Overview
A Public Charitable Trust is the oldest and simplest NGO form in India. It is made by writing a trust deed between the founder (called the settlor) and the trustees. The deed is then registered at the sub-registrar's office in your city. Trusts are cheap, quick, and best suited for small to medium NGOs, especially family-led ones. States like Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan have their own trust laws — in other states, the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 applies. If you want a simple NGO that a small stable team can run without heavy compliance, a Trust is perfect.
Ideal for
Small to medium NGOs, especially family-led ones. Good for founders who want a simple structure with a stable trustee team and low setup cost.
Eligibility
Minimum 2 trustees (the settlor can also be a trustee)
All trustees must be adults of sound mind
NGO goal must be charity, religion, education, or public welfare
A small starting corpus (as low as ₹1,000) is needed
Documents required
6 documents in total. Checklist shared after your consultation.
PAN and Aadhaar of the settlor (founder) and all trustees
Photographs of the settlor and trustees
Trust deed on non-judicial stamp paper (stamp value changes by state)
Proof of office address — electricity bill or rent agreement + NOC
Two witnesses with ID proof
Signatures of all trustees on every page of the trust deed
Step-by-step process
Draft the trust deed
Our CA writes a trust deed with your NGO's name, goals, trustees, powers, and rules. You review and approve before signing.
Pay stamp duty
Trust deed is printed on non-judicial stamp paper of the correct value for your state.
Book sub-registrar appointment
All trustees, witnesses, and the settlor meet at the sub-registrar's office on the scheduled date.
Sign and register the deed
Everyone signs the deed in front of the registrar. Photos and fingerprints are taken. Government fee is paid.
Get your registered trust deed
Certified copy of the registered trust deed is delivered to you in 7 to 10 working days.
Common pitfalls
Writing vague or too-broad objectives — makes 12A and 80G approval harder later.
Missing the 'irrevocability' clause — a trust that can be cancelled is not seen as charitable.
Paying less than required stamp duty — makes the registration invalid and delays 12A/80G.
Using only family members as trustees — raises conflict-of-interest issues at 80G stage.
Frequently asked
How much does it cost to register a Trust in India?+
Our professional fee is ₹8,000. Stamp duty (government fee) varies by state — usually ₹1,100 to ₹5,000. So total cost comes to around ₹9,000 to ₹13,000. Much cheaper than a Section 8 Company.
How long does it take to register a Trust in India?+
About 2 to 3 weeks end-to-end. Drafting the deed takes 3 to 5 days, stamp paper and signing takes a week, and the registered copy reaches you in another 7 to 10 days.
Can I change the trust deed later?+
Small changes — like adding trustees or changing the office address — can be done with a supplementary deed. Changing the main goals or scope is much harder and may need court approval.
Public trust vs private trust — what's the difference?+
Public trusts work for society or a large group (charity, education). Private trusts work for specific named people (like family). Only public trusts can get 12A and 80G — private trusts cannot.
Do all trustees have to be present for registration?+
Yes. Almost every sub-registrar asks all signing trustees to be physically present with their original IDs on the day of registration. No online option for this step.
Can a trust accept foreign donations?+
Yes, but only after getting FCRA registration — and FCRA needs 3 years of activity first.
Can I start a trust with only 2 family members?+
Legally yes. But for 12A/80G approval later, adding at least one non-family trustee is safer — it shows the trust has independent governance.