Table of Contents
The Hindu Editorial Analysis
We understand the significance of reading The Hindu newspaper for enhancing reading skills, improving comprehension of passages, staying informed about current events, enhancing essay writing, and more, especially for banking aspirants who need to focus on editorials for vocabulary building. This article will explore today’s editorial points, along with practice questions and key vocabulary.
Centre Strengthens Rules for Foreign Donations
- NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations) that want to receive money from foreign countries or foreign sources must now carry out only those activities that are specifically allowed by the Central Government under the latest amendment to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), 2010 Rules, notified on Monday.
- NGOs receiving foreign donations must register under one or more of the following five approved categories:
- Social
- Economic
- Educational
- Cultural
- Religious
- For the first time, the Government has issued separate and detailed lists of activities that are allowed under each of these five categories.
- NGOs must now provide details of:
- Their activities,
- The areas where their programmes are being run,
- Their websites,
- Their social media accounts, and
- Their publications.
- NGOs will now have to pay separate registration fees for:
- Every category under which they want registration, and
- Every State or Union Territory where they work.
- Earlier, NGOs registered under FCRA had to pay only one registration fee.
- All new registrations must follow the amended Rules immediately.
- Existing organisations already registered under FCRA have been given one year to comply with the new Rules.
- Any violation of the amended Rules will attract a minimum penalty of ₹1 lakh, according to a separate order issued by the Union Home Ministry.
- The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) regulates all foreign donations received under the FCRA system.
- Earlier amendments required NGOs only to give an undertaking that receiving foreign contributions was not likely to:
- Harm the sovereignty and integrity of India,
- Affect friendly relations with foreign countries, or
- Disturb communal harmony.
- The amended Rules have expanded the meaning of the term “key functionary” of an NGO.
- Earlier, this term mainly included office-bearers and directors.
- The revised definition now also includes:
- Trustees,
- Partners,
- The Karta or head of a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF),
- Members of the governing body, and
- Any other person who controls or manages the organisation.
- Associations that have foreign nationals as key functionaries, except Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), will generally not be eligible for FCRA registration or prior permission.
- Such organisations may be considered only if the Central Government gives special approval.
- NGOs must also declare whether:
- The organisation itself, or
- Any of its key functionaries,
published any material during the year.
- Such publications include:
- Books,
- Magazines, and
- Newspaper articles.
- A senior government official said that these amendments were introduced to bring uniformity in Foreign Contribution (F-C) forms and remove duplication of information.
- Under the amended Rules, the registration certificate or application form for new registration must clearly mention the purpose or purposes for which registration is being granted.
- These purposes can be selected only from the official list provided in the Schedule attached to the Rules.
- The registration certificate or application must also clearly mention the States and Union Territories where the NGO plans to carry out its activities.
- The Rules also require NGOs to pay separate fees for every approved purpose.
- Separate fees must also be paid for every approved State or Union Territory where the NGO operates.
- Certain approved activities clearly prohibit any political involvement.
- Under the educational category, 22 approved activities have been listed.
- However, programmes related to:
- Constitutional rights,
- Fundamental duties, and
- Civic responsibilities,
must remain completely non-political.
- Under the cultural category, 18 approved activities have been specified.
- These include promoting contemporary arts that are inspired by Indian traditions.
- Such cultural activities must not contain political or ideological content.
- The religious category contains 16 approved activities.
- These include:
- Religious education,
- Moral instruction,
- Organising satsangs,
- Holding religious discourses,
- Conducting meditation retreats,
- while excluding proselytisation (trying to convert people to another religion).
- Religious activities also include developing and maintaining burial grounds and cremation grounds.
- The economic category contains 19 approved activities.
- The social category contains 30 approved activities.
- In a separate notification, the MHA has prescribed penalties for different types of FCRA violations.
- These violations include:
- Spending too much on administration,
- Speculative investments,
- Misuse of funds,
- Receiving or using foreign contributions without authorisation, and
- Using funds for purposes or areas that were not approved.
- Using foreign contributions for purposes other than those for which they were received can attract a penalty of:
- Up to 30% of the amount misused, or
- ₹1 lakh,
- Whichever amount is higher.
- Similarly, using foreign funds for purposes or geographical areas that are not covered under the NGO’s approval can attract a penalty of:
- 30% of the amount involved, or
- ₹1 lakh,
- Whichever amount is higher.
- Spending beyond the prescribed expenditure limits is also punishable under the Rules.
- Such penalties are calculated as a percentage of the amount involved.
- In all such cases, the minimum penalty will be ₹1 lakh.
George Kurian Steps Down as Union Minister Following End of Rajya Sabha Tenure
- George Kurian resigned from the post of Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs after his Rajya Sabha term came to an end.
- President Droupadi Murmu accepted his resignation on Tuesday.
- George Kurian, a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from Kerala, was also handling the additional responsibilities of the Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying Ministries.
- He retired from the Rajya Sabha on June 21.
