UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah launches FCRA 2.0 Portal and e-OCI Card

Q1. With reference to the changes introduced by the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2020, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

1. The cap on administrative expenses that may be met out of foreign contribution was reduced from 50% to 20%.
2. Transfer of foreign contribution to any other person or organisation was prohibited, even where the transferee holds a valid FCRA registration.
3. Foreign contribution is required to be received only in an FCRA account at a designated branch of the State Bank of India in New Delhi.
4. The mandatory designated account for receipt of foreign contribution may be opened in any scheduled commercial bank chosen by the recipient organisation.

• A. 1 and 2
• B. 3 only
• C. 4 only
• D. 2 and 4

Q2. Which one of the following enactments first introduced statutory regulation of the acceptance and utilisation of foreign contribution in India?

• A. The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976
• B. The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010
• C. The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2020
• D. The Citizenship Act, 1955

Q3. With reference to the FCRA 2.0 Portal launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are correctly identified as features available on the portal at the time of its launch?

1. The portal is hosted on the National Government Cloud (MeghRaj).
2. It provides Aadhaar-based authentication and an e-Sign facility.
3. It incorporates OCR-based analysis of uploaded documents.
4. An AI-powered chatbot and a dedicated FCRA mobile application were operational on the portal at the time of its launch.

• A. 1 and 3 only
• B. 1, 2 and 3 only
• C. 2 and 4 only
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q4. In the context of the FCRA 2.0 Portal, the term 'MeghRaj' refers to which one of the following?

• A. The National Government Cloud on which the FCRA 2.0 Portal is hosted
• B. The Aadhaar-based e-authentication gateway integrated into the portal
• C. The AI-powered chatbot for resolving FCRA-related grievances
• D. The designated State Bank of India branch handling FCRA accounts

Q5. The registration of an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder is provided for under which one of the following?

• A. Section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955
• B. Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955
• C. Section 3 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010
• D. Article 9 of the Constitution of India

Q6. With reference to the rights and restrictions of an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

1. An OCI cardholder is granted a multiple-entry, lifelong visa for visiting India.
2. An OCI cardholder is entitled to vote in elections to the Lok Sabha.
3. An OCI cardholder cannot purchase agricultural land or a farmhouse in India.
4. An OCI cardholder may inherit agricultural land from a person resident in India.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1, 3 and 4 only
• C. 2, 3 and 4 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3 only

Q7. With reference to the e-OCI Card launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

1. It removes the requirement to re-issue the OCI booklet after 20 years when a new passport is issued.
2. It reduces the risk arising from loss or damage of the physical OCI document.
3. It is intended to benefit more than 50 lakh OCI cardholders globally.
4. It grants OCI cardholders the right to be appointed to public services of the Union and the States.

• A. 1 only
• B. 4 only
• C. 2 and 3
• D. 1 and 4

Q8. The following statements compare the new e-OCI Card with the earlier physical OCI booklet system. Consider the statements given below. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Under the earlier system the OCI booklet had to be re-issued on passport renewal, whereas the digital e-OCI Card removes this requirement after the 20-year passport renewal.
2. Unlike the physical booklet, the e-OCI Card enables real-time self-verification and reduces the risk of document loss or damage.
3. The e-OCI Card was launched together with the new OCI Portal at a single event held in 2024.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 3 only
• C. 1 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. With reference to the persons barred from accepting foreign contribution under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

1. Members of any Legislature are prohibited from accepting foreign contribution.
2. Judges and Government servants are prohibited from accepting foreign contribution.
3. Correspondents, columnists and editors of registered newspapers are prohibited from accepting foreign contribution.
4. A person in a prohibited category can under no circumstances accept any foreign contribution, not even from his or her own relatives.

• A. 1 and 2
• B. 3 only
• C. 4 only
• D. 2 and 3

Q10. With reference to the administration of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

1. The Ministry of Home Affairs is the nodal authority for administering the FCRA.
2. Foreign contribution must be received in a designated FCRA account at the State Bank of India, New Delhi.
3. Associations registered under the FCRA are required to file annual returns of foreign contribution received and utilised.
4. Registration under the FCRA is granted and renewed by the Reserve Bank of India.

• A. 1 only
• B. 2 and 3
• C. 4 only
• D. 1 and 4

Q11. The following statements compare the status of NRIs, OCI cardholders and PIO cardholders. Consider the statements given below. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. A Non-Resident Indian (NRI) is an Indian citizen residing abroad, whereas an OCI cardholder is a foreign national of Indian origin.
2. The PIO card scheme was abolished and merged into the OCI scheme with effect from 2015.
3. Unlike an NRI, an OCI cardholder always enjoys full voting rights and can be elected to public office in India.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 3 only
• C. 1 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q12. With reference to the regulation of foreign contribution in India and its judicial scrutiny, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

1. In Noel Harper v. Union of India (2022), the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2020.
2. The Supreme Court read down the provision requiring Aadhaar for identification, permitting a passport to be furnished instead.
3. The original Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act of 1976 was enacted with the objective of preventing foreign interference in India's internal affairs through monetary channels.
4. The Supreme Court struck down the reduction of the administrative expenses cap to 20% as an unreasonable restriction.

• A. 1, 2 and 3 only
• B. 1 and 4 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4