Appoint an Independent Director with independence verification, mandatory shareholder approval, and fixed term. Independent Director Appointment takes 7 steps over about 85 days and is filed with the ROC on DIR-12.
Last updated: 10 August 2026
MCA charges additional fees that rise with the delay, up to 12 times the normal filing fee. OnCompliance tracks the date and warns you before it costs anything.
7 steps over about 85 days, filing DIR-12 with the ROC. Each deadline below runs from the step before it.
| # | Step | Form filed | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Verify Eligibility & Independence | None | within 5 days |
| 2 | Obtain Declaration of Independence | None | within 3 days |
| 3 | Hold Board Meeting | None | within 7 days |
| 4 | Pass Ordinary Resolution (Shareholder Approval) | None | within 30 days |
| 5 | Issue Appointment Letter | None | within 3 days |
| 6 | File DIR-12 with ROC | DIR-12 | within 30 days |
| 7 | Update Statutory Registers | None | within 7 days |
The 7 steps below run in order; the day counts show how long each one allows.
Verify that the proposed director meets all independence criteria under Section 149(6) of the Companies Act, 2013.
Obtain written declaration confirming independence criteria under Section 149(6).
Convene Board Meeting to recommend appointment of Independent Director to shareholders.
Mandatory: Pass Ordinary Resolution in General Meeting. Include fixed term (max 5 consecutive years).
Issue formal appointment letter specifying the fixed term and terms of appointment.
File Form DIR-12 with ROC within 30 days of appointment.
Update Register of Directors and Register of Independent Directors.
Every guide runs like this in OnCompliance: steps in order, dates in view, paperwork made for you at each step.
About 85 days across 7 steps. The first step is: Verify Eligibility & Independence.
DIR-12. DIR-12 is the change in directors filing under §170 of the Companies Act 2013.
MCA charges additional fees that rise with the delay, up to 12 times the normal filing fee.
Yes. OnCompliance runs the same steps in order, dates in view, with the paperwork made for you at each step.