MCA Master Data V3: How to Check and Read Any Company or LLP Record (2026)
MCA V3 master data is the free public record of every company and LLP registered in India, kept by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. To view it, go to mca.gov.in → MCA Services → Master Data → View Company/LLP Master Data, enter the CIN, LLPIN or name, fill in the captcha and submit. You will see the entity's status, capital, registered address, filing dates, directors and charges.
That takes two minutes. Reading the record correctly is the part most people get wrong.
A company marked "Active" can be years behind on its filings. A director who looks legitimate may be linked to a string of struck-off companies. A loan that was repaid may still show as an open charge. The master data shows all of this, if you know which fields to read together.
This guide is for founders checking a vendor, customer or co-founder; MSMEs vetting a distributor before extending credit; job seekers checking an employer; and directors checking their own company's record before a loan or funding round. It covers the steps, every field explained, company status meanings, the red flags that matter, and what to do when something looks wrong.
MCA V3 Master Data: Quick Details
| Detail | Position |
| Maintained by | Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) |
| Portal | mca.gov.in (MCA21 V3) |
| Menu path | MCA Services → Master Data → View Company/LLP Master Data |
| Cost | Free |
| Search by | CIN, LLPIN or company/LLP name |
| Login | Not needed for the basic view in most cases; create a free account if the portal asks |
| Shows | Status, capital, incorporation date, address, email, AGM and balance sheet dates, directors, charges |
| Does not show | GST status, income tax, litigation, bank defaults, actual financial figures |
| Filed documents | Through View Public Documents, ₹100 per company inspection, login required |
| Update lag | Usually 24–72 hours after MCA approves a filing |
| V2 to V3 | Company forms fully moved to V3 from 14 July 2025 |
What Is MCA Master Data?
MCA master data is the summary record the Registrar of Companies keeps for every company and LLP. It is built from the forms the entity has filed: incorporation, director appointments, address changes, annual returns and charge filings.
It is commonly used:
• Before signing a contract or NDA with a new vendor, client or partner
• Before extending credit to a distributor or dealer
• During due diligence for a loan, investment or acquisition
• Before joining a company as an employee or director
• To get a company's correct registered address for a legal notice or consumer complaint
• To check your own company before a bank, investor or tender asks
The V3 portal is the current version of MCA21. MCA moved services from the older V2 system to V3 in phases from 2022, and the final batch of company e-forms moved on 14 July 2025. Older guides showing V2 screens and menu names are out of date.
How to Check MCA V3 Master Data: Step by Step
Open MCA
Go to mca.gov.in. Use the official domain only, as several private sites copy MCA data and present it as official.
Find Menu
Click MCA Services, then Master Data, then View Company/LLP Master Data. If menu labels have shifted, look for "Master Data" under MCA Services.
Enter CIN
Type the 21-character CIN for a company or the LLPIN for an LLP. Searching by identification number avoids confusion between companies with similar names.
Or Search Name
If you only have the name, type it and select the right entity from the dropdown. Confirm it using the incorporation date and registered state.
Fill Captcha
Enter the captcha exactly as shown and submit. If it fails repeatedly, refresh the captcha rather than the whole page.
Read Tabs
Review the master data, then the director or signatory details, then the index of charges. Each tab answers a different question, so read all three.
Where to find a CIN: on the company's invoices, letterhead, website footer, or certificate of incorporation. A legitimate company will share it readily. Reluctance to share a CIN is itself worth noting.
Every Field in Company Master Data, Explained
| Field | What it tells you | What to check |
| CIN | Unique 21-character company ID | It matches the invoice or contract |
| Company name | Registered legal name | Exact spelling and "Private Limited" vs "Limited" |
| ROC / RD | Registrar and Regional Director holding the file | Where legal and regulatory filings go |
| Registration number | ROC registration number | Usually not needed by outsiders |
| Category / sub-category | Limited by shares or guarantee; public, private or OPC; government or non-government | A "government company" label on a private vendor is a mismatch |
| Class | Private, public or one person company | Shareholder and transfer rules differ by class |
| Date of incorporation | When the company was registered | A company claiming "20 years in business" incorporated last year |
| Authorised capital | Maximum share capital the company can issue | Not a measure of size; often set high for show |
| Paid-up capital | Capital shareholders have actually put in | A better guide to promoter commitment than authorised capital |
| Number of members | Members, for companies without share capital | Relevant mainly for Section 8 companies |
| Registered address | Official address for statutory notices | Matches where the company says it operates |
| Books of account address | Where books are kept, if different | A different city is not wrong, but worth understanding |
| Email ID | Where MCA sends notices | A personal Gmail is common for small companies |
| Listed on stock exchange | Yes or No | Almost always No for private companies |
| ACTIVE compliance | Whether INC-22A was filed | "ACTIVE non-compliant" blocks several filings |
| Date of last AGM | When the last annual general meeting was held | More than about 18 months old suggests missed compliance |
| Date of balance sheet | Last year for which accounts were filed | The most useful single compliance indicator |
| Company status | Active, strike off, dormant, under liquidation and others | Read with the AGM and balance sheet dates, not alone |
LLP master data fields
| Field | What it tells you |
| LLPIN | Unique LLP ID in AAA-1234 format |
| Number of partners and designated partners | The minimum is two designated partners |
| Total obligation of contribution | What partners have committed to contribute |
| Main business activity | The activity declared at incorporation |
| Last Statement of Accounts and Solvency filed | Last year for which Form 8 was filed |
| Last Annual Return filed | Last year for which Form 11 was filed |
| LLP status | Active, strike off, dissolved, converted and similar |
For an LLP, the two "last filed" dates do the job the balance sheet date does for a company. If they lag by two or more years, the LLP has fallen behind on its basic compliance. Our guide to LLP Form 8 explains what that filing covers.
