{{Short description|Act of the Parliament of India, enabling companies to be formed by registration}} {{use dmy dates|date=March 2016}} {{use Indian English|date=March 2016}} {{Update|date=October 2015}} {{Infobox legislation | imagesize = 100 | imagealt = Companies Act | long_title = An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to companies and certain other associations | citation = {{URL|1=http://www.mca.gov.in/Ministry/actsbills/pdf/Companies_Act_1956_Part_1.pdf |2=Act No. 1 of 1956}} | territorial_extent = India | enacted_by = Parliament of India | date_enacted = 18 January 1956 | date_commenced = 1 April 1956 and amendment 2015 | repeals = Some provisions of the Act are still in force (as per Ministry of Corporate Affairs Website) | status = repealed }}
The '''Companies Act, 1956''' was an Act of the Parliament of India, enacted in 1956, which enabled companies to be formed by registration, and set out the responsibilities of companies, their directors and secretaries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://business.gov.in/starting_business/companies_act.php |title=Business Portal of India : Starting a Business : Regulatory Requirements : Companies Act |publisher=Government of India |work=National Portal of India |date= |access-date=19 February 2011 |archive-date=20 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620000422/http://business.gov.in/starting_business/companies_act.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was repealed and replaced by the Companies Act 2013.
==History== The Act was administered by the Government of India through the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and the Offices of Registrar of Companies, Official Liquidators, Public Trustee, Company Law Board, Director of Inspection, etc. The Registrar of Companies (ROC) handles incorporation of new companies and the administration of running companies.
Since its commencement, it was amended many times, in which amendment of 1988, 1990, 1996, 2000 , 2011 & 2013 were notable.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiacode.nic.in/acts-in-pdf/2015/201521.pdf|title=Amended version 2015}}</ref>
==Types of companies== The Companies Act, 1956 provided for the registration of 11 types of company.<ref>{{cite web |title=TYPES OF COMPANIES - Company Laws Ready Reckoner - Companies Act, 1956 - Companies Law |url=https://www.taxmanagementindia.com/visitor/detail_manual.asp?ID=431 |website=www.taxmanagementindia.com |access-date=4 August 2022}}</ref>
* Private company * Public company * Companies limited by shares * Companies limited by guarantee * Unlimited company * Section 25 company<ref>{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Sandeep |title=Section 25 company: A not-for-profit company with defined objectives |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-a-not-for-profit-company-with-defined-objectives-7951756 |access-date=4 August 2022 |work=The Indian Express |date=4 June 2022}}</ref> * Government companies * Foreign companies * Profitable or non profitable companies
==See also== * Companies Act 2013
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Portal|India|Companies}} * [http://www.mca.gov.in/Ministry/pdf/Companies_Act_1956_13jun2011.pdf Text of the Companies Act, 1956]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Companies Act 1956, The}} {{authority control}} Category:Acts of the Parliament of India 1956 Category:Indian company law