Paper Details

The Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) of India has undergone a significant transformation since its enactment in 1976 as a security-oriented legislative instrument. Over time, it has evolved into a strict regulatory system that controls how civil society organisations operate. This paper examines how the amendments introduced in 2020 have generated a condition of "funding precarity", evidenced by the cancellation of nearly 20,000 NGO registrations and the absolute prohibition of sub-granting practices. Additionally, the lowering of administrative expenses to 20% has adversely affected social work practice by restricting the allocation of resources towards professional remuneration and field-based research. Moreover, the enforcement of Aadhaar-linked identification and the requirement of centralized banking operations in New Delhi have embedded a "technomoral" system of surveillance within the sector. These shifts have induced a widespread "chilling effect" forcing practitioners to transition from rights-based advocacy to apolitical, state-aligned service delivery. This "statization" of civil society hinders the professions' ability to address structural inequalities and promote sustainable justice. To safeguard independent practice, this study proposes revisiting the administrative expenditure cap and creating a National Council for Social Work to offer statutory protection to practitioners.

FCRA, Civil Society, Social Work Practice, Regulatory Compliance, Funding Precarity