NGOs with Pending Renewal Applications Get Temporary Relief
New Delhi, April 1 — The Union Home Ministry has extended the validity of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) whose five-year licenses are due to expire between April 1 and June 30, 2025. The extension is applicable to those entities whose renewal applications are currently under process.In a notification issued on Monday, the ministry stated that the decision was taken in public interest. The FCRA registration validity has now been extended until June 30, 2025, or until the disposal of the renewal application—whichever comes earlier.
Extension Applies to Entities Registered Under FCRA
All entities and NGOs receiving foreign contributions are legally required to be registered under the FCRA. The recent extension covers:- NGOs whose FCRA certificate validity had previously been extended to March 31, 2025
- NGOs whose five-year license is set to expire between April 1 and June 30, 2025
- Entities that have already applied or will apply before their license expiry for renewal
Warning on Rejected Renewals
The ministry also issued a clear caution:If an NGO's renewal application is rejected, the FCRA certificate will be considered expired from the date of rejection. In such cases, the organization will no longer be eligible to receive or utilize any foreign contribution.
Organizations are advised to stay updated with their renewal status and ensure compliance with all regulations under the FCRA.
