Golden Temple gets FCRA Registration

The Union Home Ministry recently granted Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration to Gurdwara Harmandir Sahib, or the Golden Temple, in Amritsar. It will now enable the Golden Temple to receive foreign donations. The foreign contribution can be used by the Sikh shrine for providing financial and medical assistance to the needy. It can also be used to organise langar which is a free community kitchen.

Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010

The FCRA Act is implemented by Ministry of Home Affairs. The act regulates the foreign funding of voluntary organizations in India. Under the Act, donating organisations need to register themselves every five years. A person with a definite cultural, economic, educational, religious or social programme can accept foreign contribution after registration or permission from the Central Government. However, election candidate, Member of any legislature (MP and MLAs), Political parties, publishers of a registered Newspaper, Judge, government servant or employee of any corporation owned by the government cannot accept the foreign contributions.

About Golden Temple

The Golden Temple is a Gurudwara located in Amritsar, Punjab. It is also known as Harmandir Sahib which means abode of God. It is also referred as Darbar Sahib which means exalted court. Guru Ram Das acquired the land for the construction. The Gurudwara has been built around a man-made pool, which was completed by the Guru Ram Das, who happens to be fourth Sikh Guru, in 1577. Guru Arjan initiated the construction of the Golden Temple in 1581. The gurdwara, in present day, is administered by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) and controlled by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

Month: Current Affairs - September, 2020