Company Status on MCA Master Data: What Each Means
| Status | Meaning | Should you deal with it? |
| Active | On the register and able to file | Yes, but check the balance sheet date before relying on it |
| Dormant (Section 455) | Formally declared dormant, little or no activity | Not a defect, but it should not be trading with you |
| Under process of striking off | ROC has started removal under Section 248 | Stop and take advice before any transaction |
| Strike off | Removed from the register | It cannot legally trade as a company |
| Under liquidation | Winding up or insolvency underway | Contracts and payments are governed by the liquidation process |
| Liquidated / Dissolved | Process completed | The company no longer exists |
| Amalgamated | Merged into another company | Deal with the successor company |
| Converted to LLP | Now operates as an LLP | Search the new LLPIN |
Active Is Not Enough
"Active" only means the company has not been removed. A company can stay Active for years without filing a single annual return. Always read status alongside the balance sheet and AGM dates.
ACTIVE Non-Compliant
Companies incorporated on or before 31 December 2017 had to file e-Form INC-22A (ACTIVE) under Rule 25A. Those that did not are marked non-compliant and cannot record changes in capital, directors (other than cessation) or registered office until they comply.
Director Master Data and DIN Search
The Signatory Details tab lists current directors and authorised signatories, with DIN, designation and appointment date. You can also search a person directly:
1. Go to MCA Services → Master Data → View Director Master Data.
2. Enter the 8-digit DIN.
3. See every company and LLP the person is currently, and in some views previously, associated with.
What to look for:
• Many dormant or struck-off companies linked to the same director is a pattern worth asking about.
• Disqualification. Under Section 164(2), a director of a company that has not filed financial statements or annual returns for three continuous years is disqualified for five years.
• Deactivated DIN. A DIN is deactivated if the annual DIR-3 KYC is missed. This is usually fixable by filing it with a ₹5,000 late fee, and is different from disqualification.
New to DINs? See how to get a DIN number online. If you need to remove a director whose status is a problem, our guide to removal of a director under the Companies Act 2013 covers the process.
Index of Charges: Checking a Company's Secured Loans
A charge is a security interest a company gives a lender over its assets, such as a hypothecation of stock or a mortgage on a factory. Charges must be registered with the ROC, and the Index of Charges lists them.
| Column | What it means |
| Charge ID | Unique ID for the charge |
| Charge holder | The bank or NBFC that lent |
| Amount | Amount secured |
| Date of creation | When the charge was created |
| Date of modification | When terms changed |
| Date of satisfaction | When the loan was repaid and the charge closed |
Why it matters to an MSME:
• Extending credit to a buyer? If its stock and receivables are already charged to a bank, you rank behind that bank if things go wrong.
• Buying assets from a company? An open charge means the lender has a claim on them.
• Applying for your own loan? Lenders read this index. A loan you repaid years ago that still shows as open, because the satisfaction form (CHG-4) was never filed, can hold up a fresh sanction. Close old charges before you apply.
Red Flags to Watch for in MCA Master Data
Old Balance Sheet
A balance sheet date more than two years old means accounts have not been filed. Late fees accumulate per day per form, and directors move towards disqualification.
Strike-Off Process
"Under process of striking off" means the ROC is removing the company. Contracts signed now may be very difficult to enforce later. Do not advance money or credit.
Name Mismatch
The name on the invoice or contract differs from the registered name, or the CIN belongs to another company. Ask why before signing anything or making a payment.
Fresh Incorporation
A company incorporated a few months ago claiming a long track record. Founders may have run the business as a proprietorship earlier, so ask rather than assume.
Serial Directors
Directors linked to many struck-off or dormant companies. This can be innocent, but it is a pattern worth a direct question before a large transaction.
Unsatisfied Charges
Several large open charges against a small company indicate heavy secured borrowing. That affects the company's ability to pay you, and where you stand if it cannot.
Practical Examples
Vetting a distributor before giving credit. A Ludhiana auto-parts MSME is asked for 60-day credit by a new distributor in Jaipur. Master data shows the distributor is Active, but its last balance sheet is from March 2023 and two charges are open to an NBFC. The MSME asks for an advance on the first three orders instead of full credit.
Checking an employer. A graduate gets an offer from a "private limited" startup. The CIN on the offer letter returns a different company name, and the status is Under process of striking off. She declines.
Checking your own company before a loan. A Pune manufacturer applying for a term loan checks its own master data and finds a 2019 working-capital charge still open, although it was repaid. The company files CHG-4 to record satisfaction before the bank's due diligence, avoiding a delayed sanction.
