A DIN gets deactivated when the annual DIR-3 KYC filing is missed — and it happens more often than founders expect, especially for directors who aren't actively involved in day-to-day compliance.
The fix is straightforward: file the DIR-3 KYC (or the simpler DIR-3 KYC-WEB, where eligible) along with the applicable late fee, and the DIN is typically reactivated shortly after.
The bigger risk is what a deactivated DIN blocks in the meantime — the director cannot be validly appointed or continue signing certain filings until it's reactivated.
Setting a standing reminder each September, ahead of the usual filing window, is the simplest way to avoid this altogether.
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