Quick Summary
Society is a membership-based organization registered under Societies Registration Act, 1860 or respective state acts for charitable, literary, or scientific purposes.
A Society is an association of persons united together by mutual consent to deliberate, determine, and act jointly for some common purpose.
Registration
- Minimum 7 members required
- Registered under Societies Registration Act, 1860
- Memorandum of Association and Rules & Regulations required
- Registration with Registrar of Societies
- Registered office address required
Governing Documents
- Memorandum of Association: Objects and members
- Rules and Regulations: Internal management rules
Management
- Governing Body/Council manages society
- President, Secretary, Treasurer positions
- Annual General Meeting mandatory
- Accounts audited annually
Compliance
- Annual list of governing body members
- Annual accounts filing
- Changes to be notified
- Income tax return filing
Comparison with Trust
Society has members, Trust has beneficiaries. Society managed by elected body, Trust by trustees. Society better for democratic member-based organizations.
Key Points
- Minimum 7 members required
- Membership-based organization
- Registered under Societies Act
- Elected governing body
- Annual compliance required
- Alternative to Trust/Section 8