RUN — Reserve Unique Name is a web form filed by an existing company seeking to change its name. It is filed with the Central Registration Centre (CRC) and governed by Sections 4 and 13 of the Companies Act, 2013, read with Rules 8 and 9 of the Companies (Incorporation) Rules, 2014.

Upon approval, the CRC reserves the proposed new name for 60 days from the date of approval. The company must then file the name change forms within this period.

Key Distinction: RUN is for existing companies changing their name. For new companies seeking to reserve a name before incorporation, the applicable form is SPICe+ Part A.

Who Should File RUN?

Any existing company registered under the Companies Act that wishes to change its name must file Form RUN with CRC before proceeding with the formal name change through MGT-14 and INC-24.

Important Checkpoints Before Filing RUN

  • Register on the MCA portal before filing
  • Read all instructions and guidelines carefully
  • In case of resubmission, the application must be available in your Application History and T+15 days (where T is the date of marking ‘Resubmission Required’) must not have elapsed
  • The same user ID used for initial name reservation must be used for resubmission
  • If any field is insufficient, additional details can be provided as an optional attachment
  • Monitor Notifications and Alerts under ‘My Workspace’ on your FO user dashboard

Step-by-Step Filing Process

Option 1: Via MCA Services Menu

  1. Visit www.mca.gov.in and login
  2. Go to MCA Services → Company Services → RUN Company
  3. Fill up the application
  4. Perform Auto Check
  5. Optionally save as draft (enabled after entering Proposed Name 1)
  6. Submit the form
  7. Note the SRN generated (used for future correspondence)
  8. Pay fees within 7 days of SRN generation (else SRN is cancelled)
  9. Receive acknowledgement email
  10. Approval/rejection letter sent to registered email
  1. Search for “RUN Company” on the MCA homepage
  2. Login and proceed from Step 3 above

Resubmission Process

If CRC marks the application as ‘Resubmission Required’, the user must resubmit within T+15 days.

Option 1 — Via Dashboard:

  1. Login and go to Application History
  2. Select RUN Company application with status ‘Resubmission Required’
  3. Fill, Auto Check, and resubmit

Option 2 — Via Notification Email:

  1. Click the link in the resubmission notification email
  2. Login and complete the updated form
  3. Auto Check and submit

Field-Level Instructions

Field 2: Corporate Identity Number (CIN)

  • Enter a valid and active CIN of the existing company
  • On resubmission, this field is pre-filled and non-editable

Field 3: Proposed Name 1 (Mandatory)

  • Enter the first proposed new name for the company
  • Maximum 75 characters
  • Abbreviations “PVT”, “PVT.”, “(P)”, “LTD”, “LTD.”, “ltd”, “ltd.” are not permitted
  • Non-ASCII characters are not allowed
  • Only permitted special characters may be used (see table below)

Field 4: Proposed Name 2 (Optional)

  • Enter a second proposed name as backup
  • Same character rules as Proposed Name 1 apply
  • Must be different from Proposed Name 1

Optional Attachments

  • Up to five optional attachments allowed
  • Format: PDF or JPG
  • Size: up to 6 MB per attachment; total up to 10 MB

Permitted Special Characters in Proposed Name

` @ # $ % & * ( ) - _ = + [ { } ] | \ ; : " , < . > / ? ~ ! and space

Fee Structure

PurposeNormal Fee (INR)Delay Fee
Reservation of Name₹1,000NIL

No additional or delay fee applies to RUN filing.

Reserved Name Validity

Upon approval by CRC, the name is reserved for 60 days from the date of approval. This is longer than the 20 days offered under SPICe+ Part A, recognising that existing companies need more time to complete the name change process through shareholder resolutions and ROC filings.

Processing Mode

Form RUN is processed in Non-STP (Non-Straight Through Processing) mode — meaning it is reviewed manually by CRC officials before approval or rejection.

RUN vs SPICe+ Part A: Key Differences

ParameterRUNSPICe+ Part A
Applicable toExisting companies (name change)New companies (name reservation before incorporation)
Governing sectionSection 4 & 13Section 4
Name validity after approval60 days20 days (extendable up to 60 days)
Extension optionNot availableAvailable up to 60 days
CIN requiredYesNo

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Can I propose two names in RUN? Yes. Field 3 (Proposed Name 1) is mandatory, while Field 4 (Proposed Name 2) is optional. Both names must be distinct from each other.

Q2. What happens after RUN approval? After CRC approves the name, the company has 60 days to complete the name change process — typically by passing a special resolution (MGT-14) and filing Form INC-24 for the Registrar’s approval.

Q3. What if I miss the 7-day payment window? The SRN will be automatically cancelled. A fresh RUN application must be filed.

Q4. What if my proposed name is rejected? CRC will send a rejection letter to your registered email with reasons. You can file a fresh RUN application with a different proposed name.

Q5. Is Board/Shareholder approval required before filing RUN? RUN only reserves the name. Shareholder approval (special resolution under Section 13) is required to formally change the name, which must be filed subsequently via MGT-14 and INC-24 with the ROC.

Q6. Is a practising professional required to sign the RUN form? No, RUN does not require certification by a Company Secretary, Chartered Accountant, or Cost Accountant. It can be filed directly by the company’s authorised representative.

Summary

Form RUN is the prescribed route for an existing company to reserve a new name before formally changing it. The process is simple — file on MCA portal, pay ₹1,000, and await CRC’s approval. Upon approval, the name is reserved for 60 days, during which the company must pass a special resolution and file the name change forms. Company Secretaries should ensure the proposed name complies with Section 4 naming guidelines and does not conflict with existing company names in the MCA database.

Disclaimer

This article is based on the official Instruction Kit 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 helpkit and resources available on MCA website