UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — FCRA Bill 2026, a threat to civil society organisations

Q1. Under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, an order passed by the Designated Authority is subject to revision and judicial appeal before which one of the following forums?

  • A. The district judge having jurisdiction over the area
  • B. The High Court exercising writ jurisdiction over the association
  • C. The Appellate Tribunal constituted under the Ministry of Home Affairs
  • D. The Special Director (FCRA) in the Foreigners Division of the Ministry

Q2. The provisional vesting of assets in the Designated Authority proposed by the 2026 Bill is stated to be similar to an already existing provision of which one of the following?

  • A. Section 15 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010
  • B. Section 7 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010
  • C. Section 17 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010
  • D. Section 12A of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010

Q3. In the evolution of the FCRA framework, the expression 'surrender of certificate', as introduced by the 2020 amendment, refers to which one of the following?

  • A. Permission by the central government, after inquiry, to give up registration where the Act has not been violated, with management of foreign contribution and assets vesting in a prescribed authority
  • B. Voluntary intimation by an association that it will not receive foreign contribution in a financial year, after which its registration remains dormant but valid
  • C. Automatic lapse of registration where an association fails to apply for renewal within the prescribed period before expiry of its certificate
  • D. Conversion of a registration certificate into the prior permission route for a single specified project, on application to the central government

Q4. The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act and the amendment Bill of 2026 are administered by which one of the following?

  • A. The Ministry of Home Affairs, through its Foreigners Division
  • B. The Ministry of External Affairs, through its Overseas Indian Affairs Division
  • C. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs, through the Registrar of Companies
  • D. The Department of Economic Affairs, through the Foreign Investment Division

Q5. Consider the following statements regarding the FCRA Rules as amended and notified in June 2026, compared with the position obtaining earlier: 1. They were brought into force before the FCRA amendment Bill introduced in Lok Sabha in March 2026 was passed. 2. They retain the position that an association with foreign nationals, other than persons of Indian origin, as key functionaries will ordinarily not be considered for registration or prior permission, while adding a power to permit such functionaries by order in specified cases. 3. They abolish the requirement of receiving foreign contribution in a designated State Bank of India account, replacing it with any scheduled bank account of the association's choice. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. They were brought into force before the FCRA amendment Bill introduced in Lok Sabha in March 2026 was passed.
  2. They retain the position that an association with foreign nationals, other than persons of Indian origin, as key functionaries will ordinarily not be considered for registration or prior permission, while adding a power to permit such functionaries by order in specified cases.
  3. They abolish the requirement of receiving foreign contribution in a designated State Bank of India account, replacing it with any scheduled bank account of the association's choice.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. As the Constitution of India stands today, how many freedoms are guaranteed to citizens under clause (1) of Article 19, within which the right to form associations or unions falls?

  • A. Four
  • B. Five
  • C. Six
  • D. Seven

Q7. The restriction-enabling clause applicable specifically to the right to form associations or unions permits reasonable restrictions on which one of the following combinations of grounds?

  • A. Sovereignty and integrity of India, public order, or morality
  • B. Security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, or decency
  • C. Sovereignty and integrity of India, incitement to an offence, or defamation
  • D. Public order, contempt of court, or interests of the general public

Q8. Under the FCRA as amended in 2020, the suspension of a registration certificate pending inquiry may extend to a maximum of how many days in all?

  • A. 180 days
  • B. 270 days
  • C. 360 days
  • D. 540 days

Q9. The power to grant, renew, suspend and cancel a certificate of registration for receiving foreign contribution is exercised by which one of the following?

  • A. The central government, acting through the Ministry of Home Affairs
  • B. The central government, acting through the Central Bureau of Investigation
  • C. The Reserve Bank of India, acting through its Foreign Exchange Department
  • D. The State Bank of India, acting through its designated New Delhi Main Branch