In an illuminating report, data from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) discloses that nearly half of the recently approved registrations under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) in the category of religion pertain to Christian non-government organizations (NGOs). Over the last nine years, out of 407 NGOs authorized to receive foreign funding for religious purposes, 194 are associated with Christian programs.
However, the complexity of the situation becomes apparent when considering that certain organizations, although grounded in faith-based missions, choose to register under different categories, such as social, cultural, or educational. For instance, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) operates as both a social organization in Maharashtra and a religious entity in Delhi. The affiliated organization, The Akshaya Patra Foundation, pursues educational and social objectives. Similarly, Seva Bharati, an NGO connected with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), maintains roles as a social, cultural, and educational institution in various states. Meanwhile, the Madrasa Ejazul Olum Duho Suho Education & Charitable Trust in Bihar is recognized as an educational and social establishment.
The FCRA registration is a prerequisite for receiving foreign donations, demanding that the organization has a clear cultural, economic, educational, religious, or social mission, with the possibility of registering under multiple categories. The Act not only aims to regulate the acceptance and utilization of foreign contributions but can also prohibit organizations from utilizing these funds for activities contrary to national interests.
In the year 2023, all four FCRA registrations revoked due to violations are attributed to Christian organizations, including Shekina Prophetic Mission Trust (Tamil Nadu), Holy Berachah Ministries (Karnataka), Kashmir Evangelical Fellowship, and Bethel Charitable Trust (both in Jammu and Kashmir). Allegations of religious conversions and the construction of churches in the Jammu region using these funds led to the revocation of the latter two organizations’ FCRA registrations.
MHA data further indicates that from 2014 to October 1, 2023, a total of 3,217 associations secured fresh FCRA registrations. Categorized by religion, 194 NGOs registered under “religious-Christian,” 139 under “religious-Hindu,” 25 under Muslims, 29 under Buddhism, 10 under Sikhism, and 29 under other faiths. Most of these organizations registered with multiple objectives, including religious ones. In 2023, out of the 69 fresh registrations granted under the religious category, 26 were for Christian programs, and 27 were for Hindu initiatives, with three exclusively dedicated to each.
While the total number of applications was not disclosed, the Ministry’s annual report for 2020-21 revealed that nearly 50% of registration requests were rejected that year. Between April 1 and December 31, 2020, the Ministry approved FCRA registration for 127 organizations but declined registration for 607 NGOs. Similarly, from April 1 to December 31, 2022, while 51 NGOs were granted FCRA registration, 153 NGOs were denied registration.
As of September 29, there were 16,686 active FCRA-registered NGOs in India. In March of the same year, the Ministry reported the cancellation of registrations for 1,827 NGOs over the past five years.
Critics argue that the FCRA provisions are being employed to suppress the non-profit sector. A group of former civil servants, the Civil Constitutional Group, voiced concerns about the government’s attempts to discourage civil society organizations from seeking foreign funding through the FCRA. They noted that alternative avenues for foreign funding were freely available to the private sector, digital and print media, and political parties.
An anonymous senior official from a prominent non-profit organization pointed out that donors and NGOs lacking government approval now face greater challenges in their endeavors, suggesting that civil society has become a specific target.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah defended the FCRA by claiming that it benefits various communities, such as the Sikh community. Notably, in 2020, the MHA granted FCRA registration to the Gurudwara Harmandir Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple in Amritsar, enabling it to receive foreign donations.
Recently, the MHA introduced a new set of regulations, mandating NGOs to disclose assets created from foreign contributions. The 2020 amendments to the FCRA imposed a complete ban on the domestic transfer of foreign funds, reduced the administrative expense limit from 50% to 20%, mandated the opening of a designated FCRA account with the State Bank of India (SBI) branch in Delhi, and required the recording of Aadhaar numbers for all key functionaries.
In October 2022, Amit Shah asserted that some NGOs were involved in activities deemed anti-national, including religious conversion, opposition to development projects, and propaganda against government policies. He contended that the 2020 FCRA amendments have effectively curbed the misuse of foreign funding and enabled more robust monitoring.
The report underscores the complex landscape of FCRA registrations and their implications, igniting ongoing discussions regarding their role in India’s non-profit sector.
