Datanomics: How the govt is tightening its grip on foreign funding

The government has intensified its scrutiny of organisations receiving foreign funding under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), resulting in a substantial number of licence cancellations in recent years. This intensification has sparked widespread concerns among civil society groups, non-governmental organisations, and policy institutions, many of which now face mounting regulatory challenges in securing or renewing FCRA approvals.

 

A deeper analysis of data from the annual reports of the Ministry of Home Affairs reveals a shifting regulatory approach.

 

In 2019-20, the approval rate for FCRA renewals stood at a mere 41.2 per cent, with denials reaching 53.3 per cent. This