In India, the Companies Act, 2013 lays down the rules for the formation, registration, and management of different types of companies. Some of the most common types of companies that can be formed in India include:
- Private Limited Company: A private limited company is a type of company in which the shareholders have limited liability and the shares are not publicly traded. These companies are typically smaller in size and are owned by a small group of people.
- Public Limited Company: A public limited company is a type of company in which the shareholders have limited liability and the shares are publicly traded. These companies are typically larger in size and are owned by a large number of shareholders.
- One Person Company (OPC): A One Person Company is a type of company that allows a single person to create a private limited company, it is a new category of company introduced under the Companies Act 2013.
- Small Company: A Small Company is a type of company that is defined as one that meets certain criteria with regard to its paid-up capital, turnover, and number of employees. Small companies have certain exemptions and relaxations under the companies act 2013.
- Producer Company: A Producer Company is a type of company that is formed by a group of producers for the purpose of production, harvesting, procurement, grading, pooling, handling, marketing, selling, export of primary produce of the Members or import of goods or services for their benefit.
- Limited Liability Partnership (LLP): A Limited Liability Partnership is a partnership in which some or all partners have limited liabilities. It is a separate legal entity, and partners are not responsible or liable for another partner’s misconduct or negligence.
- Section 8 Company: A Section 8 company is a not-for-profit company that is formed for promoting arts, science, commerce, charity, research, education, protection of the environment or any other such object.
- Nidhi Company: Nidhi company is a type of non-banking finance company that is formed for the specific purpose of fostering savings habits and providing loans to its members.
These are the most common types of companies that can be formed in India, but there might be other forms of companies that are legally recognized in India depending on the specific laws and regulations in place.