Social Stock Exchange Registration for NGOs
Social stock exchange registration lets a trust, society or Section 8 company be identified as a not-for-profit organisation on the exchange and raise funds from the public. We prepare the eligibility file, documents and annual disclosures. The exchange decides. A qualified social auditor certifies.
What it is
The Social Stock Exchange (SSE) is a separate segment of a recognised stock exchange where not-for-profit organisations (NPOs) can register and raise money from the public. In India, NSE runs it. Social stock exchange registration does not make your NGO a listed company. It places your NPO on a register, with a duty to report your social impact every year.
The framework sits in the SEBI (Issue of Capital and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2018 and SEBI circulars under them. The main route is a Zero Coupon Zero Principal (ZCZP) instrument. It pays no interest and returns no principal, so the funder is backing a project, not earning a return.
Who it applies to
A charitable trust
A public charitable trust registered under a state public trusts law, or a trust registered with the Sub-Registrar, can apply if its work falls in an eligible social activity.
A registered society
A society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 or a state society law can register on the SSE once it clears the exchange’s social enterprise test.
A Section 8 company
A company formed through Section 8 company registration, licensed under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013, is the most common applicant, since its accounts, audit and filings are already structured.
Why it matters
A new route to funds
Funders can back a named project through a ZCZP issue, and some CSR teams look at the exchange to find vetted projects.
Verified credibility
Your impact report is prepared to a standard format and checked by a social auditor. Donors see numbers, not just a brochure.
Your records in order
Getting ready for the exchange puts your registrations, accounts and filings in order. That also helps with grants, FCRA and 12A/80G renewals.
Documents required
Registration and tax papers
- Certificate of registration, trust deed, society memorandum or Section 8 licence
- Income-tax registration (12A and 80G approvals, now under sections 332 and 354 of the Income-tax Act, 2025)
- PAN and NGO Darpan unique ID
Financial records
- Audited financial statements for the last three years
- Income and expenditure statements and fund balances
- List of funders, with the share of any single corporate funder
Governance and programme
- List of trustees, members or directors, with ID proofs
- Programme description, target population and outcomes
- Declarations on debarment, wilful default and MHA action
How it works
Test your eligibility first
We read your registrations and accounts against the exchange’s social enterprise test. NSE’s FAQs say at least 67% of activities, measured over three years by revenue, spending or beneficiaries, must serve an eligible target population. They also bar NPOs that depend on one corporate for more than half their funding.
Close the gaps
Missing NGO Darpan ID? Lapsed 12A or 80G? Unfiled returns, or audited accounts for three years not ready? In practice, one of these is nearly always the hold-up. We close them before anything is submitted.
Submit the NPO file
We assemble the application and supporting documents, get them certified by your authorised signatories and statutory auditor, and submit them to the exchange. We answer its queries as they arrive.
Report your impact and raise funds
A qualified social auditor certifies your impact report. Where you want to raise funds, we prepare the project case and the ZCZP document, then support your annual disclosures.
Timelines
Eligibility review
A few working days, once your registrations and three years of accounts sit in one place.
Exchange processing
Set by the exchange and depends on how complete the file is. Incomplete files come back with queries.
Registration validity
SEBI extended NPO registration validity on the SSE from two to three years in April 2026. An NPO that does not raise funds in the first two years may get one extra year with the exchange’s approval.
What happens if you miss the conditions
Registration is refused or lapses
An NPO that fails the social enterprise test, or is not on NGO Darpan, cannot register. A lapsed registration cannot be used to raise funds.
Issue fails below minimum subscription
A ZCZP issue must reach its minimum subscription. SEBI cut it from 75% to 50% in April 2026 for projects with clear per-unit costs. Below it, money is refunded.
Disclosure default
Registered NPOs follow SEBI’s listing disclosure rules. Late or wrong impact reports can mean action by the exchange and loss of donor trust.
Funding routes at a glance
The table puts the SSE route next to the usual ways an NGO raises money. Use it to judge whether the effort suits your size.
| Route | What you give | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| ZCZP on the SSE | No interest, no principal back. A funder supports a named project. | Social enterprise test, impact report, social audit, SEBI-style disclosures |
| Donations and grants | Receipts and utilisation reports | 12A and 80G, plus CSR-1 for corporate CSR funds |
| Foreign contribution | Annual FC-4 return | FCRA registration |
Frequently asked questions
What is social stock exchange registration?
It is the registration of a not-for-profit organisation on the Social Stock Exchange segment of NSE, under SEBI’s framework. A registered NPO can raise funds through ZCZP instruments or the exchange’s donation platform and must report its social impact annually. It does not turn the NGO into a for-profit listed company. Think of a Section 8 company in Faridabad running a skills programme: it stays an NGO, but now reports its results in a standard format. We handle the eligibility check and the file.
Which organisations can register on the Social Stock Exchange?
Public charitable trusts, societies and Section 8 companies can apply, provided they meet the social enterprise test. NSE’s FAQs list conditions such as NGO Darpan registration, valid income-tax approvals and three years of audited accounts. For-profit companies are not eligible. We check your file against the latest conditions before anything is submitted.
What is a ZCZP instrument?
A Zero Coupon Zero Principal instrument pays no interest and returns no principal. It is issued in dematerialised form for a specific project, cannot be traded on a secondary market and is not subject to securities transaction tax. NSE’s FAQs set the minimum issue at ₹50 lakh and the minimum application at ₹10,000. Check the current limits before planning an issue.
How long is the registration valid?
Three years. SEBI extended the validity from two to three years in April 2026. An NPO that registers but does not raise funds for two years may get one more year, with the exchange’s approval. We track the renewal date so it does not slip.
Can a small NGO register?
Small NGOs can apply, but the exchange’s tests on spending, fund balance and three years of accounts may rule out very young or very small organisations. NSE publishes the thresholds, and they have changed more than once. We review your numbers first and tell you plainly if it is too early.
Is a social audit compulsory?
Yes. Impact reports are certified by a qualified social auditor. NSE’s FAQs say the auditor must be registered with the self-regulatory organisation set up under the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and hold the NISM certification. We prepare the data and records. The auditor does the audit and signs.
Do we still need 12A and 80G?
Yes. NSE’s FAQs require valid income-tax approvals, now under sections 332 and 354 of the Income-tax Act, 2025. Registrations that were valid on 1 April 2026 continue until their original expiry. If yours is near renewal, we align that with the SSE file.
Does a corporate foundation qualify?
Not if one corporate funds more than half your budget. NSE’s FAQs make an NPO ineligible when it depends on a corporate for over 50% of its funding. If that is your position, we look at whether another route fits better.
Can CSR money go through the SSE?
Companies can look at the exchange to find vetted projects. Whether a given spend counts as CSR depends on the company’s CSR policy and Schedule VII, so we suggest confirming that with the company’s board and CSR committee. We prepare the NGO side of the file.
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?
Tell us your entity type, your last three years of accounts and the project you want to fund. We will tell you whether the exchange fits.