In a fresh move, the government has cancelled the licences of 2,406 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) across the country, which includes entities that run schools and hospitals.

New Delhi: In a fresh move, the government has cancelled the licences of 2,406 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) across the country, which includes entities that run schools and hospitals.

In the wake of the cancellation of their registrations, the NGOs would not be able to receive foreign funds.

According to official data, Maharashtra tops the list with the cancellation of licences of 964 NGOs followed by Uttar Pradesh with 740 and Karnataka with 614. The licences of 88 NGOs were cancelled in Tamil Nadu.

These cancellations have taken place between June 19 till today, officials said.

The decision to cancel the registration of these entities under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act was taken by the Union Home Ministry after the NGOs allegedly failed to submit their annual returns and in view of other anomalies.

All the organisations were given proper notice by the Foreigners' Division of the Home Ministry with adequate time to reply before their FCRA licences were cancelled, official sources said.

Meanwhile, in a related move, Caritas International, linked to the Vatican, may be put on a watch list and it would have to seek prior permission before receiving funds from abroad, official sources said, adding that the bankers of the NGO would be notifying them.

However, a spokesman for the NGO denied having received any such notice and said that the organisation has complied with all laid-down norms.

In two earlier rounds of crackdown this year, licences of nearly 13,470 NGOs were cancelled for alleged violation of FCRA.

PTI