Articles of Association Typing Service for Company Incorporation and Compliance

What an Articles of Association Contains

Mandatory Clauses and Standard Provisions

Every company registered in India must adopt an Articles of Association (AoA) that governs its internal management. The AoA typically sets out the rights attached to each class of shares, the procedure for calling board and general meetings, the appointment and removal of directors, and the borrowing powers of the board. It also covers the keeping of statutory registers (such as the register of members and the register of charges), the execution of share certificates, and provisions for lien, forfeiture, transfer, and transmission of shares. Most private companies incorporate the model articles specified under the Companies Act, 2013, with a few custom modifications approved by the promoters.

Variations by Company Type (Private Limited, Public, OPC)

A private limited company’s AoA restricts the right to transfer shares and limits the number of members to 200. A public company’s articles impose fewer restrictions and must, for example, deal separately with the election of independent directors. A One Person Company (OPC) carries minimal articles that often mirror the model for private companies but recognise a sole member and a nominee. Understanding these structural variations is important when retrieving a typed copy for compliance: the Registrar of Companies (RoC) will compare the submitted AoA against the appropriate model for the company class.

Why Convert a Scanned AoA to an Editable DOCX?

Most AoA documents exist as scans of signed and stamped paper originals, often years old. A clean, editable DOCX copy serves many practical purposes. Promoters attach it to incorporation filings, share drafts with legal counsel during a funding round, and store it alongside board minutes in a digital minute book. During due diligence, investors and auditors often request a searchable, editable version that can be redlined against amendments. Without a typed copy, every change or extraction involves retyping clauses by hand, which is slow and risks introducing errors. An AI-typed DOCX preserves the original’s text and structure instantly, turning a static image into a working document that can be updated, searched, and shared across teams.

AI Typing vs. Manual Typing: When Each Approach Makes Sense

AI typing converts a scanned AoA into a formatted DOCX in minutes, at a fraction of the time and cost of manual retyping. It is the right choice when you need a clean draft for internal review, editing of existing clauses, preparation of a revised AoA for a board resolution, or when you simply want to search through the document for a specific provision. From several AoA typing jobs we have seen, the AI reliably captures typed text, tables, and standard company law clauses. Manual typing, by contrast, can be useful when the original carries heavy handwritten endorsements or complex stamps that confuse any OCR engine. It may also be preferred if you intend to notarise the typed copy as a true extract and the notary requires an original typed version produced under human oversight. For most everyday business needs, the instant AI output is more than adequate and saves considerable time.

What Lekhak’s AI Typing Service Delivers

Upload a scanned AoA in PDF, JPG, PNG, or WebP, and Lekhak’s AI typing pipeline returns a fully editable DOCX that preserves the source document’s text, paragraph breaks, numbering, and table structure. The output is a faithful digital copy of the clauses as printed, with headers, article numbers, and schedules maintained. Handwritten signatures, rubber stamps, and handwritten margin notes are not reproduced as editable text; they appear as the system could not reliably convert them, so you should verify those fields against the original scan. The service is self-serve and completes in minutes. The DOCX can be immediately opened in Microsoft Word or Google Docs for editing, reformatting, or sharing. For an AoA already in English, this is a straight typing exercise; if you later need a certified translation into another language for an overseas filing, Lekhak offers certified translation on-demand.

Notarisation, Apostille, and Embassy Attestation: Where Your Typed AoA Fits

When an AoA must be presented abroad, the receiving jurisdiction often requires notarisation, followed by an apostille (for Hague Convention countries) or embassy attestation. These are separate legal steps that the reader arranges independently. A typed DOCX produced by Lekhak can serve as the base document that a notary public certifies as a true copy of the original. The notary does not certify the AI typing process; they attest that the printed text matches the source document they have sighted. The chain then moves to the state home department and to the Ministry of External Affairs Apostille, and the foreign mission if required. The key point is that a typed copy begins with an accurate extraction, which shortens the preparation time before the notary appointment. If the AoA must be translated into Spanish, French, or another foreign language for submission alongside the apostilled copy, certified translation is also available on-demand through Lekhak.

Legal Framework and Getting a Duplicate AoA

Key Provisions of the Companies Act, 2013

The Companies Act, 2013 and the rules framed under it specify the form and content of the AoA. Section 5 of the Act mandates that the AoA must be in the prescribed format and that every alteration must be filed with the Registrar of Companies within 30 days. The Act also defines the rules around share capital, board composition, and meetings that the AoA must reflect. When you obtain a typed copy for legal or compliance use, knowing which provisions are mandatory helps you verify that the extracted clauses match the statutory requirements for your company type.

How to Obtain a Certified Copy from the RoC

If the original AoA is lost or damaged, you can request a certified copy from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs through the MCA e-filing portal. The request typically involves filing Form MGT-14 or a similar application along with the prescribed fee. The RoC issues a copy stamped as certified, which carries the same evidentiary value as the original for most purposes. Once you have that certified copy, you can run it through AI typing to create an editable version for your records, or you can begin the notarisation process using the certified document as the base. Having a typed digital copy alongside the RoC-issued scan simplifies subsequent filings and amendments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an AI‑typed AoA legally valid?

An AI‑typed AoA is a faithful digital extract of the scanned original, but the typing process itself does not create a new legal document. Its validity for any filing depends on whether the authority accepts an electronic copy. For regulatory submissions that require a certified copy, you must obtain one from the RoC or notarise the printed typed copy as a true extract.

Can I use the typed DOCX for an MCA filing?

MCA filings accept electronic documents, but the filing typically requires the AoA in the form of the originally registered version. If you are submitting an amended AoA, you will need to attach the altered version; the typed DOCX can serve as the working draft from which you prepare the final PDF for upload.

Does the AI preserve original signatures and stamps?

No. Handwritten signatures, rubber stamps, and margin notes are not rendered as editable text. The DOCX omits or flags them so you can manually verify and add them using the source scan. Lekhak’s typing is designed to digitise printed clauses, not replicate graphical endorsements.

How do I add a digital signature to the typed DOCX?

Once you download the DOCX, you can insert a digital signature certificate through your preferred PDF or document signing tool. Digitally signing the final version is a separate step that you complete before submitting the document to any authority that requires it.

What if the original AoA is handwritten?

AI typing can extract clear, printed text reliably. Handwritten content, especially cursive or dense blocks, may yield lower accuracy. In such cases, you may choose to type those sections manually or use a manual typing service. Lekhak’s self‑serve tool gives you an editable draft that you can correct yourself.

Can I get a certified translation of my AoA through Lekhak?

Yes. Lekhak offers certified translation on‑demand for AoAs that need to be rendered into another language for an official submission abroad. The certified translation is arranged outside the self‑serve typing flow and can be one input into the notarisation or apostille chain.

Does the AI typing service handle non‑English AoAs?

Lekhak’s typing service currently extracts text from scanned documents of any language supported by the platform’s OCR pipeline, including Indian regional languages. If you need the output translated into English, you can use the separate AI translation feature, and certified translation is also available on‑demand.

How long does it take to get the typed DOCX?

Typing completes in minutes after upload. The self‑serve pipeline processes the scan and returns a DOCX almost immediately, so you can begin editing right away.

What formats can I upload for typing?

Upload PDF, JPG, PNG, WebP, or scanned pages in image formats. The system converts them and returns a single editable DOCX file.

Is the uploaded AoA kept confidential?

Lekhak processes documents over an encrypted connection and does not retain source files beyond the processing period. Your AoA is not used for training and remains private to your account.