Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), which have faced strong scrutiny from the Narendra Modi government, finally have some good news as the ministry of home affairs (MHA) on Monday rolled out the Foreign Contribution Regulation Rules (FCRR), 2015 that will make all the services of FCRA online, reducing human interface to zero. Home minister Rajnath Singh launched the revamped website that will cater to NGOs seeking FCRA licences.
Under the new rules, applications for registration, prior permission and renewal of registration under Foreign Contributions Regulations Act (FCRA), 2010 will be accepted online and fee for the services will be paid through payment gateway.
The home ministry has also set a three-month deadline for the Intelligence Bureau (IB) to submit its verification report else it will be deemed to be taken. IB can formally request MHA in select cases if its need more time.
Pics Credit to Economics times
The government has also reduced the number of application forms from 10 to 6 and removed the condition of applying for renewal of FCRA licence one year before the expiry of existing registration certificate for associations implementing multi-year project. According to home ministry officials, this will also bring down corruption and help to maintain the database of NGOs which are engaged in genuine work.
Various details of changes being introduced are given as below:- • All FCRA services are made online and human interface has been reduced to minimum
• Applications for registration, prior permission and renewal of registration under FCRA, 2010 will be accepted online
• All documents with the application will be uploaded online
• All intimations will be required under FCRA, 2010 including annual returns accepted online
• Fee for various services will be paid through payment gateway • The condition of applying for renewal one year before the expiry of existing registration certificate for associations implementing multi-year project is removed
• To make the receipt and utilisation of foreign contribution by association transparent, associations are required to place the annual returns and such data quarterly on their website or website as prescribed by the Central Govt.
• All FCRA designated bank accounts and Utilisation Accounts will have to be brought on the online platform of Public Finance Management Service (PFMS) of Controller General of Accounts, Ministry of Finance.
• Certificate of registration/ renewal and grant of prior permission will be sent online and digitally signed.
• All queries with the applicant will be made through e-mail/ Messaging Services • Simplification of various forms and application procedure has been done.
• Number of application/ intimation forms reduced from 10 (ten) to 6 (six) • Number of documents to be attached with applications has been significantly reduced.
• Filing hard copy of annual return has been dispensed with
• The condition of submission of certificate from Chartered Accountant and audited statement of accounts with Annual Return is removed in respect of associations who do not receive or utilise foreign contribution in a financial year
• Requirement of seeking prior permission for change of name, aims & objects, address of the association, change of bank/ account, change in Governing Body members, etc. is now relaxed to only intimation through FCRA online service
• List of purposes for which foreign contribution can be utilised rationalised and reduced as per the FCRA, 2010
• The periodicity for uploading the details of foreign contribution received and utilised by the associations on their website or the FCRA Website will be kept as three months.
• Information regarding facebook page, twitter handle of the office bearers of the associations is optional.
• Information regarding facebook page, twitter handle and other personal details of the office bearers of the donor organisation is also optional.
• Seeking details of functionaries of the association in annual return has been dropped.
• Declaration and undertaking in the application for registration, prior permission and renewal, and also in annual return has been simplified
NGOs which do not receive any foreign contribution for an entire year will not be required to submit a certificate rom chartered accountant with annual return. Earlier, all NGOs whether they received foreign unding or not were required to submit a certificate from the CA.The new rules do not require giv ing information regarding Facebook pages, Twitter handle and other personal details of the office bearer of the donorreceiver organisation. As per the new norms, declaration, undertaking in the application for registration, prior permission, renewal in annual returns have been simplified. Source Economics Times
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