Centre Tightens FCRA Rules for NGOs, Prohibits Political Activity

The Union Home Ministry has implemented significant amendments to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) rules, introducing stricter oversight for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) receiving foreign funding. Key updates include the mandatory declaration of social media accounts, the requirement to specify exact operational purposes and geographic areas, and an explicit prohibition against broadcasting news or current affairs content.

The government has further clarified the list of eligible faith-based activities, specifically excluding proselytisation from the categories allowed under the act. These changes follow a broader effort to ensure that foreign contributions are utilized solely for specified purposes, such as religious education, maintenance of places of worship, or the preservation of indigenous beliefs, without deviating into prohibited advocacy or religious conversion activities.

To ensure transparency, registered NGOs are now required to maintain a minimum spending limit of ₹10 lakh of foreign contributions over two financial years to maintain their licenses. The notification also mandates that if funding is routed through donor-advised funds, the ultimate source of the capital must be disclosed. These measures, combined with field inquiries and activity reports, underscore the government's intent to regulate the flow of international capital into the non-profit sector to safeguard national interest.