Chapter XI - Appointment and Qualifications of Directors

Section 157

Section 157: company to furnish DIN to the Registrar

Within fifteen days of receiving a director’s section 156 intimation, the company must furnish the DINs of all its directors to the Registrar or other specified authority. Failure attracts a penalty on the company and on officers in default.

Official text

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This article is for general information. Refer to the Companies Act, 2013 official text for the official provisions. If you need professional advice for your situation, contact Bizeneed.

Statutory text

Bare law

(1) Every company shall, within fifteen days of the receipt of intimation under section 156, furnish the Director Identification Number of all its directors to the Registrar or any other officer or authority as may be specified by the Central Government with such fees as may be prescribed or with such additional fees as may be prescribed and every such intimation shall be furnished in such form and manner as may be prescribed. (2) If any company fails to furnish the Director Identification Number under sub-section (1), such company shall be liable to a penalty of twenty-five thousand rupees and in case of continuing failure, with a further penalty of one hundred rupees for each day after the first during which such failure continues, subject to a maximum of one lakh rupees, and every officer of the company who is in default shall be liable to a penalty of not less than twenty-five thousand rupees and in case of continuing failure, with a further penalty of one hundred rupees for each day after the first during which such failure continues, subject to a maximum of one lakh rupees.

Introduction

Section 157(1) requires every company to furnish the DINs of all its directors to the Registrar, or another officer or authority specified by the Central Government, within fifteen days of receiving the intimation under section 156. The filing carries the prescribed fees or prescribed additional fees, in the prescribed form and manner.

Two amendments apply. Section 49 of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2017, in force from 7 May 2018, removed the references to the time under section 403. Section 24 of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2019, with effect from 2 November 2018, replaced the fine in sub-section (2) with a civil penalty.

Key takeaways

Fifteen days

The company furnishes the DINs within fifteen days of receiving the section 156 intimation.

Penalty on the company

Twenty-five thousand rupees, plus one hundred rupees a day for continuing failure, up to one lakh rupees.

Penalty on officers

Not less than twenty-five thousand rupees, plus one hundred rupees a day for continuing failure, up to one lakh rupees.

File within fifteen days

The company furnishes the DINs of all its directors to the Registrar or other specified officer or authority within fifteen days of receiving the section 156 intimation. The filing is made in the prescribed form and manner, with the prescribed fees or prescribed additional fees.

Section 49 of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2017 (in force from 7 May 2018 under S.O. 1833(E)) omitted the words linking the late filing to the time specified under section 403 in sub-section (1), and the matching words in sub-section (2).

Penalty for failure

Section 24 of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2019 substituted sub-section (2) with effect from 2 November 2018. A company that fails to furnish the DIN is liable to a penalty of twenty-five thousand rupees and, for continuing failure, a further one hundred rupees for each day after the first, subject to a maximum of one lakh rupees.

Every officer in default is liable to a penalty of not less than twenty-five thousand rupees and, for continuing failure, a further one hundred rupees for each day after the first, subject to a maximum of one lakh rupees. Before the substitution, sub-section (2) provided for punishment with fine.

Practical preparation

Record the date each section 156 intimation is received; file the DINs within fifteen days in the prescribed form with the fee; keep the filing acknowledgement; if late, file with the prescribed additional fee without delay to limit any daily penalty. The Act leaves the detail to rules (“as may be prescribed”). Read the current rules made under this Chapter, as published by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, for forms, fees and procedure before acting.

Practical checklist

Do

Diarise fifteen days from receipt of each director’s intimation.
Keep filing acknowledgements with the board records.

Avoid

Do not assume a late filing fee removes exposure to the section 157(2) penalty.
Do not quote the pre-2018 fine provisions; sub-section (2) now provides a civil penalty.

Illustrative example

Hypothetical: missed filing

A company receives a director’s DIN intimation but does not file it with the Registrar.

Deadline
The fifteen-day period runs from the date the intimation was received.
Exposure
After that, the company faces twenty-five thousand rupees plus a daily penalty up to one lakh rupees; officers in default face a parallel penalty.
Remedy
File at once with the prescribed additional fee and record the reasons for the delay.

Outcome

Prompt filing limits the daily penalty, which is capped at one lakh rupees.

Glossary

Officer in default: An officer of the company who is in default, as the Act uses the term.
Continuing failure: A failure that carries on after the first day, attracting the additional daily penalty up to the cap.

Frequently asked questions

What is the penalty on a company that does not furnish a DIN?

Twenty-five thousand rupees, plus one hundred rupees for each day of continuing failure after the first, up to one lakh rupees.

Is this still a criminal fine?

No. With effect from 2 November 2018, section 24 of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2019 replaced the fine with a civil penalty.

Need help applying this provision to your situation?

Contact Bizeneed

Last updated 11 October 2026

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