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To clear the pending requests from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) seeking registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=union+home+ministry&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Union home ministry</a> launched a special drive, with the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=FCRA&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">FCRA</a> division setting itself a one-month deadline to decide on the fate of 1,500 applications. 
 According to the sources in the <keyword id="6359327" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Home-Ministry">home ministry</keyword>, the <keyword id="3633661" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="FCRA-license-requests">FCRA license requests</keyword> were submitted through the manual route, date back to 2014 and 2015, before <keyword id="307144" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="FCRA">FCRA</keyword> clearances were made fully online. "The NGOs had been approaching the home ministry time and again enquiring about the status of their applications," said a home ministry officer. 
 
"Sometime around mid-August, the additional secretary of the foreigners division, which handles all FCRA dealings, asked his subordinates to ensure that the backlog of manual applications for fresh registration was cleared without further delay. They were asked to decide whether to grant or deny registration, and communicate the decision to the concerned NGOs," the officer added. 
 
Sources told that many requests had been deemed fit for rejection, and the focus is on not making the concerned applicants wait any longer for the final decision. 
 
An officer told <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=ET&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">ET</a>, "There is no point in keeping them hanging. Where the decision is a 'no', the officers have been asked to immediately convey it to the applicant NGO," 
 
The recent suspension of four officers of the foreigners division - including a joint secretary, two under-secretaries and a section officer, the staff is pushing hard to meet the deadline, though it expires in just over a week. 
 
A call for applications from retired assistant section officers for engagement as consultants has already been advertised by the home ministry on Tuesday to counter the manpower shortage. 
 
Because of the renewal of FCRA license of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=zakir+naik&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Zakir </a><a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=zakir+naik&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Naik</a>'s NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) through the automatic route, four officers of the foreigners division, including joint secretary G K Dwivedi, were suspended last week. 
 
The online renewal came even as proceedings were under way to put IRF on the 'prior permission' list, which requires all foreign funding to the NGO to be approved by the home ministry. Also, the Union home ministry is mulling declaring IRF an 'unlawful organization' for allegedly spreading communal hatred and carrying out forced conversions. 
 
(Image Credits: BCCL)

Home Ministry sets one month deadline to decide on the fate of 1500 NGO registrations

There seems to be some gap between Modi’s ambition and his Home Ministry’s intentions. India’s home ministry is reluctant to launch BRICS Business Travel Card (BBTC), which is aimed to improve public-private partnerships among the five emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. 
 While the <keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">Prime Minister</keyword> has been pitching for a liberalised travel regime among BRICS countries, the Home Ministry has cited security concerns to express reservations about giving long-term business visas to Chinese nationals. 
 
"The home ministry wants to hold detailed consultations with other stakeholders before giving in to the demand of the external affairs ministry," an official told the Economic Times, requesting anonymity. At present, India gives a two-month single entry visa and six-month multiple entry visas to businessmen from China. 
 During the tenure of the previous <keyword id="26374" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="UPA-government">UPA government</keyword>, a decision was taken to extend the tenure of multiple visas to one year. However, it could not be implemented. 
 
As per the memorandum of understanding on simplification of visa procedures signed between India and China, business persons from China require a letter of invitation from a recognised Indian organisation for multiple entry visa while the single entry visa is issued on production of a letter of request from an authorised Chinese organisation, according to the ET. 
 
India already provides a five-year visa to nationals of the other BRICS nations, apart from multiple entry business visas valid up to one year. 
Home ministry officials said that while there is unanimity over giving five-year business visas to people from the other nations in the bloc, excluding China from the pool will lead to further confrontation with the neighbouring country. 
 
"We also want that China should reciprocate in case a decision to grant longterm visa is taken," said an official, adding that setting up an exclusive zone for BBTC will require technological upgrade and upkeep of records. 
 
For BBTC, it has been proposed that the details of business persons from BRICS countries be in the form of a magnetic chip. This will contain all the information regarding the person including on passport and visa, thus facilitating a paperless journey and stay in India. 
 
