Over 6,000 NGOs In India Lose Foreign Funding Licence In 24 Hours

Home Ministry officials told NDTV reminders had been sent to all NGOs to apply for renewal but many had not done so. "How can permission be given..." an official asked

The FCRA licences of over 6,000 NGOs - required to be able to receive charitable contributions from abroad - expired overnight, the Home Ministry said Saturday morning, days after it refused to renew the licence for Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity.

Home Ministry sources claimed all NGOs whose licences had expired had not applied for renewal.

Ministry officials told NDTV reminders had been sent to all NGOs to apply for renewal before Friday, December 31, but many had not done so. "How can permission be given..." an official asked.

Apart from those mentioned, the staggeringly long list of NGOs includes the Tubercolosis Association Of India, the Indira Gandhi National Centre For Arts, and the India Islamic Cultural Centre.