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Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 (Act 42 of 2010) regulates the acceptance and utilisation of foreign contribution and foreign hospitality by individuals, associations and companies, and prohibits their acceptance or use for activities detrimental to the national interest. It requires registration or prior permission, receipt only through designated bank accounts, annual returns, and gives the Central Government powers of inspection, seizure, adjudication and cancellation.

56 sections30 rules9 form guides1 schedule2 instrument guides

The Act at a glance

ActNo. 42 of 2010, assented to 26 September 2010
RulesForeign Contribution (Regulation) Rules, 2011 (in force with the Act from 1 May 2011)
Administered byMinistry of Home Affairs (FCRA Division)
Latest Act amendmentForeign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2020

Amendment Rules, 2026 in force

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2026 (S.O. 3272(E), 22 June 2026) came into force on publication. They make registration purpose- and State/UT-specific by reference to a Schedule of purposes (Rule 9(1B)); require existing registered associations to file Form FC-6F within one year; add Rule 14A (a “reasonable activity” benchmark of at least ₹10 lakh utilised over the preceding two financial years); provide for instalment release of large prior-permission grants (Rule 9A); and expand annual-return disclosures.

Amendment Bill, 2026 is pending — not law

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 25 March 2026 and referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee on 12 August 2026. It proposes, among other things, a Designated Authority to take over and manage assets when a registration is cancelled, surrendered or lapses. Neither House has passed it; the Act as amended in 2020 continues to apply.

Sections of the Act

Chapter I — Preliminary

1 — Short title, extent, application and commencement2 — Definitions

Chapter II — Regulation of foreign contribution and foreign hospitality

3 — Prohibition to accept foreign contribution4 — Persons to whom section 3 shall not apply5 — Procedure to notify an organisation of a political nature6 — Restriction on acceptance of foreign hospitality7 — Prohibition to transfer foreign contribution to other person8 — Restriction to utilise foreign contribution for administrative purpose9 — Power of Central Government to prohibit receipt of foreign contribution, etc., in certain cases10 — Power to prohibit payment of currency received in contravention of the Act

Chapter III — Registration

11 — Registration of certain persons with Central Government12 — Grant of certificate of registration12A — Power of Central Government to require Aadhaar number, etc., as identification document13 — Suspension of certificate14 — Cancellation of certificate14A — Surrender of certificate15 — Management of foreign contribution of person whose certificate has been cancelled or surrendered16 — Renewal of certificate

Chapter IV — Accounts, intimation, audit and disposal of assets

17 — Foreign contribution through scheduled bank18 — Intimation19 — Maintenance of accounts20 — Audit of accounts21 — Intimation by candidate for election22 — Disposal of assets created out of foreign contribution

Chapter V — Inspection, search and seizure

23 — Inspection of accounts or records24 — Seizure of accounts or records25 — Seizure of article or currency or security received in contravention26 — Disposal of seized article or currency or security27 — Seizure to be made in accordance with Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Chapter VI — Adjudication

28 — Confiscation of article or currency or security obtained in contravention29 — Adjudication of confiscation30 — Procedure for confiscation

Chapter VII — Appeal and revision

31 — Appeal32 — Revision of orders by Central Government

Chapter VIII — Offences and penalties

33 — Making of false statement, declaration or delivering false accounts34 — Penalty for article or currency or security obtained in contravention of section 1035 — Punishment for contravention of any provision of the Act36 — Powers to impose additional fine where article or currency or security is not available for confiscation37 — Penalty for offences where no separate punishment has been provided38 — Prohibition of acceptance of foreign contribution after conviction of certain offences39 — Offences by companies40 — Bar on prosecution of offences under the Act41 — Compounding of certain offences

Chapter IX — Miscellaneous

42 — Power to call for information or document43 — Investigation into cases under the Act44 — Returns by prescribed authority to Central Government45 — Protection of action taken in good faith46 — Power of Central Government to give directions47 — Delegation of powers48 — Power to make rules49 — Orders and rules to be laid before Parliament50 — Power to exempt in certain cases51 — Act not to apply to certain Government transactions52 — Application of other laws not barred53 — Power to remove difficulties54 — Repeal and saving

FCRA Rules, 2011

1 — Short title and commencement2 — Definitions3 — Guidelines for declaration of an organisation to be of a political nature, not being a political party4 — Speculative activities5 — Administrative expenses6 — Intimation of receiving foreign contribution from relatives6A — When articles gifted for personal use do not amount to foreign contribution7 — Receiving foreign hospitality by specified categories of persons8 — Action in respect of article, currency or security received in contravention9 — Application for obtaining registration or prior permission to receive foreign contribution9A — Permission for receipt of foreign contribution under prior permission — instalment conditions10 — Validity of certificate11 — Maintenance of accounts12 — Renewal of registration certificate13 — Declaration of receipt of foreign contribution14 — Extent of amount that can be utilised in case of suspension of certificate14A — Utilisation of foreign contribution for reasonable activity15 — Custody of foreign contribution after cancellation15A — Voluntary surrender of certificate16 — Reporting by banks17 — Intimation of foreign contribution by recipient17A — Change of designated bank account, name, address, aims, objectives or key functionaries17B — Change of scope of registration18 — Intimation by candidate for election19 — Adjudication / confiscation monetary jurisdiction20 — Revision21 — Compounding of offence22 — Returns by investigating agency23 — Authority to whom an application or intimation is to be sent24 — Procedure for transfer to unregistered person — omittedRule 17A — Change intimations (legacy URL of this guide)

Forms

FC-1 — Intimation / reporting form under Rules 6, 17 and 18FC-2 — Application for prior permission to accept foreign hospitalityFC-3A — Application for registrationFC-3B — Application for prior permissionFC-3BB — Application for release of second or subsequent instalment under prior permissionFC-3C — Application for renewal of registration certificateFC-4 — Annual return / account of foreign contributionFC-5 — Historical application for transfer to an unregistered personFC-7 — Application for surrender of certificate

Finin2min summaries are explanatory. The official Act, Rules, Regulations and notifications control if there is any difference. Educational and research resource, not legal, regulatory, tax or investment advice; verify the instrument in force on the relevant date.