NGOs Receiving Foreign Funds Barred from Publishing News
On 27 May, the Indian government announced that NGOs engaged in publication-related activities and receiving foreign contributions will not be allowed to publish any newspapers or news content. These NGOs must obtain a certificate from the Registrar of Newspapers for India stating that they are not involved in any form of news publication.
This move is part of the government's amendment to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). NGOs seeking registration under FCRA will now be required to follow these new provisions.
In an official notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the government stated that it has modified the rules under FCRA. From now on, NGOs applying to receive foreign funds must also submit a declaration affirming that they will comply with the good conduct guidelines of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
FATF is a global watchdog that monitors efforts to combat terrorism financing and money laundering. These new guidelines are expected to further regulate the operation of foreign-funded NGOs and align with international standards of transparency and accountability.