MHA revokes FCRA license of Indian Social Institute
- In Reports
- 11:55 AM, Feb 20, 2024
- Myind Staff
The Union home ministry has reportedly revoked the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) license of the Indian Social Institute, a prominent think tank. According to officials, this action follows alleged violations of regulations.
Established in 1951, the institute has recently released a critical analysis of the National Education Policy 2020 in its journal, Social Action. Notably, Social Action holds recognition as an approved social science journal by the University Grants Commission Consortium for Academic Research and Ethics.
However, ISI has not provided any statement on this matter. The journal, focusing on 'Peace and Conflict' and published in 2023, addressed the issue of ethnic violence in Manipur, along with the "unresolved political aspirations of people in Kashmir and Nagaland".
Officials stated that the home ministry grants FCRA licenses to NGOs and think tanks for five years, with applications being evaluated based on annual returns and foreign grants received for their intended purposes. The FCRA Act underwent an amendment in 2020. According to officials, any misappropriation or diversion of foreign funds is deemed a violation of the Act.
According to its website, ISI was founded by Fr. Jerome D'Souza, who played a key role in mediating between the Vatican and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to end Portuguese control over Indian churches. Fr. D'Souza was also a member of the Indian Constituent Assembly and represented India at the United Nations General Assembly on four occasions.
In the past year, over 100 NGOs, including the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust led by former Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, Oxfam India, and Care India, have faced actions such as the cancellation, suspension, non-renewal, or expiration of their FCRA licenses.
Recently, the home ministry suspended the FCRA registration of activist-author Harsh Mander's Centre for Equity Studies, leading to searches conducted by the CBI at his residence. Additionally, last month, the Centre revoked the license of the 50-year-old think tank Centre for Policy Research.
Image source: Times of India
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