1

API

www.probeinformation.com
Probe API: Data Update Mechanism

Why would a company’s data need to be updated?

Probe provides control over data freshness to users. Every data object returned via Probe API
comes with a date-stamp – the date at which the data for the company was last updated.
After reviewing this date-stamp, if the user is not satisfied with the freshness of the data, a
data update request can be made.

A data update request will trigger a series of automated and manual workflows to gather and
cleanse the data for the company from various data sources and load it into Probe’s database.
The user may proceed to fetch the data once the update process is completed.

What are the different types of data update requests that can be made?

The data on any company is grouped into 2 categories: “Base” and “Comprehensive”.

1. Base data includes basic company overview details, details on directors, and charges.
2. Comprehensive covers all the data available for a company including the Base data.
There are separate data update processes for base and comprehensive data, with different
turnaround times. A base data update on a company will typically complete in less than a
minute. A comprehensive data update on a company will typically complete in 3 to 4 business
hours.

How often should base and comprehensive data on a company be updated?

This is left to the discretion of the users; we recommend that users consider factors such as
business requirements, the underlying nature of the data sources, and operations constraints,
while programming their data update frequencies. As a thumb-rule, base data updates can
be done twice a month, whereas comprehensive data updates can be done twice a year. Note
that company filings take place only once a year, so multiple update requests in a short span
of time will be unnecessary. Also note that our database is common across all our users – an
update request triggered by any user will update the common database; the updated data
will then be available to our entire user base.

CONFIDENTIAL
The information contained in these documents is confidential, privileged and only for the information of the intended recipient and may not be used, published or redistributed without the prior written consent of
Probe Information Services Private Limited
 2

API

www.probeinformation.com
What is the process for updating Base data on a company?

Before making a Base Details API call for a company, first invoke Data Status API, passing in the
CIN or PAN. The API response will contain the field “last_base_updated” – this is the date at which
the base data for that company was last updated in Probe’s Database, this date can be used to
determine whether a fresh update of base data is required or not.

If an update is deemed necessary:

1. Invoke the Update Base Details API method, passing in the CIN or PAN along with the Call
Back URL. A request_id will be returned. Store this.
2. The status of the update request will be posted back to the URL provided by the user once
the request is fulfilled. The parameter name is “postback_url” and the entire path must
be passed on including http/s and port information.
3. Proceed to invoke the Base Details API upon getting the status as ‘FULFILLED’.

The below flowchart shows the process that can be followed:

Search Entities API CIN / LLPIN Data Status API

Search by Company or LLP Name GET/probe_pro_sandbox/companies/{CinOrPan}/datastatus
GET /probe_pro_sandbox/entities GET/probe_pro_sandbox/llps/{LlpinOrPan}/datastatus
PAN

last_base_updated

POST /probe_pro_sandbox/companies/{CinOrPan}/update-basedata
POST /probe_pro_sandbox/llps/{LlpinOrPan}/update-basedata
If Yes – REQUEST AN UPDATE
postback_url
Update Base Details API Data Update
Required?
Request ID
Note: The status of the update will be
posted back to the URL provided by client
Typically takes less than a minute
once the update request is fulfilled.
If No - FETCH INSTANTLY
CALL BACK from Probe "cin": "string",
"request_id": "string",
WHITELIST
Sandbox: sandbox.postback.api.probe42.in "status": "FULFILLED"
Production: postback.api.probe42.in GET /probe_pro_sandbox/companies/{CinOrPan}/base-details
GET /probe_pro_sandbox/llps/{LlpinOrPan}/base-details

Update Status? “FULFILLED” Base Details API

Once the update request is complete, our API will do a POST to this “postback_url” passed on by
the client. In case of errors, it will be attempted for 3 times. Necessary firewall changes to accept
the POST request must be in place for this to work.

CONFIDENTIAL
The information contained in these documents is confidential, privileged and only for the information of the intended recipient and may not be used, published or redistributed without the prior written consent of
Probe Information Services Private Limited
 3

API

www.probeinformation.com
What is the process for updating Comprehensive data on a company?

Before making a Comprehensive data API call for a company, first invoke the Data Status API,
passing in the CIN or PAN. This will return the following 2 fields:

1. last_fin_year_end: the latest financial year for which filings are available for this company
in Probe’s database.
2. last_details_updated: the date at which the comprehensive data on this company was
last updated in Probe’s database. Always request for an update if it is “null”.
These 2 fields can be used to determine whether a fresh update of comprehensive data is
required. If an update is deemed necessary:

1. Invoke the Update Comprehensive Details API method, passing in the CIN or PAN along
with the Call Back URL. A “request_id” will be returned. Store this.
2. The status of the update request will be posted back to the URL provided by the user once
the request is “fulfilled”. The parameter name is “postback_url” and the entire path must
be passed on including http/s and port information.
3. Proceed to invoke the Comprehensive Details API upon getting the status as “FULFILLED”.

