The government has referred the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for detailed scrutiny, amid concerns raised by Opposition parties over several proposed changes to the law.
The move means the legislation will undergo a closer examination by lawmakers before the government proceeds with its consideration in Parliament. The Bill had earlier been expected to come up in the Lok Sabha on August 12.
FCRA Bill Sent For Detailed Examination
The proposed legislation seeks to strengthen the government’s oversight of organisations receiving foreign contributions.
One of its key provisions is the proposed creation of a Designated Authority. The authority would be empowered to take control of foreign contributions and assets created using such funds if an organisation’s FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered or expires because it is not renewed.
The proposal has attracted attention from Opposition parties and organisations that could be affected by the changes.
What Happens To NGO Assets Under The Proposed Law?
Under the Bill, the proposed authority could take over the management of assets linked to foreign contributions after an organisation loses its FCRA registration.
The legislation, however, contains a specific provision for places of worship. If such a property comes under the authority’s control, its religious character would have to be preserved.
The government has also proposed a change in the punishment framework under the FCRA.
Jail Term For Violations Proposed To Be Reduced
The Bill proposes reducing the maximum imprisonment for violations of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act from five years to one year.
At the same time, the proposed changes would give authorities greater control over foreign-funded organisations whose FCRA registrations are no longer valid.
Mizoram Had Raised Concerns Over FCRA Changes
The proposed legislation had also triggered concerns in Mizoram, where Chief Minister Lalduhoma and representatives of church organisations met Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss the Bill.
One of the concerns raised during the meeting was whether the proposed changes could be applied retrospectively. The government indicated that the legislation would not operate retrospectively.
The referral to the JPC now gives lawmakers an opportunity to examine the provisions in detail before the Bill moves ahead.
FCRA Registration Numbers
According to data available on the FCRA portal, as of July 15, 2026, India had:
- 14,449 active FCRA certificates
- 22,498 cancelled certificates
- 15,212 certificates classified as expired
The JPC examination is expected to focus on the scope of the proposed Designated Authority, the handling of foreign-funded assets and the wider implications of the amendments for organisations registered under the FCRA.
