Part of: Prelims and GS-II and III – Polity, law, fundamental rights, NGOs; Economy
Context The Union Home Ministry has extended by another three months the validity of the licences of FCRA-registered NGOs which were not renewed by December 31.
What is FCRA?
It is a law enacted by Parliament to regulate foreign contribution (especially monetary donation) provided by certain individuals or associations to NGOs and others within India.
FCRA Act was originally passed in 1976 and majorly modified in 2010.
The government has used the act over the years to freeze bank accounts of certain NGOs who it found were affecting India’s national interest for wrong purposes.
According to terms stipulated in the FCRA, an organisation cannot receive foreign funding unless it is registered under the 2010 Act, except when it gets government approval for a specific project.
Under the FCRA Act, registered NGOs can receive foreign contribution for five purposes — social, educational, religious, economic and cultural.