UDIN - Unique Document Identification Number

ABOUT UDIN

 The Unique Document Identification Number as governed by theUDIN Guidelines shall verify the authenticity of various documents signed or certified by Company Secretaries in Practice. As per the UDIN Guidelines, a unique number for the identification of every document attested by practicing company secretaries shall be generated at the time of signing the Certificate/ Report and which shall mandatorily to be mentioned in the Certificate/ R..Tort by printing along with the CoP number not only prevent counterfeiting of various attestations/ certifications but also ensure compliance w.r.t. ceilings on the number of the various certification/ attestation services which has been fixed to ascertain maintenance of quality in such services.

UDIN is mandatory for documents/certificates to be issued after 01st October 2019 and however PCS may generate on voluntary basis in present also.

Why UDIN?

1. The institute has come up with the concept of UDIN to enable the stakeholders to verify the authenticity of various documents certified by Company Secretaries in Practice.

2. To trace forged documents.

3. To enable the stakeholders to verify the authenticity of various documents certified by Company Secretaries in Practice;

4. To prevent counterfeiting of various attestations / certifications;

5. To provide ease of maintaining the Register of Attestation / Certification services rendered by practicing members;

6. To ensure compliance of the Guidelines issued by the Institute w.r.t ceilings on the number of the various certification / attestation services the practitioners may render that;

7. To auto-prefill details of Certification / Attestation services rendered by practicing members in of the form for renewal of Certificate of Practice.

List of services rendered by PCS, which require UDIN.

1. Certification of Annual Return in Form MGT-8 under Section 92(2) of the Companies Act, 2013 and Rule 11(2) of the Companies (Management and Administration) Rules, 2014.

2. Issuance of Secretarial Audit Report in terms of Section 204 of the Companies Act, 2013.

3. Issuance of Secretarial Audit Report to material unlisted subsidiaries of listed entities (whose equity shares are listed) under Regulation 24A of SEBI (LODR) Regulations, 2015.

4. Issuance of Annual Secretarial Compliance Report to Listed entities (whose equity shares are listed) under SEBI Circular No. CIR/CFD/CMD1/27/2019 dated 8th February, 2019.

5. Certification under SEBI (Listing Obligations & Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 that none of the directors on the board of the company have been debarred or disqualified from being appointed or continuing as directors of companies by the Board/Ministry of Corporate Affairs or any such statutory authority under Schedule V, Part C, Clause(10) (i).

6. Certification under Regulation 40(9) of SEBI (LODR) Regulations, 2015certifying that all certificates have been issued within thirty days of the date of lodgement for transfer, sub-division, consolidation, renewal, exchange or endorsement of calls/allotment monies.

7. Conduct of Internal Audit of Operations of the Depository Participants registered with NSDL and CDSL under the Bye Laws issued by NSDL and CDSL.

8. Certification under Regulation 76 of SEBI (Depositories and Participants) Regulations, 2018 for Reconciliation of Share Capital Audit.

9. Acting as Compliance Auditor under third party certification/ Audit Scheme (Amendment), 2018 in the State of Haryana.

10. Diligence reporting for Banks in case of multiple banking/consortium lending arrangements in terms of the circular issued by RBI.

11. Conduct of Internal Audit of the stockbrokers / sub brokers under SEBI Circular no. MIRSD/ DPSIII/ Cir-26/ 08 dated 22nd August 2008 and MRD/DMS/Cir-29/2008 dated 21st October 2008.

12. Issuance of Certificate in case of the Indian company accepting the investment from a foreign investor, thereby confirming compliance of Companies Act, 2013 and other matters (As per Para 9 (1) (B) (i) of Schedule 1 to Notification No. FEMA 20/2000-RB dated 3rd May 2000)

Quoting UDIN on the certifications, attestations, w.r.t the professional services as mentioned under sub-clauses (i) to (xii) of Clause 3 supra shall be mandatory w.e.f. 1st October, 2019.

1. Who can generate UDIN

Only the member of the institute who has Certificate of Practicing can generate UDIN and only the member certifying the document my generate UDIN.

1. Is there any fees for such UDIN?

There is no fees for such UDIN

1. Revocation/Cancellation not use UDIN.

Once UDIN is generated but not utilized may be surrendered/cancelled by the members within 7 days from the date of such generation.

1. Who can verify the authenticity of document?

Regulatory bodies and other stakeholders may verify the authenticity of documents certified by PCS by visiting the designated website

Consequences of violation

Any non-compliance with these Guidelines shall render the members liable for action under the Company Secretaries Act, 1980 read with First Schedule and Second Schedule to the Company Secretaries Act, 1980.