DIN is a unique Director Identification number assigned by the Central Government to any person intending to be a Director or an existing director of a company. It started as an e-governance method formulated by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs in 2006. It was a technique to keep a record of all the Directors of the company and ensure vigilance of the Government over their activities.
It is an 8-digit unique identification number which has lifetime validity. Through DIN, details of the directors are maintained in a database. DIN is restricted to an individual, which means even if he is a director in 2 or more companies, he has to obtain only 1 DIN. And if he leaves a company and joins another company, the same DIN would work in the other company as well. Filing of DIN application should not be allowed if the details entered in the form are not as per the Income-tax PAN database.
Once the DIN number is allocated to a Director, it doesn’t require any renewal, it has lifetime validity. However, the MCA may deactivate or disqualify the Director if the Director or the company is in violation of any of the laws or, its guidelines or notifications.
Where is DIN used?
Whenever a return, an application or any information related to a company will be submitted under any law, the director signing such return, application or information will mention his DIN underneath his signature.