New Delhi : The government is expected to send the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, to a joint parliamentary committee for detailed examination following opposition concerns, government sources said on Tuesday.
The bill has not yet been listed on the Lok Sabha agenda for consideration or passage, though the government previously indicated it might be taken up on August 12. Opposition parties and Christian groups have expressed reservations over its provisions.
The bill seeks to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, which regulates the acceptance and use of foreign contributions by individuals, associations, and companies in India. It was introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25, 2026.
A key aspect of the bill is the establishment of a Designated Authority to supervise foreign contributions and assets of organisations whose FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered, or invalid. Under the proposed framework, when an organisation loses its FCRA registration, its foreign contributions and assets would initially vest provisionally with the Designated Authority. Should the organisation renew its registration within the prescribed period, its assets and unused funds would be returned; if not, the assets could become permanently vested with the Designated Authority.
The bill also introduces cessation of an FCRA certificate upon expiry, non-renewal, or refusal of renewal, addressing the treatment of assets and foreign contributions for defunct organisations or those whose registration ceases.
For assets such as places of worship, the Designated Authority must ensure their religious character is maintained. The bill provides for rights of revision and judicial appeal against orders made by the Designated Authority.
The legislation proposes to rationalise penalties, including reducing the maximum imprisonment for violations from five years to one year. Additionally, state agencies would require prior Central Government approval before conducting investigations under the FCRA.
A delegation of Christian and minority organisations met Union Home Minister Amit Shah to voice their concerns and request changes to the bill. Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma also presented regional concerns and recommendations, accompanied by Reverend John Raldosanga and Reverend Lalhmangaiha, leaders of church committees in Mizoram.
Christian representatives demanded the bill be withdrawn or referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for further scrutiny. Lalduhoma said he raised six issues with Shah and received assurance that the amendments would not have retrospective effect.
“The only thing that is very clearly mentioned to us is that it’s not going to be retrospective. That assurance was given to us, and the rest of the points will be given a paragraph-wise comment by him… the discussion on the 12th of this month in Parliament,” Lalduhoma stated.
A delegation led by DMK leader P Wilson also met Amit Shah, submitting a memorandum highlighting the impact of the legislation on religious minorities and civil society. The delegation noted that provisions like Section 14B and Chapter IIIA could result in automatic certificate cessation due to bureaucratic delays or minor technical non-compliances, triggering provisional and permanent vesting of assets in a state-notified Designated Authority.
The monsoon session of Parliament began on July 20 and is scheduled to conclude on August 13. The session has experienced daily adjournments amid opposition demands, including over Delhi Police action on protesters on July 20. Bills have been passed in the Lok Sabha largely without debate amid opposition protests.
