Supplier verification is not a diligence exercise you do after a supplier has impressed you. It is the first thing you do — before you engage commercially, before samples, before any negotiation.
The reason is straightforward. The Indian supplier landscape is large, diverse, and — like any large market — includes operators who represent themselves as something different from what they are. A company that claims to be a manufacturer may be a trading company. A company that claims to have international experience may have none. A company that claims ISO certification may hold no such certificate.
These five checks take under 10 minutes each and cost nothing. Together, they confirm the basic legitimacy of any Indian export company before you invest time in a commercial relationship.
Check 1 — MCA Registration (mca.gov.in)
What it confirms: The company is legally incorporated in India under the Companies Act 2013. It is a real legal entity with a registered address, named directors, and an official incorporation date.
How to check:
Go to mca.gov.in. Click “MCA Services” then “View Company/LLP Master Data.” Enter the company’s CIN (Company Identification Number)
or search by company name.
What you are looking for:
Status: Active. If the status shows “Struck Off” or “Under Liquidation” — do not proceed.
Incorporation Date: Confirms when the company was actually formed.
Be sceptical of claims of years of experience that predate the incorporation date.
Director Names: Cross-reference the named director against the person you are dealing with.
A legitimate Indian export company will provide their CIN without hesitation and expect you to verify it.
To see NexaCrest’s MCA record: use our name as “NexaCrest International” at mca.gov.in.
Check 2 — IEC Verification (dgft.gov.in)
What it confirms: The company holds an active Import Export Code issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Government of India. Without an active IEC, legal export from India is not possible.
How to check:
Go to dgft.gov.in. Under “Services,” click “View IEC Details.” Enter the company’s IEC number. – you ask for it, we will provide
What you are looking for:
Active status. The company name matching exactly what you have been
provided. IEC numbers are 10-digit codes — verify the company name associated with the number, not just the number itself.
A company with a fabricated or lapsed IEC cannot legally export.
Verifying this takes under two minutes.
To see NexaCrest’s IEC at dgft.gov.in, ask for our IEC code, we will provide.
Check 3 — Director Identity Cross-Reference
What it confirms: The person representing the company matches the director recorded on the MCA register.
How to check:
From the MCA company record (Check 1), note the Director Identification Number (DIN) and name. Cross-reference against the LinkedIn profile of the person you are dealing with. The name, company, and if possible the location should be consistent.
This check protects against situations where someone represents a company they have no legitimate connection to — which happens more often than buyers expect.
For NexaCrest: Gulmohar Sontakke, Founder and MD.
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gulmohars — cross-referenceable with MCA records.- Ask for our ID, we will provide you.
Check 4 — Operating Address Verification
What it confirms: The company operates from a real, verifiable location.
How to check:
Search the operating address on Google Maps. For companies using shared office or coworking spaces (common for early-stage businesses and entirely legitimate), verify the coworking facility independently. A quick search for the facility name should return an active business.
This check is not about the size of the office. It is about confirming the address is a real, searchable location — not an address fabricated for the purpose of appearing established.
Check 5 — Direct Communication Test
What it confirms: There is a real, responsive person behind the company.
How to check:
Send a direct, specific email or WhatsApp message to the named contact. Not to a general enquiries address. To the specific person whose name appears on communications and on the company’s website.
Ask one specific question about your product category — something that requires actual knowledge to answer, not a generic response.
The quality, specificity, and speed of the response is itself a verification. A genuine export operation with real expertise responds specifically. A broker or front operation responds generically.
The combination of specific question and direct contact is one of the most reliable verification tools available.
What These Checks Do Not Cover
These five checks confirm basic legitimacy. They do not confirm:
Track record: A company can be legitimately registered and have no export experience. The MCA record shows when the company was formed, not how many orders they have managed.
Quality systems: Registration does not confirm quality control processes. This is confirmed through the sample stage and pre-shipment inspection.
Claims of certifications: ISO, FIEO, MSME and similar claims should be verified independently. Ask for the certificate number and verify it with the issuing body directly.
For NexaCrest’s full credential disclosure — including honest disclosure of what is not currently held: click here
Have questions about verifying NexaCrest before reaching out?
Everything is on our Certifications page —
Or contact us directly:
FAQ:
Q: How do I verify an Indian export company is legitimate?
A: Five checks: (1) MCA registration at mca.gov.in. (2) IEC at dgft.gov.in. (3) Director name cross-reference via LinkedIn and MCA records. (4) Operating address verification. (5) Direct communication with a specific, answerable question. All free, all under 10 minutes.
Q: What is a CIN number and how do I check it?
A: A CIN (Company Identification Number) is a 21-character alphanumeric code assigned to every company incorporated in India. Verify at mca.gov.in
under View Company Master Data. Active status confirms legal incorporation.
Q: What is an IEC and why does it matter?
A: An Import Export Code is issued by India’s DGFT and is mandatory for any company legally exporting from India. Verify at dgft.gov.in. A company without an active IEC cannot legally export.
Q: How do I know if an Indian supplier’s ISO certificate is real?
A: Ask for the certificate number and the name of the certifying body. Contact the certifying body directly to verify the certificate is current and genuine. Reputable suppliers expect this.
Q: What should I check before placing a first order with any Indian supplier?
A: MCA registration, IEC status, director identity, operating address, and a direct communication test. Then: request a sample, lock the specification in writing, and confirm pre-shipment inspection will happen.