Following widespread objections from civil society groups and state assemblies, the Union Government moved a motion in the Lok Sabha to refer the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 to a 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).

Updates

  • Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs.
  • Legislative Body: Lok Sabha (referred to a 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee).
  • Original Introduction: Introduced in Lok Sabha on March 25, 2026.
  • Core Object: Establishes a statutory authority to manage and dispose of assets belonging to NGOs whose FCRA registrations lapse or get cancelled.

Key Provisions of the 2026 Amendment Bill

  • Creation of Designated Authority: Establishes a government-appointed Designated Authority to take over, manage, and dispose of foreign contributions and assets of defunct or cancelled organizations.
  • Protection of Religious Character: Mandates that if a seized asset is a place of worship, the Designated Authority must preserve its religious character.
  • Penal Rationalisation: Reduces the maximum penalty for non-compliance under the Act from 5 years of imprisonment to 1 year.
  • Automatic Asset Vesting: Vests the assets of an organization with the government immediately upon cancellation, surrender, or non-renewal of its registration certificate.

About the FCRA

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 regulates the acceptance and use of foreign contributions and hospitality by individuals and associations, to protect India's electoral politics, public servants, and public policy from undue foreign influence. Its registration, banking-channel, and expenditure-cap rules are covered in full in the linked concept below.

Source: The Hindu