India extends validity of all NGOs registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act till 30 June

New Delhi: The Union home ministry on Thursday extended till 30 June the validity of all FCRA registered NGOs whose licences are going to expire at the end of this month and those whose applications are pending for approval.

In a notification, the home ministry said the decision has been taken in public interest.

According to the home ministry, the validity of the registration certificates of such entities whose validity was extended till 31 March and whose renewal application is pending will stand extended till 30 June or till the date of disposal of renewal application, whichever is earlier.

The validity of those FCRA entities whose five years validity period is expiring during April 1 to June 30 and which have applied or apply for renewal before expiry of 5 years validity period will stand extended up to June 30 or till the date of disposal of renewal application, whichever is earlier, it said.

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The home ministry advised all FCRA registered associations to take note that in case of refusal of the application for renewal of certificate of registration, the validity of the certificate shall be deemed to have expired on the date of refusal of the application of renewal and the association shall not be eligible either to receive foreign contribution or utilise foreign contribution received.

The government has cancelled FCRA registration of nearly 1,900 NGOs for violating various provisions of law in the last five years. There were 22,762 FCRA-registered organisations till December-end 2021.

Officials said the FCRA licence of 18,778 organisations expired between 29 September, 2020 and 31 December, 2021. Of them, as many as 12,989 organisations have applied for the renewal of the FCRA licence between 30 September, 2020 and 31 December, 2021.

Since 5,789 organisations did not apply for the renewal of the FCRA license last month, they deemed to have ceased to be FCRA registered organisations, an official said.

Registration under the FCRA is must for any NGO to receive funds from abroad.

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