Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, leader of the religious body, advocates establishment of a ‘Hindu Rashtra’; Centre has given FCRA licences to six applicants in the ‘Religious (Hindu)’ category
New Delhi, April 16, 2026 — The Union Home Ministry has granted registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) to the Shri Bageshwar Jan Seva Samiti Gadha, the administrative and financial body of Baba Bageshwar Dham in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh. The approval allows the prominent Hindu religious organisation, led by self-styled godman Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, to legally receive foreign donations for religious, cultural, economic, educational, and social activities.
FCRA registration is mandatory for any non-governmental organisation (NGO) or association in India to accept foreign contributions. The licence, typically valid for five years, subjects the recipient to strict compliance norms, including detailed reporting on fund utilisation, maintenance of separate bank accounts, and restrictions on administrative expenses. The Bageshwar Dham body has been registered specifically under the ‘Religious (Hindu)’ programme, in addition to the other categories.
Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, also known as Bageshwar Dham Sarkar Acharya Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, is a Madhya Pradesh-based preacher who rose to prominence through his popular ‘Divya Darbar’ events, where he claims divine insight and conducts mass spiritual discourses. The 29-year-old godman is known for making bold and often inflammatory comments on religious matters and has repeatedly advocated for the establishment of a ‘Hindu Rashtra’ (Hindu nation). He enjoys significant political backing and has a dedicated section on his organisation’s website for receiving domestic donations.
Bageshwar Dham, located in Chhatarpur district, has grown into a major pilgrimage and spiritual centre attracting lakhs of devotees. Its main temple complex features elaborate shrines dedicated to deities like Hanuman and Ram, drawing crowds for devotional events and community service initiatives.
Context of the approvals: As of April 15, 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs has cleared FCRA registrations for 38 NGOs this year. Of these, six have listed ‘Religious (Hindu)’ as one of the programmes for which they sought foreign funding. Besides Shri Bageshwar Jan Seva Samiti Gadha, the others include:
Ramakrishna Mission centres in Bolpur, West Bengal, and Purnea, Bihar
Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan in Delhi
The Institution at Dharmasthala, Karnataka
Radha Soami Satsang in Agra, Uttar Pradesh
These organisations can now access overseas contributions while remaining under government oversight.
The development comes amid broader scrutiny of foreign funding in India. Over the past decade, the government has revoked or allowed to lapse the FCRA licences of more than 21,000 NGOs, citing violations such as fund diversion, non-compliance with reporting norms, or activities deemed prejudicial to national interest. A proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 — introduced in the recent Budget Session — seeks to give the Centre greater control over assets of NGOs whose licences are suspended or cancelled. The bill has drawn criticism from opposition parties and minority religious groups, who argue it could disproportionately affect certain organisations, though discussion on it has been deferred.
No official statement has been issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs or the Bageshwar Dham Samiti on the exact quantum of foreign funds expected or specific projects planned. However, the registration opens the door for international philanthropic support for the dham’s ongoing religious and social welfare activities, which include temple maintenance, education programmes, and community outreach.
The move has sparked mixed reactions online, with supporters hailing it as recognition of the organisation’s growing influence, while some critics have questioned the timing and selective approvals in the religious domain. As FCRA norms remain stringent, the Samiti will be required to file annual returns and undergo periodic audits to retain its licence.
This latest clearance underscores the government’s calibrated approach to regulating foreign contributions to religious bodies while allowing established Hindu organisations to expand their global outreach.
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