The Centre is likely to refer the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for detailed examination amid concerns raised by Opposition parties, Christian organisations and other stakeholders over some of its provisions, according to reports. The development comes as the Bill has not been listed for consideration in the Lok Sabha during the remaining days of the Monsoon Session. The government has also sounded out Opposition parties on the possibility of sending the legislation to a parliamentary panel.
The Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25, seeks to make further changes to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, which governs the receipt and utilisation of foreign contributions by organisations and individuals in India. Opposition parties have raised objections to several provisions and sought greater parliamentary scrutiny before the legislation is taken up for passage. The Congress and other Opposition parties have pushed for changes, while some leaders have called for the Bill to be withdrawn altogether. NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule had earlier urged the Centre to either withdraw the legislation or send it to a JPC.
Several Christian organisations and minority groups have also opposed the proposed changes, arguing that some provisions could adversely affect charitable, educational, medical and religious institutions receiving foreign contributions. A delegation representing Christian denominations, minority organisations and charitable institutions recently met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and submitted a clause-wise representation outlining its objections.
Among its demands was the withdrawal of the Bill or its referral to a JPC along with a broader examination of the existing FCRA framework. Chief Ministers Neiphiu Rio of Nagaland and Lalduhoma of Mizoram have also sought parliamentary committee scrutiny of the proposed amendments.
One of the contentious areas relates to what happens to assets created using foreign contributions when an organisation's FCRA certificate ceases to remain valid. The proposed legislation provides for an FCRA certificate to be deemed to have ceased under specified circumstances, including failure to seek renewal or denial of renewal. Assets created from foreign contributions could then vest with a designated authority. An analysis by PRS Legislative Research has flagged questions over the framework, including the absence of an appeal mechanism in cases where renewal is denied and the implications for organisations that no longer depend on foreign funds but retain assets created through such contributions.
The Centre has maintained that the proposed changes are intended to strengthen transparency and accountability in the regulation of foreign contributions. Amid apprehensions over the legislation, Shah had assured representatives who met him that the proposed amendments would not operate retrospectively. The Ministry of External Affairs has also defended India's right to amend the FCRA, describing the legislation as an internal matter after criticism emerged from abroad. A referral to a JPC would allow lawmakers from both Houses to examine the Bill in greater detail, hear stakeholders and recommend changes before the legislation returns to Parliament for further consideration.