(Image: Reuters)

Despite doing business worth billions of dollars with China, Indian Home Ministry jittery in granting long-term visas to Chinese businessmen

After decades of being inflicted by terrorism and no employment generation, leading to the Jammu and Kashmir youth migrating to other states to find employment, the <keyword id="6387077" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi-government">Narendra Modi government</keyword> has finally come to their rescue. The government has begun a vigorous push to the corporate jobs scheme in J&amp;K this month, coinciding with the <keyword id="2736975" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="PDP-BJP-Government">PDP-BJP government</keyword>'s take over. As many as eight mega recruitment rallies are being held all over J&amp;K. 
 According to a report filed by the Economic Times, the scheme named 'Udaan', originally conceived and operationalised during the UPA regime, has already helped provide jobs to 1,785 youths from J&amp;K in top Indian companies such as Accenture, Tata Consultancy Services and <keyword id="10862" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Wipro">Wipro</keyword> and nearly 5300 J&amp;K youth are being trained by various other prominent corporates. 
 From March 9, the report says, the <keyword id="6359327" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Home-Ministry">Home Ministry</keyword> started what an <keyword id="6354852" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="official">official</keyword> described was a "major step-up" in efforts to push the job scheme all over the state. "We started a mega recruitment drive from March 9 by taking corporates to the District Employment Exchange and Counseling Centres in various districts. Corporates have visited these exchanges in Budgam on March 9-10, Anantnag on March 12-13, Ganderbal on March 14-15, Baramullah on March 16-17, are visiting Doda on March 19-20 and are next headed to Kisthwar on March 21, Reasi on March 23 and Kathua on March 25-26. We are in full drive mode now," a <keyword id="1735963" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="senior-home-ministry-official">senior home ministry official</keyword> said. 
 Many corporates earlier visited J&amp;K after issuance of advertisements to set up camps every two months or so "as per their convenience", the official said. "It is now a much more sustained effort...the corporates are visiting the district employment exchanges after due tie-ups as many unemployed youth in J&amp;K may miss recruitment camps but remain in <keyword id="30450" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="Touch">touch</keyword> with employment exchanges. These exchanges also have a ready database," the <keyword id="151049" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="ministry-official">ministry official</keyword> told ET. 
 
More than 54 companies have till now committed to train nearly 68738 graduates and post-graduates in J&amp;K over the next four-five years and later offer them jobs as well, if they fit the bill. The cost of the training, boarding and lodging, is borne by the central government. If a candidate is selected for a job after completing training, the government reimburses the training cost to the company. 
 
(Image Courtesy: www.rushlane.com)

Finally ‘Udaan’ takes wings in J&K. 8 Mega
recruitment rallies in the foray for the state’s youth

The terrorists who waged war on Punjab are reckoned to have sneaked in from Pakistan through the border between <keyword id="2971285" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Jammu-and-Pathankot">Jammu and Pathankot</keyword> or <keyword id="2971286" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Chak-Hira">Chak Hira</keyword> in Jammu district to launch the assault. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Union+Home+Ministry">Union Home Ministry</a> sources said the terrorists may have entered into India at around midnight and hit the highway using Paharpur road, around 15 kms from the border to indulge in a killing spree that left six dead including an officer of the Punjab police. 
 
The terrorists involved in today's attacks wore <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Army">Army</a> uniforms and reached Parmanand village on the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Jammu+and+Kashmir+">Jammu and Kashmir </a>border and attempted to hijack a tempo at 5.30 AM. The tempo driver managed to flee. 
 
