India’s FCRA Amendment Bill 2026: US Republican Congressman Riley Moore has expressed strong concern over proposed changes to India’s Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), warning that the amendments could harm bilateral relations between India and the United States.
The proposed legislation, the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, aims to regulate foreign funding received by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), trusts, educational institutions, and religious organizations.
What’s the Row About? US Congressman’s Remarks
India’s FCRA Amendment Bill 2026: West Virginia Representative Riley Moore claimed on social media platform X that the new amendments give the Indian government power to take control of churches and religious institutions.
Calling the move a “direct attack on Christians,” Moore referenced India’s long history of Christianity, pointing out that Saint Thomas the Apostle visited the Malabar coast shortly after the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
“If this bill moves forward in its current form, it will be a serious issue for our bilateral relationship with India,” Moore stated.
Key Features of the FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026
India’s FCRA Amendment Bill 2026: The new bill introduces specific updates to how foreign funding and assets are managed if an organization’s FCRA registration ends, is canceled, or is surrendered:
Designated Authority: The government can appoint a designated authority to take management control of foreign funds and assets acquired through foreign funds if an entity loses its FCRA status.
Protection of Places of Worship: If the property managed by the authority includes a place of worship, the authority must ensure its religious character is fully maintained.
Reduced Maximum Penalty: The proposed amendment lowers the maximum prison sentence for violating the act from five years to one year.
According to Ministry of Home Affairs data, 13,520 organizations in India received ₹55,741 crore in foreign contributions between 2019 and 2022. As of July 15, 2026, the FCRA portal lists 14,449 active certificates, 22,498 canceled certificates, and 15,212 deemed expired certificates.
Indian MPs Push Back: “Internal Matter”
The remarks from the US lawmaker drew sharp reactions across the political spectrum in India. While Indian opposition leaders actively oppose the FCRA bill themselves, they strongly criticized the US Congressman’s comments as external interference in sovereign affairs.
Key Political Responses in India:
NK Premachandran (RSP MP): Termed the comments inappropriate and an attack on India’s sovereignty. He noted that while opposition MPs oppose the bill, foreign lawmakers have no right to preach to India on internal legislative processes.
John Brittas (CPI-M MP): Stated that India does not welcome suggestions or intervention from US lawmakers. He emphasized that decisions regarding Indian laws remain purely a domestic matter for India’s Parliament to resolve.
Summary of Key Details
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Proposed Bill | Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 |
| US Lawmaker | Rep. Riley Moore (Republican, West Virginia) |
| Core US Concern | Raised concerns over increased government control of assets belonging to NGOs and churches if their FCRA registration is cancelled, and warned of possible implications for India–US bilateral relations. |
| Key Provision | Empowers a designated government authority to manage or administer foreign-funded assets when an organization’s FCRA registration expires or is cancelled. |
| Penalty Update | Proposes reducing the maximum imprisonment for certain FCRA-related offences from 5 years to 1 year. |
| Indian Response | Leaders across political parties expressed a broad consensus against foreign intervention in India’s domestic legislative matters, rejecting external criticism of the proposed amendments. |
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