FCRA specifies list of 105 purposes to be selected for which registration is applied

FCRA specifies list of purposes to be selected for which registration is applied. 

The Ministry of Home Affairs has notified the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2026 to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Rules, 2011.

Purposes and the States or Union territories for which registration granted

It has been provided that the certificate of registration under FCRA shall specify the purpose or purposes and the States or Union territories for which registration is granted. Also, every application for registration shall mention— (i) the purpose or purposes for which registration is sought, chosen only from such list of purposes as specified in the Schedule and (ii) the States or Union territories in which the association proposes to undertake the activities. Also, every association registered before the commencement of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2026 shall, within one year of such commencement, submit to the Central Government an intimation in Form FC-6F specifying the purpose or purposes and the States or Union territories for which it seeks to retain its registration.

Purpose of Registration:

The newly inserted Schedule provides for various purposes of the Registration which are broadly under categories: (1) Religious, (2) Cultural, (3) Economic (4) Educational (5) Social

Utilisation of foreign contribution for reasonable activity

Section 14 of the FCRA 2010 provides that registration can be cancelled if the holder of the certificate has not been engaged in any reasonable activity in its chosen field for the benefit of the society for two consecutive years or has become defunct.

Now, it has been provided that an association shall be deemed to have undertaken reasonable activity in its chosen field for the benefit of society if it has utilised foreign contribution of not less than ten lakh rupees in the last two financial years for such purpose. Further, the expression “reasonable activity” shall be deemed to include only such activity as is undertaken out of, or by utilising, foreign contribution received in accordance with the Act.

Change of scope of registration

An association registered under the Act which intends to change its area of operation by including or deleting any purpose or any State or Union territory specified in its certificate of registration shall apply, in Form FC-6F, for such inclusion or deletion, along with— (a) a resolution of the governing body approving such application; (b) the prescribed fee. The Central Government may, after such inquiry as it deems fit, approve or reject the application.

Download the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2026 >>

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