The Centre has told a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) that the proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act are not aimed at any particular community. Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan said the changes have been proposed primarily because of concerns related to national interest, internal security and law and order.
Mohan briefed the 31-member JPC on Friday as the panel began its examination of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026. The committee is headed by BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal and is expected to examine the proposed changes before submitting its report during the winter session of Parliament.
Several MPs raised concerns about the possible impact of the proposed legislation on minority organisations and NGOs. Representatives from opposition parties questioned whether the amendments could disproportionately affect organisations receiving foreign donations, particularly religious and minority groups.
Responding to these concerns, the Home Ministry maintained that the proposed legislation was not directed against any community. Officials described the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act as fundamentally linked to national security and said the government needs effective oversight of foreign funds entering India.
The proposed amendments seek to address several issues in the existing FCRA framework. According to the government, difficulties have arisen in managing assets belonging to organisations whose FCRA registrations have been cancelled or have ceased to remain valid. The Bill proposes a designated authority that could manage or dispose of such assets in specified circumstances.
The Home Ministry also told the committee that the existing system has created uncertainty over the management of assets when an organisation loses its registration. Under the proposed framework, the government wants clearer rules for handling foreign contributions and assets created from such funds.
The meeting also examined the role of foreign-funded NGOs. JPC chairman Sanjay Jaiswal questioned the activities of NGOs that had opposed major infrastructure projects, including the Sardar Sarovar dam in Gujarat and the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu. The discussions focused on whether foreign funding could influence activities connected with projects considered important to national interests.
The government also presented data on foreign contributions received by FCRA-registered organisations. In 2024-25, such organisations received ₹22,974 crore in foreign contributions. About ₹13,071 crore went towards social activities, ₹6,933 crore towards education and ₹1,841 crore towards religious purposes. The United States was the largest source of foreign contributions, accounting for ₹12,113 crore.
Of the funds received for religious purposes, Christian organisations received the largest share among religious groups, followed by Hindu organisations and Muslim organisations, according to figures presented to the committee.
The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in March and was referred to the JPC in August for detailed scrutiny following objections from opposition parties, civil society groups and religious organisations.
The JPC will continue examining the proposed amendments, with members expected to hear different views before preparing its report. The legislation has not yet completed the parliamentary process, and the committee's recommendations will form part of the further consideration of the Bill.
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