Nidhi Company Compliance — NDH Forms & ROC Filings
Nidhi company compliance has two layers: the NDH forms and operating limits under the Nidhi Rules, 2014, and the ROC and income tax returns every public company files. One return never stops: the half-yearly NDH-3, next due on 30 October 2026. We prepare and file the whole set, from NDH-3 to ITR-6.
What it is
A Nidhi is a public company that the Central Government has declared a Nidhi under Section 406 of the Companies Act, 2013. Its purpose is to build the habit of thrift and saving among members, taking deposits from and lending to members only. Nidhi company compliance is everything it must file and maintain to keep that status. Lose the status, and the deposits stop.
The detail sits in the Nidhi Rules, 2014. The Nidhi (Amendment) Rules, 2022 (G.S.R. 301(E), 19 April 2022) split Nidhis into two groups, incorporated before or after that amendment, and your group decides which forms you file. NDH-3 is filed on the MCA V3 portal.
Who it applies to
Incorporated after April 2022? Follow Rule 3B
Within 120 days of incorporation you need at least 200 members and net owned funds (NOF) of ₹20 lakh, and you apply for declaration in Form NDH-4 with fit-and-proper declarations from every promoter and director. A new Faridabad Nidhi with 150 members on day 100 cannot apply yet, and the clock keeps running.
Incorporated earlier? Rule 5 set your tests
Within one year of incorporation: 200 members, NOF of ₹10 lakh, 10% of deposits in unencumbered term deposits, and NOF to deposits of not more than 1:20. NDH-1, and NDH-2 where needed, follow from it.
Not declared yet? Hold the deposits
Until NDH-4 is approved, the company cannot start Nidhi business. If NDH-4 was not filed in time, or was rejected, deposits and loans under the Nidhi Rules are barred.
Why it matters
Give members a reason to trust you
Nidhi deposits are not insured by the DICGC, and the MCA has reminded the public of exactly that. Your filings and limits are what members rely on instead.
Expect members to check your status
In September 2026 the MCA cautioned the public about Nidhis promising unusually high returns. Only 395 companies have been declared Nidhis, it said, and many had not filed NDH-4 in time. It told the public to check that list before investing.
Keep the door open for branches
Rule 10 allows new branches only after three straight years of profit, with financial statements and annual returns filed up to date. Late filings put expansion on hold.
Limits every Nidhi must stay within
Your auditor tests each of these every year before giving the Rule 22 compliance certificate. Say a Nidhi in Ballabgarh holds ₹3 crore of member deposits. It can lend no member more than ₹7.5 lakh, and it must keep at least ₹30 lakh in unencumbered term deposits.
| Limit | Rule | What it allows |
|---|---|---|
| Paid-up capital | Rule 4(1) | At least ₹10 lakh of equity share capital |
| Liquid cover | Rule 14 | At least 10% of outstanding deposits in unencumbered term deposits with a scheduled commercial bank (not a co-operative bank or regional rural bank) or post office deposits, in the Nidhi’s own name |
| Deposit terms | Rule 13 | Fixed deposits for 6–60 months; recurring deposits for 12–60 months; interest-earning savings balance up to ₹1 lakh, at most 2% above nationalised banks’ savings rate |
| Loan size per member | Rule 15(2) | ₹2 lakh (total deposits under ₹2 crore); ₹7.5 lakh (₹2–20 crore); ₹12 lakh (₹20–50 crore); ₹15 lakh (above ₹50 crore) |
| Loan interest | Rule 16 | No more than 7.5% above the highest rate offered on deposits, calculated on reducing balance |
| Dividend | Rule 18 | No more than 25% in a financial year |
| Who you deal with | Rule 6 | Members only; no advertising for deposits, no brokerage to raise them, no current accounts |
Documents required
Pull from the Nidhi’s records
- Member register, with the half-year’s new members
- Deposits outstanding by scheme: fixed, recurring, savings
- Loans outstanding by security: gold, property, deposits
- Bank or post office proof of the unencumbered term deposits
- Working of net owned funds
Collect from the directors
- A valid digital signature certificate (DSC) for the signing director
- DIN and DIR-3 KYC status of each director
- Fit-and-proper declarations of all promoters and directors (for NDH-4)
Keep ready for year-end
- Audited financial statements with the auditor’s Rule 22 certificate
- AGM notice and minutes
- Form 26AS and AIS for ITR-6
How it works
Find out which rules bind you
We check your incorporation date, NDH-4 status and past filings on the MCA V3 portal. That tells us whether Rule 3B or Rule 5 governs you, and what is overdue.
Close the half-year books
At 30 September and 31 March we reconcile members, deposits and loans, then test NOF, the 10% cover and loan limits. In practice, whether you use spreadsheets or Nidhi management software, the registers must agree with the ledgers before anyone certifies.
Certify and file NDH-3 within 30 days
A practising company secretary, chartered accountant or cost accountant certifies NDH-3. A director signs it with a DSC, and we file it on the MCA V3 portal.
Hold the AGM and file AOC-4 and MGT-7
The AGM is due by 30 September. AOC-4 follows within 30 days of it and MGT-7 within 60 days; our annual compliance filing service covers both.
File ITR-6 and track DIN KYC
ITR-6 goes on the Income Tax e-filing portal. Each director files DIR-3 KYC once every three financial years, by 30 June after the third year.
