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ROC Full Form, Roles and Responsibilities

  • July 02, 2025
  • Update date: July 09, 2025
  • Dushyant Sharma

ROC full form is Registrar of Companies. It is a government body under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), and is responsible for the registration as well as regulation of companies and Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) in India.

What is ROC Full Form?

The full form of ROC is Registrar of Companies. It is a governmental authority operating under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). The ROC basically oversees the registration and regulation of companies and LLPs registered under the Companies Act 2013 and the LLP Act 2008, respectively. Essentially, it acts as the official record-keeper for corporate entities and makes sure they stick to the laws and meet all required compliances set forth by MCA.

As per Section 396 of the Companies Act, the Central Government is responsible for appointment of ROCs, along with their joint, deputy and assistant counterparts. All the ROC offices operate under the MCA and are located across every state and union territory in India. The ROC plays a crucial part in ensuring that companies operate in a manner that is legal, transparent and accountable. When a business is incorporated, it must register with the ROC in the state where its main office is located. 

All major updates, such as changes in address, company logo or principal business location, must be reported to the ROC. These changes only take effect after receiving official approval, and annual filings must also be submitted to the same ROC where the company is registered.

Roles & Responsibilities of ROC

The roles and responsibilities of ROC can be understood with the help of the following points:

  • The ROC is responsible for registering companies and limited liability partnerships under Companies Act 2013 and Limited Liability Partnership Act 2008.

  • It grants a certificate of incorporation to newly registered companies and LLPs in India to signify such businesses are legally registered in India.

  • Additionally, it also provides a certificate of commencement of business to companies so that they can begin their business operations.

  • ROC monitors and regulates companies in India to ensure they comply with requirements set forth by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

  • It is responsible for maintaining records of registered companies and LLPs, including financial statements, annual returns and other important filings.

  • ROC plays an important role in ensuring good corporate governance in the business industry.

  • During the company registration process, the ROC is responsible for checking and examining all the company incorporation documents and information submitted in SPICE+ form.

  • ROC is also responsible for approving and reserving the company/LLP name. It ensures that the chosen name is unique and not already in use by an existing company/LLP.

  • If a company, its officers or other individuals violate provisions of the Companies Act 2013 or related rules, the ROC can impose penalties.

  • The Registrar of Companies may strike off a company if it does not begin operations within a year of its incorporation, if it does not conduct any business for two consecutive fiscal years, or if the subscribers to the memorandum have not paid their subscription and have failed to submit the necessary declaration.

Mandatory ROC Forms for Companies/LLPs

The companies and LLPs in India must mandatorily file the following forms with ROC within the prescribed due dates:

S.No.

Form Name

Purpose

Applicability

Due Date

1.

INC 20A

Declaration for commencement of business

For companies with share capital)

Within 180 days of incorporation

2.

ADT 1

Appointment of Auditor

For companies

Within 15 days from AGM

3.

DIR 3 KYC

KYC of Directors

For company directors holding a valid DIN

Annually by 30th September

4.

DPT 3

Return of Deposits/Outstanding Loan Details

For companies

Annually by 30th June

5.

MGT 7

Company’s Annual Return

For the companies

Within 60 days from AGM

6.

AOC 4

Filing of Financial Statements

For companies

Within 30 days from the date of AGM held

7.

MGT 14

Filing of Resolutions by Board/Shareholder

For the companies

Within 30 days of passing resolution

8.

INC 22

Notice of Situation/Change of Registered Office

For the companies

Within 30 days of such a change

9.

DIR 12

Appointment/Resignation/Change in Director or Key Managerial Personnel

For companies

Within 30 days of such an event

10.

LLP Form 11

LLP’s Annual Return 

For LLPs

Annually by 30th May

11.

LLP Form 8

Statement of Accounts & Solvency

For LLPs

Annually by 30th October

12.

MSME Form 1

Report of Outstanding Dues to Micro or Small Enterprises

Only for specified companies

Half-yearly i.e., by 30th April & 31st October

Apart from these forms, there are many other forms that businesses need to file with ROC. If you need assistance in filing such forms, you can get in touch with Registrationwala’s ROC compliance experts!

Conclusion

The Registrar of Companies (ROC) is a government authority that is a part of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). It registers companies as well as LLPs in India, and keeps an eye on them to ensure they comply with legal and regulatory requirements. Need to secure a certificate of incorporation from ROC? Connect with Registrationwala’s ROC consultants. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is the full form of ROC?

A. ROC’s full form is Registrar of Companies.

Q2. What does ROC do?

A. The ROC is responsible for registration and regulation of companies and limited liability partnerships.

Q3. Who appoints the Registrar of Companies (ROC) in India?

A. As per Section 396 of the Companies Act, the Central Government is responsible for appointing the Registrars of Companies (ROCs), along with their joint/deputy/assistant officers. 

Q4. Does ROC register partnership firms?

A. No, the Registrar of Companies (ROC) does not register partnership firms. Such firms are registered via the Registrar of Firms (ROF).

Q5. Which authority issues the certificate of business commencement?

A. The Registrar of Companies (ROC) is responsible for issuing the certificate of business commencement to newly registered companies in India. 

Q6. Who needs to file DIR 3 KYC Form?

A. The directors of a company with a valid Director Identification Number (DIN) must file DIR 3 KYC Form annually by 30th September.


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Author: Dushyant Sharma
Hey there, I'm Dushyant Sharma. With the extensive knowledge I've gained in past 8 years, I have been creating content on various subjects such as banking, insurance, telecom, and all the important registration and licensing processes for various companies. I'm here to help everyone with my expertise in these areas through my articles.

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