ICNL’s resources and information on India.
ICNL works closely with local partners to help build civil society partnerships and provide resources on the non-profit sector and philanthropy in India. These resources include papers on the civil society regulatory framework, a philanthropy law report, and the India Civic Freedom Monitor, which offers a snapshot of Indian laws and various developments relevant to civic space. ICNL also supports efforts to raise awareness around issues related to funding, digital rights, securitization, and other areas affecting civil society in India.
On September 19, 2024, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an intergovernmental organization tasked with combating money laundering and terrorist financing (TF) worldwide, released its Mutual Evaluation Report (MER) on India. Although India achieved a high level of technical compliance overall, FATF notes that India needs to better comply with FATF Recommendation 8 on non-profit organizations (NPOs). Read the full analysis here.
Environmental participation report author Meenakshi Kapoor explores the impacts of disenfranchisement of local communities and tribal peoples of North Urimari, as the government and mining companies ignore their complaints in the articles from Carbon Copy. This story has been supported by the International Centre for Not-for-profit Law as part of a study on public participation in environmental decisions.
Environmental participation report author Meenakshi Kapoor explores the impacts of disenfranchisement of local communities and tribal peoples of Kinnaur around the Shongtong Hydroelectric Project, as the government fast-tracks large project approvals and removes environmental protections in this article from The Bastion. This story has been supported by the International Centre for Not-for-profit Law as part of a study on public participation in environmental decisions.
In recent years, India has enacted a number of regulatory measures constricting funding for domestic non-profit organizations, the most well-known of which is the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA). The act represents a securitized approach to foreign funding that is out of step with international standards. It has obstructed humanitarian relief efforts in India during the recent COVID-19 surge and other disasters. Our resource page provides analysis, information, and key resources on FCRA.
As India, the world’s largest democracy, gears up to construct an SSE, a comprehensive analysis of the experiences, structures, and learnings from SSEs across the world can help civil society, policymakers, and the private sector create a more enabling environment for social organizations. This report written by Samhita in partnership with ICNL, reviews the social stock exchanges of Brazil, Portugal, South Africa, Jamaica, the UK, Singapore, and Canada to provide analysis of the recommendations proposed by India’s SSE working group. Read the full report here.
Amidst trends towards authoritarianism and closing civic space, India’s changing landscape calls for attention. This report series, researched and written by the Centre for Internet and Society with support from ICNL, undertakes an examination of four key topics related to digital rights and civic space in India: internet shutdowns, online censorship, platform governance, and surveillance. Read the full report here.
In partnership with the Council on Foundations, ICNL maintains reports on thirty-four countries that help U.S grantmakers undertake equivalency determinations for foreign grantees. The reports in this series describe the legal frameworks for nonprofit organizations and provide translations of relevant legislative provisions.
CLICK TO VISIT THE COUNCIL ON FOUNDATIONS' WEBSITE FOR THE INDIA COUNTRY NOTEIndian culture places great emphasis on giving. The ancient philosophy of Nishkama Karma – “do good without the expectation of getting a reward” – profoundly influences many peoples’ lives. At the national level, the legal framework is considered relatively supportive of civil society, and particularly supportive of philanthropic giving. This report explores the current state of laws and regulations affecting philanthropy, unpacking the history, and the present-day legal environment. It is accompanied by supplemental materials to provide more context on civil society and philanthropy in India.
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