New Delhi

Amid opposition concerns over the FCRA Amendment Bill, it is expected to be sent to a joint parliamentary committee for detailed examination, government sources said on Tuesday.

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, has so far not been listed on the agenda of the Lok Sabha for consideration and passing but the government indicated earlier that it could be taken up on August 12. While the opposition parties have expressed their opposition to the bill, Christian groups have also conveyed their concerns about its provisions.

The FCRA Amendment Bill seeks to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, which governs the acceptance and utilisation of foreign contributions by individuals, associations and companies in India. The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25, 2026.

A key provision of the FCRA Amendment Bill is the creation of a Designated Authority to oversee foreign contributions and assets of organisations whose FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered or ceases to be valid.Under the proposed framework, when an organisation loses its FCRA registration, its foreign contributions and assets would initially vest provisionally with the Designated Authority.

If the organisation restores or renews its registration within the prescribed period, the assets and unused foreign funds would be returned. If the registration is not restored within the stipulated period, the assets could vest permanently with the Designated Authority.

The Bill also introduces a provision for cessation of an FCRA certificate upon expiry, non-renewal or refusal of renewal.

This seeks to address the treatment of assets and foreign contributions in cases where an organisation becomes defunct or its registration ceases.

For assets such as places of worship, the proposed framework provides that the Designated Authority must ensure that their religious character is maintained. The Bill also provides for a right of revision and judicial appeal against orders of the Designated Authority.

The proposed legislation further seeks to rationalise penalties, including reducing the maximum imprisonment for violations of the Act from five years to one year. It also proposes that state agencies obtain prior approval from the Central Government before initiating investigations under the FCRA.

A delegation of Christian and minority organisations had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah to express their concerns and seek changes in the Bill.

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma also met Shah to present regional concerns and recommendations regarding the legislation. He was accompanied by a delegation comprising Reverend John Raldosanga, Chairman of the Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitu Committee (MKHC), and Reverend Lalhmangaiha, General Secretary of the Council of Churches in Mizoram (CCM).

According to sources, the Christian representatives demanded that the Bill either be withdrawn or referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for further scrutiny.

Lalduhoma later said he had raised six issues with Shah and was assured that the proposed amendments would not have retrospective effect.

"The only thing that is very clearly mentioned to us is that it's not going to be retrospective. That assurance was given to us, and the rest of the points will be given a paragraph-wise comment by him... the discussion on the 12th of this month in Parliament," Lalduhoma had said.

A delegation led by DMK leader P Wilson had also met Amit Shah and submitted a memorandum, which talked about how the proposed legislation "impacts religious minorities and civil society".

The delegation pointed out that under new provisions like Section 14B and Chapter IIIA, bureaucratic delays on the FCRA Online Portal or minor technical non-compliances could result in automatic certificate cessation, instantly triggering the provisional and permanent vesting of assets in a state-notified "Designated Authority".

READ MORE: Sufiya Khan sets Kanyakumari to Karakoram world record!

The monsoon session of Parliament began on July 20 and is slated to conclude on August 13. It has seen daily adjournments over the opposition's demands, including on the action by Delhi Police on protesters on July 20. Bills have been passed in Lok Sabha almost without debate amid opposition protests.