FCRA licence revoked for 700 NGOs in Gujarat

Gujarat is home to 1,125 organisations having FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) licences, out of which a total of 700 licences have been cancelled till the date.

Indian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) often get funds from foreign sources and donors. The Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) governs this financial aid or contribution from foreign nations.

Data reveals that the centre has cancelled around 20,000 FCRAs across the nation until Feb 4, 2024.

In Gujarat, a total of 153 Christian organisations receive funds from foreign sources, while 127 are non-Christian organisations. A total of 845 educational and 863 social organisations receive funds from foreign.

As per 2021–2022 data, Gujarat received a total foreign donation of ₹1,496.2 cr, while Delhi stood first with ₹5,806 cr foreign donations.

Tamil Nadu saw the highest number of FCRA cancellations with 2,580 licence cancellations, followed by 2,025 in Andhra Pradesh and 2,025 in West Bengal.

Earlier in 2015, the centre cancelled FCRA licences for 10,000 NGOs.

More than one licence registration by the organisations have attracted a large number of cancellations. Notably, the FCRA licence is supposed to be renewed every five years. As per 2019-2021 data, a total of 783 organisations applied for the renewal of licences.

Last month, the home ministry cancelled the FCRA licence of a notable think tank, the Centre for Policy Research (CPR), where Yamini Aiyar, daughter of Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar, is the president and chief executive.

As per the home ministry’s sources, the FCRA licence for CPR has been cancelled due to a violation of rules. Earlier, income tax surveys were done on this think tank, and the home ministry suspended its licence last year, which is now cancelled.