The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs issued a public notice establishing new validity periods for receiving and utilizing foreign contributions under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) 2010. Organizations requiring prior permission to receive foreign funds must now adhere to a three-year validity period for receiving such contributions and a four-year period for utilizing them, both counted from the approval date. For existing approvals with over three years remaining, the validity period begins from the date of this notice. The notice also allows for case-by-case extensions by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Any receipt or utilization of funds beyond these timelines will be considered a violation of FCRA, potentially leading to punitive action. This directive aims to regulate and standardize the handling of foreign contributions by organizations in India.
No.II/21022/36(0025)/2025/FCRA-II
Government of India
Ministry of Home Affairs
(Foreigners-II Division-FCRA)
*****
1St Floor, Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium
India Gate Circle, New Delhi
Dated: 7th April, 2025
PUBLIC NOTICE
Subject: Proposal regarding processing of prior permission application under FCRA, 2010.
Under the FCRA, 2010, every person having a definite cultural, economic, educational, religious or social programme may, if it is not registered with the Central Government under section 11(1), accept any foreign contribution only after obtaining the prior permission of the Ministry of Home affairs by making an application in the prescribed format and such prior permission shall be valid for the specific activities or projects for which it is obtained and from the specific source
2. The Central Government in exercise of powers conferred under Section 46 of FCRA, 2010, hereby directs that validity period for receiving and utilising the foreign contribution through an application of prior permission shall be as follows:
a. The Validity period for receiving foreign contribution shall be 3 years from the date of approval of the application for prior permission.
b. The validity period for utilising the said foreign contribution shall be 4 years from the date of approval of the application for prior permission.
3. Further, in respect of prior permission applications which have already been approved and where the remaining period of the approved project/ activity in the prior permission is more than 3 years, the above time limit shall be reckoned from the date of issue of this order instead of the date of approval of the application for prior permission.
4. Notwithstanding the provisions at para 2 & 3 above, the competent authority in the Ministry of Home Affairs may allow for extension in the above mentioned validity period for an association/organisation on case to case basis, based on the merits of the case.
5. Any receipt or utilisation of the foreign contribution beyond the above said time limits shall be a violation of FCRA, 2010 and in case of any violation, necessary punitive action shall be taken.
6. This issues with the approval of the Competent Authority.
(Saurabh Bansal)
Joint Director
Copy to :
1. Chief Manager, SBI,
New Delhi Main Branch,
Parliament Street, New Delhi.
2. Nodal officers of all banks.
