Form RD-1: Complete Guide to RD Approval for Conversion, Change of Name and Other Matters
Form RD-1 is the web form filed with the Regional Director (RD) for approval of a range of matters — including rectification of a company’s name, change in financial year, and conversion of a public company into a private company. It is governed by Sections 2(41), 16 and 18 of the Companies Act, 2013 read with Rules 33A, 40 and 41 of the Companies (Incorporation) Rules, 2014.
Who Should File RD-1 / When is it Filed
A company seeking RD approval for rectification of name (where directed), a change in its financial year, conversion from a public company to a private company, or any other RD approval matter under the Companies Act, 2013 must file Form RD-1.
Important Checkpoints Before Filing
- Applicant must be registered on the MCA portal, and the company must hold a valid CIN
- The business user must be associated with, or authorised by, the company to e-file on its behalf
- Signatories must hold an approved DIN or valid PAN or Membership number
- The signing director’s DIN must not be flagged for disqualification
- No other RD-1 should be pending for processing at the back office for the same purpose selected in field 3 (“Please indicate the purpose of the application”) — this restriction does not apply where ‘Others’ is selected
- No other RD-1 should be pending or approved against the same MGT-14 SRN
- The DSC attached must be registered on the MCA portal against the DIN/PAN/Membership number provided
- The signing authority must hold a valid, non-expired, non-revoked DSC
- For the purpose ‘Conversion of Public company into a private company’, the MGT-14 SRN quoted must be valid, approved, and associated with the CIN
- For resubmission: application must be in Application History and T+15 days (T = date marked ‘Resubmission Required’) must not have elapsed
- If field space is insufficient, additional details may be furnished as an optional attachment
Step-by-Step Filing Process
- Login to MCA portal → MCA Services → E-Filing → Company Forms Download
- Access “Form No. RD-1 (RD approval form for Conversion / Direction for change in name of existing company / Other matters)”
- Enter/search/select CIN
- Fill up the application, selecting the specific purpose and quoting the MGT-14 SRN where applicable
- Optionally save as draft
- Submit the webform and note the SRN
- Affix DSC
- Upload the DSC-affixed PDF on MCA portal within 15 days of SRN generation
- Pay Fees within 7 days of successful upload (or due date + 2 days, whichever is earlier — otherwise the SRN is cancelled)
- Receive acknowledgement; once processed, an intimation with the approval/rejection order is emailed to the registered ID
Signing Requirements
- Digitally signed by an authorised signatory with an approved DIN or valid PAN/Membership number
Fee Structure
| Nominal Share Capital (INR) | Other than OPC & Small Company (INR) | OPC & Small Company (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 25,00,000 | 2,000 | 1,000 |
| Above 25,00,000 up to 50,00,000 | 5,000 | 2,500 |
| Above 50,00,000 up to 5,00,00,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| Above 5,00,00,000 up to 10 crore | 15,000 | 15,000 |
| Above 10 crore | 20,000 | 20,000 |
Company limited by guarantee without share capital, or a Section 8 company with a valid license: flat ₹2,000
No additional/delay fee is prescribed for RD-1.
Processing Mode
Form RD-1 is processed in Non-STP mode — every filing is reviewed manually by the Regional Director’s office.
Useful Links
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What matters can be applied for through RD-1? Rectification of name, change in financial year, conversion of a public company into a private company, and other RD approval matters as selected in the purpose field.
Q2. Is an MGT-14 SRN always required for RD-1? It is specifically required for the purpose ‘Conversion of Public company into a private company’; requirements vary by the selected purpose.
Q3. Can two RD-1 filings for the same purpose be pending simultaneously? No, unless ‘Others’ is selected as the purpose, in which case the restriction does not apply.
Q4. Is RD-1 processed automatically? No, it is always processed in Non-STP mode with manual review.
Q5. What is the fee for a small company or OPC filing RD-1? Reduced slabs apply up to ₹50,00,000 of nominal share capital; above that, the fee is the same as for other companies.
Disclaimer
This article is based on the official Instruction Kit for Form RD-1 published by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Government of India. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the content is intended for general guidance purposes only. MCA forms, rules, and fee structures are subject to change through amendments to the Companies Act, 2013 or notifications issued thereunder.
In case of any inconsistency or doubt, readers are advised to refer to the official MCA forms download page and resources available on the MCA website.