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Guides10 March 20255 min read

What is a CIN Number and How to Search Companies in India

Learn what CIN (Corporate Identity Number) is, how to decode its 21-character format, and how to search Indian companies using CIN on NewCompanyAlert.

NewCompanyAlert Team

NewCompanyAlert

What is CIN?

CIN stands for Corporate Identity Number. It is a unique 21-character alphanumeric code assigned by the Registrar of Companies (ROC) under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) to every company registered in India.

The CIN is assigned at the time of company incorporation and remains unchanged throughout the company's lifetime. It serves as the primary identifier for any company in India's corporate registry.

How to Decode a CIN Number

Let's break down the CIN U72900MH2000PLC123456:

  • U — Listing status (U = Unlisted, L = Listed)
  • 72900 — Industry code (NIC classification)
  • MH — State code (Maharashtra)
  • 2000 — Year of incorporation
  • PLC — Company type (Public Limited Company)
  • 123456 — Registration number
  • How to Search Companies by CIN

    On NewCompanyAlert, you can search any Indian company by CIN in seconds:

  • Go to the CIN Search page
  • Enter the full CIN or company name
  • View complete company details including directors, capital, and address
  • Our database contains millions of MCA-registered companies updated daily.

    Why is CIN Important?

  • Legal identification — Required for all official filings and compliance
  • Due diligence — Verify company authenticity before business dealings
  • Research — Track company history, directors, and financial details
  • Lead generation — Find newly registered companies for B2B outreach
  • Where to Find a Company's CIN

    You can find a company's CIN on:

  • MCA portal (mca.gov.in)
  • NewCompanyAlert CIN Search
  • Company's official documents and letterhead
  • Annual returns and financial statements
  • Start searching companies by CIN on NewCompanyAlert — it's completely free.

    Ready to get started?

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