The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has asked all NGOs seeking foreign donations to open a designated FCRA account at the State Bank of India’s New Delhi branch. What is the FCRA? The FCRA regulates foreign donations and ensures that such contributions do not adversely affect internal security. First enacted in 1976, it was amended …
Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) – UPSC GS2 Read More »
Context: National Security Adviser made following remarks: People cannot feel safe and secure if law enforcers are weak, corrupt and partisan. Implementation of laws is more important than their legislation. The substance of democracy does not lie in the ballot box. It lies in the laws made by the people who are elected through those …
NSA’s remarks on Civil Society NSA’s remarks on Civil Society – UPSC GS2 Read More »
Civil Society in India: India’s civil society consists of Grassroots organisations that connect to the last mile and provide essential services Think tanks and academic institutions that produce new policy ideas and generate evidence. Advocacy organisations that build support for causes Large impact funds and philanthropists who decide how these organisations get funded. What are the issues with the …
Context The Securities and Exchange Board’s (SEBI) working group has submitted its report with recommendations regarding the structure, mechanisms, and regulatory framework for the proposed Social Stock Exchange (SSE). What are Social Stock Exchanges (SSEs)? An SSE is a platform which allows investors to buy shares in social enterprises vetted by an official exchange. The …
Civil society’s functional contribution to good governance could be: Watchdog — against violation of human rights and governing deficiencies. Advocate — of the weaker sections’ point of view. Agitator — on behalf of aggrieved citizens. Educator — of citizens on their rights, entitlements and responsibilities and the government about the pulse of the people. Service …
What is civil Society? The society considered as a community of citizens linked by common interests and collective activity is a civil society. It is the aggregate of non-governmental organizations and institutions that manifest interests and will of citizens. It is referred to as the third sector of the society distinct from government and business. …
Context: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed all NGOs, individuals and business entities receiving foreign funds to open accounts in any of 32 designated banks, including one foreign, within a month. The MHA order comes in exercise of the powers conferred under Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010. Purpose These accounts opened …
What is Social Audit? Social Audit is the examination and assessment of a programme/ scheme conducted with the active involvement of people and comparing official records with actual ground realities. A social Audit is a powerful tool for social transformation, community participation, and government accountability. How is Social Audit different from Financial Audit? Financial audits involve inspecting and …
Context The fourth estate of the world’s largest democracy is fast acquiring a dark underbelly which threatens the vibrancy of democracy itself. Threats to press freedom are far greater from within than from without. Role of Media Media plays an important role of independent watch dog and brings forth the grievances of the people …
What is the issue? Congress and BJP received foreign funds from two subsidiaries of Vedanta, a UK based company from 2004 to 2012 The Association for Democratic Rights (ADR) filed a PIL plea against the two parties for violating the FCRA. The Delhi High Court had held that the donations were illegal in 2014. Government …