UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Parliamentary panel to review FCRA Bill

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the committee system of the Indian Parliament: 1. Each Departmentally Related Standing Committee consists of 31 members, of whom 21 are from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha. 2. A Money Bill may be referred to a Joint Committee of the two Houses at the second reading stage. 3. A Joint Committee on a Bill is set up by a motion adopted in one House with the concurrence of the other House. 4. Ministers may be appointed as members of the Public Accounts Committee. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Each Departmentally Related Standing Committee consists of 31 members, of whom 21 are from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha.
  2. A Money Bill may be referred to a Joint Committee of the two Houses at the second reading stage.
  3. A Joint Committee on a Bill is set up by a motion adopted in one House with the concurrence of the other House.
  4. Ministers may be appointed as members of the Public Accounts Committee.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q2. How many Departmentally Related Standing Committees exist in the committee system of the Indian Parliament?

  • A. 16
  • B. 22
  • C. 24
  • D. 31

Q3. Under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, the foreign contribution and the assets of an organisation that ceases to hold a certificate would vest in which one of the following?

  • A. A Designated Authority notified by the Central Government
  • B. The Official Assignee attached to the High Court concerned
  • C. The District Judge exercising jurisdiction over the registered office
  • D. The Charity Commissioner of the State concerned

Q4. Registration and renewal under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, and the new authority proposed by the 2026 Amendment Bill, are to be operationalised by which one of the following?

  • A. The Ministry of Home Affairs
  • B. NITI Aayog, which maintains the NGO-Darpan portal for voluntary organisations
  • C. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs, which administers corporate social responsibility obligations
  • D. The Central Board of Direct Taxes under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance

Q5. Following the 2020 amendment to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, not more than what percentage of the foreign contribution received in a financial year may be defrayed to meet administrative expenses?

  • A. 10 per cent
  • B. 15 per cent
  • C. 20 per cent
  • D. 25 per cent

Q6. The prohibition on the transfer of foreign contribution by a recipient to any other person, that is, the ban on sub-granting, was first introduced by which one of the following?

  • A. The parent Act of 2010, as originally enacted
  • B. The amendment to the FCRA carried out in the year 2016
  • C. The FCRA (Amendment) Act of the year 2020
  • D. The FCRA (Amendment) Rules notified in the year 2026

Q7. Of the 31 members of the joint committee of Parliament constituted to examine the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, how many are to be drawn from the Rajya Sabha?

  • A. 7
  • B. 10
  • C. 11
  • D. 15

Q8. The motion in the Lok Sabha for reference of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 to a joint committee of the Houses was moved by which one of the following?

  • A. The Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Kiren Rijiju
  • B. The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai
  • C. The Union Minister of Home Affairs, Amit Shah
  • D. The Union Minister of State for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal

Q9. Consider the following statements comparing the two routes for receiving foreign contribution under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010: 1. Registration is available to an association that has been in existence for at least three years, whereas prior permission may be granted for a specific project without that requirement being satisfied. 2. A certificate of registration is valid for three years, whereas prior permission once granted remains valid for five years. 3. Under the FCRA (Amendment) Rules notified in 2026, an association that received or utilised less than Rs 10 lakh of foreign contribution in the preceding two financial years may become ineligible for renewal. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Registration is available to an association that has been in existence for at least three years, whereas prior permission may be granted for a specific project without that requirement being satisfied.
  2. A certificate of registration is valid for three years, whereas prior permission once granted remains valid for five years.
  3. Under the FCRA (Amendment) Rules notified in 2026, an association that received or utilised less than Rs 10 lakh of foreign contribution in the preceding two financial years may become ineligible for renewal.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. Consider the following statements regarding the positions taken on the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026: 1. The Ministry of External Affairs described the proposed amendments as an internal legislative matter for India, noting that several countries, including the United States, have laws regulating foreign funding. 2. India's Ambassador to the United States characterised the regulation of foreign financial flows in the public and political spaces as a sovereign step driven by national security concerns. 3. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India urged the Government to withdraw the Bill, while supporting the FCRA Rules notified in 2026 as an adequate safeguard. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Ministry of External Affairs described the proposed amendments as an internal legislative matter for India, noting that several countries, including the United States, have laws regulating foreign funding.
  2. India's Ambassador to the United States characterised the regulation of foreign financial flows in the public and political spaces as a sovereign step driven by national security concerns.
  3. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India urged the Government to withdraw the Bill, while supporting the FCRA Rules notified in 2026 as an adequate safeguard.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q11. Under the procedure of the Lok Sabha, a motion at the second reading stage that a Bill be referred to a Joint Committee of the two Houses is subject to which one of the following conditions?

  • A. It requires the concurrence of the other House to take effect
  • B. It requires the prior recommendation of the President under Article 117
  • C. It can be moved only by the Minister in charge and by no other member
  • D. It is available in respect of every Bill, including a Money Bill