Director Identification Number (DIN)
It is a unique identification number assigned by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) in India to individuals who wish to become directors of a company. Here's an overview:
Unique Identifier: DIN is a permanent number that identifies a director, and it is mandatory for anyone who is appointed as a director in an Indian company / partner in an LLP
Application Process: To obtain a DIN, individuals must apply through the MCA portal by submitting the required documents and completing the necessary forms (e.g., Form DIR-3).
Legal Requirement: DIN is required to be mentioned in all filings, returns, and communications made to the MCA by a company.
Permanent Validity: Once issued, the DIN is valid for the individual's lifetime.
Compliance: Helps in tracking directorial records and ensuring compliance with corporate laws.
Transparency: Aids in maintaining transparency and accountability in the corporate sector.
Eligibility: Any individual wishing to become a director in an Indian company can apply for a DIN. There are no specific educational or experience requirements, but the person should be of legal age
Surrender of DIN: DIN can be surrendered in case it is no longer in use through form DIR-5. You can apply for a new Director Identification Number (DIN) after surrendering or deactivating an old one.
Status of DIN: Every person holding a DIN shall update his KYC through a process called DIR-KYC. This update shall be done by September 30 every year to keep the DIN in ACTIVE status. In case the update is not done, the status of DIN will be changed to INACTIVE and the director will not be authorized to sign any ROC related form and also affects the status of the company.
DIN is mandatory in the case of the director of a company and partner of LLP. In case of LLP, a person holding a DIN can use it as DPIN for ROC related forms.