Union Home Minister Amit Shah launches FCRA 2.0 portal, e-OCI system
New Delhi, June 30
Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the FCRA 2.0 portal and the e-OCI system on Tuesday.
According to the Home Ministry, the FCRA 2.0 portal has been developed to simplify compliance and strengthen monitoring and enforcement mechanisms under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act. All key processes related to applications, renewals, annual returns, and other services have now been fully digitised.
Currently, there are approximately 14,500 active FCRA organisations across the country, receiving approximately 15,000 to 20,000 applications and around 17,000 annual returns. Hosted on the National Government Cloud (Meghraj), the portal includes features such as process restructuring, an integrated dashboard, Aadhaar-based authentication, e-sign facility, and OCR-based document analysis.
For organisations, the portal reduces paperwork. For the government, API-based integration with key databases makes verification faster and more accurate, improves compliance monitoring, and ensures effective oversight of the receipt and use of foreign contributions.
Meanwhile, under the e-OCI system, applicants can complete the entire OCI process online, submitting an application, uploading supporting documents, and downloading a digitally generated card upon approval, while existing cardholders can receive their e-OCI card digitally, in most cases without a new application or physical verification. Under the new system, the requirement for re-issuing an OCI booklet upon obtaining a new passport after the age of 20 has been eliminated; however, cardholders will be required to update their passport details online upon issuance of a new passport, the ministry said.
Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Scheme was introduced in August 2005, and provides for registration as OCI of all Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) who were citizens of India on January 26, 1950 or thereafter or were eligible to become citizens of India on January 26, 1950 except who is or had been a citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh or such other country notified by the Centre.
The launch of the FCRA 2.0 portal comes days after the Home Ministry notified the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2026, introducing a detailed framework classifying permissible activities under the religious category while also tightening compliance requirements for organisations receiving foreign funding in India.
The amendment modifies the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Rules, 2011, and introduces a dedicated schedule outlining activities eligible for registration for religious purposes. The listed activities include construction, renovation and maintenance of places of worship such as temples, mosques, churches, gurudwaras, monasteries, synagogues and other religious sites.
The schedule also permits preservation, printing, translation and digitisation of sacred scriptures and commentaries, support for institutions engaged in the study of religious philosophy and history, and provision of amenities for pilgrims, including drinking water, sanitation and shelter facilities at heritage religious sites. It further allows the establishment of dharamshalas, langars, annadans and community kitchens under religious initiatives.
Other permitted activities include religious education, moral instruction, satsangs, discourses, meditation retreats, promotion of devotional music, chants, theatre and liturgical arts, as well as documentation and revival of indigenous and tribal faith practices. However, the rules clearly exclude any activity involving proselytisation.
A key change is the introduction of the term "key functionary," expanding accountability to include directors, partners, trustees, karta of Hindu Undivided Families, office-bearers and any person responsible for the management or control of an organisation.
The rules further restrict eligibility by stating that organisations with foreign nationals (other than those of Indian origin) as key functionaries will generally not qualify for registration, unless specifically permitted.
In another significant change, NGOs will be required to utilise at least 75 per cent of previously received foreign funds before being eligible for subsequent instalments. Additional provisions define "reasonable activity" thresholds linked to fund utilisation over a specified period.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I'm an OCI cardholder living in the US. This digital process sounds promising but I hope the actual implementation is smooth. The old system was a nightmare with all the paperwork. Let's see how the e-OCI card download works in practice for existing cardholders who change passports after 20.
I'm concerned about the new FCRA rules. While transparency is important, the requirement that NGOs must utilise 75% of previous funds before receiving the next instalment could hamper relief work. Also, the new definition of 'key functionary' might be too broad. Many genuine organisations working in rural development depend on foreign donations. Hope there's room for genuine cases. 🙏
The religious activities schedule is interesting. Explicitly listing 'proselytisation' as excluded and allowing support for temples, mosques, churches and gurudwaras is a balanced approach. But I'm curious how this will be monitored in practice - will there be audits of how funds are used for 'moral instruction' and 'discourses'?
Finally! The old FCRA system was so cumbersome that many small NGOs in villages like ours had to hire agents just to file returns. If this portal really works with OCR and e-sign, it will save thousands of man-hours. And the Aadhaar linkage should prevent fake organisations from posing as charities. Good move overall. 👏
As someone who studied Indian diaspora issues, the e-OCI system is a welcome change. The old rule requiring re-issuance of OCI booklet after
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.