In India, a non – profit organization often known as NGO can be registered as a Company under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 (erstwhile Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956) and can also be registered as Trust and as a Society registered under the provisions of Society Registration Act, 1860. Section 8 Company form of a NGO is most popular form of NGO in India. It is easy to register, run or manage a Section 8 Company in comparison of a Trust and a Society.
According to Section 8(1a, 1b, 1c) of the Companies Act, 2013, a Section 8 company can be established for ‘promotion of commerce, art, science, sports, education, research, social welfare, religion, charity, protection of environment or any such other object’, provided it ‘intends to apply its profits, if any, or other income in promoting its objects’ and ‘intends to prohibit the payment of any dividend to its members.