Home ministry to vet flow of foreign funds to Zakir Naik’s NGO
8 years, 6 months ago

Home ministry to vet flow of foreign funds to Zakir Naik’s NGO

Hindustan Times  

In order to tighten the flow of foreign funds to controversial TV evangelist Zakir Naik’s NGO Islamic Research Foundation, the government has decided to vet all donations it gets from abroad before they are deposited to its accounts. Under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, the law that governs foreign funding of NGOs, the government can put them in prior permission category wherein the home ministry vets all funding. “The process to move the IRF to the PP category is on,” said a home ministry official on the condition of anonymity. Sources said this process was initiated by then joint secretary in-charge of the foreigners division, GK Dwivedi, who was later suspended by the government when it came to light that despite an inquiry pending against IRF, its foreign funding licence was renewed by the home ministry.

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History of this topic

Government warns NGOs of penal action for receiving foreign funds without FCRA registration
2 months ago

Government warns NGOs of penal action for receiving foreign funds without FCRA registration

The Hindu  

The Union Home Ministry on Tuesday warned non-government organisations of penal action if they receive foreign funds without registration under the Foreigners Contribution Regulation Act, 2010. “Accordingly, the Foreign Contribution Rules, 2011 prescribes that no person whose certificate of registration has ceased to exist shall either receive or utilise foreign contribution. However, instances have come to notice of this Ministry …

MHA warns unlicensed NGOs against receiving foreign funds
2 months ago

MHA warns unlicensed NGOs against receiving foreign funds

Hindustan Times  

The Union home ministry has warned that non-government organisations that receive and utilise foreign funds without having a licence under the foreign contribution regulation act or after its expiry will be penalised, according to a communication by the ministry on Tuesday. All NGOs receiving foreign funds have to be mandatorily registered under the FCRA and they have to utilise such …

Home Affairs Ministry mandates chartered accountants to report FCRA violations in their audits
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Home Affairs Ministry mandates chartered accountants to report FCRA violations in their audits

New Indian Express  

NEW DELHI: The Foreigner's Division of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has announced that Chartered Accountants filing audit returns on behalf of NGOs must specify whether the organization has violated provisions of the Foreign Contribution Act, 2010, officials said on Sunday. It further said, “CAs will have to specify if the NGO has violated the provisions of FCRA, 2010 …

Explained: The new rules for NGOs that get foreign funding
1 year, 6 months ago

Explained: The new rules for NGOs that get foreign funding

Firstpost  

The Ministry of Home Affairs has amended the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act rules, mandating that NGOs will now have to submit details of movable and immovable assets created out of foreign contributions NGOs in India pay attention. What this means is that the Centre is now asking NGOs to furnish details of moveable and immovable assets created by them using …

Pocket Funding: The FCRA Loophole that PFI Uses to Get Foreign Funding for Anti-India Activities
2 years, 5 months ago

Pocket Funding: The FCRA Loophole that PFI Uses to Get Foreign Funding for Anti-India Activities

News 18  

Last week, the Union Home Ministry, Government of India, banned the Islamist organisation, Popular Front of India. While the PFI’s anti-India role has been widely discussed, little attention has been given on how it raised foreign funding for activities expressly prohibited by the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010 and how it circumvented FCRA with the loopholes in the Act. As …

Union Home Ministry places Hewlett Foundation under FCRA watchlist for climate awareness funding
3 years ago

Union Home Ministry places Hewlett Foundation under FCRA watchlist for climate awareness funding

The Hindu  

The Ministry of Home Affairs had placed the U.S.-based Hewlett Foundation on its watchlist following an investigation that foreign contributions sent by it were being used for climate awareness campaigns, an activity not permissible under the FCRA Act), a senior government official said. The official said the U.S.-based donor was placed under the “Prior Reference Category ” under the provisions …

Foreign funds and the Missionaries of Charity
3 years, 2 months ago

Foreign funds and the Missionaries of Charity

The Hindu  

The story so far : On Monday, the Ministry of Home Affairs said the Missionaries of Charity’s application for renewal of the Foreign Contribution Act registration was rejected on December 25 for not meeting eligibility conditions and after “some adverse inputs” were received. THE GIST The MHA said the Missionaries of Charity’s application for renewal of the FCRA registration was …

