Stalin Urges Centre to Withdraw FCRA Amendment Bill, Seeks Parliamentary Review

CHENNAI, August 8, 2026: DMK president M.K. Stalin has urged the Union government to withdraw the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, and called for a comprehensive parliamentary review of the country’s foreign funding regulations amid growing concerns among minority and faith-based organisations.

Stalin’s demand followed a meeting between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and a delegation of the Joint Action Forum on Minorities on August 6. The delegation, led by DMK Rajya Sabha MP P. Wilson and comprising religious leaders from different denominations, sought the withdrawal of the Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha in March.

The delegation also called for the repeal of Section 15 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010. Alternatively, it proposed that the amendment Bill, along with a comprehensive review of the functioning of the FCRA, be referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).

The issue returned to the spotlight on August 8 when Christian bishops and representatives of minority organisations met Stalin at his residence in Teynampet, Chennai. Following the meeting, Stalin said the Christian leaders had expressed appreciation for the DMK’s efforts to oppose the proposed amendments.

The developments come amid concerns among sections of civil society and religious organisations over provisions they say could affect institutions receiving and utilising foreign contributions for charitable, educational, social and religious activities.

Proposed Changes

The FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026, proposes the creation of a Designated Authority to oversee foreign contributions and assets acquired using such funds when an organisation’s FCRA registration has been cancelled, surrendered or has expired.

One of the proposed provisions concerns places of worship. Where assets under the authority’s oversight include a place of worship, its religious character would be required to be preserved.

The Bill also proposes reducing the maximum imprisonment for certain statutory violations from five years to one year.

The FCRA governs the receipt and utilisation of foreign contributions by a broad range of entities, including non-governmental organisations, charitable institutions, academic bodies, religious trusts and affiliated organisations.

Demand for JPC Examination

Stalin and the Joint Action Forum have argued that the proposed amendments should not be considered in isolation from the broader functioning of the FCRA.

They have called for a comprehensive review of the law and urged the government to refer the amendment Bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee. Such a review, they maintain, would provide a forum for concerns raised by civil society and minority organisations to be examined through wider parliamentary consultation.

The delegation has also specifically sought the repeal of Section 15 of the existing FCRA.

Foreign Funding Under Review

The debate assumes significance given the scale of foreign contributions regulated under the legislation. Ministry of Home Affairs data cited in the source material indicates that 13,520 entities received foreign remittances totalling ₹55,741 crore between 2019 and 2022.

As of July 15, 2026, India had 14,449 active FCRA registrations, while 22,498 registrations had been cancelled and 15,212 had expired, according to official records.

The figures highlight the reach of the FCRA across organisations engaged in charitable, educational, social and religious activities.

The DMK’s intervention adds a political dimension to the ongoing debate over the proposed amendments. With minority organisations and religious leaders pressing for changes to the Bill and greater parliamentary scrutiny, the demand for either its withdrawal or referral to a Joint Parliamentary Committee is likely to remain a significant point of discussion as the legislation moves forward.

Courtesy : ANI News

Picture Courtesy : MK Stalin X account (@mkstalin)