India FCRA Amendment Bill parliamentary review

A 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), chaired by BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal, is reviewing the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026. The legislation seeks to enhance government oversight, transparency, and financial accountability for NGOs, educational institutions, and think tanks receiving foreign grants.

Following an inaugural meeting on September 18 where Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan outlined the policy framework, the JPC held a second meeting on September 29. This session included clause-wise briefings from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Law and Justice, alongside testimony from stakeholders such as the State Bank of India Chairman and the Additional Solicitor General of India.

During recent deliberations, Chairman Jaiswal noted that several major provisions mirror those enacted under the UPA government in 2010. A key distinction noted was that while the 2010 Act empowered home secretaries or state principal secretaries to confiscate assets of violating NGOs, the new bill proposes transferring this power to a designated authority.

The committee has consulted a diverse range of stakeholders, including the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and various religious organizations such as the Syro Malabar Church, Ramakrishna Math, ISKCON, the Catholic Bishops Conference of India, and the All India Christian Council. While the government maintains the bill prevents the misuse of funds for activities like “forced religious conversions,” opposition members have expressed concerns regarding the potential targeting of minority-run institutions. The JPC is expected to submit its report to the Lok Sabha by the end of the first week of the 2026 Winter Session.