Published Aug 12, 2026 | 7:49 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 12, 2026 | 7:59 PM
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju rejected the allegations and stressed that the Bill did not include any provision targeting the minority.
Synopsis: The Lok Sabha has referred the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, to a 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee. The Bill proposes government control over foreign-funded assets when organisations lose FCRA registration. Opposition parties criticised the Bill as targeting NGOs and minority institutions.
The Lok Sabha on Wednesday, 12 August, referred the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) comprising 31 members for detailed scrutiny amid concerns raised by NGOs and minority organisations.
The motion to send the Bill to the JPC was moved by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, although Union Home Minister Amit Shah was listed in the schedule. The absence of Shah sparked criticism from the Opposition, with Congress MP KC Venugopal raising the matter during a brief discussion on the Bill.
Venugopal demanded the withdrawal of the Bill, claiming that it was intended to target minorities in the country.
“This is clearly for targeting minorities and NGOs. We demand that the Bill be withdrawn,” he said.
Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav said the Opposition was united in opposing the legislation and termed it “anti-minority.”
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju rejected the allegations and stressed that the Bill did not include any provision specifically targeting a minority community. India is not a “banana republic,” the minister said while maintaining that the proposed changes were intended to regulate foreign contributions rather than target any particular community.
“If they (Opposition) have any reservations about the Bill, they can speak in the JPC. This is not targeted at any minority community,” he said.
Also Read: Foreign funds, lost licences, seized assets: Human cost of FCRA 2026 Bill
According to the motion, the JPC will comprise 21 Lok Sabha members and 10 Rajya Sabha members. The LS members will be nominated by the Speaker and the RS members will be nominated by the Rajya Sabha Chairman. Its report is expected to be tabled in the Parliament by the first week of the Winter Session.
The Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25, proposes significant changes to the existing Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010. One of its central provisions is the creation of a government-appointed ‘designated authority’ to which foreign contributions and assets created from such contributions could be provisionally vested when an organisation’s FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered or seized.
If an organisation fails to obtain, renew or restore its registration within the prescribed period, the Bill provides for the permanent vesting of the foreign contribution and assets with the designated authority. The authority could subsequently transfer such assets to a government ministry, department or authority.
The Bill has faced opposition from political parties, civil society organisations and religious groups over its possible implications for minority-run educational, charitable and religious institutions.
(Edited by Fayisa CA)