Killing the licence: The Hindu Editorial on NGOs and funding
3 years, 2 months ago

Killing the licence: The Hindu Editorial on NGOs and funding

The Hindu  

If the past few years of enhanced measures against non-governmental organisations operating in India had not put enough of a squeeze on them, then the Ministry of Home Affairs’s long-drawn-out process of scrutinising their foreign-funding licences by year-end is sure to do so. Contrary to the Government’s defence that it is only following accounting and audit procedures, it seems clear …

FCRA license of 3 minority NGOs revoked
3 years, 3 months ago

FCRA license of 3 minority NGOs revoked

The Hindu  

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has cancelled the FCRA registration of a Vadodara-based NGO that was accused by the Gujarat police of illegally converting members of the Hindu community, funding the anti-CAA protests and for criminal activities to strengthen Islam. The registration of two other Christian NGOs — the New Hope Foundation, based in Tamil Nadu, and Holy Spirit …

FCRA Amendments Aim To Prevent Foreign Powers Interfering With Internal Polity, Diversion Of Funds By NGO : Centre Tells Supreme Court
3 years, 5 months ago

FCRA Amendments Aim To Prevent Foreign Powers Interfering With Internal Polity, Diversion Of Funds By NGO : Centre Tells Supreme Court

Live Law  

Defending the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act 2020, the Central Government has said that the changes in the law were necessary to prevent malpractices and diversion of funds by NGOs.The Centre said that the amendments were necessary in view of the fact that some foreign powers and foreign state and non-state actors continue to take up activities that amount to interference …

FCRA: Govt permits NGOs to open SBI account under new rules
3 years, 9 months ago

FCRA: Govt permits NGOs to open SBI account under new rules

Op India  

On Thursday, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs informed the Delhi High Court that all NGOs, with the exception of one, have been permitted to open bank accounts with the State Bank of India in the National Capital, reported The Economic Times. It must be mentioned that all NGOs, receiving foreign donations, are required by law to have their primary …

COVID- Can Deadline For Opening FCRA Accounts By NGOs Getting Foreign Aid Be Extended?: Delhi High Court Asks Centre
3 years, 10 months ago

COVID- Can Deadline For Opening FCRA Accounts By NGOs Getting Foreign Aid Be Extended?: Delhi High Court Asks Centre

Live Law  

The Delhi High Court last week asked the Ministry of Home Affairs to consider extending the deadline for opening the Foreign Contribution Act account by NGOs who seek to receive foreign funds.The Bench of Justice Prathiba M. Singh was hearing two Petitioners who raised an issue related to the. The Delhi High Court last week asked the Ministry of Home …

India tightens oversight on funds received by NGOs
4 years, 1 month ago

India tightens oversight on funds received by NGOs

The Hindu  

The Ministry of Home Affairs has laid down a charter for banks which says that “donations received in Indian rupees” by non-governmental organisations and associations from “any foreign source even if that source is located in India at the time of such donation” should be treated as “foreign contribution”. Last September, the Foreign Contribution Act, 2010, was amended by Parliament …

Centre Asking Questions Over Foreign Donations, Says Farmer Union
4 years, 3 months ago

Centre Asking Questions Over Foreign Donations, Says Farmer Union

News 18  

Chandigarh: Bhartiya Kisan Union, one of Punjab's largest farmer organisations protesting against the recent farm laws, on Sunday said it has been asked by a central agency to submit its registration details which allow it to receive foreign funds. The BKU president Joginder Ugrahan and its general secretary Sukhdev Singh revealed about the Union government's demand alleging that the Centre …

Home Ministry amends FCRA rules
4 years, 4 months ago

Home Ministry amends FCRA rules

The Hindu  

The Ministry of Home Affairs has relaxed norms for farmer, student, religious and other groups who are not directly aligned to any political party to receive foreign funds if the groups are not involved in “active politics”. The new rule said, “The organisations specified under clauses and of sub-rule shall be considered to be of political nature, if they participate …

Why NGOs fear the new FCRA regulations
4 years, 6 months ago

Why NGOs fear the new FCRA regulations

India Today  

In the abridged monsoon session of Parliament, the contentious Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2020, was passed amid concerns by non-governmental organisations that the new changes will sound the death knell for them. Voluntary Action Network India, the apex body of Indian voluntary development organisations, said in a statement: “The FCRA will be a death blow to development relief, scientific research …

The Hindu Explains | What is Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, and how does it control donations?
4 years, 6 months ago

The Hindu Explains | What is Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, and how does it control donations?

