India says FCRA is an internal matter:Other countries should not comment; US Congressman called Bill direct attack on Christians

US Congressman Riley M Moore wrote on social media that Christianity has existed in India since St Thomas arrived on the Malabar Coast, a few decades after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Despite this long history of Christianity, India’s Parliament is considering changes to the FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation) law that could allow the government to take control of churches and religious charitable organisations. He called this a direct attack on Christians. He said that if the Bill moves forward in its current form, it would be a serious concern for bilateral relations between India and the US. 4 August: US Congressman posts, says Bill could damage relations US Congressman Riley M Moore wrote on social media that Christianity has existed in India since St Thomas arrived on the Malabar Coast a few decades after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Despite this long history of Christianity, India’s Parliament is considering changes to the FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation) law that could allow the government to take control of churches and religious charitable organisations. He called this a direct attack on Christians. He said that if the Bill moves forward in its current form, it would be a serious concern for bilateral relations between India and the US. What is FCRA, why was the law introduced, and what changes are being made in 2026? 3 questions and answers… Question 1: What changes does the government want to make to the FCRA law and why? Answer: The Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, or FCRA, was introduced by the Indira Gandhi government in 1976 during the Emergency. It aimed to prevent foreign powers from influencing India’s internal affairs by giving money to NGOs, educational institutions and trusts. The Manmohan Singh government made the law stricter in 2010, followed by the Modi government in 2020. For example, NGOs can now use only 20% of foreign funds for administrative expenses, compared with the earlier limit of 50%. Foreign funds can be received only in an account at a designated SBI branch in Delhi. Sub-grants were also banned, meaning large NGOs cannot give foreign funds to smaller NGOs. In 2026, the government has taken three major steps… 1. Organisations will have to clearly state their work and area of operation: They will have to specify the exact purpose for which foreign funds will be used and the state or Union Territory where they will be used. This information will be mentioned on the registration certificate. Earlier, organisations could mention broader categories such as social or religious activities. This rule came into effect in June 2026. 2. Foreign donations cannot be used for religious conversion: Organisations can carry out activities such as building places of worship, providing religious education and holding religious gatherings. However, foreign funds cannot now be used to convert people to another religion. This rule also came into effect in June 2026. 3. Property authority will manage assets if registration is not valid: If an organisation’s FCRA registration expires, is cancelled or is revoked, an authority appointed by the government will be responsible for the protection, management and maintenance of properties created using foreign donations. This is the main provision included in the FCRA Amendment Bill. The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25 and is yet to be passed by Parliament. While introducing the Amendment Bill, the government said the changes were aimed at filling operational gaps in the FCRA. Until now, there was no clear law explaining who would take control of property created with foreign donations and any remaining funds if an organisation’s registration expired or was cancelled. The designated authority is intended to fill this gap. The government said the aim is to ensure transparency, accountability and national security. Question 2: Why are Christian missionaries and NGOs opposing it? Answer: There are three main concerns about the Amendment Bill… 1. Fear of losing land and property built over many years If an NGO fails to apply for renewal of its registration on time, or if the Ministry of Home Affairs rejects its application, its property could come under an authority appointed by the government. NGOs fear that this could lead to them losing infrastructure they have built over many years. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) has raised its concerns about the Bill with Home Minister Amit Shah. It has said that minor mistakes can sometimes be made while filling out forms related to the functioning of NGOs. It has asked that such mistakes should not lead to strict action such as cancellation of licences or seizure of property. According to the CBCI, such action should only be taken in cases involving anti-national activities. There are also concerns that the rules could apply to organisations whose licences expired many years ago. However, Home Minister Amit Shah has clearly said that the amendments will not be retrospective, meaning they will not apply to past cases. Question 3: Can the government pass the Bill? Answer: The FCRA Amendment Bill is an ordinary Bill. To pass it, the government needs a simple majority, or 50% plus one, of the members present and voting in the House. The Lok Sabha has 543 seats, of which three are currently vacant. If all members are present, 271 votes would be needed for a majority. The NDA currently has 318 seats. The Rajya Sabha has 245 seats. A majority requires 123 votes, while the NDA has 152 members. This means the government has enough numbers in both Houses to pass the Bill. ​