India on Friday responded to a remark made by a US lawmaker on the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment (FCRA) Bill, stating that the matter is India’s ‘internal affair.’ Various countries including the United States, enforce regulations on foreign monetary inflows, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. Also Read | India, China discuss LAC stability, border issues, MEA shares details “Regarding the issue you are referring to, we have seen it, and several comments have been made on it. As far as legislative matters are concerned, and particularly matters relating to India’s own legislation, this is an internal matter for us, on which our Parliament takes the decision,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday, addressing a bi-weekly media briefing. Quick answers to key questions •5 QUESTIONS The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 seeks to regulate foreign donations by establishing a Designated Authority to oversee foreign contributions, particularly when an entity’s FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered, or lapsed. India’s Ministry of External Affairs stated that the proposed amendments to the FCRA are an internal matter and emphasized that several countries, including the US, regulate foreign monetary inflows. The Bill mandates that if foreign contributions are linked to places of worship, their religious character must be maintained by the Designated Authority, addressing concerns of government takeovers of churches and charities. Yes, opposition parties have expressed concerns that the amendments could harm NGOs, particularly those operated by minority communities, due to potential excessive government control over foreign funding. The FCRA Amendment proposes to reduce the maximum penalty for statutory violations from five years’ imprisonment to one year, thereby making it less severe for NGOs caught in infractions. “I would also like to tell you that there are several countries in the world, including the United States, that regulate foreign funds and foreign financing,” he added. US lawmaker Riley Moore’s criticism The response comes following remarks from US lawmaker Riley Moore, who raised objections to proposed modifications to India’s Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), claiming the provisions could enable state control over churches and philanthropic institutions, while cautioning that the development might strain bilateral ties. The Republican Congressman from West Virginia acknowledged that Christianity holds deep historic roots in India, tracing back to the arrival of St Thomas the Apostle on the Malabar Coast. Also Read | FCRA Amendment Bill: Key changes, Oppn’s concerns explained “But despite this long Christian history, India’s Parliament is considering amending the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act to permit government takeovers of churches and religious charities,” Moore wrote on X earlier this week. “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 added. What is FCRA Amendment? The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, seeks to establish a Designated Authority tasked with overseeing foreign contributions and assets acquired through such capital in instances where an entity’s FCRA registration stands cancelled, surrendered or lapsed. The proposed legislation explicitly mandates that if such assets comprise a place of worship, the Designated Authority is required to maintain its religious character intact. Furthermore, it seeks to scale down the maximum penalty for statutory violations from five years’ imprisonment to one year. Also Read | Receiving foreign funds? Key FCRA changes announced by the Centre The FCRA framework governs the intake and utilisation of overseas funding across non-governmental organisations, charitable entities, academic institutions, religious trusts and affiliated bodies. Home Ministry figures indicate that 13,520 entities received foreign remittances totalling ₹55,741 crore between 2019 and 2022. Opposition up in arms Opposition parties in India have expressed concerns over the amendments. Describing the proposed law as ‘completely unconstitutional,’ AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal claimed that the Foreign Contribution Regulation Amendment (FCRA) Bill would harm NGOs and community organisations, particularly those run by minority communities. Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien has called the Bill ‘draconian’ and sought an All-Party Meeting to discuss it. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, O’Brien said the proposed legislation could result in “excessive executive control” over NGOs and other organisations working in areas such as education and healthcare. What did the Government say? The government said the legislation that seeks to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 intends to regulate the receipt and use of foreign donations by NGOs, charitable trusts and other organisations in India. The government argues that the changes are necessary to address evolving financial risks, improve transparency and ensure that foreign funding is utilised only for lawful purposes Source link Post navigation As Thailand evaluates BrahMos, here’s a look at the countries buying or seeking India’s flagship missile William Orbit, Grammy-winning producer, dies at 69
