Context
Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah on Tuesday, 30 June 2026 launched two major digital initiatives of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in New Delhi — the FCRA 2.0 Portal and the electronic Overseas Citizen of India (e-OCI) Card. Attending the launch were Union Home Secretary Shri Govind Mohan, Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri, Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director Shri Mahesh Dixit, and other senior officials. The FCRA 2.0 Portal, hosted on MeghRaj (National Government Cloud), aims to reduce paperwork, speed up processing of registration applications under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, and enable real-time monitoring of foreign fund inflows. Features include process re-engineering, integrated dashboard, Aadhaar-based authentication, e-Sign, OCR-based document analysis, and API integration with PAN, Aadhaar, NGO Darpan, OCI, and ICAI UDIN. Currently, ~14,500 active FCRA organisations operate in India, receiving 15,000-20,000 applications and ~17,000 annual returns each year. The e-OCI Card — designed for the 50+ lakh OCI cardholders globally — enables a fully digital application-to-download experience, ends the need to re-issue the OCI booklet upon issuance of a new passport after 20 years of age, allows real-time self-verification, and eliminates risk of loss/damage. The launch aligns with Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2026 and the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2026. Future features include an AI-powered chatbot, FCRA mobile app, and dedicated bank dashboard.
What is the FCRA 2.0 Portal?
- A revamped digital platform for the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010.
- End-to-end digital: Applications, renewals, annual returns, other services.
- Hosted on: MeghRaj (National Government Cloud).
What are the key features of FCRA 2.0?
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Process re-engineering | Streamlined workflow |
| Integrated dashboard | Single login-based view |
| Aadhaar-based authentication | For identity verification |
| e-Sign facility | Digital signatures |
| OCR-based document analysis | Auto-extract text from uploaded PDFs |
| API integration | PAN, Aadhaar, OCI, NGO Darpan, ICAI’s UDIN |
| Future features | AI-powered chatbot, FCRA mobile app, dedicated bank dashboard |
What is FCRA?
- Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 — replaced FCRA 1976.
- Purpose: Regulate acceptance and utilisation of foreign contributions by individuals, associations, companies.
- Ministry: MHA.
Key features of FCRA (2010)
- Prior permission or registration required to receive foreign contributions.
- No sub-granting (Section 7 — foreign funds cannot be transferred to another entity).
- Bank account: Must be in State Bank of India, New Delhi Main Branch (Sansad Marg).
- Aadhaar required for office-bearers.
- Utilisation cap: 20% of foreign contribution for administrative expenses.
- Renewal: Every 5 years.
What are the FCRA Amendment Rules, 2026?
- Recently notified by MHA.
- Modifies: FCRA Rules, 2011.
- Introduces a dedicated schedule listing permissible activities under the religious category.
- Tightens compliance requirements.
- Requires 75% utilisation of previous funds before receiving next installment.
- Expands accountability to key functionaries.
What is the e-OCI Card?
- Electronic Overseas Citizen of India Card — fully digital OCI.
- Beneficiaries: 50+ lakh OCI cardholders globally.
- Fully online: Application → document upload → download digitally generated card.
- Existing cardholders can transition to e-OCI without fresh application or physical verification in most cases.
Key benefits of e-OCI
| Old system | e-OCI system |
|---|---|
| Physical OCI booklet re-issuance on new passport (after 20 yrs) | Just update passport details online |
| Fresh application/verification for booklet renewal | Not required for most existing holders |
| Risk of loss/damage of physical booklet | Digital — no loss/damage risk |
| Verification requires MHA contact | Real-time self-verification by cardholder |
| Registration number could change | Unique registration number retained |
What is the OCI Scheme?
- Introduced: August 2005 by GoI.
- Under: Citizenship Act, 1955.
- Eligibility: Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) who were Indian citizens on/after 26 January 1950 or eligible to become so.
- Excludes: Citizens of Pakistan, Bangladesh, or notified countries.
- Not a dual citizenship — OCI is a lifetime multi-entry visa + certain economic/educational rights, NOT full Indian citizenship.
What is NGO Darpan?
- NITI Aayog’s portal for registration + reporting by NGOs receiving GoI funding.
- Integrated with FCRA 2.0.
What is ICAI’s UDIN?
- Unique Document Identification Number system by ICAI.
- Generates unique numbers for CA certifications.
- Integrated with FCRA 2.0 for audit compliance verification.
What is MeghRaj?
- Government of India Cloud Initiative launched February 2014.
- Under Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY).
- Purpose: Accelerate e-governance service delivery via cloud.
Practice MCQs
Q1. With reference to the FCRA 2.0 Portal launched on 30 June 2026, consider the following statements:
- The FCRA 2.0 Portal was launched by Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah in New Delhi.
- The portal is hosted on MeghRaj, the National Government Cloud, under MeitY.
- The portal includes features such as Aadhaar-based authentication, e-Sign facility, and OCR-based document analysis.
- The FCRA 2.0 Portal is administered by the Ministry of External Affairs.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
(Statement 4 is wrong; the FCRA 2.0 Portal is administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), NOT the Ministry of External Affairs.)
Q2. With reference to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010, consider the following statements:
- FCRA 2010 replaced the earlier FCRA 1976.
- It regulates the acceptance and utilisation of foreign contributions by individuals, associations, and companies in India.
- Currently, approximately 14,500 active FCRA-registered organisations operate in India, receiving 15,000-20,000 applications and about 17,000 annual returns each year.
- Under FCRA 2010, foreign contributions can be freely sub-granted from one recipient entity to another.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
(Statement 4 is wrong; under Section 7 of FCRA 2010 (amended 2020), NO sub-granting is allowed — foreign contributions received by an entity cannot be transferred to another entity.)
Answer Key
- (c) — Statement 4 wrong: FCRA 2.0 administered by MHA, not MEA.
- (c) — Statement 4 wrong: Sub-granting is prohibited under Section 7 of FCRA.
