FCRA Bill sent to JPC for review

The Government on Wednesday sent the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 to a Joint Committee of Parliament (JPC) for a detailed review and possible suggestions amid strong protest by the Opposition.

The committee is proposed to be comprised of 31 members, with 21 from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha. It will submit a report to the Lok Sabha in the first week of the Winter Session.

The Bill empowers the Government to create an authority to take over the management of foreign contributions and assets created using foreign contributions when an organisation’s FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered, or ceases because it is not renewed.

The Opposition has been claiming that the Bill will target NGOs and minority institutions, while the Government has rubbished the charge. Congress leader KC Venugopal and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav dubbed the bill “anti-minority” and demanded its withdrawal.

“The Bill is against NGOs and minority institutions who are doing good work,” Venugopal said. He was joined by Yadav, who said: “The entire Opposition is against the Bill and it must be withdrawn.”

The Opposition also questioned the absence of Home Minister Amit Shah, as the resolution on sending the FCRA bill to the JPC was earlier listed against his name in the Supplementary List of Business of the Lok Sabha.

Amid mounting criticism, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) clarified on July 22 that the designated authority would manage only assets created from foreign contributions, and only after an organisation’s registration has lawfully ceased.

As Minister Rai rose to move the resolution to send the Bill to JPC, the Opposition benches opposed it vehemently. Responding to the Opposition’s charge, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Opposition should welcome the move to send the bill to the JPC, as they will get a chance to put across their points before the panel.

He also rejected the contention that the bill is anti-minority. “Show me one provision in the bill which is against the minorities of the country,” he challenged the Opposition.