Under the now-repealed Companies Act, 1956, a Private Limited Company could commence business

Under the now-repealed Companies Act, 1956, a private company could commence business immediately on obtaining the certificate of incorporation. A certificate to commence business (Section 149) was required only for public companies, and no Central Government approval was needed. (Under Section 10A of the Companies Act, 2013, which replaced the 1956 Act, a company with share capital incorporated after the 2018 amendment cannot commence business until a director files a declaration within 180 days that subscribers have paid for their shares, and the registered office has been verified under Section 12(2).)