Articles of Association Typing Service for Corporate Governance

What the Articles of Association Contains

An Articles of Association is a company’s internal rulebook. It governs the relationship between the company, its shareholders, and its directors, and it sets out the procedures for board meetings, share transfers, dividend declarations, and the exercise of borrowing powers. Unlike the Memorandum of Association, which defines the company’s constitution and objects, the AoA focuses on day‑to‑day management. A typical Indian AoA runs to several pages of structured clauses, with tables for authorised capital and schedules that list the names of first subscribers. When the only copy you have is a scanned PDF or a faded paper original, turning those pages into a clean, searchable typed document is the first step toward making the AoA usable again for compliance, board resolutions, and investor review.

Common Provisions in an Indian Articles of Association

Most Indian AoAs follow a pattern anchored in the Companies Act, 2013. You will almost always find clauses that define the board of directors’ general authority, the company’s borrowing powers, and the manner in which resolutions are passed, whether ordinary or special. The borrowing‑power clauses often set a ceiling on total indebtedness as a ratio of paid‑up capital and free reserves, and they distinguish between debentures, term loans, and temporary loans. Investment provisions describe what kinds of securities the company may hold, and many AoAs carry a clause capping charitable contributions to an amount linked to profit or reserves. Sections on share capital detail the classes of shares, variation of rights, and procedures for calls and forfeiture. Getting these clauses into a typed DOCX means every article can later be searched, quoted in a board note, or compared against the latest amended copy without scrolling through image pages.

Why Companies Need Their AoA Typed Digitally

Registrars of Companies across India increasingly expect filings through the MCA‑21 portal, where a clean electronic copy of the AoA is often required as an attachment. Banks, auditors, and prospective investors also ask for a searchable version during due diligence. A scanned image saved inside a zip folder cannot be searched, copied, or redlined. Once the AoA is in an editable DOCX, a company can extract clauses into a board resolution, highlight the change‑in‑control provisions for a term‑sheet discussion, or compare the typed text against a later amendment adopted by a special resolution. It also avoids the risk of misreading faint stamps, marginal notes, or partially obliterated page numbers, all common in older paper copies that have been photocopied several times.

What Lekhak’s AI Typing Service Produces

Lekhak’s self‑serve typing service processes a scanned page image through an OCR‑based AI pipeline and delivers a formatted DOCX in minutes. The output preserves the clause numbering, any tables of share capital or subscriber details, and the section headings that structure the AoA. There is no manual rekeying and no human‑mediated turnaround, the service is instant, and you can download the DOCX as soon as processing completes. The AI does its best with clear scans and standard printed text; when the source image is faint, skewed, or carries handwritten annotations, the output may contain errors that need a quick human review. For most routine governance needs, board‑resolution drafting, internal reference, or filing a working copy, the instant typed DOCX is enough. If the AoA is headed to a foreign embassy or a non‑English‑speaking regulator that demands a signed certificate of accuracy, Lekhak also offers certified translation on‑demand, arranged separately from the self‑serve typing flow. Notarisation and apostille are separate government acts you arrange with the relevant authority, the Ministry of External Affairs is the designated body for apostille in India, and the Hague Apostille Convention governs acceptance in member countries.

When You Need a Certified Translation (and Notarisation / Apostille) of Your AoA

If the typed English AoA must be submitted to a foreign court, a regulatory authority that operates in a language other than English, or an embassy that requires a sworn translation, you may need a certified translation. Lekhak’s self‑serve AI translation can produce an instant working draft in 22 Indian and 70+ global languages, but the instant output does not carry a translator’s signed certificate. For an official submission where a certificate of accuracy is mandatory, certified translation is available on‑demand through Lekhak (not as a self‑serve flow). Please see lekhak.app/pricing for current rates. After translation, if the receiving authority demands notarisation or an apostille, those are separate steps that the applicant arranges directly with a notary public or the Ministry of External Affairs.

How to Get a Duplicate Original AoA from the Registrar of Companies

If the company has lost its original stamped and signed AoA, the law provides a way to obtain a certified copy. Under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs e‑filing system, an authorised director or company secretary can apply through the MCA‑21 portal using Form INC‑28. The Registrar of Companies charges a fee for the certified copy, and the process is entirely between the company and the ROC, Lekhak does not retrieve duplicate originals or act as an intermediary. However, once the certified copy arrives, it can be uploaded to Lekhak’s typing service to produce a clean, editable DOCX for day‑to‑day use.

FAQs

What is the difference between the Memorandum and the Articles of Association?

The Memorandum of Association defines the company’s name, registered office, objects, and capital structure. The Articles of Association contain the internal rules for management and administration. Both are filed with the Registrar of Companies, but the AoA is the document most often referenced in board meetings and governance reviews.

Does Lekhak’s typing service work with handwritten Articles of Association?

The AI typing engine is designed for printed text. Clear typed or printed documents produce the most accurate results. Handwritten amendments, marginal notes, or cursive scripts may not be transcribed reliably and usually require a quick human review after the DOCX is generated.

How long does it take to type a 30‑page AoA?

The self‑serve typing service delivers the DOCX in minutes. Processing time depends on page count and image quality, but there is no human delay, you do not wait for a typist to rekey the document.

Will the typed DOCX keep the original clause numbering and tables?

Yes. The AI pipeline identifies clause numbers, headings, and table structures in the scanned image and reproduces them in the output DOCX. If a clause cross‑references another article, the numbering is preserved so the reference stays intact.

Is the typed document reviewed for accuracy?

The instant typing service is fully automated; it does not include a manual proofreading step. We recommend scanning the DOCX quickly alongside the original image, especially for heavily stamped or faint sections, before relying on it for a legal filing.

Can Lekhak type Articles of Association in languages other than English?

Yes. The typing service supports 22 Indian languages and 70+ global languages. If your scanned AoA is in Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, or any other supported script, the AI will produce a typed DOCX in the same language.

What file formats can I upload for typing?

You can upload PDF, JPG, PNG, WebP, DOCX, DOC, TXT, and Markdown files. Most scanned AoAs arrive as PDF or JPEG, and these are processed without issue.

Is a typed AoA from Lekhak accepted by the Registrar of Companies?

For most MCA‑21 filings, a clean, legible electronic copy of the AoA meets the portal’s attachment requirements. However, if the ROC specifically demands a certified copy of the original stamped document, you must obtain that directly from the Registrar, Lekhak’s typing output does not substitute for a certified copy.

Do I need a certified translation if my typed AoA is in English but the receiving authority is abroad?

If the foreign authority requires a translation into a local language accompanied by a certificate of accuracy, you may need a certified translation. Lekhak’s instant AI translation is a fast working draft, and certified translation is available on‑demand for formal submissions.

What should I do if my AoA contains struck‑out text or marginal corrections?

The AI will attempt to transcribe any visible text, including struck‑out passages if they are legible. Marginal corrections often appear as handwritten notes, which may not be captured perfectly. Review the output and manually reconcile any irregular clauses before using the document for a board resolution or filing.