Vibha Sharma
New Delhi, Aug 5 (UNI) Even as the BJP-led Centre is preparing to introduce the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 (FCRA Bill) in Parliament, the move is facing criticism from not just the opposition in India but also US Congressman Riley M. Moore.
The Amendment Bill proposes a framework for supervising, managing and disposing of the foreign contributions and assets of organisations that cease to hold an FCRA certificate.
Describing it as “a clear attack against Christians”, Moore also warned that it could become a bilateral issue between India and the United States. “Christians have been in India since St. Thomas the Apostle traveled to the Malabar Coast just decades after the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. But despite this long Christian history, India’s Parliament is considering amending Foreign Contribution Regulation Amendment (FCRA) rules to permit government takeovers of churches and religious charities. This is a clear attack against Christians. If this bill proceeds in this way, it would be a point of major concern in our bilateral relationship with India,” he said in a post on X.

The Congress, meanwhile, on Wednesday reiterated that it will oppose the “draconian” bill “very strongly” and not allow the NDA government to pass it.
According to senior Congress leader K.C. Venugopal, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has strongly expressed his concerns, and the party and opposition’s stand on it is also very clear. “They cannot bring the FCRA Bill in its old format. We will oppose it very strongly. We are not going to allow them to pass such a draconian bill,” he said

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 was initially introduced in the Lok Sabha in the last session but was withheld following strong objections from Opposition parties and civil society organisations, which claimed the legislation would cripple NGOs and minority-run institutions.
Finding itself in a politically undesirable situation ahead of the Kerala Assembly elections, sources say the BJP-led Centre then opted for a tactical retreat, wary of alienating Christian voters. However, it seems the government is planning to introduce it with changes to facilitate smoother passage.
Earlier in July, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) had urged Home Minister Amit Shah to withdraw the Bill notified rules, and redraft them after wider consultations with stakeholders. One of the main objections is a provision empowering the Centre to appoint a ‘Designated Authority’ to control the funds and assets of organisations whose FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered or ceases.

Quoting the Ministry of Home Affairs, the PRS says that as many as 13,520 organisations received Rs 55,741 crore in foreign contributions between 2019 and 2022. The FCRA portal shows that, as of July 15, 2026, there were 14,449 active FCRA certificates, while 22,498 had been cancelled and 15,212 had expired.UNI VS AAB