New amendments made to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2011

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notified that it has amended the rules governing the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2011.

Rules on gifts received

• As per the amended rules, the individuals who receive gifts up to Rs 1 lakhare not required to inform the government.
• Before the amendment, the threshold limit was Rs 25,000 as per the market value of the gift in India.

Rules on emergency medical aid

• In case of emergency medical aid needed during a visit abroad, the acceptance of foreign hospitality has to be intimated including the source, approximate value in Indian rupees and the purpose for which the aid has been taken and the manner in which it was utilized to the government within 1 monthof such receipt. The earlier limit was 2 months (within).
• No such intimation is required if the value of such hospitality in emergent medical aid is up to Rs 1,00,000.

Rules on declaration 

• The office bearers, key functionaries and members of Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) who receive foreign funds will have to mandatorily declare before the government that they were not prosecuted or convicted for religious conversion.
• Earlier, as per the FCRA 2010, only the applicants such as directors who were seeking permission to receive foreign contribution were required to make such a declaration.
• Every member of an NGO must certify, under oath, through an affidavit, that they have never been involved in diverting foreign funds or propagating sedition or advocating violent means.
• Earlier, this declaration was to be only given by the applicant of an NGO.

About MHA:
♦ Headquarters: New Delhi
♦ Founded: 15 August 1947
♦ Minister In-charge: Amit Shah (Constituency: Gandhi Nagar, Gujarat)