Streamlining Company Registration in India with AGILE-PRO-S

India strengthens its single-window incorporation system with AGILE-PRO-S, enabling new companies to secure tax, labor, social security, banking, and establishment registrations through one integrated SPICe+ filing.

The streamlined process reduces compliance friction and accelerates market entry for both domestic and foreign-invested businesses.

In 2021, India’s Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) introduced AGILE, an electronic form that simplifies multiple statutory registrations required during company incorporation. By consolidating key registrations into a single filing, AGILE enables businesses to avoid engaging separately with multiple authorities.

Building on this simplification, India further strengthened its single-window corporate compliance ecosystem in 2025 with the rollout of AGILE-PRO-S (Form INC-35). Introduced as part of the SPICe+ (Simplified Proforma for Incorporating Company Electronically Plus) framework, AGILE-PRO-S integrates several tax, labor, and establishment-related registrations directly into the incorporation process.

This enhanced system reduces procedural complexity, minimizes administrative delays, and provides a streamlined entry route for companies setting up operations in India.

What is AGILE-PRO-S

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AGILE-PRO-S is filed together with SPICe+ Part B and forms part of India’s single-window system for setting up a new company. Originally introduced through the Companies (Incorporation) Fourth Amendment Rules, 2021, effective June 7, 2021, AGILE-PRO-S replaced the earlier AGILE-PRO form notified in 2019. The updated version, released in March 2025, enables promoters to obtain six key registrations in a single submission:

1. Goods and Services Tax Identification Number (GSTIN)
2. Employees’ State Insurance Corporation registration (ESIC)
3. Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation registration (EPFO)
4. Professional tax (applicable in 21 states and 1 union territory)
5. Opening of a bank account with a partner bank
6. Shops & Establishments registration (for applicable states)

Why AGILE-PRO-S matters for investors and founders

AGILE-PRO-S is a mandatory linked form for all companies incorporated through the SPICe+ (INC-32) route. Corporate service providers note that the system significantly cuts onboarding timelines for both start-ups and foreign-invested enterprises entering India. The automatic allotment of EPFO and ESIC numbers has also improved early-stage workforce compliance, reducing the risk of penalties arising from delayed social security registration.

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It must be noted that the AGILE-PRO-S applies only to newly incorporated companies using SPICe+, including:

1. Private limited companies
2. Public limited companies
3. One-person companies (OPCs)
4. Section 8 Companies

Existing businesses, GST TDS/TCS entities, input service distributors (ISDs), and factories must register through their respective portals.

ALSO READ: Choosing the Right Business Entity in India: Pvt Ltd, LLP, or OPC?

Integration with India’s wider compliance modernization efforts

The incorporation of AGILE-PRO-S into the SPICe+ framework reflects India’ broader strategy to create a unified, single-touchpoint system for establishing new businesses. This modernization drive supports its shift toward a fully digital corporate compliance environment, where various processes, such as director identification issuance (DIR-3), name reservation, and PAN/TAN allocation, are already integrated into the same streamlined platform.

How AGILE-PRO-S connects to SPICe+ Part A and Part B

AGILE-PRO-S (Form INC-35) is a core component of the SPICe+. Its linkage to SPICe+ becomes clearer when understanding the two-stage structure of the SPICe+ process.

SPICe+ Part A: Name reservation stage

Part A forms the initial step of the incorporation workflow and focuses on:

• Reserving the proposed company name
• Selecting the primary industrial activity code
• Ensuring compliance with MCA naming guidelines

Applicants may submit Part A alone or proceed directly to Part B if they wish to complete the entire incorporation in one go.

CLICK HERE TO KNOW MORE: Choosing a Company Name in India: Legal and Strategic Insight

SPICe+ Part B: Incorporation and regulatory filings

Part B contains all information and documents necessary for legally incorporating the company, including:

• Details of the company structure and shareholding
• Appointment of directors
• Registered office address
• e-Memorandum of Association (INC-33) and e-Articles of Associations (INC-34)
• Linked statutory forms, including AGILE-PRO-S

This is the stage at which the Registrar of Companies (ROC) examines and processes the incorporation request.

Documentation and filing considerations for AGILE-PRO-S

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When preparing to file AGILE-PRO-S as part of the SPICe+ incorporation process, businesses should ensure that all required documentation is complete, accurate, and fully aligned with the details submitted in other incorporation forms. A key component is proof of the registered office, which may be established through documents such as a property tax receipt, electricity bill, municipal records, or a lease agreement supported by the owner’s No Objection Certificate. Additionally, companies must provide authorized signatory documentation, including a board resolution or authorization letter, along with valid identity and address proof, such as a PAN card paired with an Aadhaar or passport.

For entities opting for EPFO registration, a clear specimen signature of the signatory is also required.

From a procedural standpoint, filing AGILE-PRO-S follows a structured workflow. Companies begin by submitting the SPICe+ (INC-32) form along with the requisite MOA (INC-33), AOA (INC-34), and related attachments. Once the ROC approves SPICe+, the AGILE-PRO-S form becomes accessible through the MCA portal. Businesses must then enter operational details, identify authorized signatories, select a preferred banking partner, upload supporting documents, and attach the appropriate digital signature certificate (DSC).

To avoid delays or rejections, companies should be aware of frequent filing errors such as the following:

1. Inconsistencies in director or signatory information,
2. Discrepancies in registered office documentation,
3. Unclear or incomplete scanned attachments,
4. Unnecessary selection of optional registrations, and
5. Technical issues such as expired DSCs.

Businesses must pay close attention to state-specific rules, particularly for profession tax and shop & establishment registration, to ensure the application is processed smoothly. Proactive document readiness and careful verification at each stage can significantly reduce compliance risks during incorporation.