There are more than 500 centers of varying sizes around the world. Srila Prabhupada instructed that every center should have a separate legal registration. However, considering the legal situation in India and other complexities due to cultural differences, Srila Prabhupada wanted all the centers of ISKCON to be branches of the society that he registered in Mumbai. (In a few other countries they also have a single legal registration with many centers included.)
The ISKCON Bureau (Governing Council) is the sole legal authority for ISKCON India. It controls all legal affairs and is responsible for the maintenance and protection of ISKCON’s assets.
The IIAC (ISKCON INDIA ADVISORY COMMITTEE) was created by the Bureau as a more or less representative body focused on national affairs. Its mandate is:
i) To serve as a forum for increasing coordination and development of an overall national strategy for carrying out the objects of the society/trust.
ii) To develop policies for the conduct of the affairs of the society, except that if any such policy touches on essential matters that can only be decided by the Bureau then such policy shall have no force and effect unless confirmed by resolution of the Bureau.
iii) To perform all such other functions and exercise all such powers as may be assigned to it from time to time by the resolution of the Bureau.
iv) To establish offices, standing committees, etc., as it deems necessary for effectively carrying out its assigned powers and duties.
v) To give a full report to the Bureau of all of its activities, as well as the activities of its delegated sub-units, on a timely basis.
The ICC is a forum for national cooperation and coordination, and its endorsement is sought for all expenditure on national affairs, such as the Bureau Office budget.
Divisional Councils are empowered by the Bureau to set policies for and coordinate activities within their respective divisions — north, south, east, and west — and are responsible to implement the national policies of the IIAC in their respective divisions.
Zonal and Regional Secretaries set policies and coordinate activities within their respective zones and areas and also personally oversee the activities of the centers.
The following explanation will help to clearly understand the functioning of various levels of authority of ISKCON in India. Though there are various levels of authorities, we can observe that there is no overlap in execution,etc.
The GBC Body may set a new standard that requires some adjustment of local policies.
An international minister may visit the center and offer advice how to improve in a certain area.
The Bureau requires submission of the center’s audited accounts by a certain deadline and according to a certain format. It sends an internal auditor from time to time to check on legal and administrative matters. It also bills the center for a prorated portion of its expenses.
The Calendar Committee calculates on which days to observe Ekadasis and festivals.
The ICC may inform you of developments in other centers that may inspire you how to improve the local preaching, or declare a national festival and encourage the center‘s participation.
The Divisional Council may tell the center that it can‘t open up a new extension center in a nearby city until the conflicts within the local management are sorted out and some of the center’s weaker
departments are strengthened. It may tell the center where its traveling bus parties can go to and where they can’t, and how much those traveling parties have to charge for Bhagavad Gita during the marathon.
The Zonal Secretaries will fill any vacancies in the top management of the center and work with the center to devise preaching priorities.
The Temple President and other office bearers are to execute the decisions made at the local level.