Renewal of certificate
Section 16 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 deals with renewal of certificate. Every person who has been granted a certificate under section 12 shall have such certificate renewed within six months before the expiry of the period of the certificate. The Act came into force on 01 May 2011.
(1) Every person who has been granted a certificate under section 12 shall have such certificate renewed within six months before the expiry of the period of the certificate.
1[Provided that the Central Government may, before renewing the certificate, make such inquiry, as it deems fit, to satisfy itself that such person has fulfilled all conditions specified in sub-section (4) of section 12.]
(2) The application for renewal of the certificate shall be made to the Central Government in such form and manner and accompanied by such fee as may be prescribed.
(3) The Central Government shall renew the certificate, ordinarily within ninety days from the date of receipt of application for renewal of certificate subject to such terms and conditions as it may deem fit and grant a certificate of renewal for a period of five years:
Provided that in case the Central Government does not renew the certificate within the said period of ninety days, it shall communicate the reasons therefor to the applicant:
Provided further that the Central Government may refuse to renew the certificate in case where a person has violated any of the provisions of this Act or rules made thereunder.
Section 16, The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 (Act 42 of 2010).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
This section refers to
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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Asha Kiran Charitable Society v. Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (FCRA Wing)
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
DATE VERIFIED Final Order 2023-09-12 (order-17.pdf): Division Bench strikes down cryptic refusal of FCRA renewal under s.16(1) r/w s.12(4), holding field-enquiry grounds (fictitious office-bearer; alleged religious diversion) unverified/unsupported; directs reconsideration after Form FC-6E reconstitution, treating renewal continuity from expiry. Notes s.32 revision remedy but proceeds on merits given opaque refusal.
On this section: s.16 renewal — Central Government must renew within statutory timelines after s.12(4) enquiry; refusal requires sustainable reasons, not unsubstantiated field notes.
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Made under this section, and citing it
2 instruments name this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
Questions about Section 16
What have the courts held on Section 16 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act?
Asha Kiran Charitable Society v. Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (FCRA Wing) (12 Sep 2023) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: s.16 renewal — Central Government must renew within statutory timelines after s.12(4) enquiry; refusal requires sustainable reasons, not unsubstantiated field notes.
How do I find court cases under Section 16 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 16, section 16 Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, section 16 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with Asha Kiran Charitable Society v. Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (FCRA Wing) (12 Sep 2023).
What should I read with Section 16 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, and has it changed?
Its own text turns on section 12 (Grant of certificate of registration), so none of them can safely be read on its own. 2 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. 2 instruments name it without being made under it, most recently Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Rules 2019 (2019), then Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Rules 2015 (2015).
When did Section 16 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act come into force?
Section 16 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, cited as Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 16, came into force on 01 May 2011, having been enacted on 26 Sep 2010. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 19 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.