Indian Christian Leaders Call for Wider Consultation on Foreign Donation Law Amendments

Indian Christian leaders urge Parliament to seek broad consultations on FCRA amendments to protect faith-based charities’ autonomy.

Newsroom (01/04/2026 Gaudium Press ) Prominent Christian organizations in India have appealed to lawmakers to initiate comprehensive consultations on the proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), warning that the changes could undermine the autonomy of charitable and faith-based institutions that serve millions of the country’s poor.

In letters dated March 31 and addressed individually to members of both houses of Parliament, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) outlined concerns shared by Christian organizations and other civil society groups. The bishops emphasized that the proposed reforms, though framed as measures to strengthen oversight, risk upsetting the delicate constitutional balance that allows voluntary organizations to operate freely in public service.

“The proposed amendment, while intended to strengthen regulatory oversight, raises serious concerns about constitutional balance, civil society freedom, and the future of charitable service in India,” the CBCI wrote, urging the government to send the bill to a Parliamentary Standing Committee for broader consultation before passage.

Faith-Based Legacy and Constitutional Principles

India, the bishops noted, has a deep-rooted tradition of voluntary, religious, and community-based service that has long worked alongside the state to reach the most vulnerable. “Across religions and regions, charitable institutions have complemented the state in reaching the poorest — educating children, healing the sick, sheltering the homeless, and restoring dignity to the marginalized,” the CBCI letter stated.

These institutions, the bishops said, depend on a relationship of trust and transparency between government and civil society. They urged lawmakers to design a regulatory framework rooted in proportionality, ensuring that administrative lapses—such as delays in license renewals—do not lead to severe consequences like the confiscation of property or assets built with donated funds.

Calls for Safeguards and Due Process

Father Robinson Rodrigues, spokesperson for the CBCI, told UCA News on April 1 that the bishops had already sent their appeal via email and WhatsApp to every parliamentarian.

“It is unheard of in legal parlance that property and assets created from foreign donations could be taken over by the government once a civil society organization or NGO fails to renew or surrenders its license,” Rodrigues said. “We are not against any law meant for welfare and betterment, but the proposed amendment, if implemented in its current form, will hit everyone, not Christians alone, and the poor will stand to lose.”

Wider Concern Beyond One Community

The Telugu Catholic Bishops Council also expressed alarm in a separate appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior cabinet ministers, and individual MPs, urging them to reconsider and revise the bill. The council reached out to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu—a key partner in the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA)—to enlist his support in reopening discussions. “We have apprised Naidu and his parliamentarians of our concerns, and they have promised to address them,” said a Church official who requested anonymity.

Meanwhile, the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI), representing several Protestant denominations, echoed these appeals through an open letter to lawmakers. The council requested that Parliament allow the draft legislation to undergo deeper scrutiny “through a Joint Parliamentary Committee or a Commission of experts” before final amendments are enacted.

The Evangelical Fellowship of India joined the chorus, encouraging parliamentarians to ensure “meaningful consultation and careful review” to prevent disproportionate harm to institutions serving the most vulnerable communities.

A Cross-Sector Appeal for Balance

At the heart of the Christian leaders’ appeal lies a plea for legal proportionality and respect for the country’s pluralistic traditions. They argue that effective oversight must not come at the cost of penalizing genuine service organizations or curbing the freedoms that enable them to work in remote and impoverished regions.

As Parliament prepares to examine the proposed amendments, the correspondence from India’s Christian leadership underscores a broader national concern: how India’s regulatory architecture can balance accountability with the freedom to serve.

• Raju Hasmukh with files from UCA news

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