The Hindu  

September 13, 2020 12:42 am | Updated 09:57 am IST The story so far: The licences of 13 non-governmental organisations have been suspended under the Foreign Contribution Act, 2010, this year. However, in 2017 the MHA, through the Finance Bill route, amended the 1976-repealed FCRA law paving the way for political parties to receive funds from the Indian subsidiary of …

NGOs doing protests for public cause can get foreign fund: Supreme Court
5 years ago

NGOs doing protests for public cause can get foreign fund: Supreme Court

Op India  

In a ruling that could open floodgates pertaining to the functioning of non-governmental organisations in the country, the Supreme Court on Friday ruled that the Centre cannot prevent NGOs and civil society groups from receiving foreign funds if they indulge in agitations, bandhs or hartals in support of public causes, saying such action could not be termed political in nature. …

How foreign ‘donations’ pose a serious danger to our national security
5 years, 2 months ago

How foreign ‘donations’ pose a serious danger to our national security

Op India  

There is no such thing as free lunch. Large amount of funding for the so called non-profit or non-commercial sector in India is generated as overseas ‘donations’ by various organizations that are affiliated to foreign State and non-State actors. 2,08,096 Crores of foreign ‘donations’ has been pumped into the country, in the last two decades, by foreign sources through official …

Government tightens the noose on foreign funded NGOs
5 years, 6 months ago

Government tightens the noose on foreign funded NGOs

Op India  

In order to put a curb on the rampant religious conversions associated with many foreign-funded NGOs, the Home Ministry has modified rules for foreign funding for key officials and members of the NGOs receiving overseas funds. Addressing a key issue of religious evangelism carried out by many foreign-funded NGOs, the government issued a notification announcing the changes made in the …

Government cancelled registration of 14,800 NGOs for FCRA violations
5 years, 8 months ago

Government cancelled registration of 14,800 NGOs for FCRA violations

Op India  

Over the last five years, the Narendra Modi led government has deregistered over 14,800 NGOs registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, which were receiving funds from abroad, reports Times of India. The Home Ministry said that various NGOs and association in India received nearly Rs.50,000 crore as foreign contributions over a period of three years from 2015-16 to 2017-18. …

Govt stops foreign funding to 156 NGOs for defying order
6 years, 3 months ago

Govt stops foreign funding to 156 NGOs for defying order

Live Mint  

New Delhi: Cracking the whip, the government has barred 156 NGOs from receiving foreign funds for six months for defying an order to open accounts in any of the 32 designated banks. However, the latest order said that it has been observed that the associations have not yet opened their bank accounts in central government’s Public Financial Management System -integrated …

Narendra Modi asks police to check NGOs' funding but conveniently ignores question of who finances political parties
6 years, 9 months ago

Narendra Modi asks police to check NGOs' funding but conveniently ignores question of who finances political parties

Firstpost  

Recent news reports suggest that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed top security officials to work with state police to identify how non-governmental organisations that are involved in anti-national activities are funded. Recent news reports suggest that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed top security officials to work with state police to identify how non-governmental organisations that are allegedly …

Over 1,000 NGOs blacklisted for misusing foreign funds: Kiren Rijiju
7 years, 8 months ago

Over 1,000 NGOs blacklisted for misusing foreign funds: Kiren Rijiju

Firstpost  

Over 1,000 NGOs have been barred from receiving foreign aid after they were found “mis-utilising” such funds, Union minister Kiren Rijiju informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. New Delhi: Over 1,000 NGOs have been barred from receiving foreign aid after they were found “mis-utilising” such funds, Union minister Kiren Rijiju informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. “Over 1,000 NGOs found …