Serving a legal notice. A customer in Kolkata wants to file a consumer complaint against an online seller. Master data gives the seller's registered office address and email, which go into the complaint as the opposite party's details. See our guide on how to file a case in consumer court.
MCA Master Data vs Third-Party Company Search Sites
| Basis | MCA V3 Master Data | Third-party sites |
| Source | The Registrar's own record | Copied from MCA, sometimes with a lag |
| Cost | Free | Often free summaries, with paid reports |
| Accuracy | Authoritative | Can be weeks or months out of date |
| Financial figures | Not on master data; available through paid public documents | Often shown as estimates or extracted figures |
| Legal reliance | Can be relied on and cited | Should be verified against MCA before relying on it |
| Best use | Final check before any decision | Quick browsing and comparing many companies |
Viewing Filed Documents: Fees and Steps
Master data is a summary. To see the actual financial statements, annual returns or charge documents, use View Public Documents:
| Service | Fee |
| View company master data | Free |
| Inspection of public documents of one company | ₹100 |
| Certified copy of certificate of incorporation | ₹100 |
| Certified copy of other documents | ₹25 per page |
You need a registered MCA login to buy public documents. Once you open them, access usually lasts a limited time, so download everything you need in one session.
If you need your own company's incorporation certificate, see how to get a company incorporation certificate.
Common Problems and Fixes
No Record Found
Check the CIN character by character. If the company converted or changed its name, its CIN may have changed, so search by name instead.
Captcha Fails
Captchas are case-sensitive. Refresh the captcha image, type it exactly, and avoid copying text. Clearing the browser cache often fixes repeated failures.
Data Not Updated
Master data usually refreshes 24–72 hours after MCA approves a filing. Pending forms, such as a new director's DIR-12, do not appear until approved.
Login Prompt
V3 has at times asked users to log in for certain views. Register a free business user account on mca.gov.in; no professional credentials are needed.
DIN Not Found
A deactivated DIN may not appear in public search. The director should file DIR-3 KYC to reactivate it.
Portal Slow
The V3 portal slows near filing deadlines, especially around September to November. Try outside business hours, or use the CIN rather than a name search.
Mistakes to Avoid
Trusting "Active"
Treating Active status as proof of a healthy company. Read the balance sheet date, AGM date and charges before relying on it.
Searching Name Only
Many companies have near-identical names. Always confirm with the CIN, or with the incorporation date and state, before drawing conclusions.
Ignoring Your Own
Not checking your own company's master data until a bank or investor does. Stale filings, open charges and non-compliant status are far cheaper to fix before diligence.
Using Copies
Relying on a third-party site's snapshot for a legal notice or credit decision. Confirm the current record directly on mca.gov.in.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is MCA V3 master data? It is the free public summary of a company or LLP on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs' V3 portal. It shows CIN or LLPIN, status, capital, incorporation date, registered address, filing dates, directors and charges.
How do I check company master data on MCA V3? Go to mca.gov.in, then MCA Services → Master Data → View Company/LLP Master Data. Enter the CIN, LLPIN or name, complete the captcha and submit.
Is MCA master data free? Yes. Viewing master data is free. Viewing filed documents such as financial statements costs ₹100 per company inspection and needs a login.
Do I need to log in to view MCA master data? The basic master data view is generally available without login. If the portal asks you to log in, register a free business user account on mca.gov.in.
What does "ACTIVE non-compliant" mean? The company, incorporated on or before 31 December 2017, did not file e-Form INC-22A. It cannot record changes to capital, directors (other than cessation) or registered office until it complies.
What is the difference between Active and Strike off? Active means the company is on the register and can file. Strike off means the ROC has removed it, and it cannot legally carry on business as a company.
How can I check a director's other companies? Use View Director Master Data on the MCA portal and enter the director's DIN. It lists the companies and LLPs linked to that DIN.
How do I check whether a company has loans? Open the Index of Charges for that company. It lists secured loans registered with the ROC, the lender, the amount, and whether the charge has been satisfied.
Why is my company's master data not updated? Changes appear only after MCA approves the relevant form, usually within 24–72 hours of approval. Pending forms do not show.
Can I see a company's turnover or profit on MCA master data? No. Master data does not show financial figures. Buy the company's public documents through View Public Documents to see its filed financial statements.
What is the difference between MCA V2 and V3? V3 is the current MCA21 portal, with new login, forms and menus. The final company e-forms moved from V2 to V3 on 14 July 2025, so V2 screens and guides are out of date.
Conclusion
MCA V3 master data is the quickest free check you can run on any Indian company or LLP. The path is simple: MCA Services → Master Data → View Company/LLP Master Data, then CIN, captcha and submit.
The value is in reading it properly. Read status together with the balance sheet and AGM dates, check the directors' other companies, and look at the index of charges before you extend credit, sign a contract or accept a job. Run the same check on your own company before a lender or investor does.
If the record shows a problem with your own company, such as overdue filings, ACTIVE non-compliance, an open charge or a deactivated DIN, the StartupFlora team can help you put it right.