Learn what a CIN (Corporate Identity Number) is, how to decode its 21-character format, and where to find and verify a company's CIN in India.

What is CIN?

CIN stands for Corporate Identity Number. It is a unique 21-character alphanumeric code assigned by the Registrar of Companies (ROC) under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) to every company registered in India.

The CIN is assigned at the time of company incorporation and remains unchanged throughout the company's lifetime. It serves as the primary identifier for any company in India's corporate registry.

How to Decode a CIN Number

Let's break down the CIN U72900MH2000PLC123456:

U — Listing status (U = Unlisted, L = Listed)

72900 — Industry code (NIC classification)

MH — State code (Maharashtra)

2000 — Year of incorporation

PLC — Company type (Public Limited Company)

123456 — Registration number

How to Look Up a Company by CIN

The official source is the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. On the MCA portal (mca.gov.in) you can look up a company's master data by name or CIN, including its registered address, status and filing history.

Why is CIN Important?

Legal identification — Required for all official filings and compliance

Due diligence — Verify company authenticity before business dealings

Research — Track company history, directors, and financial details

Lead generation — Find newly registered companies for B2B outreach

Where to Find a Company's CIN

You can find a company's CIN on:

MCA portal (mca.gov.in)

New Company Data daily MCA data files, where every newly registered company is listed with its CIN

Company's official documents and letterhead

Annual returns and financial statements

Every record in our MCA data includes the CIN. See MCA Data Pricing or request a sample to see the structure.

What is a CIN Number and How to Search Companies in India

What is CIN?

How to Decode a CIN Number

How to Look Up a Company by CIN

Why is CIN Important?

Where to Find a Company's CIN

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