New Delhi: The foreign funding of non-government organisations (NGOs) has plummeted drastically from Rs 17,773 crore in 2015-16 to Rs 6,499 crore in 2016-17, according to the government.

Union minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju also informed the Rajya Sabha that registration of 18,868 NGOs under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act were cancelled by the home ministry during 2011-17 for violating laws.

Rijiju said the quantum of foreign funding received by NGOs in India in the last three years are- Rs 15,299 crore in 2014-15, Rs 17,773 crore in 2015-16 and Rs 6,499 crore in 2016-17.

Currently, 10,000 FCRA-registered NGOs are in operation but the Centre has taken strict action against the NGOs which are flouting rules.

Licences of some big NGOs have been cancelled by MHA in last few years.

Recently, licence of 4,842 NGOs and organisations, including Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and Delhi's Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College were cancelled for failing to file annual returns from 2010-11 to 2014-15 despite several reminders.

It is mandatory for an NGO or an organisation that has been granted licence under FCRA to file returns of its foreign contribution receipts and expenditure records on an annual basis.