The Centre for Policy Research (CPR), a prominent public policy think tank that collaborates with various state governments and Central ministries, has faced another setback. Just four months after having its license for receiving foreign donations revoked, CPR has now lost its tax exemption status, which it had maintained for nearly five decades.
CPR’s President, Yamini Aiyar, described this development as a “debilitating blow.” The think tank received a show-cause notice from Income Tax (IT) authorities in December, accusing it of engaging in activities that deviated from the registered objectives and conditions.
According to the IT authorities, CPR’s involvement in the Hasdeo movement against coal mining in the Chhattisgarh forests, as well as the allocation of funds amounting to Rs 10.19 crore (since 2016) for its Namati-Environmental Justice Program, predominantly for filing litigation and complaints, were cited as the activities that led to the cancellation of its tax exemption status.
