Section 8 Company MOA and AOA 

When someone plans to register a Section 8 company, one question almost always comes up early:

“Do you have the MOA and AOA in Word format for a Section 8 company?”

And behind that question is usually confusion, not laziness.

Because Section 8 companies are not normal companies.
They are built for purpose, not profit.

So yes—MOA and AOA matter a lot more here than in any other structure.

First Things First: What Are MOA and AOA?

Before talking about formats, let’s understand them like a normal person.

MOA (Memorandum of Association)

The MOA answers one simple question:

Why does this company exist?

For a Section 8 company, this is the most important document.

It defines:

• main objects (education, charity, social welfare, etc.)
• application of income (profits must be used for objectives)
• restriction on dividend distribution

AOA (Articles of Association)

The AOA answers another question:

How will the company function internally?

It covers:

• members’ rights
• board meetings
• appointment of directors
• governance rules

MOA is the soul.
AOA is the operating manual.

Why MOA & AOA Are Different for Section 8 Companies

A Section 8 company is:

• a nonprofit organization
• registered under the Companies Act, 2013
• prohibited from distributing profits

So the law requires:

• special wording
• specific clauses
• clear intent of social purpose

You cannot use a normal Pvt Ltd MOA/AOA format here.

Section 8 Company MOA Format (What It Must Contain)

When people ask for a Section 8 company MOA in Word format, they usually want to know what clauses are compulsory.

Here’s what a proper MOA includes:

1. Name Clause

• Must include words like "Foundation," "Association," "Council," "Forum," etc.
• “Limited” or “Private Limited” is not mandatory for Section 8 companies.

2. Registered Office Clause

• State and jurisdiction where the company is registered.

3. Object Clause (Most Important)

This is where MCA focuses the most.

The main objects of a Section 8 company must clearly fall under:

• education
• social welfare
• charity
• arts, science, culture
• environmental protection
• rural development

Examples:

• MOA of Section 8 company for education
• The main object of Section 8 company for social welfare

Objects must be:

• specific
• non-commercial
• clearly beneficial to society

4. Application of Income Clause

This clause states clearly:

“All income and profits shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objects of the company.”

No ambiguity allowed.

5. Prohibition on Dividend Clause

This is compulsory.

It must clearly say:

“No dividend shall be paid to members.”

This single clause defines the nonprofit character.

6. Liability Clause

Section 8 companies can be:

• limited by guarantee, or
• limited by shares

So MOA wording changes accordingly.

That’s why people search:

• AOA of Section 8 company limited by guarantee
• AOA of Section 8 company limited by shares

Section 8 Company AOA Format (What It Covers)

Now let’s talk about the AOA format for a Section 8 company.

AOA usually covers:

• admission of members
• powers and duties of directors
• board meetings and quorum
• voting rights
• audit and accounts

The key difference:
👉 Everything is framed around governance, not profit distribution.

Even director remuneration clauses are carefully drafted.

Physical MOA & AOA—Still Required?

Yes, this surprises many people.

Even though filing is online:

• MCA still requires properly drafted MOA and AOA
• often uploaded in PDF, but
• originally drafted in Word format

That’s why people search:

“Provide physical AOA & MOA of the proposed company.”

Drafting happens first.
Uploading comes later.

Why Word Format Is Preferred

People prefer the Section 8 company MOA and AOA word format because:

• it’s editable
• objects can be customized.
• lawyer/CA can fine-tune language
• easier to align with MCA queries

Blindly copying a PDF template is risky.

Common Mistakes People Make

From real practice, these errors are very common:

• copying MOA of a normal company
• vague object clauses
• mixing commercial activities with charitable wording
• missing dividend prohibition
• wrong liability clause

Any one of these can:

• delay registration
• invite MCA resubmission
• cause rejection

A Practical Tip (Very Important)

For Section 8 companies:

MOA is more important than AOA.

MCA officers read the object clause line by line.

If your intent is not crystal clear:

• approval gets delayed
• questions are raised
• amendments are required

Final Thoughts (Human Perspective)

A Section 8 company is not just a legal structure.
It’s a promise to society.

That promise is written first in the MOA.
and supported daily through the AOA.

For expert support on Section 8 company registration, microfinance structuring, and end-to-end compliance, visit callmyca.com.