Rules 15 and 15A explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Rule 15 says what happens to unutilised foreign contribution in the FCRA Account when a certificate is cancelled: it vests with the prescribed authority under the Act. Rule 15A lets a holder of a certificate of registration apply in electronic form in Form FC-7 to surrender it under section 14A. Both rules were put in place by G.S.R. 695(E) of 10 November 2020, alongside the Amendment Act, 2020.
This article reads rules 15 and 15A as per the Rules as amended by the notifications named in this article: G.S.R. 695(E) dated 10 November 2020 (rule 15 substituted, rule 15A inserted and Form FC-7 substituted); the latest consulted is S.O. 3272(E) dated 22 June 2026, which does not touch either rule. The prescribed authority is not named in the texts consulted. Later amendments should be checked. If you are considering surrender or are facing cancellation, a legal consultation can help you compare the routes.
If the certificate of a person who has opened an FCRA Account is cancelled, the unutilised amount in that Account vests with the prescribed authority (rule 15). A holder of a certificate of registration may apply in electronic form in Form FC-7 to surrender it under section 14A (rule 15A). A surrendered certificate is deemed to expire on the date the Central Government accepts the request (rule 10(2)).
Rule 15: custody after cancellation
Paragraph 10 of G.S.R. 695(E) substituted rule 15, headed "Custody of foreign contribution in respect of a person whose certificate has been cancelled":
"If the certificate of registration of a person who has opened an FCRA Account under section 17 is cancelled, the amount of foreign contribution lying unutilised in that Account shall vest with the prescribed authority under the Act."
| Element | Text |
|---|---|
| When | The certificate of registration is cancelled |
| Whose | A person who has opened an FCRA Account under section 17 |
| What vests | The amount of foreign contribution lying unutilised in that Account |
| In whom | The prescribed authority under the Act |
Points:
- The authority is not named. Section 2(1)(p) calls the prescribed authority one specified by rules, and section 15(1) vests the foreign contribution and assets "in such authority as may be prescribed". Rule 15 refers to "the prescribed authority under the Act" and does not name it, and no rule or notification in the texts consulted does so.
- Wider text in the Act. Section 15(1) speaks of "the foreign contribution and assets created out of the foreign contribution in the custody of every person" whose certificate has been cancelled under section 14 or surrendered under section 14A. Rule 15 mentions the unutilised amount in the FCRA Account. The rule does not say how assets are dealt with, and this article does not fill that gap.
- Management. Section 15(2) allows the authority to manage the activities of the person for such period and in such manner as the Central Government may direct, and section 15(3) requires return of the foreign contribution and assets if the person is subsequently registered. See the article on sections 14A and 15.
- Cessation. For a certificate deemed to have ceased because renewal was not applied for, vesting is dealt with in rule 12(6A); see the article on rule 12.
Rule 15A: voluntary surrender
Paragraph 11 of G.S.R. 695(E) inserted, after rule 15, rule 15A, headed "Voluntary surrender of certificate":
"Every person who has been granted certificate of registration under section 12 of the Act may make an application in electronic form in Form FC-7 for surrender of the certificate of registration in terms of section 14A of the Act."
- Who. Every person granted a certificate of registration under section 12. The rule does not mention prior permission.
- What. An application in electronic form in Form FC-7.
- Under what power. Section 14A of the Act: on a request, the Central Government may permit surrender "if, after making such inquiry as it deems fit, it is satisfied that such person has not contravened any of the provisions of this Act, and the management of foreign contribution and asset, if any, created out of such contribution has been vested in the authority as provided in sub-section (1) of section 15".
- Effect on validity. Rule 10(2) says the certificate is deemed to have expired on the date of acceptance of the request; see rules 10 and 11.
The rule says "may". It is a facility, and the Central Government's permission under section 14A is required.
Form FC-7
Form FC-7 is marked "" and headed "Application for surrender of certificate of registration". The text in G.S.R. 695(E) is addressed to the Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, Foreigners Division (FCRA Wing). A sample copy of the Form held matches it. It prints:
- A "Darpan ID" line at the top.
- A statement that the person or association applies for surrender of the certificate of registration under section 14A "as per details given below".
- Item 1: the FCRA registration number.
- Item 2(a): details of the person or association: name in full, address, official telephone number, official e-mail address, telephone of the chief functionary, PAN of the person or association and Aadhaar number of the chief functionary.
- Item 2(b): details of registration: the name of the Act under which the person is registered (the Societies Registration Act, 1860, the Indian Trust Act, 1882, the Companies Act, 1956 or the Companies Act, 2013), registration number, date and place, with a self-certified copy of the registration certificate to be enclosed.
- Item 2(c): "FCRA Account" details in a table with columns for the name of the bank, branch address with PIN code, e-mail, IFSC code, account number and date of account opening, with rows for another "FCRA Account", if any, and utilisation accounts, if any.
- Item 3: a declaration that the information is true and correct and an affirmation that no accounts other than those mentioned have been opened for receipt and utilisation of foreign contribution.
- A signature block for the name of the chief functionary (Chairperson, President, Secretary, CEO or MD) in block letters, with the seal and the place and date.
The sub-lettering of item 2 differs slightly between the Gazette text and the sample copy (items 2(b) and 2(c) against a repeated 'a' and 'b'). The Gazette text governs. The Form is explained with Forms FC-6A to FC-6F in the article on those Forms.
Example (invented). The trustees of the Anand Jyoti Trust decide to wind up its foreign contribution work. The Trust has a certificate of registration, one FCRA Account and one utilisation account. It applies in electronic form in Form FC-7, listing both accounts and enclosing a self-certified copy of its registration certificate. Surrender is not automatic: the Central Government must be satisfied, after inquiry, that the Trust has not contravened the Act and that the management of foreign contribution and assets has been vested as section 15(1) provides.
Need help deciding between surrender and other routes?
Surrender, non-renewal and cancellation have different consequences for funds and assets. Speak to our legal consultation team and bring the certificate, the FCRA Account statements and your latest returns.
Key takeaways
- On cancellation, the unutilised amount in the FCRA Account vests with the prescribed authority (rule 15).
- The prescribed authority is not named in the texts consulted.
- A holder of a certificate of registration may apply in electronic form in Form FC-7 to surrender it under section 14A (rule 15A).
- A surrendered certificate is deemed to expire on the date of acceptance of the request (rule 10(2)).
- Form FC-7 asks for registration details, the FCRA Account and utilisation accounts, and an affirmation about accounts.
Read next
- Sections 14A and 15: surrender of certificate and management of foreign contribution
- Section 14: cancellation of certificate
- Rules 10 and 11: validity of certificate and separate accounts
- Forms FC-6A to FC-6F and FC-7
Disclaimer: Based on the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 as enacted, read with the Amendment Act, 2020 and the other amendments named in this article, and on the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Rules, 2011 as amended by the notifications named (latest consulted: S.O. 3272(E) dated 22 June 2026), as consulted on 2 October 2026. No consolidated official text was available; some provisions rest on a third-party copy and are identified as such. Later amendments, notifications and Ministry of Home Affairs orders should be checked. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.