India’s United Christian Forum seeks parliamentary review of FCRA amendments, warning of tighter controls on charities and civil society.
Newsroom (23/07/2026 Gaudium Press) A national Christian body in India has called on the government to subject proposed changes to the country’s foreign funding regulations to parliamentary scrutiny, warning that the measures could further constrain charitable and social service organizations that depend on overseas donations.
The United Christian Forum (UCF), an ecumenical organization based in New Delhi, has urged the government to refer the proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) to a parliamentary committee for detailed review before lawmakers debate the legislation during the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament.
The forum submitted a memorandum to Kiren Rijiju, India’s minister for minority affairs, in New Delhi on July 21, outlining its concerns over the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026.
According to Toko Teki, the UCF’s spokesperson for northeastern India, Rijiju indicated that the concerns raised by the Christian community would be communicated to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“The minister assured me that he would convey our community’s concerns to Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Teki told UCA News on July 23.
Government Seeks Stronger Oversight of Foreign Donations
The amendment bill was approved by Modi’s cabinet on March 18. The government has said the proposed changes are designed to strengthen oversight of foreign-funded charitable activities while improving transparency, accountability, and regulatory certainty.
Although the legislation was expected to be introduced during Parliament’s budget session earlier this year, it was postponed following objections from civil society organizations, including Christian institutions that rely significantly on foreign contributions to fund social service initiatives and humanitarian programs.
The government maintains that the amendments are aimed at enhancing accountability rather than restricting legitimate charitable work.
Key Provisions Draw Scrutiny
Among the most debated provisions is a proposal that would allow the government to assume control of assets created through foreign contributions when an organization’s FCRA registration is suspended, canceled, surrendered, or not renewed.
Another amendment would introduce the concept of “deemed cessation,” resulting in the automatic lapse of an organization’s registration if it expires or if renewal is denied.
The legislation also establishes new timelines governing the receipt and utilization of foreign contributions. Government officials have argued that these measures are intended to provide greater transparency, accountability, and legal clarity in the management of foreign-funded activities.
Christian Leaders Cite Broader Regulatory Environment
Christian leaders have linked the proposed amendments to what they describe as a broader tightening of controls on organizations receiving foreign funding over the past decade.
Citing government data, they say that since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in 2014, nearly 22,000 FCRA registrations have been canceled. They also note that approximately 15,000 organizations have been considered to have ceased operating under the law.
According to Christian leaders, the organizations affected include hundreds of Christian institutions as well as civil society groups that have been critical of government policies.
They argue that the latest amendments could further expand governmental authority over non-governmental organizations and charitable bodies that depend on international support.
Debate Over Missionary Activity and Social Service
Christian representatives contend that opposition to foreign-funded Christian organizations is connected to longstanding allegations by the BJP and affiliated Hindu nationalist groups that missionary work is used as a vehicle for religious conversions.
Church leaders reject those accusations, saying that Christian-run schools, hospitals, shelters, and welfare institutions provide services without regard to religion or caste.
In its memorandum to the government, the UCF emphasized the role charitable institutions play in supporting vulnerable communities across India.
The memorandum stated that charitable organizations “across religions and regions have complemented the State in reaching the poorest, educating children, healing the sick, sheltering the homeless, and restoring dignity to the marginalized.”
The forum warned that the proposed amendments raise “serious concerns about constitutional balance, civil society freedom, and the future of charitable service in India.”
Government Rejects Claims of Restrictions on Charitable Work
The government has dismissed concerns that the amendments would hinder legitimate charitable activities.
As Parliament’s monsoon session began on July 20, authorities issued a detailed clarification on July 22 addressing roughly 20 frequently asked questions about the bill.
Officials said the proposed changes would not create “hurdles to charitable works” and defended provisions related to the management of assets created with foreign contributions.
According to the government, existing legal arrangements have made it difficult for authorities to take possession of, maintain, and manage such assets when organizations lose their FCRA registration. Officials argued that properties could otherwise remain in custodial limbo without legal certainty.
The clarification stated that it is “neither feasible nor desirable for the government to preserve and manage such assets indefinitely merely because an association may seek fresh registration at some distant point in the future.”
Parliamentary Debate Looms
With Parliament’s monsoon session underway, the proposed amendments have once again brought the regulation of foreign-funded organizations into the national spotlight. While the government argues that the measures are necessary to improve oversight and accountability, Christian leaders and other civil society groups contend that the changes could have far-reaching implications for charitable institutions and civic freedoms.
The outcome of the parliamentary debate is expected to shape the future operating environment for thousands of organizations across India that depend on foreign contributions to support education, healthcare, humanitarian relief, and community development initiatives.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCA News
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