Allotment of Director Identification Number

Every individual intending to be appointed as director of a company shall make an application for allotment for Director Identification Number (DIN) to the Central government. [Section 153]

Rule 9 of the Companies (Allotment and Qualification of Directors) Rules 2014 laid down the manner for the Application of Director Identification Number.

Every individual, who is to be appointed as director of a company shall make an application electronically in Form DIR – 3, to the Central Government for the allotment of a Director Identification Number (DIN) along with such fees as provided in the Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014. [Sub – Rule (1) of Rule 9]

There is a fixed fee of Rs 500 for this eForm and it can only be paid through online mode (credit card/ internet banking).

The Central Government shall provide an electronic system to facilitate submission of application for the allotment of DIN through the portal on the website of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. [Sub – Rule (2) of Rule 9]

The applicant shall download Form DIR – 3 from the portal, fill in the required particulars sought therein and sign the form and after attaching copies of the following documents, scan and file the entire set of documents electronically –

(i)           photograph;

(ii)          proof of identity;

(iii)         proof of residence;

(iv)         verification by the applicant for applying for allotment of DIN in Form DIR-4; and

(v)          specimen signature duly verified. [Sub – Rule (3)(a) of Rule 9]

Form DIR – 3 shall be signed and submitted electronically by the applicant using his or her own Digital Signature Certificate and shall be verified digitally by –

(i)           a chartered accountant in practice or a company secretary in practice or a cost accountant in practice; or

(ii)          a company secretary in full time employment of the company or by the managing director or director of the company in which the applicant is to be appointed as director. [Sub – Rule (3)(b) of Rule 9]

On the submission of the Form DIR – 3 on the portal and payment of the requisite amount of fees through online mode the provisional DIN shall be generated by the system automatically which shall not be utilized till the DIN is confirmed by the Central Government. [Sub – Rule (1) of Rule 10]

After generation of the provisional DIN, the Central Government shall process the applications received for allotment of DIN, decide on the approval or rejection thereof and communicate the same to the applicant along with the DIN allotted in case of approval by way of a letter by post or electronically or in any other mode, within a period of one month from the receipt of such application. [Sub – Rule (2) of Rule 10]

If the Central Government, on examination, finds such application to be defective or incomplete in any respect, it shall give intimation of such defect or incompleteness, by placing it on the website and by email to the applicant who has filed such application, directing the applicant to rectify such defects or incompleteness by resubmitting the application within a period of fifteen days of such placing on the website and email. [Sub – Rule (3) of Rule 10]

The Central Government shall –

(a)  reject the application and direct the applicant to file fresh application with complete and correct information, where the defect has been rectified partially or the information given is still found to be defective;

(b)  treat and label such application as invalid in the electronic record in case the defects are not removed within the given time; and

(c)   inform the applicant either by way of letter by post or electronically or in any other mode. [Sub – Rule (3) of Rule 10]

In case of rejection or invalidation of application, the provisional DIN so allotted by the system shall get lapsed automatically and the fee so paid with the application shall neither be refunded nor adjusted with any other application. [Sub – Rule (4) of Rule 10]

All Director Identification Numbers allotted to individual(s) by the Central Government before the commencement of these rules shall be deemed to have been allotted to them under these rules. [Sub – Rule (5) of Rule 10]

The Director Identification Number so allotted under these rules is valid for the life-time of the applicant and shall not be allotted to any other person. [Sub – Rule (6) of Rule 10]

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