Image credit: Indiatimes

Gurdaspur
strike - Militants may have sneaked in from Pakistan

India, the largest democracy in the world unfortunately possesses a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/NarendraModi-forced-to-speak-on-farmer-suicide-opposition-cont-their-onslaught-on-Govt/articleshow/47026171.cms">government</a> that leaves a lot to be desired. Leaving no stone unturned to disappoint the very people it was elected to protect, the <keyword id="44734" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Indian-Government">Indian government</keyword> has time and again come up with laws and policies that make little or no sense. 
 The latest in line is Union Home Minister <keyword id="6355121" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Rajnath-Singh">Rajnath Singh</keyword>’s <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Independence-Day-Special-Rise-and-shine-of-the-Birla-empire-since-1857/articleshow/48401170.cms">Independence Day</a> announcement that a list of <keyword id="78804" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="sex-offenders">sex offenders</keyword> would be made publicly available on a national portal, to be launched soon, in order to keep the public alert. Additionally, the thinking is that these offenders can and will repeat their <keyword id="6380831" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Crimes">crimes</keyword> and hence need to be monitored. However, there’s a catch- this proposed list would also include names of offenders who are in the chargesheet stage, i.e., one does not have to be convicted of their crime to be proclaimed as a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/7-Surprising-Things-That-Could-Make-You-A-Sex-Offender/articleshow/23844883.cms">‘sex offender’</a> to the world. 
 The citizens’ portal on which the registry of sex offenders will be published is to be launched under the <keyword id="6359327" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Home-Ministry">home ministry</keyword>’s crime and criminals tracking network and systems project. 
 
Though legal experts have expressed doubts to the Home Ministry’s intention of ‘publicly naming and shaming’ offenders who aren’t convicted on the contention that it would cause irreversible harm to their reputation in the society and employment prospects once they are acquitted of all charges, the government has however responded with a weak reasoning of ‘their names would be removed once they are acquitted.’ This is because the home ministry does not feel that there exists a need to wait for due legal process. (Of course why would it need to?) 
 
Overruling the suggestion to only list names of offenders who are convicted is not just frightening but also an utter violation of privacy on the part of the government. 
 
Scorned lovers out to settle a score or a false accusation, a person can be wrongly implicated in so many ways. The government, however seems to completely overlook how its proposed system could be abused turning an innocent person’s life into hell, in front of the watchful eyes of the public, who would be pricy to all personal details. 
 
What the government also seems to be forgetting is that ‘removing the name of an accused once he/she has been acquitted of all charges’ doesn’t work in a country like India where no one forgets, even if the person in question is wrongly implicated. The jury is the people, not the courts. It is they who have the last word. 
 
There will be stares, stones thrown at their houses, unrelentless whispers and humiliation. We’re a nation famous for its public humiliation, wrongly implicated or not. Thus, how could we let this golden opportunity pass by? Like hungry vultures, we’ll make sure the individual in question has time for no other job other than hiding his/her faces in the deepest corner available. We’ll also make sure we bring up their caste and religion in the equation. 
 
Moreover, the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Despite-doing-business-worth-billions-of-dollars-with-China-Indian-Home-Ministry-jittery-in-granting-long-term-visas-to-Chinese-businessmen/articleshow/46781836.cms">home ministry’s</a> proposal of ‘naming and shaming’ those accused of sexual offences in the public domain is a stark contrast, if not an insult to the very principle on which our justice system is based upon- ‘innocent until proven guilty.’ Tarnishing the reputation of an individual between the period of him being chargesheeted and acquitted of all charges is inexcusable, even if it is for a short while. 
 
Thus, it goes without saying that the need of the hour is for the government to rethink its stance on including names of individuals who haven’t been convicted yet. Reason? If implemented, India will be the sole country with such a law. A handful of countries, including the United States of America, United Kingdom and Australia where such portals exist, list names of only convicted offenders. They are also known to classify these offenders in separate categories depending on the seriousness of the crime. But, again, these apply to convicted offenders only. 
 
No doubt, the government cracking down on offenders and toughening its stance is a step which needs to be welcomed and applauded, but it should remember that the tag of a ‘sex-offender’ has far-reaching consequences and thus use it judiciously. 
 
Image credit: Indiatimes

Why it is wrong on the part of the government to
propose ‘naming and shaming’ offenders who haven’t been convicted

India sure is feeling a little unsettled with <keyword id="1334" type="COUNTRY" weightage="80" keywordseo="China">China</keyword> having just doled out $46bn to Pakistan. No wonder this and <keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">Prime Minister</keyword> <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword>'s visit to China next month, is compelling the government not only to consider extending e-tourist <keyword id="6359421" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Visa">visa</keyword> facility to China, but also discussing its removal from the list of 'prior reference category' countries for conference visa and doing away with restriction of two-month interval between visits by Chinese nationals on tourist visa. 
 
