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Prime Minister Modi’s aggressive measures against NGOs, justified under FATF compliance, have led to a severe funding crunch and operational challenges for civil society in India.

Foreign funds donated to Indian NGOs fell 87% over two years, from Rs 16,490 crore in 2018-19 to Rs 2,190 crore in 2019-20, as the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi tightened an already opaque law, which has disallowed foreign donations to more than 16,000 such organisations. As the income of the poorest 20% of Indian households halved since 2016—the first such decline in 31 years—we report how the government is criminalising thousands of NGOs and hindering assistance to its poorest during a pandemic.

India’s implementation of the UAPA, ostensibly to meet FATF standards, has led to thousands of arrests but few convictions, raising alarm about potential misuse and overreach.

Several NGOs and relief organisations have urged the central government to temporarily relax or suspend FCRA rules as it will help them receive foreign funding to help people during the second Covid-19 wave. Here is all you need to know.

PM Narendra Modi on Sunday said that he is a victim of a conspiracy by non-governmental organisations to “finish” him and remove his government.