NEW DELHI, AUG 11 (PTI): The government is considering sending ‘The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026’ to a joint committee of both houses of Parliament, even as the Congress and some opposition parties have demanded that it be withdrawn, sources said on Tuesday.
The Congress and TMC were among the parties which raised the issue during the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee of the Rajya Sabha, though it was not part of the agenda, asking when the FCRA Bill will be taken up in the House, to which the government said a decision will be taken on it in due course of time.
The two parties demanded that the bill be withdrawn, but others like BJD feel the bill could be sent to a joint committee of Parliament for further scrutiny.
The DMK also wants the Bill to be withdrawn, the sources said.
The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25 this year and proposes tighter government oversight on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and foreign funding in the country.
Government sources said it is considering sending the Bill to a joint committee of both Houses of Parliament and a motion may be brought in the Lok Sabha in this regard on Wednesday.
The Bill seeks to create a designated authority to manage and dispose of assets if an organisation loses its FCRA licence.
The opposition parties which have raised strong objections to the FCRA Bill allege that it targets minorities as certain provisions will choke legitimate funding for Christian NGOs and minority-run social welfare and educational institutions.
But the government has made it clear that the proposed legislation is not religion-specific and is aimed at regulating foreign contributions.
The Business Advisory Committee of the Rajya Sabha was chaired by Chairman C P Radhakrishnan and attended by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and leader of the house J P Nadda and opposition leaders Jairam Ramesh (Cong), Tiruchi Siva (DMK) and Sasmit Patra (BJD).
During the meeting, the BAC allotted two hours for ‘The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026’; two hours for ‘The Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026’; three hours for ‘The National Co-operative Development Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2026’; and 1.5 hours for ‘The Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026.
Later, Deputy Chairman Harivansh announced the decisions of the business advisory committee in the House.
MP urges Centre to defer FCRA Bill
DIMAPUR, AUG 11 (NPN): Lok Sabha MP S. Supongmeren Jamir has urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to defer the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, until comprehensive consultations are held with stakeholders and political parties.
In a letter to Shah, Jamir expressed concern over the potential impact of the proposed legislation on India’s secular and diverse social fabric, particularly institutions engaged in education, healthcare, orphanage care, charitable activities and humanitarian services.
While acknowledging the need to regulate foreign contributions to safeguard national security, sovereignty and public order, he said the legislation should also protect legitimate institutions working for public welfare and development. Citing figures, Jamir said 22,498 FCRA registrations had been cancelled across the country, while 15,212 registrations could not be renewed and had expired. In Nagaland, he said, around 70% of the 262 FCRA registrations had been cancelled. He also referred to the latest FCRA portal figures cited by PRS Legislative Research as of July 15, which recorded 14,449 active FCRA certificates, 22,498 cancelled certificates and 15,212 certificates deemed expired. Jamir expressed particular concern over the proposed creation of a “Designated Authority” under the 2026 Bill.
He said the provision envisaged vesting, supervision, management and disposal of foreign contributions and assets of organisations whose FCRA certificates cease to exist through cancellation, surrender or non-renewal.
He cautioned that the provision could have serious consequences for institutions serving vulnerable sections, particularly where foreign contributions had been used to create educational, healthcare, charitable or other public-service infrastructure.
The MP said the proposed framework also needed careful examination in light of Article 300A of the Constitution, which provides that no person shall be deprived of property except by authority of law.
He stressed that legislation concerning property, charitable institutions and public welfare must provide adequate safeguards, transparency, accountability and due process.
“The proposed FCRA Bill, 2026 should not be taken up until all stakeholders and political parties are given an opportunity for wide consultation in the greater interest of the country,” Jamir said.
He maintained that organisations involved in education, healthcare, orphanage care, charity and humanitarian services performed important nation-building functions and should not be adversely affected by regulatory measures intended to prevent misuse of foreign contributions.
Jamir therefore urged the Centre to undertake extensive consultations before proceeding with the Bill and ensure that the final legislation balances national security and financial accountability with constitutional rights, humanitarian concerns and legitimate welfare activities of civil society organisations.