Incidentally, though intelligence agencies maintain their reservations over easing of tourist visa norms for Chinese nationals, there is a realization within the home ministry that keeping China out of the list of 150 countries that will be granted e-tourist visa facility this fiscal would send a wrong signal. 
 
MHA frowns over 'visa on arrival' for Chinese tourists, brushes aside tourism ministry plan 
 
The home ministry, which reviewed the matter on Monday but failed to firm up its stand in the wake of stiff opposition from RAW and IB, will hold a final discussion with the foreign ministry later this week and place its comments "for final clearance at the highest level," government sources told TOI. 
 
According to intelligence agencies, allowing e-tourist visa, easing of the two-month restriction on consecutive visits made on tourist visas and doing away with the norm requiring home ministry's clearance for each conference visa application by a Chinese national was fraught with risks. The agencies cited overstay by Chinese citizens in India as well as past instances of some taking to spying. 
 
China excited about India's visa-on-arrival plan 
 However, there were counter-arguments as well at the meeting chaired by <keyword id="6447470" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="home-secretary">home secretary</keyword> L C Goyal. "There are bound to be protests from China if it is kept out of the list of countries eligible for e-tourist visa. Given that the list is set to include Algeria and Nigeria, both of which have a significant presence of terrorist elements, India will have to explain why China should be denied e-tourist visa on security grounds," a home ministry official said. 
 
China keeps India out of visa-free transit policy 
 
As for the fear of overstay, the official said Nigerians were a far bigger threat, as 1,589 of them were found to be overstaying in 2013 compared to 357 Chinese nationals. Sources said there was a strong likelihood of the intelligence agencies' reservations being overruled at the highest level, paving the way for an easier visa regime with China ahead of Modi's visit. This would include streamlining of normal visa regime with China based on reciprocity.

A nervous India to relax visa rules for Chinese soon

The <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Central+Bureau+of+Investigation+%28CBI%29+">Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)</a> is likely to probe the case of alleged violation of various sections of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) by the Indian arm of global NGO <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Greenpeace">Greenpeace</a>. The <keyword id="6359327" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Home-Ministry">Home Ministry</keyword> has approached CBI to set an inquiry against the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=NGO">NGO</a>. 
 
There may be divergent views within the ministry on the nature of probe to be ordered as even financial investigative agencies can carry out such probes. 
 However, it is reportedly said that the CBI probe is being justified on the ground that there is a need to investigate the proceeds of bank accounts used by <keyword id="6356502" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Greenpeace-India">Greenpeace India</keyword>. There is also a need to probe about the circulation of money across various accounts and then allegedly parking them in fixed deposits. 
 
The <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Home+Ministry+">Home Ministry</a> on September 2 had cancelled Greenpeace's FCRA registration citing alleged violations. "We have taken steps against Greenpeace India for FCRA violations, but during inspections we also came across other loopholes, which can be probed further only by a competent investigative agency. Also, there is an alternate opinion that the NGO could be given another chance and asked to rectify them," said an official familiar with the matter. 
 
Moreover, in its licence cancellation order, the ministry recorded that a Greenpeace representative was called personally "to explain the details of entries and transaction pertaining to source of FDRs (fixed deposit receipts) on August 19. However, instead of clarifying, the representative preferred to reply that they have already answered the queries at different forum". 
 
On Wednesday, the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Madras+High+Court+">Madras High Court</a> granted an interim stay for eight weeks on the cancellation of the NGO's registration under FCRA. "We are confident that we have a strong legal case to demonstrate that the MHA is acting without any justification," said Vinuta Gopal, co-executive director of Greenpeace India. 
 
The home ministry said it will study the order and appeal against the same. 
 
If a CBI inquiry is instituted against Greenpeace, it will be the second such case of alleged FCRA violation entrusted to the probe agency. 
 Earlier, the Home Ministry had ordered an inquiry into the affairs of Gujarat-based activist <keyword id="124413" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Teesta-Setalvad">Teesta Setalvad</keyword>'s NGO Sabrang Communications. CBI later registered an FIR against Setalvad and her husband and carried out raids. 
 
