New Delhi, Jan 25 : The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has approved Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licenses for actor Sonu Sood’s NGO, the Sood Charity Foundation, the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA), and the Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan. These licenses, valid for five years, allow the organizations to receive and utilize foreign funds amid tightened regulations, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The Sood Charity Foundation, which focuses on education, healthcare, environmental initiatives, and supporting the underprivileged, rose to prominence during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 when actor Sonu Sood arranged free transportation for stranded migrant workers across India. Despite facing allegations of ₹20 crore tax evasion and FCRA violations following an Income Tax Department raid in 2021, the foundation continues its philanthropic activities. The foundation did not provide a comment at the time of this report.
TIPA, established by the 14th Dalai Lama in Kalimpong in 1959 and headquartered in McLeod Ganj, has also received approval to fund its cultural preservation efforts. The institute is dedicated to promoting traditional Tibetan folk music, dance, and opera. Officials confirmed that TIPA’s license will support its cultural initiatives, though no official response from the institute was available at the time of publication.
The Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan also secured an FCRA license, ensuring the continuation of its operations with the support of foreign contributions.
This development underscores the government’s ongoing evaluation and regulation of entities eligible for foreign funding under the FCRA.
