NGOs that receive foreign funding cannot publish news content, says home ministry

Non-governmental organisations engaged in publication-related activities and receiving foreign funds will not be able to publish any newsletter, and will have to obtain a certificate from the Registrar of Newspapers for India stating that they do not circulate any news content, according to directives introduced by the Union Home Ministry on Monday.

The new directive is part of amendments to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Rules. Non-profit organisations that wish to receive funds from abroad need to register themselves under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act.

The amended rules say that if the publication of an organisation is registered with the Registrar of Newspapers for India, it has to submit a “Not a Newspaper” certificate from the government body.

Further, non-governmental organisations seeking permission to receive foreign funds need to furnish an undertaking that they will adhere to the Good Practices Guidelines of the Financial Action Task Force, the global watchdog on terror financing and money laundering.

Such organisations also need to enclose financial statements and audit reports of the last three financial years, as per the amended rules. These documents have to include a statement of assets and liabilities, receipts and payments account, and income and expenditure account.

Non-profit organisations that want to register themselves under the Act also need to submit year-wise activity...

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