Govt extends FCRA registration validity of NGOs till May 31
Bharti.Jain@timesgroup.com
New Delhi: 15.01.2021
NGOs and associations whose registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, was expiring between September 29, 2020 — when fresh amendments to the Act were notified — and May 31, 2021, will now enjoy extended validity of their FCRA certificates until May this year, the home ministry has said.
According to a public notice put out by the ministry on Tuesday, the extension of validity of all registration certificates expiring during the period outlined is aimed at ensuring a smooth transition to the amended FCRA regime. The amendments effected in September 2020 require all NGOs and associations registered under FCRA to open an account in SBI main branch at New Delhi, to receive foreign contributions.
Incidentally, the home ministry’s January 12 public notice extending validity of expired or expiring FCRA licences followed a day after an important correction was made in the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) (Amendment) Rules notified on November 10, 2020. As per the corrigendum, the amended rule requiring NGOs/associations to apply for renewal of FCRA certificate in electronic form, along with affidavits by each office-bearer or key functionary, within six months “from” the date of expiry of the certificate of registration is to be read as within six months “before” the date of expiry of registration.
The MHA notice therefore provides relief to the NGOs which, going by the amended rules prior to the correction, would not have bothered to apply for renewal of registration immediately, understanding that they had six months from the date of expiry of their FCRA certificate to do so.
Presently, there are nearly 23,000 entities which have got a certificate of registration or prior permission to receive foreign contributions.
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