NEW DELHI: Days after activist Sonam Wangchuk’s NGO had its FCRA license revoked, the Union Home Ministry on Tuesday issued a notice directing all NGOs to apply for renewal at least four months before expiry to ensure timely processing and avoid disruption of their activities.
As per the law, all NGOs receiving foreign funding require mandatory registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) 2010. The registration certification is normally valid for five years and can be renewed after submitting a fresh application.
In the public notice, the MHA said Section 16(1) of FCRA, 2010 requires every person granted a certificate under Section 12 to apply for renewal within six months before the expiry of the validity of the certificate.
Under the law, the central government shall ordinarily renew the certificate within 90 days from the date of receipt of the renewal application, it said.
The MHA said that it has been observed that many associations are submitting renewal applications less than 90 days before the expiry of their certificate, and such delayed submissions do not allow sufficient time for scrutiny and for obtaining necessary inputs from security agencies before the validity expires.
As a result, certificates are deemed to have ceased on expiry while renewal applications remain pending, and as a result, such associations cannot receive or utilise foreign contributions until renewal is granted, thereby disrupting their ongoing activities.
“Associations are, therefore, strictly advised to submit their renewal applications well in advance and, in any case, not later than four months before the expiry of their certificate. This will facilitate timely processing and disposal of their applications, and avoid disruption in their activities,” the notice read.