 Greenpeace India has been charged with transfer of funds from its designated FCRA accounts to other accounts and underreporting of receipts of overseas funding. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

Greenpeace is getting into further trouble! An investigation by the CBI can’t be easy

<ul><li>The <keyword id="6359327" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="home-ministry" source="Orion">Home Ministry</keyword> has announced that e-visas are mandatory for <keyword id="103498" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="afghan-nationals" source="Orion">Afghan nationals</keyword>.</li><li>All the Afghan nationals wishing to travel to India can apply for the e-visa on the official government portal.</li><li>India has reportedly rescued hundreds of people from <keyword id="6354541" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="afghanistan" source="Orion">Afghanistan</keyword> in the past one week. </li></ul>Amid the “prevailing security situation” in Afghanistan, India’s Home Ministry on Wednesday, August 25, said that all Afghan nationals henceforth must travel to India only on e-Visa. "Owing to the prevailing security situation in Afghanistan and streamlining of the visa process by introduction of the e-Emergency X-Misc visa, it has been decided that all Afghan nationals henceforth must travel to India only on e-Visa," the Home Ministry <a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1748786">said</a> in a statement. <div type="twitter" handle="PIBHomeAffairs" handlename="Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1268908506884628482/kzuhL7lj_normal.jpg" favoritecount="216" retweetcount="85" status="Owing to prevailing security situation in Afghanistan all Afghan nationals henceforth must travel to India only on… https://t.co/ykQcpJIbQY" createdat="1629873361000" id="1430418670975479814"></div> Afghan nationals wishing to travel to India may apply for e-Visa on the official website, the ministry said. The Ministry of Home Affairs’ press note also stated that, “Keeping in view some reports that certain passports of Afghan nationals have been misplaced, previously issued visas to all Afghan nationals, who are presently not in India, stand invalidated with immediate effect.” Earlier on August 17, India had announced that it would issue an <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/india-announces-emergency-e-visas-for-afghan-nationals-embassy-still-providing-consular-services/articleshow/85419633.cms">emergency e-Visa</a> to Afghan nationals who want to come to the country in view of the worrying situation in Afghanistan after the Taliban captured power there. "Afghan nationals wishing to travel to India may apply for an e-Visa at <a href="http://www.indianvisaonline.gov.in/">http://www.indianvisaonline.gov.in/</a> ," the government release stated. India has reportedly evacuated hundreds of people including Afghan nationals from Afghanistan in the past one week as people rush to leave the nation after the Taliban seized control last week. India has been reportedly allowed to operate two flights per day from Kabul to evacuate its nationals stranded in Afghanistan. SEE ALSO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/cadila-healthcare-to-launch-zycov-d-vaccine-for-12-year-old-and-above/articleshow/85564761.cms">Cadila Healthcare’s ZyCoV-D — This is what makes it different from other COVID-19 vaccines</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/paytm-ipo-delhi-court-asks-local-police-to-conclude-investigation-on-allegations-raised-by-former-one97-communications/articleshow/85564575.cms">Paytm IPO: Delhi court asks local police to conclude its investigation in three weeks</a>

You Searched For "Home Ministry" and got 8 results

Home Ministry sets one month deadline to decide on the fate of 1500 NGO registrations

BI India Bureau

Despite doing business worth billions of dollars with China, Indian Home Ministry jittery in granting long-term visas to Chinese businessmen

BI India Bureau

Finally ‘Udaan’ takes wings in J&K. 8 Mega recruitment rallies in the foray for the state’s youth

BI India Bureau

Gurdaspur strike - Militants may have sneaked in from Pakistan

BI India Bureau

Why it is wrong on the part of the government to propose ‘naming and shaming’ offenders who haven’t been convicted

Poulomi Das

A nervous India to relax visa rules for Chinese soon

BI India Bureau

Greenpeace is getting into further trouble! An investigation by the CBI can’t be easy

BI India Bureau

India says Afghan nationals should apply for e-visas from now on, existing visas invalidated

BI India Bureau

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