Search Entities API CIN / LLPIN Data Status API

GET /probe_pro_sandbox/entities GET/probe_pro_sandbox/companies/{CinOrPan}/datastatus
GET/probe_pro_sandbox/llps/{LlpinOrPan}/datastatus
Search by Company or LLP Name PAN

last_fin_year_end last_details_updated

POST/probe_pro_sandbox/companies/{CinOrPan}/update
POST/probe_pro_sandbox/llps/{LlpinOrPan}/update If Yes – REQUEST AN UPDATE
postback_url
Update Comprehensive API Data Update
Required?
Request ID
Note: The status of the update will be
posted back to the URL provided by client
Typically, takes 4 working hours once the update request is fulfilled.
CALL BACK from Probe "cin": "string", If No - FETCH INSTANTLY
WHITELIST "request_id": "string",
Sandbox: sandbox.postback.api.probe42.in "status": "FULFILLED"
Production: postback.api.probe42.in

Comprehensive Details API (JSON)

Update Status? “FULFILLED”
GET/probe_pro_sandbox/companies/{CinOrPan}/comprehensive-details
GET/probe_pro_sandbox/llps/{LlpinOrPan}/comprehensive-details

Once the update request is complete, our API will do a POST to Input client_name as “________________”
this “postback_url” passed on by the client. In case of errors, it
will be attempted for 3 times. Necessary firewall changes to Comprehensive Details API (PDF)
accept the POST request must be in place for this to work.
GET/probe_reports_sandbox/companies/{cin}/reports
GET/probe_reports_sandbox/llps/{LlpinOrPan}/reports

CONFIDENTIAL
The information contained in these documents is confidential, privileged and only for the information of the intended recipient and may not be used, published or redistributed without the prior written consent of
Probe Information Services Private Limited
 4

API

www.probeinformation.com

Alternate Update Workflow without Call-backs

(Optional)

CONFIDENTIAL
The information contained in these documents is confidential, privileged and only for the information of the intended recipient and may not be used, published or redistributed without the prior written consent of
Probe Information Services Private Limited
 5

API

www.probeinformation.com
What is the process for updating Base data on a company?

Alternatively, the status of the “Base update” can also be checked using the Get Update Status
API by following the below steps:

If an update is deemed necessary:

1. Invoke the Update Base Details API method, passing in the CIN or PAN.
2. A request_id will be returned. Store this.
3. Wait for 1 Minute.
4. Call the Get Update Status API, passing in the request_id.
5. Check the returned field “status”.
a. If status is ‘FULFILLED’, proceed to invoke the Base Details API.
b. Else, return to step 3

The below flowchart shows the process that can be followed:

Search Entities API CIN / LLPIN Data Status API

Search by Company or LLP Name GET/probe_pro_sandbox/companies/{CinOrPan}/datastatus
GET /probe_pro_sandbox/entities GET/probe_pro_sandbox/llps/{LlpinOrPan}/datastatus
PAN

last_base_updated

POST /probe_pro_sandbox/companies/{CinOrPan}/update-basedata
POST /probe_pro_sandbox/llps/{LlpinOrPan}/update-basedata
If Yes – REQUEST AN UPDATE

Update Base Details API Data Update

Required?
Request ID

If No - FETCH INSTANTLY
Wait for 1 Minute

Typically takes few minutes

Fulfilled Base Details API

Get Update Status API
GET /probe_pro_sandbox/companies/{CinOrPan}/base-details
Requested GET /probe_pro_sandbox/llps/{LlpinOrPan}/base-details
GET /probe_pro_sandbox/companies/{CinOrPan}/get-update-status
GET /probe_pro_sandbox/llps/{LlpinOrPan}/get-update-status

CONFIDENTIAL
The information contained in these documents is confidential, privileged and only for the information of the intended recipient and may not be used, published or redistributed without the prior written consent of
Probe Information Services Private Limited
 6

API

www.probeinformation.com
What is the process for updating Comprehensive data on a company?

Alternatively, the status of the “Comprehensive update” can also be checked using the Get
Update Status API by following the below steps. If an update is deemed necessary:

1. Invoke the Update Comprehensive API method, passing in the CIN or PAN.
2. A request_id will be returned. Store this.
3. Wait for 2 hours.
4. Call the Get Update Status API, passing in the request_id.
5. Check the returned field status.
a. If status is ‘FULFILLED’, proceed to invoke the Comprehensive API.
b. Else, return to step 3
The below flowchart shows the process that can be followed:

