April 09, 2002

        During February, 2002, 1708 companies were registered in India under the Companies Act, 1956 as against 1915 companies registered during the corresponding month of the previous year and 1930 companies during the previous month. Of the 1708 companies registered during the month, 1703 companies were limited by shares. This includes one Government public ltd. company viz. Uttar Pradesh Beej Nigam having authorised capital of Rs. 10 crores.

        Besides 1703 companies limited by shares, 4 companies were registered as guarantee and one as company with unlimited liability during the month of February, 2002. The total authorised capital of the companies limited by shares put together amounted to Rs.561.2 crores. One thousand seven hundred and three companies, limited by shares, registered during the month consist of 95 public limited companies with an authorised capital of Rs.351.0 crores and 1608 private limited companies with an authorised capital of Rs. 210.2 crores.

        The following Table indicates the position:

        The highest number of companies, limited by shares, registered during the month were, from the National Capital Territory of Delhi (345) followed by the State of Maharashtra (335). The States of Tamilnadu (187), Andhra Pradesh (146), West Bengal (131), Karnataka(101) and Gujarat (93). also reported comparatively large number of companies registered during the month. These 7 States together accounted for nearly 79 per cent of the total number of companies registered during the month.

        The analysis of new registration by broad Industrial Classification during the month brings out that the highest number of companies were registered under the Industrial Classification "Financing, Insurance, Real Estate and Business Services" (526) followed by "Manufacturing" (486) and "Wholesale and Retail Trade, Restaurants & Hotels" (323). The other important Classification under which large number of companies were registered was, Construction (112) and Community, Social and Personal Services (111), Transport Storage and Communication (93) and Agriculture & Allied Activities (52).

        Of the Non-Government companies, one hundred and eleven each with authorized capital of Rs. 50 lakhs or above were registered during the month of February, 2002 as against 108 in the previous month and 125 in February, 2001.

        One hundred six companies (including two Government public Ltd. companies) have reportedly ceased functioning during February, 2002 either by going into liquidation or their names having been struck off under Section 560 of the Companies Act. Out of them, 25 were Public Limited Companies and 81 Private Limited. The number of such companies in the previous month was 114. Of these companies, 49 belong to the State of Karnataka, 20 to Jammu & Kashmir, 19 to Rajasthan, 6 to Orissa, 2 each to Haryana and Westbengal and 1 to Punjab. Broad Industrial Classification wise, out of the 106 companies, 42 belonged to Manufacturing, 38 to Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, 9 to Construction, 7 to Wholesale & Retail Trade and Restaurant & Hotel, 3 each to Mining & Quarrying, Community, social & Personal Services and Agriculture and Allied Activities and 1 to transport storage and communication. Taking into consideration, additional information relating to registration, liquidation/striking off etc. of companies, the number of companies at work on February 28, 2002 is indicated below.

    THE ESTIMATED NUMBER OF COMPANIES AT WORK as on February 28, 2002 is indicated below: