India

Govt Suspends Foreign Funding Licence Of Centre For Policy Research

By
OB Bureau

New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has suspended the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licence of public think-tank Centre for Policy Research (CPR) over violation of laws.

The CPR had been under scrutiny following Income Tax surveys on it last September.

Following the suspension of its licence, CPR will not be able to receive any funds from abroad.

Donors of CPR included Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the University of Pennsylvania, World Resources Institute and Duke University, officials said.

CPR, founded in 1973, is one of India’s leading policy research institutions.

Members of NITI Aayog, former diplomats, civil servants, members of Indian Army, journalists and leading researchers are among full-time and visiting scholars at CPR.

A non-profit organisation, CPR also receives grants from Indian Council for Social Science Research (ICSSR) and is a recognised institution of Department of Science and Technology.

“We are in complete compliance with the law and are routinely scrutinised and audited by government authorities, including the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. We have annual statutory audits, and all our annual audited balance sheets are in the public domain. There is no question of having undertaken any activity that is beyond our objects of association and compliance mandated by law,” CPR said in a statement.

“In light of the current MHA order, we will explore all avenues of recourse available to us. Our work and institutional purpose is to advance our constitutional goals and protect constitutional guarantees. We are absolutely confident that the matter will be resolved speedily, in fairness and in the spirit of our constitutional values,” the statement added.

CPR’s FCRA licence, last renewed in 2016, was due for renewal in 2021.

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

Criticised For Touching His Wife’s Feet, Vikrant Massey Gives It Back To Trollers

Mumbai: ‘12th Fail’ actor Vikrant Massey recently got trolled after pictures of him touching his…

November 7, 2024

Threat Call: Was Shah Rukh Khan Targeted For His Deer-Hunting Dialogue In ‘Anjaam’?

Mumbai: Mumbai Police swung into action immediately after Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan received a…

November 7, 2024

[Watch] Snowfall In Desert For The First Time!

Dubai: The effects of global climate change are being seen in various manifestations across the globe.…

November 7, 2024

Police Case Against Websites Selling T-Shirts With Photos Of Dawood, Bishnoi

Mumbai: When criminals are idolised and used for commercial purposes, police are bound to take action.…

November 7, 2024

11 Years After Criminal’s Murder In Bomb Explosion, Court In Odisha Sentences 11 Accused To Life

Berhampur: The Ganjam district and sessions court here on Thursday sentenced 11 persons to life…

November 7, 2024

Astronaut Sunita Williams’ Health Deteriorates Due To Extended Stay In Space

New York: Recent pictures of Sunita Williams and Barry 'Butch' Wilmore from the International Space…

November 7, 2024

India Calls Out Canada’s ‘Hypocrisy’ For Blocking Australian Media Outlet After Jaishankar Interview

New Delhi: Bilateral relations having hit an all-time low since Justin Trudeau’s accusation of Indian involvement…

November 7, 2024

Mango Kernel Incident In Odisha: Report Reveals Faecal Contamination, Presence Of Hydrogen Sulphide

Bhubaneswar: Faecal contamination was found in the food and water samples sent for test following…

November 7, 2024