAP: General Association Public
  • GAT: General Association Private
  • NPL: Not For Profits License Company
  • PLC: Public Limited Company
  • PTC: Private Limited Company
  • SGC: Companies owned by State Govt.
  • ULL: Public Limited Company with Unlimited Liability
  • ULT: Private Limited Company with Unlimited Liability
Next 6 digits Registration Number The last six numbers of the CIN is the registration number of the company which is issued by the Registrar of Companies.
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FAQs

What is the use of CIN number?

CIN Number is a unique 21-digit alphanumeric number provided to all One Person Company, Private Limited Company, Section 8 Company, Limited Company, Producer Company, and Nidhi Company registered in India. Also, CIN can track all the aspects of the company.

Is CIN mandatory?

As per Section 12 of the Act notified from 1st April 2014, It is obligatory for every company to mention its Corporate Identification Number (CIN) along with the name as well as address of registered office on letterheads, invoices, notices, and on all official publications.

Got Questions? Ask Away!

  1. Hey @Archan434

    You can find CIN of any Company on the MCA Portal> MCA Services> Master Data> View Company/ LLP Master Data. Type the name of your Company in the search box and the CIN of that Company will be displayed.

    You can learn more about CIN here:

    Hope this helps!