A Society is a not-for-profit entity engaged in the promotion of charitable activities like health, education, art, religion, culture, music and sports, etc. A society is thus an association of persons determined to act jointly for some common purpose for the welfare of society. In India, Societies Registration Act, 1860 lays down the procedure for registration of societies and the same has been adopted by State Governments with/without amendments. In this article, we look at the need and procedure for registering a Society.

A Society can be registered under Societies Registration Act, 1860, for serving the following purposes:

• Promoting Science, Literature, Fine Arts
• Grant of charitable assistance
• Collection of natural history, instruments or designs, etc.
• Promotion of sports, folk arts, handicrafts.
• Promotion of arts, science, education, literature, philosophy, religion, industries, skill development, fine arts, etc.
• Instruction and diffusion of useful knowledge.
• Promotion of conservation of natural resources such as land, water, forest and wildlife.
• Implementation and Promotion of any government-sponsored scheme in the state.
• Foundation and maintenance of libraries or reading rooms
• Foundation and maintenance of public museum and galleries
• Grant of charitable assistance

The registration of a Society gives the Society a legal status and is required for recognition of the society by legal authorities, obtaining income tax registrations, bank account opening and vesting of property.

Procedures for Society Registration

A Society can be registered for any of the above mentioned purposes that are not-for-profit by a minimum of seven or more persons. Besides individuals, a company or partnership firm or registered society or a foreigner may also be eligible to form a society by subscribing to the Memorandum of a Society.

To register a society, the rules for Society Registration in the State in which the registered office of the Society is going to be situated must first be reviewed. A suitable name, objects for the society and registered office must then be decided by the persons proposing to form a society (a minimum of seven persons are required). Once decided, a legal professional can draft the Memorandum of Association for the Society and have all the members of the society sign on each page of the Memorandum, witnessed by a Notary Public. Further, the Rules and Regulation of the Society must be signed by atleast three members of the governing body.