# Corporate Identity Number (CIN)

## What is CIN?

On and from the date mentioned in the Certificate of Incorporation, the Registrar of Companies (ROC) shall allot the company a Corporate Identity Number (CIN) — a distinct identification number that is also printed on the Certificate of Incorporation itself.

## Structure of CIN

CIN is a 21-character alpha-numeric code. Each segment of the code carries specific information about the company. Reading a CIN tells you the company's listing status, industry, state of registration, year of incorporation, ownership classification, and ROC registration number — all at a glance.

### The Six Segments

Position	Length	Meaning
1st character	1 letter	Listing status: L = Listed, U = Unlisted
Next 5 digits	5 digits	Industry code
Next 2 letters	2 letters	Indian state of registration (e.g., KA = Karnataka, MH = Maharashtra)
Next 4 digits	4 digits	Year of incorporation
Next 3 letters	3 letters	Company classification (see below)
Last 6 digits	6 digits	Registration number with concerned ROC

### Company Classification Codes (the 3-letter block)

PLC — Public Limited Company
PTC — Private (To) Company (private limited)
FTC — Foreign (To) Company subsidiary
GOI — Government of India company

## Why is CIN Important?

It is a unique identifier like a PAN for individuals — no two companies share a CIN.
It must be quoted on all official correspondence, invoices, letterheads, and filings.
Anyone (creditor, investor, regulator) can decode it to verify basic facts about the company.

Worked example

### Example 1

Example — Decoding the CIN of Infosys Limited: L85110KA1981PLC013115

Segment	Value	Decoded
Listing	L	Listed company
Industry code	85110	Industry classification number
State	KA	Registered in Karnataka
Year	1981	Incorporated in 1981
Classification	PLC	Public Limited Company
Reg. No.	013115	ROC registration number

Reading: Infosys is a listed public limited company, incorporated in Karnataka in 1981, with ROC registration number 013115.

### Example 2

Example — If a CIN starts with 'U' and ends with 'PTC': The company is an unlisted private limited company. For instance, a CIN like `U72200MH2015PTC267890` would denote an unlisted IT-services private limited company registered in Maharashtra in 2015.

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

Confusing PLC (Public Limited Company under Companies Act, 2013) with the British 'Plc' suffix — in the Indian CIN, PLC simply marks the classification.
Treating the first character as part of the industry code. It is a separate segment indicating Listing status (L/U) only.
Counting the total characters as 20 or 22 — CIN is exactly 21 alpha-numeric characters.
Assuming CIN changes when a company shifts its registered office to another state. The state code in CIN reflects the state of original registration; it may be updated on shifting under specified procedures.
Mixing up PTC with FTC — PTC is private domestic company, FTC is a foreign company subsidiary.

Bare-Act text Section 7(3) [as referenced in the chapter on Incorporation] · Companies Act, 2013 · click to expand

On and from the date mentioned in the certificate of incorporation, the Registrar shall allot to the company a corporate identity number, which shall be a distinct identity for the company and which shall also be included in the certificate of incorporation.

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Corporate Identity Number (CIN) — Allotment and Structure

Worked example

⚠️ Common exam mistakes