About .in domain
The .in domain is a country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for India, managed by the INRegistry under the authority of the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI). It was first delegated in May 1989. The registry has undergone several management changes, with the backend services being provided by various contracted operators over the years, including a migration to Neustar's infrastructure in 2019. As a product, it offers a wide array of second and third-level domain options for registration.
Who can register .in domain
Registration for most .in second-level domains, such as .in, .co.in, and .com.in, is open to anyone worldwide without restrictions. There are no geographic or citizenship requirements for these general-purpose names. However, certain specialized second-level domains like .gov.in, .ac.in, .mil.in, and .res.in are restricted for use by qualified Indian governmental, academic, military, or research institutions, which must provide appropriate verification.
How to register .in domain
- Begin by searching for your desired domain name across the various available .in second-level extensions, such as .in, .co.in, or .net.in, using a registrar's search tool to check real-time availability.
- Compare pricing, contract terms, and add-on services like email hosting from multiple accredited .in registrars, as they are free to set their own retail prices.
- Complete the checkout process with your chosen registrar, providing accurate registrant contact information, as the registry does not permit domain privacy services.
- Finalize your registration by verifying your contact details via any required EKYC process and proceed to configure your domain's DNS settings to point to your web hosting.
Typical uses of .in domain
The .in extension is very popular within India and is widely used by companies, individuals, and organizations connected to the country to establish a local online presence. Its liberal registration policies have also led to significant adoption overseas, with entities choosing it for branding related to India or for its short, memorable quality. Many businesses opt for .co.in as an alternative to .com, while tech startups often gravitate towards newer options like .ai.in. The availability of numerous second-level domains allows registrants to find a name that closely matches their purpose.
Tips for registering .in domain
- The registry does not allow the use of WHOIS privacy or proxy services for .in domain registrations; registrant contact information must be publicly visible.
- There is no restriction on bulk registration of .in domain names, allowing customers to register an unlimited number.
- Disputes over .in domain names are governed by the .IN Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (INDRP), a process distinct from the UDRP, with associated filing fees.
- The registry maintains a list of reserved names for government and constitutional bodies, which are not available for public registration.