Timelines
File NDH-4 within 120 days of incorporation
The Central Government decides within 45 days, or the application is deemed approved. Business starts only after approval, which is filed with Form INC-20A.
File NDH-3 within 30 days of each half-year
30 October for April to September. 30 April for October to March.
Track NDH-1 and NDH-2 if incorporated earlier
NDH-1 within 90 days of the close of the first financial year, and the second where applicable: 29 June. NDH-2 within 30 days of that year-end if members or the 1:20 ratio fell short.
Nidhi compliance calendar
| Filing | What it covers | Due | Next date |
|---|---|---|---|
| NDH-3 | April–September half-year | 30 October | 30 October 2026 |
| NDH-3 | October–March half-year | 30 April | 30 April 2027 |
| AOC-4 | Financial statements | Within 30 days of the AGM | 30 October 2026 (AGM on 30 September) |
| MGT-7 | Annual return | Within 60 days of the AGM | 29 November 2026 (AGM on 30 September) |
| ITR-6 | Income tax return | 31 October (companies) | 21 November 2026 (extended by CBDT) |
This month: 30 October 2026 is a double deadline, for NDH-3 and, if your AGM was on 30 September, for AOC-4. Late AOC-4 costs ₹100 a day in additional fee, and the CCFS-2026 relief scheme ended on 31 August 2026.
What happens if a Nidhi falls out of line
Lose the right to take deposits
Under Rules 3A and 23A, a company that has not met the declaration requirements, or whose NDH-4 was rejected, cannot raise deposits or give loans from that date. Any deposit raised anyway is deemed raised under Chapter V of the Companies Act, 2013.
Face fines and a Special Officer
Rule 24 sets a fine of up to ₹5,000 on the company and every officer in default, plus up to ₹500 a day while the breach continues. Under Rule 23, the Central Government can also appoint a Special Officer to take over management, after a hearing.
Pay rising fees, lose key forms
An undeclared company cannot file SH-7 or PAS-3 to alter or allot share capital. Late AOC-4 or MGT-7 adds ₹100 a day. A missed DIR-3 KYC deactivates the director’s DIN until a ₹5,000 fee is paid.
Frequently asked questions
What are the regular compliances for a Nidhi company?
Every Nidhi files NDH-3 twice a year, within 30 days of each half-year, plus AOC-4, MGT-7 and ITR-6 like any public company. A new Nidhi also files NDH-4 once, within 120 days of incorporation. Directors file DIR-3 KYC once every three financial years. We keep them all on one calendar for you.
What is the due date for NDH-3?
NDH-3 is due within 30 days from the end of each half-year: 30 October for April to September, and 30 April for October to March. A practising company secretary, chartered accountant or cost accountant certifies it first. The return for April to September 2026 is due on 30 October 2026, which still leaves four weeks to file it cleanly.
How many members and how much capital does a new Nidhi need?
A company incorporated as a Nidhi after the 2022 amendment needs at least 200 members and net owned funds of ₹20 lakh, and must apply in NDH-4 within 120 days of incorporation. Paid-up equity capital must be at least ₹10 lakh. Still at the planning stage? Our Nidhi registration team builds these numbers into the plan from day one.
Can a Nidhi accept deposits before NDH-4 is approved?
No. Rule 3B(5) says the company may commence business only after the Central Government approves its NDH-4, and the approval is filed with Form INC-20A. The government must decide within 45 days of receiving the application; if it does not, the application is deemed approved. With a complete application, you wait no more than 45 days for a decision.
Do all Nidhis still file NDH-1 and NDH-2?
No. Rule 5, the source of NDH-1 and the NDH-2 extension route, does not apply to companies incorporated as Nidhis on or after the 2022 amendment. Older Nidhis filed NDH-1 within 90 days of the close of their first financial year, and of the second where applicable. Any Nidhi still uses NDH-2 to seek approval for extra branches. We confirm which apply to you before filing anything.
What is the maximum interest a Nidhi can charge on loans?
Rule 16 caps loan interest at 7.5% above the highest rate the Nidhi offers on deposits, calculated on the reducing balance. If your best fixed deposit pays 9%, the loan ceiling is 16.5%. Loan size is capped too, from ₹2 lakh to ₹15 lakh per member, depending on total deposits. Keep your rate card inside both limits and the audit stays clean.
How many branches can a Nidhi open?
A Nidhi can open branches only after three straight years of net profit after tax, with its filings up to date. Up to three branches in its district need no approval; more, or any outside the district, need the Regional Director’s prior approval in Form NDH-2. Here is the catch: no branch can open outside the state, so a Faridabad Nidhi cannot open one in Delhi. We prepare the NDH-2 application for you.
Can a company use “Nidhi Limited” in its name before it is declared?
No. Since 16 July 2024, a proviso to Rule 4(5), added by G.S.R. 413(E), bars a company from using the words “Nidhi Limited” in its name until it is declared a Nidhi under Section 406(1). Once declared, every Nidhi must end its name with those words. We check the name at the planning stage, so declaration day brings no surprises.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
Ready to begin?
Send us your incorporation date, NDH-4 status and the half-year’s figures. We will tell you what is pending and get NDH-3 filed before 30 October 2026.