Do all NGOs in Mumbai need to register with the Charity Commissioner?

Trusts and charitable Societies do, since Maharashtra law treats both as public trusts. Section 8 Companies register through the MCA instead and skip this step.

Where is the Charity Commissioner's office in Mumbai?

The Greater Mumbai Region office is located at 83, Dr. Annie Besant Road, Worli, Mumbai 400018.

Why does Society registration take longer in Mumbai than in other states?

Because Maharashtra requires dual registration: first under the Societies Registration Act, then separately with the Charity Commissioner.

Is Section 8 Company registration simpler in Mumbai?

In one specific way, yes: it's the only structure that doesn't require any Charity Commissioner filing, since it's handled entirely through the MCA.

How much does NGO registration cost in Mumbai?

Roughly ₹11,000 to ₹15,000 for a Section 8 Company, ₹15,000 for a Trust, and ₹25,000 for a Society, including the extra Charity Commissioner filing.

Does the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act apply outside Mumbai too?

Yes, it applies across the whole state of Maharashtra, not just Mumbai; only the specific regional Charity Commissioner office changes by district.

NGO Registration in Mumbai

NGO registration in Mumbai offers distinct advantages due to its position as India’s philanthropic capital and specific Maharashtra state laws. Key benefits localized to Mumbai include the following

Mumbai corporates often seek partners for local urban issues like slum development

Reliance Foundation, Hindustan Unilever, and Tata Capital, which prioritise funding for local Mumbai projects.

5000+

Happy Customers

2427+

NGOs Registered

3499+

Govt Registrations

NGO registration in Mumbai means picking a Trust, Society, or Section 8 Company. There's one big Mumbai rule almost no other guide explains clearly: under the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950, a Society doing charitable work in Maharashtra must also register with the Charity Commissioner, Greater Mumbai Region (Worli office), even after it's already registered under the Societies Registration Act. This is called dual registration, and it's unique to Maharashtra and Gujarat. A Trust costs around ₹15,000 and takes about 20 working days. A Society costs around ₹25,000 and takes about 25 to 45 working days, largely because of this extra Charity Commissioner step. A Section 8 Company costs around ₹11,000 to ₹15,000 and takes 20 to 25 working days. From 1 April 2026, tax exemption runs under the new Section 332 (12A) and Section 354 (80G) of the Income-tax Act, 2025.

Start Your Trust Registration in Mumbai

Get expert assistance with documentation, registration and post-registration compliance.

Get Free Consultation

What Is NGO Registration in Mumbai?

NGO registration in Mumbai means legally forming your non-profit as a Trust, Society, or Section 8 Company, so it becomes a real, recognised entity under Indian law. Mumbai, India's financial capital, is home to some of the country's largest corporate CSR budgets and oldest philanthropic institutions, making it one of the most active cities for NGO work. But Mumbai also sits in Maharashtra, a state with one extra legal layer most founders don't expect: the Charity Commissioner system.

Why Does Mumbai Have an Extra Registration Step?

Here's the part that trips up even experienced founders moving from other states. The Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950 (originally the Bombay Public Trusts Act) defines "public trust" broadly enough to include a Society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, if it's formed for a religious or charitable purpose. In simple words: Maharashtra doesn't treat Society registration as a separate, standalone track the way most other states do. A charitable Society here must also register with the Charity Commissioner, making it subject to both laws.

Quick Facts About NGO Registration in Mumbai

Maharashtra Rule: Trust registration with the Charity Commissioner is compulsory by law (Section 18 of the Act).
Society = Double Registration: Societies must register under the Societies Act, 1860, and with the Charity Commissioner.
Mumbai Office: Located at Worli, handles the whole city.
Filing Deadline: Trust deeds must be registered (Schedule II form) within 3 months of signing.
Section 8 Company: Filed with the MCA, not the Charity Commissioner; usually takes 10–20 working days.
2025 Update: The Maharashtra Public Trusts (Second Amendment) Act, 2025, updated certain rules — check the latest version before filing.

Want to start an NGO in Mumbai? Get expert help with Charity Commissioner filing, Trust/Society dual registration, Section 8 Company setup, and RNPO tax registration. Book a free call today!

What Is an NGO, and How Is Mumbai Different?

An NGO is a non-profit group formed for charitable, educational, health, or other public-good work, not to make money for its members.

In Mumbai, the state regulates Trusts and Societies through the Charity Commissioner, Maharashtra, under the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950. The MCA handles Section 8 Companies centrally, as in the rest of India.

