The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has introduced key amendments to the Rules under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA).

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2022 effectively increase the amount of money that Indian citizens (except those barred under Section 3 of the Act) can receive from relatives residing abroad, without informing the Central government.

Whereas this amount was ₹1 lakh before, it is now ₹10 lakh. The time period within which the Central government is to be informed, in case the amount is over ₹10 lakh, has been increased from thirty days to three months.

The other changes are:

• Rule 9, which deals with registration to receive foreign funding, has also been amended. NGOs that open bank accounts for the purpose of receiving foreign contribution are required to intimate the Ministry of Home Affairs about the same within forty five days of its opening. The earlier time period was fifteen days.

• Rule 13 (b), which required receivers of foreign contribution to furnish details of the same on their website every quarter, has been omitted.

• Rule 17A now gives NGOs forty five days' time instead of fifteen to inform the Home Ministry about changes in its bank account, name, address, aims, objectives or key members.

[Read the amendment]