Amid backlash, Centre set to refer FCRA Bill to JPC

Faced with demands to scrap the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, from different corners of the country on Tuesday — including a unanimous resolution passed in the Tamil Nadu Assembly and mass protests in the streets of Mizoram’s capital — the Union government informed its allies and other parties that it would move a resolution in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday to refer the Bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee, sources said.

Moving the resolution urging the Centre to withdraw the Bill in its present form, Tamil Nadu Minister Rajamohan said the Assembly was deeply concerned by provisions in the legislation relating to the transfer, management, and sale of assets of charitable organisations to the government on grounds such as expiry of FCRA registration, non-renewal or refusal of renewal, cancellation of registration, or surrender of registration. “These provisions may adversely affect the autonomy of charitable organisations and, in particular, the functioning of educational and social welfare institutions run by the minority communities,” the resolution said, urging the Centre to undertake comprehensive consultations with all stakeholders, including State governments.

Fears that Christian institutions will be disproportionately affected by the Bill overflowed onto the streets in Mizoram, one of the three Christian-majority States in the country. Hundreds of Christians from different denominations participated in a rally in Aizawl under the newly formed Council of Churches in Mizoram. The Bill would give a designated authority sweeping powers over the land, buildings, funds, and other assets of churches and NGOs whose FCRA registrations are cancelled or not renewed, without judicial oversight, said R. Lalbiakliana, the council’s president.

The Bill came up for discussion at a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee of the Rajya Sabha, but the government made no commitments at the meeting, despite strong Opposition objections.

According to sources, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju raised the issue at the meeting. Congress general secretary and Rajya Sabha Chief Whip Jairam Ramesh pointed out that the Bill was not on the agenda and said the Opposition was of the view that it should be withdrawn. Trinamool Congress deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha Sagarika Ghose echoed the demand. DMK leader Tiruchi Siva also strongly opposed the Bill. “The FCRA Bill in its current form is unacceptable to us. Sending it to a Joint Parliamentary Committee will not serve any purpose,” he told The Hindu.

Sources said Mr. Rijiju did not make any commitment about the fate of the Bill, despite the Opposition insisting that a decision be taken at the meeting. However, the government later informed allies and other parties that it would move a resolution in the Lower House to refer the Bill to a JPC, according to sources.

BJP MP Sasmit Patra, who attended the meeting as a special invitee in his capacity as a member of the panel of chairpersons, is learnt to have argued that the Bill should be referred to a JPC for another round of scrutiny.

The Tamil Nadu Assembly resolution said that “any amendment must preserve the principles of natural justice, proportionality, protection of property rights, legitimate expectation, and federalism. While ensuring transparency and accountability in foreign contributions, it must protect the rights of legitimate charitable, educational, religious, cultural and social welfare organisations.”

Asset seizure threat

The Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25, proposes tighter government oversight of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and foreign funding in the country.

Among its key provisions is the creation of a designated authority to manage and dispose of assets if an organisation loses its FCRA licence. Under the proposed law, if an FCRA certificate is cancelled, surrendered, or lapses, foreign contributions and all assets created using those contributions would vest in a government-appointed designated authority without any prior hearing or judicial determination.

The Bill also provides that if a fresh certificate is not obtained within a prescribed period, these assets could be sold or transferred to a government department, with the proceeds credited to the Consolidated Fund of India. The existing right to reclaim assets upon re-registration would be removed, and the founding institution would be permanently barred from reacquiring them.

Opposition parties have argued that the Bill disproportionately affects minority institutions, alleging that some of its provisions would restrict legitimate foreign funding for Christian NGOs and minority-run welfare and educational institutions. The government, however, has maintained that the proposed legislation is not religion-specific and is intended to strengthen the regulation of all foreign contributions.

Published – August 11, 2026 09:52 pm IST