Public Limited Company
Registration in India

A Public Limited Company is a business entity that can raise capital from the general public by issuing shares. It offers limited liability to its shareholders, has a separate legal identity, and its shares are freely transferable. Public companies must use the word "Limited" after their name and can get listed on recognised stock exchanges in India.

A Public Limited Company requires a minimum of 3 directors (maximum 15) and 7 shareholders/members (no upper limit). You also need a minimum authorised share capital of ₹5,00,000. At least one director must be an Indian resident. The company must have a registered office address in India.

Key differences: A Private Ltd needs min 2 directors and 2 shareholders (max 200), while Public Ltd needs min 3 directors and 7 shareholders (no upper limit). Public Ltd shares are freely transferable without restriction, whereas Private Ltd has transfer restrictions. Public Ltd can raise funds from the public through share issuance and IPOs. However, Public Ltd has higher compliance requirements including SEBI regulations if listed.

Yes, a Public Limited Company can get listed on recognised stock exchanges (BSE, NSE) and issue an Initial Public Offering (IPO) to raise capital from the general public. However, the company must comply with SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) regulations, stock exchange listing agreement provisions, and meet eligibility criteria including minimum net worth and track record requirements.

A Public Limited Company must: file Commencement of Business (INC-20A) within 180 days of incorporation, appoint a Statutory Auditor (Practising CA), file ROC annual forms, file Director e-KYC annually, and comply with GST and Income Tax requirements. If listed on a stock exchange, additional compliance with SEBI, stock exchange listing agreements, and quarterly financial disclosures is mandatory.

The minimum authorised share capital for a Public Limited Company is ₹5,00,000. The paid-up capital (amount actually paid by shareholders) can be decided based on your business requirements. ROC fees and stamp duty are calculated based on the authorised capital — lower capital means less government fees. You can always increase capital later as the business grows.