A Nidhi company is a company that is recognised under section 406 of the Companies Act, 2013 read with Nidhi Rules 2014. Its core functions are borrowing and lending money among its members and fall under the non-banking Indian finance sector. It is a company that has been incorporated with the express purpose of cultivating the habit of thrift and savings among its members. They are known by different names such as Benefit Funds, Permanent Fund, Mutual Benefit Funds, or Mutual Benefit Company.
Prerequisites For Forming a Nidhi Company
To establish a Nidhi Company, the following criteria must be met:
- The company must have the suffix “Nidhi Limited” in its name
- The company must be a Public Company.
- Minor, Body Corporate and a Trust cannot be admitted as members to Nidhi.
- The minimum paid-up share capital must be Rs. 5 lakh.
- The company cannot issue preference shares, in the case where such shares have been issued by the company prior to the commencement of the Act, the same shall be redeemed.
- The primary objective of the company must be to inculcate the habit of savings in its members.
Post Incorporation Requirements of a Nidhi Company
Within one year of incorporation, a Nidhi company must satisfy the following conditions:
- The minimum number of members must be 200.
- The Net owned funds must be Rs. 10 lakhs. (Net owned funds is the aggregate of paid-up capital and free reserves reduced by the accumulated and intangible assets as appearing in the last balance sheet.)
- The net owned funds and the deposits shall be in a ratio not exceeding 1: 20 that is Net Owned Funds: Deposits = 1:20.
- Unencumbered term deposits should be not less than 10 % of the outstanding deposits as specified in Rule 14 of Nidhi Rules 2014.
Registration Process of a Nidhi Company
To apply for registration the Nidhi Company must have a minimum of 7 members and 3 Directors. On fulfilling this condition the Nidhi Company can follow the below-mentioned process:
- Apply for Director Identification Number (DIN) and Digital Signature Certificate.
- Go for Name Approval by using Reserve Unique Name (RUN) Service of MCA.
- Prepare the Articles of Association and Memorandum of association according to the objects of the company and all other documents.
- File for Incorporation Form SPICe+.
- Apply for PAN and TAN.
For obtaining incorporation the following documents will be required:
- Copy of PAN Card of Directors and Shareholders.
- Identity proof for Directors and Shareholders like Voters ID, Passport, Driving License.
- Address proof of Directors and Shareholders like Bank statements, utility bills.
- Passport size photographs.
- Registered office – property proof. a) If the property is owned then – Utility Bill + Ownership document + NOC. b) If the property is rented – Utility bill + Rent Agreement +NOC.
Restrictions on Nidhi Companies
As per Rule 6 of Nidhi rules 2014, a Nidhi Company cannot perform the following activities:
- Conduct the business of chit fund, leasing finance, and hire purchase. It cannot acquire securities issued by a body corporate.
- Issue preference shares, debentures, or any debt instrument by any name or in any form whatsoever.
- Open any current account with its members.
- Make any acquisitions or arrangements or concessions until the same is adopted in the General Meeting by a special resolution and is approved by the Regional Director.
- Perform any business other than borrowing/ lending in its own name.
- Lend to or accept funds from anyone other than its members.
- Lend to or accept funds from body corporate.
- Enter into any partnership arrangement in their borrowing or lending operation.
- Act of publicity for seeking any deposits in any form.
- Pledge any of its assets lodged by its members as security.
- Pay any brokerage or incentive for granting loans or deployment of funds or mobilise deposits from its members.
Note:
- If the company adheres to all the provisions of the rules mentioned, it can provide locker facilities to its members provided the income from locker rent does not exceed 20 % of the gross income of the Nidhi at any point of time during the Financial year.
- Private circulation of the details of fixed deposit schemes among members bearing the words “for private circulation to members only” will not be taken as an advertisement.
Filing Compliance With ROC As Per Nidhi Rules 2014
| Form | Due Date | Contents | Important Points |
| NDH – 1 – Return of Statutory Compliance | Within 90 days from the closure of the first financial year and where applicable from the second financial year. | Details regarding members, loans, deposits, reserves for the financial year | E- Form GNL-2 Form for submission of documents with the registrar |
| NDH – 2 – Application for Extension of time | Within 30 days from the closure of the financial year | Application for extension of time for not complying with the requirements of members and deposits as mandated post-incorporation. | E- Form RD -1 Applications made to Regional Director |
| NDH -3 Half Yearly return | Within 30 days from the conclusion of each half-year | Details regarding members, loans, deposits, for the said period. It contains details of total members admitted in the half-year, total members who ceased to be members as on date | E- Form GNL-2 Form for submission of documents with the registrar |
| NDH -4 | For New Nidhi Company Within 60 days after the expiry of 1 year from the date of its incorporation For existing Nidhi Company Within a period of 1 year from its date of incorporation OR within 6 months from the date of commencement of Nidhi Rules 2019, whichever is later | For filing application for a declaration as Nidhi Company and updation of status | Failure to file form NDH -4 Companies will not be allowed to file Form No.SH -7 (Notice to Registrar of any alteration to share capital) andForm PAS -3 (Return of Allotment) |
| AOC – 4 | Within 30 days from the date of the Company’s Annual General Meeting | Filing of Financial Statements | |
| MGT -7 | Within 60 days of the Annual General Meeting | Annual return along with a list of company members |
Forms NDH -1 and NDH -3 must be duly filed with the requisite fees and must be certified by a professional.
Loans Under Rule 15 of Nidhi Rules 2014
The following are the limits to the loan set against deposit made:
| Deposit Made (Rs) | Loan Granted (Rs) |
| Less than 2 crores | 2 lakh |
| Greater than 2 crores but less than 20 crores | 7.5 lakh |
| Greater than 20 crores less than 50 crores | 12 lakh |
| 50 crores or more | 15 lakh |
A Nidhi company that has not made profits continuously in the three preceding financial years, shall not make any fresh loans exceeding 50% of the maximum amounts of loans specified above. A member shall not be eligible for any loan if he has defaulted on any prior loan repayment.
The loans can be granted only against the following security
- Gold/Jewellery
- Property
- Fixed Deposit
- Insurance Policy
Nidhi Companies cannot grant a personal loan, vehicle loan, hire purchase, or microfinance. Nidhi companies are formed for the purpose of inculcating the habit of saving among their members and is governed by the Companies Act. Although Nidhi companies are non – banking finance companies they are excluded from the core provisions of the RBI Act and other directions applicable to NBFCs.
