If you're hiring a software team in India, spend five minutes before you sign or pay anything. Check that the company is real, that it's active, and that it's the same entity named on your contract. The official place to check is the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), and it's free and public.
What the MCA record tells you
Every company incorporated in India is registered with the MCA and gets a Corporate Identification Number (CIN). Its public record shows:
- the exact legal name and the CIN
- the status, for example active
- the date of incorporation and the registered office address
- the Registrar of Companies (ROC) it falls under
- its capital and the dates of its latest filings
How to read a CIN
A CIN is 21 characters long, and each part encodes something about the company:
| Part | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1st character | U | U = unlisted, L = listed on a stock exchange |
| Next 5 digits | 72900 | Industry code |
| Next 2 letters | KA | State of registration (KA = Karnataka) |
| Next 4 digits | 2024 | Year of incorporation |
| Next 3 letters | PTC | Company type (PTC = private limited) |
| Last 6 digits | 123456 | Registration number |
The example values are made up for illustration.
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How to do an MCA company check
- Ask the vendor for their CIN. Any registered company should share it straight away, and it's often printed on invoices and letterhead.
- Go to mca.gov.in and open the free service to view company or LLP master data, which you'll find under MCA services.
- Search by CIN, which is the most reliable option, or by company name.
- Compare the legal name, address and incorporation date with your contract and invoices.
Red flags to watch for
- The status isn't "Active", for example it's struck off or under process of striking off.
- The legal name differs from the one on the contract or invoices.
- There are no recent filings, which can mean the company is dormant.
- The company is only weeks old but claims years of client work. Ask what the team did before it was incorporated.
- They won't share a CIN. A registered company has no reason to hide it.
Other quick checks
- If the vendor charges GST, check their GSTIN on the official GST portal.
- A DPIIT-recognised startup has a certificate with a "Scan to Verify" QR code, and our guide explains how to verify DPIIT recognition.
- You can check a Udyam number on the Udyam portal. If you're a buyer in India, it also tells you whether the 45-day payment rule applies.
Verify us
Ryo Forge Private Limited was incorporated on 17 October 2024 and is registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. It's recognised by DPIIT (certificate DIPP230012), MSME (Udyam) and K-tech, Government of Karnataka. Ask us for our CIN and Udyam number on your first call and check them yourself.
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