New Delhi: The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 was formally referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on Wednesday after the government moved a motion to this effect in Parliament amid fierce protest by Opposition MPs.
The motion was accepted through a voice vote amid fierce protests.
During the proceedings, a fierce faceoff took place between Samajwadi Party chief and MP Akhilesh Yadav and parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju, as reported by India Today.
The entire Opposition opposed the FCRA Bill and questioned the government over bringing a legislation that, according to him, targeted minorities, Yadav said.
He was then challenged by Rijiju to point out any provision that targeted minorities. The minister accused Yadav of misleading the House.
Union minister of state for home Nityanand Rai moved the motion to refer the FCRA Bill to a JPC in the Lok Sabha after the House resumed proceedings following its adjournment in the morning.
The Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25, seeks to amend the FCRA, 2010, which regulates the acceptance and utilisation of foreign contributions by individuals, associations and companies in India.
It was taken up for discussion on Wednesday, leading to the fracas. Christian representatives had earlier met Union home minister Amit Shah and sought either withdrawal of the Bill or its referral to a JPC, citing concerns over its provisions, as reported by The Times of India.
Mizoram chief minister Lalduhoma had met Shah, during which he raised regional concerns and submitted recommendations on the proposed legislation. Lalduhoma was accompanied by Reverend John Raldosanga, chairman of the Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitu Committee (MKHC), and Reverend Lalhmangaiha, general secretary of the Council of Churches in Mizoram (CCM).
“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 had said.
A delegation led by DMK leader P Wilson had also met Shah and submitted a memorandum raising concerns that the proposed legislation “impacts religious minorities and civil society”.
It flagged provisions including Section 14B and Chapter IIIA, arguing that delays on the FCRA online portal or minor technical non-compliances could lead to automatic cessation of registration and trigger the provisional or permanent vesting of assets with a state-notified Designated Authority.
The Bill proposes the creation of a Designated Authority to oversee foreign contributions and assets belonging to organisations whose FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered or ceases to remain valid.
An organisation losing its FCRA registration would initially have its foreign contributions and assets vested provisionally with the Designated Authority, the Bill says. If its registration is restored or renewed within the prescribed period, the assets and unused foreign funds would be returned. Otherwise, the assets could vest permanently with the authority.
It also provides for cessation of an FCRA certificate following its expiry, non-renewal or refusal of renewal, including in cases where an organisation becomes defunct or its registration ceases.
The proposed law requires the Designated Authority to preserve their religious character for assets such as places of worship. It also provides for revision and judicial appeal against orders issued by the authority.
The Bill proposes changes to the penalty framework as well, including reducing the maximum imprisonment for violations from five years to one year. It further proposes that state agencies obtain prior approval from the Centre before launching investigations under the FCRA.
The Tamil Nadu Assembly has, meanwhile, adopted a state government sponsored resolution urging the Centre to withdraw the proposed FCRA Amendment Bill, alleging it may adversely affect the autonomy of charitable organisations and functioning of institutions run by minorities.
