Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) | India suspends FCRA license of Center for Policy Research India
3 min readForeign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA)
Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) | India suspends FCRA license of Center for Policy Research India.
The Centre has suspended the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licence of ‘public policy think tank’ Centre for Policy Research (CPR). MHA suspends FCRA licence of prominent public think-tank Centre for Policy Research for six months over violation of laws.
About FCRA
FCRA stands for Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act. It is an Indian law that regulates the acceptance and utilization of foreign contributions or donations by certain individuals, associations, and organizations in India.
The law was enacted in 2010 and amended in 2020 to tighten regulations on foreign funding of NGOs and other organizations.
The primary objective of FCRA is to ensure that the foreign contributions are not used to undermine the sovereignty and integrity of India, and to prevent any activities that are detrimental to the national interest.
The law requires organizations that receive foreign contributions to register with the Ministry of Home Affairs and to maintain detailed records of the funds received and their utilization.
Read More: Top 50 Education Trends In 2023 | Indian Education System
Media outlets can get funding from anywhere but they must disclose: Author & Political Commentator Sandip Ghose as think tank funded by George Soros-linked organisations faces an FCRA suspension.
Has this happened for the first time? No. Congress cancelled FCRA licenses of 4,138 NGOs in 2012 but no one said anything. Irrational condemnation of Modi will only make him stronger, some people must understand that.
Act & Rules / Regulations-List of Agencies not treated as foreign source
Act & Rules / Regulations-Guidelines-For Hospitality
Ans. FCRA, 2010 has been enacted by the Parliament to consolidate the law to regulate the acceptance and utilization of foreign contribution or foreign hospitality by certain individuals or associations or companies and to prohibit acceptance and utilization of foreign contribution or foreign hospitality for any activities detrimental to national interest and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Ans. The flow of foreign contribution to India is regulated under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act,2010 and the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Rules, 2011 (FCRR 2011) read with other notifications/orders etc., as issued there under from time to time. These are available at the website https://fcraonline.nic.in.
Ans. It has been repealed.
Ans. As per Section 1(2) of FCRA, 2010, the provisions of the act shall apply to:
• i. Whole of India
• ii. Citizens of India outside India; and
• iii. Associate Branches or subsidiaries, outside India, of companies or bodies corporate, registered or incorporated in India
Ans. Yes. Any donation, delivery or transfer received from a ‘foreign source’ whether in rupees or in foreign currency is construed as ‘foreign contribution’ under FCRA, 2010. Such transactions including interest on foreign contribution or income derived from foreign contribution even in rupees term are considered as foreign contribution.
Ans. Yes. Donation from an Indian origin person who has acquired foreign citizenship is treated as foreign contribution. This will also apply to PIO / OCI cardholders. They are foreigners. However, this will not apply to ‘Non-resident Indians’, who still hold Indian citizenship as they are not foreigners.
Ans. No. As per section 4(e) of FCRA,2010 and Rule 6 of FCRR ,2011, even the persons prohibited under section 3, i.e., persons not permitted to accept foreign contribution, are allowed to accept foreign contribution from their relatives. However, in terms of Rule 6 of FCRR, 2011, any person receiving foreign contribution in excess of ten lakh rupees or equivalent thereto in a financial year from any of his relatives shall inform the Central Government in electronic Form FC-1 within three months from the date of receipt of such contribution. This form may be filled online on the website: https://fcraonline.nic.in