New Delhi, Sept. 18 -- The number of active NGOs registered under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) has fallen by nearly half over the past decade, even as foreign contributions received by such organisations have increased by more than Rs 5,000 crore, according to data presented by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) before a Joint Parliamentary Committee examining proposed amendments to the law.

MHA officials, led by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, told the 31-member JPC, headed by BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal, that 14,466 FCRA-registered NGOs are currently active across 15 states. The figure stood at 29,022 in 2015.

Despite the decline in the number of active organisations, foreign contributions rose from Rs 17,832 crore in 2015-16 to Rs 22,974 crore in 2024-25. Tamil Nadu has the largest number of active FCRA associations at 2,102, followed by Maharashtra with 1,578, Karnataka with 1,355, Delhi with 1,218, Andhra Pradesh with 1,022 and Kerala with 1,013.

Under the FCRA, organisations receiving foreign contributions are required to register with the MHA, which serves as the nodal authority.

The data showed that religious associations received Rs 5,150 crore of the foreign contributions in 2024-25. Christian associations accounted for Rs 1,345 crore, followed by Hindu NGOs at Rs 328 crore. Non-religious associations received Rs 60 crore, Buddhist organisations Rs 51 crore and Muslim groups Rs 19 crore.

The United States was the largest source of foreign contributions, accounting for Rs 12,113 crore, followed by the UK at Rs 2,414 crore, Germany at Rs 1,782 crore, Switzerland at Rs 733 crore and Singapore at Rs 669 crore.

Among states and Union territories, Delhi received the highest amount at Rs 5,834 crore, followed by Karnataka at Rs 3,164 crore, Maharashtra at Rs 2,385 crore and Tamil Nadu at Rs 2,313 crore. Christian associations received the largest share in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, while Hindu NGOs accounted for the largest share in Gujarat, Delhi and Tamil Nadu.

The MHA also informed the committee that Rs 35,968 crore in foreign contributions remained unutilised in 2024-25. Of this, Rs 21,140 crore was held in fixed deposits, Rs 8,394 crore in utilisation accounts and Rs 6,377 crore in designated accounts.

Between 2022 and 2024, one NGO received more than Rs 500 crore, while 14 received between Rs 100 crore and Rs 500 crore and 294 received between Rs 10 crore and Rs 50 crore. Another 4,508 NGOs received between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 50 lakh.

The government has cancelled the FCRA registration of 21,983 NGOs so far. Of these cancellations, 91.3 per cent were for failure to file annual returns, 7.9 per cent for inactivity and 0.4 per cent for legal violations.

After the meeting, Jaiswal said the home secretary briefed members on the rationale, objectives and likely impact of the proposed amendments on NGOs, educational institutions, think tanks and other entities receiving foreign funds.

"The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere, and the MPs raised questions. We have the mandate to submit the report before Winter Session. We will succeed in doing that," he said.

Opposition MPs, however, raised objections to a provision that would allow a government-designated authority to permanently take over the assets of NGOs whose registrations are cancelled, surrendered or which cease to function.

The bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25 and referred to the JPC on August 12 after opposition parties sought detailed scrutiny.

They have alleged that some provisions could disproportionately affect Christian NGOs and minority-run welfare and educational institutions. The government has rejected the allegations, saying the proposed law is not religion-specific and seeks to regulate foreign contributions, improve transparency and ensure proper utilisation of funds.

While introducing the bill, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said it would address misuse of foreign funding, including for forced religious conversion and personal gain.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.