religious institution

Certain provisions in the Direct Tax Code applicable to religious and charitable institutions and trusts will pose "serious difficulties" for these organizations, the Catholic Church has said. "The Direct Tax Code as conceived creates serious difficulties for societies, trusts and institutions functioning under Catholic christians community and other religions," said the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) in a memorandum to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. Full Article

A religious purpose can be a charitable purpose and vice versa in India; therefore, exemption cannot be denied to a trust which is partly charitable and partly religious. Full Article

A public charitable or religious institution can be formed either as a Trust or as a Society or as a Company registered u/s 25 of the Companies Act. It generally takes the form of a trust when it is formed primarily by one or more persons. To form a Society at least seven persons are required. Institutions engaged in promotion of art, culture, commerce etc. are often registered as non-profit companies. Full Article