The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 (‘FCRA’) is applicable to all non-profits which receive foreign donations. It is mandatory to register foreign funded NGOs under the FCRA and the registration shall remain valid for a period of 5 years, after which it can be renewed for a further period of 5 years.
The Central Government vide Notification No. GSR 506(E) dated 01.07.2022 through Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2022 amended the FCRA Rules, 2011 which came into effect from 1st July 2022. The Government introduced 7 key amendments in the FCRA Rules:
Change: Threshold limit raised to Rs. 10 Lakh
Impact: Receipt of foreign contribution from foreign relatives to be intimated in FC-1 if it exceeds Rs. 10 Lakh (current limit is Rs. 1 Lakh)
Change: Time Limit extended to 3 months
Impact: Such intimation in FC-1 shall be made within a period of 3 months ( presently 30 days)
Change: Time Limit extended to 45 days [Rule 9(1)(e)]
Impact: Filing of Form FC-6D within 45 days instead of 15 days for FCRA registered entities
Change: Time Limit extended to 45 days [Rule 9(2)(e)]
Impact: Filing of Form FC-6D within 45 days instead of 15 days for entities with prior FCRA permission
Change: Omitted
Impact: Requirement of Quarterly publication of FC receipts on website dispensed with
Change: Time Limit extended to 45 days
Impact: Time limit for filing Forms FC-6A to FC-6E increased to 45 days from 15 days
Change: Form for application for Revision of orders
Impact: Instead of making on a plain paper, it shall be in the prescribed form to be filed electronically.