The big difference is that in Maharashtra, a Society isn't just registered under the Societies Act. It must also register as a public trust with the Charity Commissioner. This catches many first-time founders off guard and often causes delays.

Step-by-Step Process for NGO Registration in Mumbai

Step 1: Pick Your Structure. We help you choose between Trust, Society, and Section 8 Company.

Step 2: Check Documents. We check your Mumbai office proof and founder documents.

Step 3: Draft Your Documents. We write your Trust Deed, Society Rules, or MOA/AOA.

Step 4: File With the Right Office

Trust: Schedule II form filed at the Worli Charity Commissioner office, within 3 months.
Society: Filed with the Registrar of Societies, then again with the Charity Commissioner.
Section 8: Filed via SPICe+.

Step 5: Handle Queries. We respond to any questions from the Charity Commissioner or the ROC.

Step 6: Get Your Certificate. A Trust or Society gets a Charity Commissioner certificate. Section 8 gets a Certificate of Incorporation with PAN and TAN.

Step 7: Open a Bank Account. You'll need this for everything that comes next.

Confused About the NGO Registration Process?

Let our experts guide you from choosing the right structure to completing the registration process.

Start Your NGO Registration

Difference Between Trust, Society & Section 8 Company in Mumbai

Feature	Public Charitable Trust	Registered Society	Section 8 Company
Law	Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950	Societies Act, 1860 + Maharashtra Public Trusts Act	Companies Act, 2013
Registered With	Charity Commissioner, Maharashtra (Worli office)	Registrar of Societies and Charity Commissioner	MCA, via ROC
Min. Members	2 Trustees	7 Members	2 Directors
Filing Deadline	Within 3 months of signing the deed	Same, plus extra Society documents	No fixed deadline — filed via SPICe+
Personal Risk	Trustees can be personally liable	Members can be personally liable	Limited liability, safer for founders
Donor Trust	Moderate	Moderate	Highest — preferred by CSR teams
Yearly Filing	With Charity Commissioner	With both authorities	With ROC (audits required)

For NGOs seeking CSR funding or long-term credibility, a Section 8 Company skips the additional state filing. For small, local charity work, a Trust is the simplest choice.

Benefits of Registering Your NGO in Mumbai

Access to Mumbai's CSR Money: Mumbai has more listed companies and banks than most cities. By law, companies must prioritize CSR spending in their local area, a real plus for NGOs based here.
Strong Donor Base: More companies and wealthy individuals live in Mumbai, so a properly registered, tax-exempt NGO can raise funds faster.
Legal Protection for Trust Property: Charity Commissioner registration protects your trust's property from misuse or disputes.
Separate Legal Identity: Any of the three structures lets your NGO open a bank account, sign contracts, and hire staff in its own name.
Access to State and Central Schemes: Many schemes ask for a valid Charity Commissioner number or MCA registration before you can even apply.

Eligibility for NGO Registration in Mumbai

Requirement	Details
Purpose	Charity, education, health, religion, or public good
Minimum members	2 (Trust), 7 (Society), 2 directors (Section 8)
Office address	Valid Mumbai address with proof
Governing document	Must state non-profit goals clearly
Profit sharing	Not allowed in any structure
Charity Commissioner filing	Required for Trust and Society
DSC & DIN	Only needed for Section 8 Company

Documents Required for NGO Registration in Mumbai

For Trust and Society

Trust Deed / Memorandum & Rules, on stamp paper
ID and address proof of trustees/members
Photos
Mumbai office address proof
Schedule II form (for Charity Commissioner)
Court-fee stamp

For Section 8 Company

PAN, Aadhaar, and address proof of directors
Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) and Director ID (DIN)
MOA and AOA
Registered office proof
Standard MCA declarations

NGO Registration Fees & Timeline in Mumbai

Structure	Total Estimated Cost	Timeline
Trust	₹15,000	Up to 20 working days
Society	₹25,000	25 to 45 working days
Section 8 Company	₹11,000 to ₹15,000	20 to 25 working days

Society timelines run longer in Mumbai specifically because of the extra Charity Commissioner filing most other states don't require.

Post-Registration Compliance

RNPO Registration (formerly 12A & 80G): Apply on the Income Tax portal using Form 105 for tax exemption and donor deductions.
NGO Darpan Registration: Register on NGO Darpan, needed for most government schemes.
CSR-1: File on the MCA portal to become eligible for CSR funds.
FCRA: Apply on the FCRA portal if you want foreign donations, usually after 3 years.
Yearly Charity Commissioner Filing: Trusts and Societies must file yearly accounts; easy to forget if you're new to Maharashtra's rules.

