The person can accept foreign contribution if it is registered with central government under FCRA or has taken prior approval and permission before accepting the contribution.  The person shall have defined cultural, economic, education, religious or social programme.

How does a person obtain permission to accept Foreign Contribution?

There are two modes of obtaining permission to accept foreign contribution according to FCRA, 2010

1) Registration

2) Prior Permission

What are the eligibility criteria for grant of registration?

1)  be registered under an existing statute like the Societies Registration Act, 1860 or the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 or section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 (Now Section 8 of Companies Act, 2013) etc;

2) Normally be in existence for at least three years and has undertaken reasonable activity in its chosen field for the benefit of the society for which the foreign contribution is proposed to be utilised. The applicant NGO/association will be free to choose its items of expenditure (excluding the administrative expenditure as defined in Rule 5  of FCRR, 2011) to become eligible for the minimum threshold of Rs. 10.00 lac spent during the last three years. It the association wants inclusion of its capital investment in assets like land, building, other permanent structures, vehicles, equipments etc, then the Chief Functionary shall have to give an undertaking that these assets shall be utilized only for the FCRA activities and they will not be diverted for any other purpose till FCRA registration of the NGO holds.

What are the eligibility criteria for grant of prior permission?

0An organization in formative stage is not eligible for registration. Such organization may apply for grant of prior permission under FCRA, 2010. Prior permission is granted for receipt of a specific amount from a specific donor for carrying out specific activities/projects. For this purpose, the association should meet following criteria:

1)  be registered under an existing statute like the Societies Registration Act, 1860 or the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 or section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 etc;

2)  submit a specific commitment letter from the donor indicating the amount of foreign contribution and the purpose for which it is proposed to be given; and

3) For Indian recipient organizations and foreign donor organizations having common members, FCRA Prior Permission shall be granted to the Indian recipient organizations subject to its satisfying the following:

i) The Chief Functionary of the recipient Indian organization should not be a part of the donor organization.
ii) At least 75% of the office-bearers/ members of the Governing body of the Indian recipient organization should not be members/employees of the foreign donor organization.

iii) In case of foreign donor organization being a single person/individual that person should not be the Chief Functionary or office bearer of the recipient Indian organization.

iv) In case of a single foreign donor, at least 75% office bearers/members of the governing body of the recipient organization should not be the family members and close relatives of the donor.

What are the conditions to be met for the grant of registration and prior permission?

In terms of Sec.12 (4) of FCRA, 2010, the following shall be the conditions for the grant of registration and prior permission:

(a) The ‘person’ making an application for registration or grant of prior permission-

i. is not fictitious or benami;

ii. has not been prosecuted or convicted for indulging in activities aimed at conversion through inducement or force, either directly or indirectly, from one religious faith to another;

iii. has not been prosecuted or convicted for creating communal tension or disharmony in any specified district or any other part of the country;

iv. has not been found guilty of diversion or mis-utilisation of its funds;

v. is not engaged or likely to engage in propagation of sedition or advocate violent methods to achieve its ends;

vi. is not likely to use the foreign contribution for personal gains or divert it for undesirable purposes;

vii. has not contravened any of the provisions of this Act;

viii. has not been prohibited from accepting foreign contribution;

ix. the person being an individual, such individual has neither been convicted under any law for the time being in force nor any prosecution for any offence is pending against him.

x. the person being other than an individual, any of its directors or office bearers has neither been convicted under any law for the time being in force nor any prosecution for any offence is pending against him.

(b) the acceptance of foreign contribution by the association/ person is not likely to affect prejudicially –

i. the sovereignty and integrity of India;

ii. the security, strategic, scientific or economic interest of the State;

iii. the public interest;

iv. freedom or fairness of election to any Legislature;

 v. friendly relation with any foreign State;

vi. harmony between religious, racial, social, linguistic, regional groups, castes or communities.

(c) the acceptance of foreign contribution-

i. shall not lead to incitement of an offence;

ii. shall not endanger the life or physical safety of any person.

Can a private limited company or a partnership firm get registration or prior permission under FCRA, 2010?

Ans. Yes, a private limited company too may seek prior permission/registration for receiving foreign funds in case they wish to do some work useful to society at some point of time.

Whether an individual or a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) can be given registration or prior permission to accept foreign contribution in terms of section 11 of FCRA, 2010?

Ans. Yes. The definition of the ‘person’ in the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 includes any individual and a ‘Hindu Undivided Family’ among others. As such an Individual or an HUF is also eligible to apply for prior permission to accept foreign contribution.

Whether foreigners can be appointed as Executive Committee members of an association seeking registration or prior permission?

Ans.  Organizations having foreign nationals, other than of Indian origin, as members of their executive committees or governing bodies are generally NOT permitted to receive foreign contribution. However, foreigners may be allowed to be associated with such associations in an ex-officio capacity, if they are representing multilateral bodies, foreign contribution from whom is exempted from the purview of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, or in a purely honorary capacity depending upon the person’s stature in his/her field of activity. Relaxation may be considered on case to case basis by an authority higher than the competent authority, if any of the following grounds is met:

i. the foreigner is married to an Indian citizen;

 ii. the foreigner has been living and working in India for at least five years;

iii. the foreigner has made available his/her specialized knowledge, especially in the medical and health related fields on a voluntary basis in India, in the past;

iv. the foreigner is a part of the Board of Trustees/Executive Committee in terms of the provisions in an inter-governmental agreement;

v. the foreigner is part of the Board of Trustees/Executive Committee, in an ex-officio capacity representing a multilateral body which is exempted from the definition of foreign source.

Whether Government servants, Judges and employees of a Government owned/controlled company/body can be on the executive committees/boards of an association?

Yes. The legal entity of a ‘person’ under FCRA, 2010 is distinct from an individual person. Therefore, individuals who cannot receive foreign contribution may happen to be on the executive committees/boards of such an association.