Search Entities API CIN / LLPIN Data Status API

GET /probe_pro_sandbox/entities GET/probe_pro_sandbox/companies/{CinOrPan}/datastatus
GET/probe_pro_sandbox/llps/{LlpinOrPan}/datastatus
Search by Company or LLP Name PAN

last_details_updated last_fin_year_end

If Yes – REQUEST AN UPDATE

Data Update
Update Comprehensive API
Required?
POST/probe_pro_sandbox/companies/{CinOrPan}/update
POST/probe_pro_sandbox/llps/{LlpinOrPan}/update

Request ID
If No - FETCH INSTANTLY
Wait for 2 Hours
If Company is “In-Active”

Cancelled END

Get Update Status API Fulfilled Comprehensive Details API (JSON)

GET/probe_pro_sandbox/companies/{CinOrPan}/comprehensive-details
GET /probe_pro_sandbox/companies/{CinOrPan}/get-update-status
GET/probe_pro_sandbox/llps/{LlpinOrPan}/comprehensive-details
GET /probe_pro_sandbox/llps/{LlpinOrPan}/get-update-status Requested
Input client_name as “_______________________________”

Comprehensive Details API (PDF)

GET/probe_reports_sandbox/companies/{cin}/reports
GET/probe_reports_sandbox/llps/{LlpinOrPan}/reports

CONFIDENTIAL
The information contained in these documents is confidential, privileged and only for the information of the intended recipient and may not be used, published or redistributed without the prior written consent of
Probe Information Services Private Limited
 7

API

www.probeinformation.com How to fetch the Reference Documents in PDF?

Presently, the following documents are provided via API:

I. Incorporation Documents:

• Memorandum of Association (MOA)

• Articles of Association (AOA)
• Certificate of Incorporation (COI)

II. Financial Documents:

• Financial Statements (Form AOC-4) - For the latest 2 Financial Years

• Annual Return (Form MGT-7) - For the latest Financial Year

The comprehensive details API (JSON) will return a document id (field name: 'doc_id') under
the financials or nbfc_financials and shareholdings_summary sections respectively. Pick the
unique doc_ids from the JSON output and make a call to the Reference Document by ID API
to pull the documents.

Financial Statements - For the latest 2 Financial Years

For Companies: Form AOC-4

For LLPs: Form No 8

• Form AOC-4: The comprehensive details API for a company will return a document id
(field name: 'doc_id') under the financials or nbfc_financials (bs > metadata) section.
• LLP Form No 8: The comprehensive details API for an LLP will return a document id (field
name: 'doc_id') under the financials (statement_of_assets_and_liabilities > metadata)
section.
✓ Pick the unique 2 doc ids from the respective sections of Comprehensive API output and
make a call to the Reference Document by ID API.

Annual Return - For the latest Financial Year

For Companies: Form MGT-7

For LLPs: Form No 11

• Form MGT-7: The comprehensive details API for a company will also return a document
id (field name: 'doc_id') under the shareholdings_summary (metadata) section.
• Form No 11: The comprehensive details API for an LLP will also return a document id (field
name: 'doc_id') under the contribution_details (metadata) section.
✓ Pick the doc id from the respective sections of comprehensive API JSON output and make
a call to the Reference Document by ID API.

CONFIDENTIAL
The information contained in these documents is confidential, privileged and only for the information of the intended recipient and may not be used, published or redistributed without the prior written consent of
Probe Information Services Private Limited
 8

API

www.probeinformation.com Workflow for fetching Reference Documents

The below flowchart shows the process for fetching Reference Documents:

CIN / LLPIN Comprehensive Details API (JSON)

GET/probe_pro_sandbox/companies/{CinOrPan}/comprehensive-details
GET/probe_pro_sandbox/llps/{LlpinOrPan}/comprehensive-details
PAN
financials or shareholding_summary
nbfc_financials

bs bs
doc_id doc_id doc_id
Comprehensive Details API (PDF) Latest Year Previous Year Latest Year

GET/probe_reports_sandbox/companies/{cin}/reports
GET/probe_reports_sandbox/llps/{LlpinOrPan}/reports AOC-4 AOC-4 MGT-7

Financial Documents
Incorporation Document API • Financial Statements (Form AOC-4)
• Annual Return (Form MGT-7)
• Memorandum of Association (MOA)
• Articles of Association (AOA)
• Certificate of Incorporation (COI) GET /probe_reports_sandbox/companies/{CinOrPan}/reference-document-by-id
GET /probe_reports_sandbox/llps/{LlpinOrPan}/reference-document-by-id

MOA AOA COI

GET /probe_reports_sandbox/companies/{CinOrPan}/reference-document
GET /probe_reports_sandbox/llps/{LlpinOrPan}/reference-document

Avoid Fetching the same data / document multiple times as it will have commercial implications.

CONFIDENTIAL
The information contained in these documents is confidential, privileged and only for the information of the intended recipient and may not be used, published or redistributed without the prior written consent of
Probe Information Services Private Limited