The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) is set to implement a significant overhaul of its e-filing framework with the introduction of revised formats for several key forms, effective from July 14, 2025. This move, part of the MCA’s broader transition to the V3 portal, aims to enhance transparency, strengthen corporate governance, and streamline the filing process. The updated forms include those for auditor appointment and resignation (ADT-1, ADT-2, ADT-3, and ADT-4), cost audit reports (CRA-2, CRA-4), general applications (GNL-1), and the annual returns (MGT-7/7A).
The amendments have been introduced through the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Amendment Rules, 2025 , Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Amendment Rules, 2025, Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Amendment Rules, 2025 and the Companies (Management and Administration) Amendment Rules, 2025, notified on May 30, 2025. These changes will necessitate more detailed disclosures and new mandatory attachments, requiring companies to be diligent in their compliance practices.
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Key Modifications in Auditor-Related Forms (ADT-1 to ADT-4)
The ADT series of forms, crucial for the appointment, removal, and resignation of auditors, will see several critical changes:
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ADT-1 (Notice of Auditor Appointment): A significant addition to this form is a mandatory declaration confirming that the Board of Directors has considered the recommendation of the Audit Committee (constituted under Section 177 of the Companies Act, 2013) before making the appointment. This aims to ensure that the audit committee’s role in the selection of auditors is given due importance.
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ADT-2 (Application for Removal of Auditor): To ensure a fair process, a “Proof of service to the defending/responding auditor” will now be a mandatory attachment. This will serve as evidence that the auditor being removed has been duly informed of the company’s application.
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ADT-3 (Notice of Auditor Resignation): The Service Request Number (SRN) of the originally filed ADT-1 for the auditor’s appointment will now be a mandatory field. This will create a clear linkage between the appointment and resignation filings.
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ADT-4 (Reporting of Fraud by Auditor): This form, which was previously filed physically, will now be required to be filed electronically, bringing it in line with the MCA’s digital-first approach.
Enhanced Disclosures in Annual Returns (MGT-7/7A)
The annual return forms, MGT-7 (for most companies) and MGT-7A (for One Person Companies and small companies), have undergone a substantial revision to capture more granular details:
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Physical Verification of Registered Office: A key and novel requirement is the mandatory attachment of a photograph of the registered office’s exterior. This photograph must clearly show the company’s name board and include the latitude and longitude coordinates of the premises, a measure likely aimed at curbing the use of “shell companies” with non-existent offices.
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Dual-Date Disclosures: Companies will now have to provide their details, such as the list of directors and shareholding pattern, as of both the last day of the financial year and the date of filing. This will allow stakeholders and regulators to track any changes that have occurred in the intervening period.
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Registrar and Transfer Agent (RTA) Details: The registered office address and the SEBI registration number of the company’s RTA must be provided in the form.
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Streamlined Share Transfer Reporting: While the form itself will only require the total number of share transfers during the year, a detailed sheet with the particulars of each transfer will need to be attached separately.
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Gender-Wise Shareholding Data: The break-up of the shareholding pattern will now have to be provided with a gender-wise classification for both promoter and non-promoter shareholders.
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Explicit Shareholder Count: The total number of shareholders of the company must be explicitly mentioned in the form.
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Standardized Attachments and Integrated Reports: The list of shareholders and debenture holders must now be attached in Excel format only. Furthermore, the need to upload a separate PDF of Form MGT-8 (Certification of Annual Return) has been eliminated, as its contents will be generated as part of the main form itself.
Changes in Other Key Forms
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CRA-2 (Appointment of Cost Auditor): This form will now require details regarding the nature of the appointment and will include new sections to address demergers and mergers.
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CRA-4 (Filing of Cost Audit Report): This form is being converted to an XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) format, which will enable more structured and machine-readable data.
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GNL-1 (Application to Registrar of Companies): New fields for providing the DIN (Director Identification Number) or PAN (Permanent Account Number) of the applicant have been added. The form will also require details about the period of default for which an application for compounding of offenses is being made.
The Road Ahead: Transition to V3 Portal
These changes are part of the MCA’s ambitious project to migrate all e-filing services to its new V3 portal. The Ministry has announced that a total of 38 forms will be launched on the V3 portal on July 14, 2025. In preparation for this, the V2 portal for company filings will be disabled from June 18, 2025. Companies and professionals are advised to familiarize themselves with the new requirements and the V3 portal to ensure a smooth transition and avoid any compliance gaps.
Source Notifications:
| Title | Notification No. | Date |
|---|---|---|
| MCA amends Form No. MGT-7, MGT-7A and MGT-15 from 14th July 2015 | Notification No. G.S.R.358(E) | 30/05/2025 |
| MCA amends Forms ADT-1, ADT-2, ADT-3 and ADT-4 from 14th July 2025 | Notification No. G.S.R. 359(E). | 30/05/2025 |
| MCA Amends Companies Rules, New Form GNL-1 | Notification No. G.S.R. 360(E) | 30/05/2025 |
| MCA Updates Cost Audit Rules: Forms CRA-2 & CRA-4 Revised | Notification No. G.S.R. 361(E) | 30/05/2025 |
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