Beginner · Free · Signed certificate
Starting an NGO: from idea to registration and CSR-ready
How to set up an NGO in India, register it properly and get ready for CSR funding.
Free for everyone in the sector
Create an account to save your progress, take the chapter quizzes and earn the certificate.
The courseNGOs
- Chapters
- 6
- Lessons
- 17
- Questions
- 103
- Level
- Beginner
- Duration
- ~4 hours
- Valid as of
- October 2026
What you’ll be able to do
- Decide whether a registered NGO is the right vehicle for your work
- Choose between a public charitable trust, a society and a Section 8 company
- Register each form step by step, and avoid the common drafting mistakes
- Get tax registrations under the Income-tax Act, 2025, an NGO Darpan ID and a CSR-1 number
- Explain the basic FCRA rules and keep a yearly compliance calendar
- Put together the document pack and one-page profile CSR teams ask for
Syllabus
Every lesson ends with a quick check. Each chapter ends with a quiz you need 60% to pass, and the course ends with a final assessment (70% to pass).
1Chapter 1Before you registerWhether you need an NGO at all, what the word means in law, and how to plan the first year.
2Chapter 2Choosing the legal formTrust, society or Section 8 company: how they differ, and how to choose.
3Chapter 3Registering, step by stepHow to register a trust, a society and a Section 8 company, what it costs, and the mistakes to avoid.
4Chapter 4After registration: tax and identityPAN and a bank account, tax registrations under the Income-tax Act, 2025, NGO Darpan and CSR-1.
5Chapter 5Foreign money and staying compliantFCRA basics, the yearly filings calendar and good governance from day one.
6Chapter 6Getting CSR-readyThe document pack CSR teams ask for, a one-page profile, and where SocioStory fits.
- Final assessment and certificate24 questions · 70% to pass · unlocks when every chapter is passed