Forms NDH-1 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
The Annexure to the Nidhi Rules contains five forms. Forms NDH-1, NDH-2, NDH-3 and NDH-4 are the versions substituted by G.S.R. 35(E) of 20 January 2023, in force from 23 January 2023; Form NDH-5 is the branch-closure advertisement inserted by G.S.R. 301(E) of 19 April 2022. This article describes the headings and groups of particulars in each, read as amended up to G.S.R. 413(E) dated 16 July 2024; later amendments should be checked. It is not a field-by-field filing guide, and it states no fees. Nidhis preparing the forms can use our compliance documentation support.
NDH-1 is the first-year return of statutory compliances (rule 5(2)). NDH-2 is the application to the Regional Director and intimation to the Registrar (rules 5(3), 6(d), 10 and 14). NDH-3 is the half-yearly return (rule 21). NDH-4 is the application for declaration as a Nidhi or for updating status (rules 3A, 3B, 23A and 23B). NDH-5 is the newspaper advertisement format for closing a branch (rule 10(6)). Forms 1 to 4 carry a declaration by an authorised officer and a certificate by a practising professional.
A line of history
The forms have been replaced more than once. The 2014 Forms NDH-1 to NDH-3 were substituted by G.S.R. 81(E) of 3 February 2020 (in force 10 February 2020), and substituted again by G.S.R. 35(E) of 2023, which also substituted Form NDH-4 (first inserted in 2019 and amended in 2022). Form NDH-5 was inserted in 2022 and was not touched in 2023. Only the 2023 forms and NDH-5 are described below; the earlier versions are superseded.
The five forms at a glance
| Form | Rule it serves | When | Signed and certified by |
|---|---|---|---|
| NDH-1: Return of Statutory Compliances | Rule 5(2) | Within ninety days from the close of the first financial year after incorporation and, where applicable, the second | Authorised officer's declaration; professional's certificate |
| NDH-2: Application to Regional Director and Intimation to the Registrar | Rules 5(3), 6(d), 10(3), 10(6)(a), 10 and 14 (as the heading reads) | When extension, permission or intimation is needed | Authorised officer's declaration; professional's certificate |
| NDH-3: Return of Nidhi Company for the half year ended | Rule 21 | Within thirty days from the conclusion of each half year (30 September and 31 March) | Authorised officer's declaration; professional's certificate |
| NDH-4: Application for declaration as Nidhi and for updating status | Section 406 and rules 3A, 3B, 23A and 23B | As those rules provide | Authorised officer's declaration; professional's certificate; auditor's declaration |
| NDH-5: Format of advertisement for closing a branch | Rule 10(6) | At least thirty days before closure | Signed by the authorised signatory of the Nidhi |
"Professional" means a chartered accountant, cost accountant or company secretary in whole-time practice. Each of the four filed forms carries a note drawing attention to the provisions of the Act on false statements, false certificates and false evidence; see our post on sections 448 and 449.
Form NDH-1: return of statutory compliances
Under rule 5(2); see our article on rule 5. The form groups its particulars as:
- Company information: CIN, name, registered office, email, date of incorporation and financial year end date.
- Member details: subscribers to the Memorandum, members admitted and members who ceased up to the end of the first (or second, where applicable) financial year, the total, and whether that total is two hundred or more. If not, whether an extension was applied for to the Regional Director, with the SRN.
- Financial parameters: paid up equity share capital, distributable reserves (the term the form prints is the one defined in section 2(43) of the Act), accumulated losses, intangible assets and Net Owned Funds.
- Deposit details: unencumbered term deposits (in scheduled commercial banks and in the Post Office), deposits outstanding on the last working day of the second preceding month and the percentage; the ratio of Net Owned Funds to deposits, and whether it is more than 1:20, with the extension details.
- Attachments: a list of all members with PAN, complete residential address and amount of deposit accepted; a break-up of deposits with bank or Post Office name, branch and account number; optional attachments.
Form NDH-2: application to Regional Director and intimation to the Registrar
The heading reads "". The form asks the filer to tick the purpose:
- extension of time under rule 5(3);
- permission of the Regional Director for opening a branch under rule 10(3);
- permission of the Regional Director for closing a branch under rule 10(6)(a);
- intimation to the Registrar for opening or closing of a branch under rule 10;
- intimation to the Registrar for closure of collection centres under rule 10; and
- permission of the Regional Director for withdrawal of unencumbered deposits under rule 14.
A flag. The heading still cites "rule 6(d)", although rule 6(d), as substituted in 2022, prints an outright prohibition and no approval route. We note the citation as printed and say nothing about what an application under it would be. See our article on rule 6.
