Tatsat Chronicle Magazine

Over 6,000 NGOs, Including Oxfam, Jamia and IIT Delhi to Lose Foreign Funding Licence

January 1, 2022
ngo funding

Nearly 6,000 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have their licence ceased or expired as of January 1, 2022, after they failed to apply for renewal of their Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) license. These entities either did not apply for renewal of their licence or the union home ministry rejected their applications.

According to the official website related to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, among organisations and entities whose registration under the FCRA ceased or validity expired include the Indira Gandhi National Centre For Arts, Indian Institute of Public Administration, Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial Foundation, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi College of Engineering and Oxfam India.

The Hamdard Education Society, Delhi School of Social Work Society, Bhartiya Sanskriti Parishad, DAV College Trust and Management Society, India Islamic Cultural Centre, Godrej Memorial Trust, The Delhi Public School Society, Nuclear Science Centre in JNU, India Habitat Centre, and All India Marwari Yuva Manch are also among these entities.

Earlier this year, the validity of FCRA registration of those NGOs that were expiring between September 29, 2020, and September 30, 2021, was extended till December 31, 2021. The government had then asked organisations nearing expiring for their FCRA license to apply for renewal to continue to remain active. However, close to 6,000 organisations out of 22,762 nearing expiry failed to apply for renewal of their FCRA license.

FCRA registration is a mandatory requirement to receive foreign funds. On December 31, the home ministry extended the validity till March 31, 2022, provided the renewal request has not been refused or the NGOs applied within six months of their expiry date. The FCRA regulates foreign donations and ensures that such contributions do not adversely affect India’s internal security.