MHA Grants Extension to FCRA Registration for NGOs

• 01 Apr 2024

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has prolonged the validity of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) registration for NGOs until June 30.

Key Points

• Repeated Extensions Since 2020: The Ministry has extended FCRA validity nine times since 2020 due to delays in processing applications, emphasizing the importance of uninterrupted foreign fund access for NGOs.
• Impact on NGOs and Associations: Entities with pending renewal applications and those whose validity was extended till March 31 will have their registration validity extended till June 30, 2024, or until renewal application disposal, whichever is earlier.
• Consequences of Renewal Denial: FCRA-registered associations facing renewal denial will lose eligibility to receive or utilize foreign contributions, underlining the significance of timely renewal applications.
• Upcoming Validity Periods: NGOs with validity expiring between April 1 and June 30, 2024, and those with pending renewal applications, will see their validity extended until June 30, ensuring operational continuity.
• Decline in FCRA-Registered NGOs: The number of FCRA-registered NGOs decreased to 16,412 as of recent data, indicating a significant reduction from over 22,000 registered entities in December 2021.