Law Relating to Foreign Contributions – A Comprehensive Commentary on FCRA 2010 By Somnath Ghosh –

Law Relating to Foreign Contributions is an exhaustive yet practical commentary on the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 2010 (FCRA) and the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Rules 2011 (FCRR). It brings together every key element—statutory provisions, rules, notifications, circulars, FAQs, forms, and case law—into one consolidated, practitioner-friendly reference. The book is structured around the complete compliance lifecycle for foreign funding in India: eligibility, registration or prior permission, banking arrangements, utilisation and accounting, audit and annual returns, event-based intimations, inspections, suspension or cancellation, compounding, and appeals. By presenting statutory provisions alongside official FAQs, government clarifications, and judicial summaries, the author eliminates ambiguity and makes the law directly usable for daily professional practice.

This book is intended for the following audience:

• NGOs/Associations seeking registration/prior permission and managing ongoing FCRA compliance (intimations, returns, renewals)
• Chartered Accountants, Advocates & Company Secretaries engaged in advisory, assurance, and representation before authorities
• Compliance Officers, Trustees & Governing-Body Members responsible for internal controls, governance, and risk management
• Students & Researchers in law/public policy who need a reliable, up-to-date, single-source reference

The Present Publication is the 2026 Edition, authored by Dr Somnath Ghosh, with the following noteworthy features:

• [All-in-One Collation] Complete coverage of the FCRA and FCRR, along with notifications, orders, guidelines, prescribed forms, and documentation checklists—removing the usual ‘scatter’ across multiple sources
• [Provision-plus-Practice Format] Each topic presents the relevant statutory text, corresponding rule, key FAQs (issued by MHA), and concise case summaries to bridge law and practical compliance
• [Up-to-date Compliance Insertions] including:
  • Mandatory SBI NDMB Account – Full procedural guide (with branch codes, IFSC, and SWIFT details) for opening and operating the designated FCRA account at the State Bank of India, New Delhi Main Branch
  • Public Notice (07-04-2025) – Sets the validity of three years to receive and four years to utilise funds under prior permission, with conditions for extensions and consequences for non-compliance
  • Administrative Expense Cap (20%) – Incorporates the 2024 amendment allowing carry-forward of unspent administrative expenses to the following year, along with mandatory FC-4 disclosures
  • DARPAN & AML Integration – Aligns with 2023 PML Rules—requiring banks to ensure NGO registration on NITI Aayog’s DARPAN portal before account opening
  • No-Transfer Rule (Section 7) – Explains the 2020 amendment that prohibits downstream transfers of foreign contributions to any person, with interpretative guidance
  • FCRA Bank Tagging – Details NEFT/RTGS tagging and donor-detail capture formats introduced in 2023 for banking institutions
• [Compounding Framework] Comprehensive tabular guide to Section 41 and Rule 21 with offences, penalties, competent authorities, and timelines for regularisation
• [Cross-Code References] Notes the substitution of IPC, CrPC, and Evidence Act by the 2023 criminal codes (effective 01 July 2024) and their relevance to FCRA procedures

The book covers every critical aspect of the FCRA & FCRR, explained in a structured, compliance-focused manner. Each topic combines statutory provisions with FAQs, judicial interpretations, and procedural clarity to help readers apply the law effectively.

• Introductory Framework
  • Explains the purpose, scope, and enforcement of the Act along with key definitions such as foreign contribution, foreign hospitality, and foreign source, supplemented by relevant FAQs
• Regulation of Acceptance & Utilisation
  • Discusses restrictions, prohibited classes, exemptions, and the regulation of foreign hospitality (Form FC-2). Includes case law digests to aid risk evaluation and compliance planning
• Registration & Prior Permission (PP)
  • Covers eligibility conditions, required documents, affidavits, and integration of DARPAN/Aadhaar details. Explains PP validity (3 years for receipt and 4 years for utilisation), Rule 9A instalment-wise receipts, and grounds for suspension or cancellation
• Banking Architecture (Section 17)
  • Provides practical guidance on operating the designated SBI New Delhi Main Branch (NDMB) FCRA Account, opening additional or utilisation accounts, and implementing the RBI’s NEFT/RTGS tagging and donor-data protocols
• Accounting, Audit & Returns
  • Explains the preparation and filing of Form FC-4, treatment of administrative expenses (with 20% cap and carry-forward option), inclusions/exclusions under Rules, and the basis of computation linked to total foreign contributions received
• Event-based Intimations (Rule 17A)
  • Details procedures and timelines for reporting changes in name, address, aims, key members, or utilisation accounts. Provides tabulated penalties and compounding options for delayed compliance
• Offences, Penalties & Compounding
  • Lists compoundable offences, competent authorities, penalty amounts, and procedural steps for regularisation—supported by cross-references to relevant forms and rules
• Appeals, Revisions & Miscellaneous
  • Covers the process of appeal, revision, investigation, and government directions, while also mapping the relationship between FCRA, AML/KYC norms, and the broader financial regulatory framework

The structure of the book is as follows:

• Chapterised Core
  • The commentary is divided into thematic chapters that follow the natural compliance lifecycle of an FCRA entity:
    • Introduction → Regulation of Contributions & Hospitality → Registration → Accounting, Intimation, Audit & Disposal → Inspection, Search & Seizure → Adjudication → Appeal & Revision → Offences & Compounding → Miscellaneous

This logical progression allows readers to locate and apply provisions directly for compliance, audit, or litigation purposes.

• Annexure-rich Reference Section
  • The concluding section of the book brings together the full texts of the FCRA 2010 and FCRR 2011, along with ready-to-use forms, document checklists, MHA charters, Do’s & Don’ts advisories, RBI/MHA circulars, and public notices
  • It also includes NEFT/RTGS coding instructions and the SBI NDMB Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)—ensuring that readers have every official reference document in one place