Real-Life Example

The Tata Trusts, among India's oldest and largest philanthropic institutions, are registered as public charitable trusts under Mumbai's Charity Commissioner system, exactly the process this guide describes. Their public trust status, filed and maintained through the same Worli-based Charity Commissioner office that any new Mumbai Trust registers with today, has helped them operate at scale across healthcare, education, and rural development for well over a century. It's real, verifiable proof of Mumbai's Charity Commissioner system. At the same time, it adds an extra step compared to other cities and is also the same system supporting some of India's most trusted and long-running NGOs.

What's New in 2026 for Mumbai NGOs?

RNPO framework: 12A is now Section 332, 80G is now Section 354, under the Income-tax Act, 2025, effective 1 April 2026
Form 105 replaces the older Form 10AB for regular tax registration and renewal.
NGOs with valid registration before 31 March 2026 continue as-is, under their existing validity, with the new rules applying only to fresh filings, renewals, or reapplications.

Ready to Register Your NGO in Mumbai?

Get expert guidance to choose the right NGO structure and complete your registration smoothly.

Book Free Consultation

About the Author

Aabha Garg

A Content Strategist at NGOExperts, who focuses on NGO registration, 12A and 80G registration, FCRA compliance, income tax filing for non-profits, and CSR funding guidelines in India. I research and write our compliance guides in collaboration with our in-house Chartered Accountants and Company Secretaries, so every article reflects current tax and regulatory requirements for the NGO and non-profit sector.

Written by Aabha Garg. Last updated on Sep 16, 2026, 05:00 AM

NGO Registration in Mumbai

Start Your Trust Registration in Mumbai

Get expert assistance with documentation, registration and post-registration compliance.

Get Free Consultation

What Is NGO Registration in Mumbai?

Why Does Mumbai Have an Extra Registration Step?

Quick Facts About NGO Registration in Mumbai

Maharashtra Rule: Trust registration with the Charity Commissioner is compulsory by law (Section 18 of the Act).
Society = Double Registration: Societies must register under the Societies Act, 1860, and with the Charity Commissioner.
Mumbai Office: Located at Worli, handles the whole city.
Filing Deadline: Trust deeds must be registered (Schedule II form) within 3 months of signing.
Section 8 Company: Filed with the MCA, not the Charity Commissioner; usually takes 10–20 working days.
2025 Update: The Maharashtra Public Trusts (Second Amendment) Act, 2025, updated certain rules — check the latest version before filing.

Want to start an NGO in Mumbai? Get expert help with Charity Commissioner filing, Trust/Society dual registration, Section 8 Company setup, and RNPO tax registration. Book a free call today!

What Is an NGO, and How Is Mumbai Different?

An NGO is a non-profit group formed for charitable, educational, health, or other public-good work, not to make money for its members.

About the Author

Aabha Garg

Written by Aabha Garg. Last updated on Sep 16, 2026, 05:00 AM

NGO Registration in Mumbai

Start Your Trust Registration in Mumbai

What Is NGO Registration in Mumbai?

Why Does Mumbai Have an Extra Registration Step?

Quick Facts About NGO Registration in Mumbai

What Is an NGO, and How Is Mumbai Different?

Step-by-Step Process for NGO Registration in Mumbai

Confused About the NGO Registration Process?

Difference Between Trust, Society & Section 8 Company in Mumbai

Benefits of Registering Your NGO in Mumbai

Eligibility for NGO Registration in Mumbai

Documents Required for NGO Registration in Mumbai

NGO Registration Fees & Timeline in Mumbai

Post-Registration Compliance

Real-Life Example

What's New in 2026 for Mumbai NGOs?

Ready to Register Your NGO in Mumbai?

About the Author

📢Subscribe For Updates

NGO Registration in Mumbai

Start Your Trust Registration in Mumbai

What Is NGO Registration in Mumbai?

Why Does Mumbai Have an Extra Registration Step?

Quick Facts About NGO Registration in Mumbai

What Is an NGO, and How Is Mumbai Different?

Step-by-Step Process for NGO Registration in Mumbai

Confused About the NGO Registration Process?

Difference Between Trust, Society & Section 8 Company in Mumbai

Benefits of Registering Your NGO in Mumbai

Eligibility for NGO Registration in Mumbai

Documents Required for NGO Registration in Mumbai

NGO Registration Fees & Timeline in Mumbai

Post-Registration Compliance

Real-Life Example

What's New in 2026 for Mumbai NGOs?

Ready to Register Your NGO in Mumbai?

About the Author

Frequently Asked Questions

📢Subscribe For Updates

Frequently Asked Questions