The first board meeting after incorporation
A new company must hold its first board meeting within 30 days of incorporation. It is where the first auditor is appointed, the bank account approved and the company's early paperwork settled.
Updated 8 October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
24,943 companies across India are inside their first 30 days right now, each with a first board meeting to hold.
The deadline
Section 173(1) of the Companies Act, 2013 requires the first board meeting within 30 days of the date of incorporation. After that, a company holds at least four board meetings a year with no more than 120 days between two of them. One Person Companies, small companies, dormant companies and Section 8 companies need only one meeting in each half of the calendar year, at least 90 days apart.
A typical first agenda
- Note the certificate of incorporation, memorandum and articles of association.
- Note the first directors and elect a chairperson for the meeting.
- Appoint the first statutory auditor.
- Approve opening of the company's bank account and its authorised signatories.
- Take note of directors' disclosures of interest in other entities (Form MBP-1).
- Authorise issue of share certificates to the subscribers.
- Confirm the registered office and approve preliminary and incorporation expenses.
- Fix the financial year and authorise maintenance of statutory registers.
What to have ready
- The certificate of incorporation, PAN and TAN issued with it.
- The auditor's written consent and eligibility certificate.
- Each director's disclosure of interest.
- The bank's account-opening resolution format.
What comes next
Share certificates go to subscribers within two months of incorporation, and INC-20A is due within 180 days. The full sequence is in the post-incorporation checklist.
Common questions
When must the first board meeting be held?
Within 30 days of the date of incorporation, under Section 173(1) of the Companies Act, 2013.
How many board meetings must a company hold after that?
At least four a year, with no more than 120 days between two meetings. One Person Companies, small companies, dormant companies and Section 8 companies need only one meeting in each half of the calendar year, at least 90 days apart.
Can the first board meeting be held by video conference?
Yes. Board meetings may be held by video conferencing or other audio-visual means, subject to the rules on recording and attendance.
How soon must share certificates be issued?
Within two months of incorporation, to the subscribers to the memorandum.
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