Govt cancels FCRA licences of 20,000 NGOs for violation of laws
8 years, 3 months ago

Govt cancels FCRA licences of 20,000 NGOs for violation of laws

India TV News  

In a significant move, the government today annulled the licenses of around 20,000 of the 33,000 existing Non-Governmental Organisations after they were found to be allegedly violating various provisions of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. Giving a detailed presentation, Home Ministry officials said after cancellation of FCRA licences of around 20,000 NGOs, only 13,000 NGOs in the country are legally …

Zakir Naik denies misuse of funds by his NGO, says ban on IRF politically motivated
8 years, 4 months ago

Zakir Naik denies misuse of funds by his NGO, says ban on IRF politically motivated

Firstpost  

Naik said he was positive the agencies would have surely realised he wasn’t promoting terrorism, but they have no choice due to political pressures. Mumbai: Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik on Sunday claimed that there has been no misuse of funds by his banned NGO and rejected all allegations of involvement in terror-related activities. “More unfortunately, it is also indicative …

No more foreign funds for Zakir Naik's NGO as MHA to revoke FCRA license
8 years, 4 months ago

No more foreign funds for Zakir Naik's NGO as MHA to revoke FCRA license

Firstpost  

Islamic Research Foundation, promoted by controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, will soon be banned from receiving foreign funds with the Home Ministry initiating the process for cancellation of its FCRA registration by issuing a final show cause notice to the NGO. New Delhi: Islamic Research Foundation, promoted by controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, will soon be banned from receiving foreign …

Home ministry to vet flow of foreign funds to Zakir Naik’s NGO
8 years, 6 months ago

Home ministry to vet flow of foreign funds to Zakir Naik’s NGO

Hindustan Times  

NEW DELHI: In order to tighten the flow of foreign funds to controversial TV evangelist Zakir Naik’s NGO Islamic Research Foundation, the government has decided to vet all donations it gets from abroad before they are deposited to its accounts. HT Image Under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, the law that governs foreign funding of NGOs, the government can put …

Home Ministry begins inquiry into renewal of FCRA licence of Zakir Naik's NGO
8 years, 6 months ago

Home Ministry begins inquiry into renewal of FCRA licence of Zakir Naik's NGO

Firstpost  

A departmental inquiry has been instituted by the Home Ministry into the issue of renewal of the FCRA licence of Islamic preacher Zakir Naik’s NGO which led to suspension of four officials. New Delhi: A departmental inquiry has been instituted by the Home Ministry into the issue of renewal of the FCRA licence of Islamic preacher Zakir Naik’s NGO which …

Auto-renewal system cleared Naik’s NGO
8 years, 6 months ago

Auto-renewal system cleared Naik’s NGO

Hindustan Times  

NEW DELHI: The foreign funding license of TV evangelist Zakir Naik’s NGO Islamic Research Foundation was renewed through an automatic online system, put in place by the Union home ministry, sources told HT. The IRF, too, had applied online and the renewal was granted in due course without realising that a probe has been initiated against the NGO and a …

Three American donors put under watch list
8 years, 9 months ago

Three American donors put under watch list

The Hindu  

The Home Ministry has put three American donors under the “prior permission category” for allegedly funding non Foreign Contribution Regulation Act registered NGOs in India, which were allegedly using the money for proselytisation and working in the field of climate change. The three donors — Open Society Foundations, World Movement for Democracy and National Endowment for Democracy — were put …

Government cancels licenses of 4,470 NGOs to receive foreign funds; SCBA and GNLU in the list
9 years, 9 months ago

Government cancels licenses of 4,470 NGOs to receive foreign funds; SCBA and GNLU in the list

Live Law  

Acting under the provisions of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, the Home Ministry has cancelled the licenses to receive foreign donations of around 4,470 NGOs. The list includes a number of prominent NGOs such as Kabir, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan and also top universities such as DU and JNU, Supreme Court Bar Association and Escorts Heart Institute. The fresh move …

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