The Centre clarified that NGOs involved in publication-related activities and receiving foreign donations won't be able to publish any newsletter. They must submit a certificate from the Registrar of Newspapers for India confirming they did not circulate any news content.

The Centre stated that NGOs applying for registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) must follow the amended rules. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a notification and said it had revised the FCRA rules.

It stated that NGOs seeking approval to receive foreign contributions had to give an undertaking to comply with the Good Practice Guidelines of the Financial Action Task Force, the global watchdog on terror financing and money laundering.

The MHA required such NGOs to submit financial statements and audit reports for the last three financial years. These documents had to include a statement of assets and liabilities, a receipt and payment account, and an income and expenditure account.

If these financial documents did not mention activity-wise expenditure for the past three years, the NGO had to provide a certificate from a chartered accountant. The chartered accountant had to specify the amount spent on each activity, which had to align with the income and expenditure and the receipt and payment accounts.

If the NGO engaged in publication-related work, or if its aims and objectives included such work in its Memorandum of Association or trust deed, the chief functionary had to submit an undertaking to confirm compliance with the FCRA, 2010.

If the publication was registered with the Registrar of Newspapers for India, the NGO had to produce a "Not a Newspaper" certificate from the Registrar.

If the NGO previously held FCRA registration, it had to submit an affidavit about the receipt and use of foreign contributions after the certificate expired or was cancelled. If the NGO spent less than ₹15 lakh on its stated objectives in the last three financial years, it had to submit an affidavit regarding capital investments.

The government instructed NGOs applying to receive foreign funds to attach a commitment letter from the donor. The committed amount in the letter had to match the donation amount. The NGO had to include a project report giving a detailed breakup of proposed expenses from the foreign contribution and declare that administrative expenses would not exceed 20 per cent of the foreign contribution.

The government made FCRA registration mandatory for all NGOs accepting foreign donations. They could use such funds only for the purpose for which they were received. The government said any association seeking to receive foreign contributions had to operate a clear cultural, economic, educational, religious, or social programme.

The organisation had to obtain registration or prior permission from the Centre before receiving or using any foreign contribution.