The other groups are the position at the end of the previous financial year (members, ratio, branches), profit after tax for three years, grounds for temporary withdrawal of unencumbered deposits, reasons for the application and the Board resolution details. Attachments are the last audited financial statements and the member list. The branch rules are in our article on rule 10.
Form NDH-3: half-yearly return
Under rule 21; see our article on rules 21 to 24. The form states that all information is to be furnished for the half year ended 30 September and 31 March of every year. Its groups are:
- company information and the half year end date;
- branch details: branches at the beginning, opened, closed and at the end of the half year, with addresses and the SRN of the NDH-2 application;
- profit after tax for the preceding three financial years;
- membership movement (opening, admitted, ceased and closing);
- deposits by nature (fixed, recurring, savings, cumulative, others): opening balance, received, repaid and closing balance;
- loans by nature (against immovable property, jewels, deposits, others, and loans to employees): opening, disbursed, realised and closing;
- litigation, financial summary, unencumbered term deposits, ratio of Net Owned Funds to deposits, bank details and preference share capital; and
- an attachment listing every member with status, address, PAN and deposit amount.
Form NDH-4: declaration or updating of status
The heading reads "Form for filing application for declaration as Nidhi Company and for updation of status by Nidhis", under section 406 and rules 3A, 3B, 23A and 23B. See our articles on rules 23A and 23B and rule 3B.
- Which application: the filer chooses declaration as Nidhi company or updating of status by Nidhis.
- Company information and members: CIN, name, address, email, date of incorporation and, where relevant, the SRN of the NDH-2 for extension; member movement up to the due date.
- Financial and deposit particulars: Net Owned Funds working, unencumbered term deposits, ratio, branches opened and profits of the preceding three financial years.
- Other details (yes or no questions): whether the objects in the memorandum and articles cover only activities permitted for approved Nidhi companies; whether the company has had financial dealings with anyone other than its members; whether it has acquired another company, controlled another company's Board or arranged a change of its management (with an SRN field for an approval); and whether it has complied with the Nidhi Rules, 2014.
- Attachments: the notification by which the company was declared a Nidhi under the 1956 Act or previous law (where applicable); the member list; the deposit break-up; a certificate signed by two directors on the number of members as on the date of application (membership "should not be less than 200"); the fit and proper declaration of all promoters and directors under rule 3B(3); the Board resolution; and optional attachments.
- Declarations: the authorised officer's declaration, the practising professional's certificate and a declaration by the auditor that the company is complying with the Nidhi Rules, 2014.
Form NDH-5: advertisement for closing a branch
Format of advertisement to be given while closing a branch, pursuant to rule 10(6). The notice says that the named Nidhi, with its CIN, has obtained the prior approval of the Regional Director (with a place for the approval number and date) for closure of branches or collection centres, collection offices or deposit centres at listed places, and that those places "shall stand closed with effect from" a stated date. It is signed by the authorised signatory of the Nidhi and gives the Nidhi's address.
Need help with the NDH forms?
Choosing the correct purpose in Form NDH-2, matching figures across NDH-1 and NDH-3 and assembling the attachments are where filings go wrong. Our compliance documentation team can prepare the working papers for each form and coordinate the professional certificate.
Key takeaways
- Five forms: NDH-1 (rule 5(2)), NDH-2 (rules 5(3), 10, 14 and the heading's rule 6(d)), NDH-3 (rule 21), NDH-4 (rules 3A, 3B, 23A, 23B) and NDH-5 (rule 10(6)).
- Current versions: NDH-1 to NDH-4 as substituted by G.S.R. 35(E) of 20 January 2023; NDH-5 as inserted by G.S.R. 301(E) of 19 April 2022.
- NDH-1 to NDH-4 carry an officer's declaration and a professional's certificate; NDH-4 also carries an auditor's declaration.
- The NDH-2 heading still cites rule 6(d), which no longer has an approval route.
- Fees are not in the forms; check the Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014.
Read next
- Rule 5: 200 members, Net Owned Funds and NDH-1
- Rule 10: opening and closing branches
- NDH-1, NDH-2 and NDH-3: Nidhi forms guide
- How to file Form NDH-3: Nidhi half-yearly return
Disclaimer: Based on the Nidhi Rules, 2014 as notified (G.S.R. 258(E), 31 March 2014) and as amended by G.S.R. 467(E) of 2019, G.S.R. 81(E) and 114(E) of 2020, G.S.R. 301(E) of 2022, G.S.R. 35(E) of 2023 and G.S.R. 413(E) of 2024, as consulted on 3 October 2026. Later amendments, fees, forms and the Companies Act, 2013 provisions referred to should be checked. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.