Question : Renewal of Licences under FCRA

(a) whether the Government has denied renewal of licences to about 6,000 organisations under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether refusal of FCRA registration would adversely affect their welfare programmes and Covid related relief works;

(c) whether the Government is taking any measures to ensure an amicable solution to this issue and also the non-interruption of the welfare schemes in this regard, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether it is also true that the Government has recently restored/granted FCRA registration to some charity organisations and some NGOs in the country and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the total number of such charities and NGO’s FCRA registration which were restored in the country, name-wise and location-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)


A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.


STATEMENT IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO 91 FOR ANSWER ON 08.02.2022 REGARDING RENEWAL OF LICENCES UNDER FCRA

(a) to (c): No, Sir. In fact, about 5800 FCRA registered associations had not submitted their applications for renewal within stipulated time in accordance with the provisions of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010. FCRA registration of these associations has thus deemed to have ceased as per section 12 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 read with rule 12 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Rules, 2011. In view of Covid-19 pandemic, the Government has given certain relaxations to NGOs so that welfare programmes and Covid related relief works are not affected. Main relaxations in this regard include the following:-

(i) Validity of registration certificate of NGOs expiring between 29.09.2020 to 31.12.2021 had been extended till 31.12.2021. The validity has been further extended with certain conditions upto 31.03.2022.

(ii) Time period to file Annual Returns for year 2019-20 was extended by six month i.e. till 30.06.2021.

(iii) FCRA associations were allowed to receive foreign contribution in their old main FCRA account upto 30.06.2021.

(d) & (e): Section 32 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 provides for revision by the Central Government of any order passed in a proceeding against any association registered under the Act. The application for revision is considered and disposed of on merits under the above provision of the Act. Since November, 2021 the FCRA certificate of Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), New Delhi and Missionaries of Charity (MoC), Kolkata was renewed by way of revision.

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