New Delhi: A US Congressman has expressed concern over India’s proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), warning that the legislation could become a point of friction in relations between New Delhi and Washington if passed in its current form.
Republican Congressman Riley Moore said the proposed changes, which govern foreign funding received by non governmental organisations, trusts, educational institutions and religious bodies, could allow the government to take control of churches and religious charities under certain circumstances. He described the proposal as a “clear attack against Christians” and said it could become a significant issue in bilateral relations.
In a post on social media platform X, Moore referred to the long history of Christianity in India and argued that the proposed amendments raised serious concerns about the management of religious institutions receiving foreign contributions.
The proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 seeks to establish a Designated Authority to manage foreign contributions and assets created using such funds when an organisation’s FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered or not renewed. According to the draft legislation, if the assets include places of worship, the authority will be required to preserve their religious character while administering them.
The bill also proposes reducing the maximum punishment for violations of the FCRA from five years of imprisonment to one year.
Government data shows that 13,520 organisations received foreign contributions amounting to Rs 55,741 crore between 2019 and 2022. As of July 15, 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs’ FCRA portal recorded 14,449 active registrations, while 22,498 registrations had been cancelled and 15,212 had expired.
The Union government is expected to introduce the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha next week. The proposed legislation has already drawn attention internationally, with critics raising concerns over its potential impact on religious organisations, while the government has maintained that the changes are aimed at regulating foreign funded entities under the existing legal framework.
