Union home ministry renews FCRA licence of ORF for 5 years

The Union home ministry has renewed the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licence of foreign policy think tank Observer Research Foundation (ORF) for five years. The organisation's FCRA renewal was pending with the government since March, when extensions were granted to several non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including ORF, till September 30, officials said.

The Delhi-based think tank has been granted licence from October 1, 2023 to September 20, 2028, said people privy to the details.

ORF has been at the forefront of several key policy frameworks on climate change, India-China relationship, food, environment and gender equality, and has proposed several recommendations for the upcoming G20 summit being held in Delhi next month.


"To receive foreign grants from voluntary sources and foreign entities, ORF has sought renewal of its FCRA licence application and after the due process, the licence was renewed," said a government official, who did not wish to be identified.

The foundation, as per the compliance with the amendment to section 17 of The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, (amended in 2020), has opened bank accounts with the State Bank of India at Parliament Street branch.

As per ORF's 2021 annual report, the "expenditure on designated FCRA projects" was more than Rs 14 crore for 2020-21. It also highlighted "unspent contribution related to FCRA projects" of more than Rs 3 crore during the year.

Set up in 1990, ORF seeks to lead and aid policy thinking, and plays a seminal role in building political and policy consensus that shapes the country's interaction with the world. Its mandate is to conduct in-depth research, provide inclusive platforms and invest in tomorrow's thought leaders today, states its mission statement.

Meanwhile, ET has learnt that the applications of several NGOs are under consideration ahead of the September 30 deadline.

Till August 15, a total of 206 voluntary organisations have been granted FCRA licences this year, including some prominent organisations such as International Forum for Environment, Sustainability and Technology iFOREST, Sikkim Manipal University.