AGM Due Date 2026 for Companies: Everything You Need to Know
📅 What the Deadline Actually Is
Section 96 of the Companies Act, 2013 requires every company except a One Person Company to hold at least one general meeting each year — the Annual General Meeting. For companies that have already held their first AGM, every subsequent AGM has to satisfy two separate limits: not more than 15 months from the date of the previous AGM, and not more than 6 months from the end of the financial year. Whichever of the two falls earlier becomes the actual due date. For a standard 31 March year-end, that works out to 30 September.
The first AGM works differently. A company must hold its first AGM within 9 months from the end of its first financial year, and there's no extension available for this one — the ROC has no power to relax it. So a company incorporated on 15 November 2025, with its first financial year closing 31 March 2026, must hold its first AGM by 31 December 2026.
⚠️ What Happens If You Miss It
Failing to hold the AGM within the statutory deadline can attract a penalty of up to ₹1 lakh on the company and ₹1 lakh on every officer in default. This isn't a one-time cost, either — since AOC-4 and MGT-7/7A filings are both calculated from the AGM date, a delayed AGM pushes your entire ROC filing chain off schedule and compounds the exposure across multiple forms.
🔄 Can You Get an Extension?
Yes, but only for AGMs after the first one. A company that can't hold its AGM by the statutory deadline can apply to the Registrar of Companies for an extension of up to three months, by filing Form GNL-1 on the MCA V3 portal under Section 96(1). The catch is that this isn't automatic or guaranteed: the application has to be filed before the original due date, state a specific "special reason" backed by documentary evidence, and be authorised by a board resolution. Waiting until the last week of September to apply is a common mistake — by then there's no runway left to get the application filed before the deadline passes, which defeats the purpose of applying at all.
Even with an approved extension, one rule doesn't bend: the 15-month gap between AGMs still applies. So a three-month GNL-1 extension only helps if it doesn't push the AGM date past 15 months from the previous one — whichever limit is earlier still governs, and companies can't choose the later date just because an extension was granted on the other.
✅ Quick Checklist Before 30 September Confirm your financial year-end and calculate the exact 6-month AGM deadline Check the 15-month gap from your previous AGM — whichever limit is earlier governs If you're a newly incorporated company, confirm your first AGM falls within 9 months of your first financial year-end (no extension available) If a delay looks likely, file Form GNL-1 well before the due date — not in the final week Line up AOC-4 and MGT-7/MGT-7A timelines now, since both run off the AGM date Keep documentary evidence ready if applying for a Section 96 extension — auditor resignation letters, force majeure evidence, etc. The Bottom Line
The AGM deadline isn't just a formality — it's the anchor date for your entire annual ROC filing cycle. Extensions exist, but they're discretionary, require advance filing, and don't override the 15-month gap rule. The safest approach is treating 30 September as a hard internal deadline, not the date you start scrambling.
This is general guidance, not professional advice — confirm applicability for your specific entity structure and financial year with a qualified CS or CA.
This post is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. For guidance specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional.
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