A DIN (Director Identification Number) is a unique 8-digit number allotted by the Central Government to a person who wants to be a director of a company or a designated partner of an LLP, under Sections 153 and 154 of the Companies Act, 2013. Director master data on mca.gov.in (MCA Services > Master Data > View Director Master Data) shows the director's name, DIN status and the companies and LLPs where they hold or held office, with appointment dates.
What a DIN is
A DIN is a personal identifier, not a company identifier. It stays the same however many companies the person joins or leaves. It is obtained through the incorporation form when a company is formed or by a separate application, and directors must keep their KYC details updated with MCA. A DIN can show statuses such as approved, or deactivated for non-filing of KYC. A director may also be disqualified under Section 164 of the Companies Act, for example where a company of which they are a director has not filed financial statements or annual returns for three continuous financial years.
How to look up a director on MCA
- Open mca.gov.in and go to MCA Services, then Master Data.
- Choose View Director Master Data (the portal may also show it as a DIN search).
- Enter the DIN and the captcha, then submit.
- Read the director's name and DIN status, and the list of companies and LLPs with appointment and cessation dates.
- If you do not know the DIN, open the buyer company's master data first: the directors and signatories tab shows each director's DIN.
Save the page with the date. Appointment and cessation dates matter later, because Section 141 liability depends on who was in charge when the offence happened, which is when the cheque was dishonoured and the notice period ran out.
Why it matters before you supply
A director's list of companies tells a story. Several struck-off companies, or companies with "under process of striking off" status, linked to the same person is a pattern worth noticing before you give a long credit period. A director who joined last month and a company with no recent filings is another. None of this proves bad intent, but it tells you to ask for advance payment, a shorter credit period or security.
Also confirm that the person signing the purchase order or the cheque is in fact a director or authorised signatory listed on MCA.
Why it matters for Section 141 and recovery
Under Section 141 of the NI Act, when a company's cheque bounces, every person who was in charge of and responsible for the conduct of its business at the time is also deemed guilty, along with the company. The Supreme Court has held that the complaint must specifically state how each director was in charge; a bare reference to directorship is not enough, though managing directors and signatories stand on a different footing. Independent and non-executive directors are usually not liable unless their role is shown.
So director master data is the starting list, not the final one. FundRaksha Legal checks the MCA record, matches it with who signed the cheque and who dealt with you, and names only those with a real role. See cheque bounce notice and Section 138.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-20. Information for Indian businesses; not legal advice.