Foreign Contribution Regulation Act 2010

Section 44 FCRA 2010 - Returns to Central Government

Section 44 requires the prescribed authority to furnish returns and statements to the Central Government in the time, form and manner prescribed under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Rules.

Section 44 - Returns by prescribed authority to Central Government

The prescribed authority shall furnish to the Central Government at such time and in such form and manner such returns and statements as may be prescribed.

Section 44 appears in Chapter IX of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010. It is an administrative reporting provision. The section does not itself set out the reporting interval or the particulars to be supplied; those details are prescribed by the rules made under the Act.

Meaning and scope of Section 44

In simple terms, Section 44 creates a statutory duty on the authority identified under the FCRA framework to report prescribed information to the Central Government. For investigation-related reporting, the corresponding provision is Rule 22 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Rules, 2011.

Important distinction: Section 44 and Rule 22 concern reports furnished by investigating agencies to the Central Government. They should not be confused with the annual return obligations imposed on persons or associations receiving foreign contribution under other provisions of the Act and Rules.

Rule 22 of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Rules 2011

Rule 22 is titled Returns by the Investigating Agency to the Central Government. It applies to the Central Bureau of Investigation or any other Government investigating agency that conducts an investigation under the FCRA.

The investigating agency must furnish reports to the Central Government on a quarterly basis. The report is required to indicate the status of each case entrusted to the agency, including:

case number;
date of registration;
date of filing of the charge sheet;
the court before which the charge sheet has been filed;
progress of the trial;
date of judgment; and
conclusion of the case.

Connection with Section 43

Section 43 deals with investigation of offences punishable under the FCRA and permits investigation by an authority specified by the Central Government. Section 44 then provides the statutory basis for prescribed reporting to the Central Government, while Rule 22 specifies the quarterly reporting requirement for investigating agencies.

Why Section 44 matters

The provision supports continuing administrative oversight of investigations under the FCRA. Instead of leaving the reporting mechanism entirely to internal practice, the Act authorises prescribed returns and statements, and Rule 22 identifies the frequency and core case-status information to be reported.

Official FCRA resources

For the current statutory text, rules, notifications, public notices and online FCRA services, readers should verify the latest material published by the Government of India:

Updated: 27 September 2026. This page is intended as a statutory reference and general legal information. For a specific matter, check the latest Act, Rules, notifications and orders applicable to the facts.