The launch of 38 updated filing forms under the Companies Act of 2013 and the MCA21 V3 Portal

Effective July 14, 2025, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) plans to introduce 38 updated electronic filing forms on its MCA21 Version 3 (V3) portal. This initiative, which represents the completion of the shift from the outdated V2 filing system to the more modern and technologically advanced V3 platform, represents a turning point in India’s corporate regulatory environment. This migration is in line with the larger goal of digitising corporate governance in India and is intended to improve compliance efficiency, increase transparency, and standardise corporate data.

The V3 portal offers a number of cutting-edge features that facilitate the easy online submission of statutory forms, such as e-adjudication, e-consultation, and compliance management. This change is a component of MCA’s larger plan to improve regulatory oversight and streamline compliance. Enhancing the quality and accessibility of data is especially important when XBRL-based filings and digital data submissions are combined. Forms like CSR-2 and AOC-4 NBFC are increasingly important for timely and accurate compliance as sector-specific regulations and CSR scrutiny tighten, particularly for NBFCs.

Important compliance areas are covered by the 38 forms that are being transitioned. AOC-4 for standalone financial statements, AOC-4 CFS, NBFC, and XBRL for consolidated and sector-specific filings, AOC-1 and AOC-2 for subsidiary and related party disclosures, and the CSR-2 form for Corporate Social Responsibility reporting are all crucial forms under Chapter IX (Accounts and Financial Disclosures). Forms like MGT-7 and MGT-7A (Annual Returns) and MGT-15 (AGM Proceedings) are essential under Chapter VII (Management & Administration).

Additionally, forms ADT-1 through ADT-4 address the appointment, resignation, and other disclosures pertaining to audits under Chapter X (Audit and Auditors). Other important filings include GNL-1 for various RoC applications, INC-22A (ACTIVE) for confirming active company status, CRA-2 and CRA-4 for cost audits, CRL-1 for revealing the number of subsidiary layers, and LEAP-1, which was added under the 2024 Listing Rules, for filing a prospectus in approved foreign jurisdictions.

Because of continuing requirements for historical compliance, legacy forms from the Companies Act of 1956 are also still a part of the ecosystem. These consist of the financial forms 23AC/23ACA, the annual returns 20B/21A, and the XBRL versions of the auditor notification forms 23B, 23C, and 23D.

Timeline for Implementation and Compliance Guidance

Stakeholders should take note of a number of important deadlines and preparatory steps as these forms will be launched on July 14, 2025, at 12:00 AM. Offline payments made through the “Pay Later” option will stop on June 8, 2025, and filing through the V2 portal will be permanently disabled starting on June 18. Only online payments made with credit/debit cards or net banking will be accepted after this date.

The V3 portal will experience a planned outage from 12:00 AM on July 9, 2025, to 11:59 PM on July 13, 2025, in advance of the launch. Since no extension or fee waiver will be given if a deadline falls during the portal’s outage, stakeholders must make sure that all filings or resubmissions that are due during this time are finished beforehand.

Businesses are encouraged to create or update their user IDs on the V3 portal under the “Business User” category and link their Digital Signature Certificates (DSCs) appropriately in order to facilitate the transition. Additionally, by June 17, 2025, all Service Request Numbers (SRNs) with a pending status—including those with the statuses “Pending for upload of Investor details” or “Pending for Subsidiary Details”—must be resolved through the MCA portal’s designated services. These SRNs will be marked as “Not to Be Registered” (NTBR) if they don’t comply.

Conclusion

The MCA21 V3 initiative’s systemic change demonstrates the government’s dedication to establishing an open, technologically advanced, and effective corporate regulatory environment. In order to ensure timely filings, company secretaries, chartered accountants, corporate law specialists, and compliance officers must proactively adjust to the updated framework. Together with improved portal features, the new forms mark a significant step forward for India’s goal of digital corporate governance.

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King Stubb & Kasiva,
Advocates & Attorneys

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