- The BJP leadership decided not to nominate him again to the Rajya Sabha in the recent election.
- Since he was not re-nominated to the Upper House of Parliament, it became necessary for him to resign from the Union Ministry.
- A statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan said that George Kurian’s resignation was accepted with immediate effect under Clause (2) of Article 75 of the Constitution.
- George Kurian comes from Kottayam district in Kerala.
- He was the only Christian Minister in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.
- He had taken charge as a Union Minister on June 9, 2024.
- George Kurian has been associated with the BJP and the RSS since 1980.
- During this long period, he served in many important positions, including BJP spokesperson and vice-president of the Kerala BJP unit.
- He also served as the Vice-Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities.
- He worked as an Officer on Special Duty in the office of former Union Minister of State for Railways O. Rajagopal.
- He was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh.
- His resignation has led to discussions about a possible reshuffle in the Union Cabinet.
- Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu also completed his Rajya Sabha term on the same day as George Kurian.
- However, no resignation had been received from Ravneet Singh Bittu at the time the report was written.
- After his resignation was accepted, George Kurian shared a message on Facebook.
- In the post, he said that becoming a Union Minister was something he had never imagined in his life.
- He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving him the opportunity to serve as a Union Minister.
- Along with the message, he shared a photograph of himself with Narendra Modi.
- He said that he personally thanked the Prime Minister during a meeting on June 22.
- He also informed that he had submitted his resignation during that meeting.
- In his own words, he had “never imagined, not even in his dreams,” that he would become a Union Minister.
- He said that the opportunity to serve as a Union Minister came to him because Narendra Modi became Prime Minister.
- Sources in the BJP said that George Kurian is likely to return to active organisational work in the party.
- The sources also said that he has expressed interest in working in Kerala again.
President Bestows Second Set of Padma Awards
- President Droupadi Murmu presented Padma Awards to several well-known personalities on Tuesday.
- Among the award recipients were tennis legend Vijay Amritraj, actors Mammootty and Satish Shah, cricketer Rohit Sharma, and playback singer Alka Yagnik.
- The Padma Awards are among the highest civilian honours given in India.
- These awards are given in three categories:
- Padma Vibhushan
- Padma Bhushan
- Padma Shri
- During the second civil investiture ceremony held at the Ganatantra Mandap in Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President presented the Padma Vibhushan to former Supreme Court judge K. T. Thomas for public affairs and to noted Malayalam journalist P. Narayanan for contributions to literature and education.
- T. Thomas and P. Narayanan received the Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian award in India.
- The President awarded the Padma Bhushan to:
- Alka Yagnik
- Mammootty
- Dattatreyudu Nori
- Vijay Amritraj
- K.M. Maeilanandhan
- Vellappally Natesan
- These personalities were honoured with the Padma Bhushan for their outstanding contributions in different fields.
- Rupi Soren received the Padma Bhushan on behalf of the late Shibu Soren, founder of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.
- The President awarded the Padma Shri to Rohit Sharma, who captained India to victory in the latest T-20 World Cup, and hockey player Savita Punia.
- Rohit Sharma and Savita Punia were honoured with the Padma Shri for their achievements in sports.
- Actor R. Madhavan, aerospace scientist Chandramouli Gaddamanugu, and noted writer Asok Kumar Haldar were also awarded the Padma Shri.
- Chandramouli Gaddamanugu played a key role in taking the Akash missile system from development to deployment during Operation Sindoor.
- Vladimir Mestvirishvili, the Georgian coach who trained Indian Olympic medal winners Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt, and Ravi Dahiya, was awarded the Padma Shri posthumously.
- The Padma Shri was also awarded posthumously to actor Satish Shah.
- The ceremony recognised distinguished personalities from sports, cinema, science, literature, education, social service, medicine, and public affairs for their valuable contributions to the nation.
Important Questions
- Under the latest amendment to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), under which five approved categories must NGOs receiving foreign donations register?
- According to the separate order issued by the Union Home Ministry, what minimum penalty will attract any violation of the amended FCRA Rules?
- Following the end of the Rajya Sabha tenure, why did George Kurian resign from the post of Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs?
- Along with Minority Affairs, which additional Ministries were handled by George Kurian as Union Minister?
- Under the Padma Awards system, which three categories are given as among the highest civilian honours in India?
- Which Padma Shri award recipient captained India to victory in the latest T-20 World Cup and was honoured for achievements in sports?
Important Vocabulary
- notified — officially announced by the government.
- undertaking — a formal promise or assurance.
- proselytisation — attempting to convert people to another religion.
- duplication — repetition of the same information.
- tenure — the period of holding a position.
- reshuffle — reorganisation of ministerial responsibilities.
- spokesperson — a person who speaks on behalf of an organisation.
- organisational — relating to the management of an organisation.
- bestows — formally presents or confers.
- investiture — a formal ceremony for giving honours or awards.
- distinguished — highly respected and successful.
- deployment — the act of putting something into effective use.
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