Section 8 companies are registered to promote various fields such as art, science, education, social welfare, and environmental protection. Once registered, these companies can operate nationwide. There are three ways to register an NGO in India: as a Section 8 company, a trust under the Trust Act 1882, or a society under the Societies Act 1860.
As of June 7, 2019, the Companies (Incorporation) Sixth Amendment Rules, 2019 have simplified the incorporation process for Section 8 companies. The key changes include: