India Rejects US Congressman’s Criticism of FCRA Bill as ‘Internal Affairs’

NEW DELHI, August 7, 2026: India has rejected criticism from a US lawmaker over proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), saying that legislation governing foreign funding is an internal matter for Parliament.

The response came after US Republican Congressman Riley M. Moore of West Virginia criticised the proposed FCRA (Amendment) Bill, describing it as a “clear attack against Christians” and warning that its passage could have implications for India-US relations.

Responding on August 7, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said legislative decisions concerning India are taken by Parliament. He also noted that several countries, including the United States, have regulations governing foreign contributions.

“Legislative matters concerning India are our internal affairs on which decisions are taken by Parliament,” Jaiswal said.

Moore, in a post on X, expressed concern that the proposed amendments could have serious consequences for churches, Christian institutions and religious charities. He claimed that the legislation could allow the government to take control of assets belonging to churches and religious charities and said such measures could become a “major concern” in bilateral relations.

The proposed legislation has already faced opposition from political parties, civil society organisations and Christian bodies. The government introduced the Bill during the Budget Session in March, but its further consideration was deferred amid political opposition and concerns over several provisions.

Concern over foreign-funded assets

One of the most contentious provisions relates to assets belonging to organisations whose FCRA registration has been cancelled, surrendered or not renewed.

The Bill proposes the establishment of a designated authority that could assume control of assets acquired wholly or partly through foreign contributions. If such assets are permanently vested, the authority could use them for public purposes, transfer them to the government or sell them.

The proposed legislation, however, stipulates that where the asset is a place of worship, its religious character must be preserved.

The provision has raised concerns among voluntary organisations and religious institutions because the existing FCRA framework already gives the government powers to cancel registrations on several grounds. These include certain offences involving alleged forced or induced religious conversion, as well as activities deemed to promote communal tension or disharmony.

Christian organisations have expressed concern that expanded government powers could affect institutions engaged in education, healthcare, social welfare and humanitarian services.

Supporters of the amendments maintain that stronger regulation of foreign contributions is necessary to promote financial transparency, accountability and national security. Critics counter that wider state powers could undermine the autonomy of civil society organisations, charitable institutions and religious bodies.

Wider regulatory scrutiny

The controversy comes amid continuing changes to the regulatory framework governing foreign contributions. The government has already amended the FCRA Rules, introducing additional requirements for organisations receiving foreign funds, including greater specification of permitted activities and separate fees for different categories and states of operation.

For Christian organisations and other voluntary groups, the proposed amendments have therefore become a significant concern. Many fear that the new provisions could make the functioning of institutions dependent on foreign contributions more difficult and expose their assets and activities to greater regulatory scrutiny.

For the government, however, regulation of foreign contributions remains a sovereign legislative responsibility aimed at ensuring accountability and protecting national interests.

As Parliament prepares to take up the proposed amendments during the monsoon session, the debate is expected to continue over how India can reconcile financial transparency and national security with the independence of civil society organisations and religious institutions.

The controversy also underscores the growing international sensitivity surrounding foreign-funded organisations, religious freedom and the operating space available to faith-based charities in India.

Courtesy : The Wire

Picture Courtesy : Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 2.0