Rule 9 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 9(1) is the registration rule. An application for a certificate of registration under section 11(1) is made in electronic form in Form FC-3A with an affidavit of each key functionary in Proforma 'AA'. The applicant must have an FCRA Account, must intimate utilisation accounts, must meet a test of three years' existence and rupees fifteen lakh spent, and, from 2026, must choose its purposes from the Schedule and name its States or Union territories.
This article covers rule 9(1), (1A) and (1B) as per the Rules as amended by the notifications named in this article: G.S.R. 695(E) of 10 November 2020, G.S.R. 506(E) of 1 July 2022 and S.O. 3272(E) of 22 June 2026, the latest consulted. The base is the third-party consolidation of 17 September 2019. Sub-rule (1)(b) rests only on that copy; confirm it against the official text. Later amendments should be checked. For the surrounding steps, see our 12A, 80G and CSR registration service, which sits beside, and does not replace, the foreign contribution rules.
An application for registration is made in electronic form in Form FC-3A with an affidavit by each key functionary in Proforma 'AA' (rule 9(1)(a)). The applicant shall have an FCRA Account (clause (d)), and must intimate any utilisation account in Form FC-6D within forty five days (clause (e)). Under clause (f), the person must be in existence for three years and have spent a minimum of rupees fifteen lakh on core activities in the last three financial years. The certificate specifies purposes and States or Union territories (rule 9(1B)).
Rule 9(1)(a): Form FC-3A and the affidavit
The base clause makes an application for a certificate of registration under section 11(1) "in Form FC-3A" and an application for prior permission under section 11(2) "in Form FC-3B", each with an affidavit "in Proforma 'AA' appended to these rules". Two notifications changed it:
| Notification | Change |
|---|---|
| G.S.R. 695(E), 10 November 2020, paragraph 6(i)(A) | "electronically online" replaced by "in electronic form", at both places where it occurs |
| S.O. 3272(E), 22 June 2026, paragraph 4(a) | "each office bearer and key functionary and member" replaced by "each key functionary" |
The 2026 paragraph does not say "at both places", although the words appear in the clause twice in the base (once for FC-3A, once for FC-3B). Read as the paragraph words it, the affidavit is by "each key functionary". "Key functionary" is defined in rule 2(1)(ca); see rules 1 and 2. Prior permission under FC-3B is in the article on rule 9(2) and rule 9A. Forms FC-3A and Proforma 'AA' are described in the article on Forms FC-3A, FC-3B, FC-3BB and FC-3C.
Rule 9(1)(b): the signed application and documents
As the consolidation consulted prints it, clause (b) says: "The applicant shall upload the signed or digitally signed application along with scanned documents as specified by the Central Government from time to time". None of the notifications held amends it.
Rule 9(1)(d): the FCRA Account
G.S.R. 695(E), paragraph 6(i)(B), substituted clause (d): "Any person making an application for registration under clause (a) of sub-rule (1) shall have an FCRA Account." This follows section 12(1A), inserted by the Amendment Act, 2020; see the article on section 12 and the article on section 17.
Rule 9(1)(e): utilisation accounts
The person "may open one or more accounts in one or more banks for the purpose of utilising the foreign contribution after it has been received and, in all such cases, intimation in electronic form in form FC-6D shall be furnished to the Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi within forty five days of the opening of any account".
- "Electronically online" became "in electronic form" by G.S.R. 695(E), paragraph 6(i)(C).
- "fifteen days" became "forty five days" by G.S.R. 506(E), paragraph 3(i).
- The words "FC-6D" and the time limit apply to every utilisation account opened.
In the compounding table under section 41, serial number 9 deals with failure to intimate the opening of accounts within the prescribed time; see the article on section 41.
Rule 9(1)(f): three years and rupees fifteen lakh
G.S.R. 695(E), paragraph 6(i)(D), inserted clause (f): "A person seeking registration under clause (b) of sub-section (4) of section 12 of the Act shall meet the following conditions". Section 12(4)(b) requires that the applicant "has undertaken reasonable activity in its chosen field for the benefit of the society" (the Act prints "filed", a slip in both typed copies). The conditions:
- (i) It shall be in existence for three years and have spent a minimum amount of rupees fifteen lakh on its core activities for the benefit of society during the last three financial years. The proviso lets the Central Government, "in exceptional cases or in cases where a person is controlled by the Central Government or a State Government", waive the conditions.
- (ii) If the person wants its existing capital investment in assets like land, building, other permanent structures, vehicles and equipment included in the computation of spending during the last three years, the chief functionary shall give an undertaking that the assets shall vest henceforth with the person till the validity of the certificate, shall be utilised only for the activities covered under the Act and the rules, and shall not be diverted for any other purpose while the certificate remains valid.
The rule does not define "core activities". Rule 14A is a separate test of "reasonable activity" for cancellation and renewal; see rules 14 and 14A.
Example (invented). The Nirmal Gram Trust, four years old, wants a school building it owns counted in its spending over the last three financial years. Its chief functionary must give the undertaking under clause (f)(ii).
Rule 9(1A): pending applications
G.S.R. 695(E), paragraph 6(ii), inserted: "Every application seeking registration under clause (a) of sub-rule (1), made before the commencement of these rules but not disposed of, shall be considered after furnishing the details of FCRA Account."
Rule 9(1B): purposes and States or Union territories
S.O. 3272(E), paragraph 4(b), inserted sub-rule (1B) after sub-rule (1A).
| Clause | Text |
|---|---|
| (a) | The certificate of registration shall specify the purpose or purposes and the States or Union territories for which registration is granted |
| (b)(i) | Every application for registration shall mention the purpose or purposes for which registration is sought, chosen only from such list of purposes as specified in the Schedule appended to the Rules |
| (b)(ii) | and the States or Union territories in which the association proposes to undertake the activities |
| (c) | Every association registered before the commencement of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2026 shall, within one year of such commencement, submit to the Central Government an intimation in Form FC-6F specifying the purpose or purposes and the States or Union territories for which it seeks to retain its registration |
The 2026 Rules are to come into force "on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette" (paragraph 1(2)); the notification is dated the 22nd June, 2026. The Schedule is explained in the article on the Schedule, and changing the scope later is in the article on rule 17B. Utilising foreign contribution for a purpose or State for which registration has not been granted is listed at serial number 4(b) of the compounding table.
Slip to note. Clauses (d) in sub-rules (1) and (2) refer to "an application ... under clause (a) of sub-rule (1)", including for prior permission; they are quoted as printed.
Need help preparing for registration?
Registration depends on the conditions in section 12(4) and on the facts of your spending, accounts and key functionaries. Our 12A, 80G and CSR registration team works with societies, trusts and companies on their registration documents; bring your constitution, accounts for the last three financial years and the list of key functionaries.
Key takeaways
- Registration applications are in electronic form in Form FC-3A with an affidavit of each key functionary in Proforma 'AA'.
- Rule 9(1)(f): three years and rupees fifteen lakh on core activities in the last three financial years, with a waiver proviso.
- Rule 9(1B): the certificate specifies purposes and States or Union territories.
Read next
- Section 12: conditions for registration and prior permission
- Rules 9 and 9A: prior permission and receipt in instalments
- Rule 9: fees, second application and foreign nationals as key functionaries
- Schedule: purposes for registration
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.