New Delhi: A proposed amendment to India’s Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) has sparked political attention after US Congressman Riley Moore criticised the legislation, alleging that it could adversely affect Christian institutions in India. The Republican lawmaker from West Virginia described the proposed changes as a “clear attack against Christians” and suggested that the issue could become a point of concern in India-US bilateral relations if the Bill is passed in its present form.
The remarks come as Parliament debates the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 during the ongoing Monsoon Session. The proposed legislation introduces several changes to the existing FCRA framework governing foreign contributions received by associations, trusts, charities and non-governmental organisations across the country.
US Congressman raises concerns
Riley Moore expressed his concerns through a post on the social media platform X, where he claimed that the proposed amendments would empower the Indian government to assume control over churches and religious charities if their FCRA registrations are cancelled, surrendered or lapse due to non-renewal.
Highlighting the long-standing presence of Christianity in India, Moore stated that the proposed law raises serious concerns about religious freedom.
“This is a clear attack against Christians. If this bill proceeds in this way, it would be a point of major concern in our bilateral relationship with India,” Moore said in his post.
His remarks have added an international dimension to the ongoing debate surrounding the amendments, although the Indian government has maintained that the proposed changes are aimed at ensuring proper regulation and management of foreign-funded assets.
What the proposed Bill says
One of the key provisions in the proposed amendment empowers the Central Government to appoint a Designated Authority in cases where an organisation’s FCRA registration is cancelled, voluntarily surrendered or expires without renewal.
Under the Bill, the authority would be responsible for taking over the management of foreign contributions as well as assets created using such foreign funds. These assets would remain under the authority’s supervision until an appropriate decision regarding their future management is taken.
The government has stated that the provision is intended to prevent misuse or diversion of assets that were created using foreign contributions after an organisation ceases to hold a valid FCRA registration.
Provision for places of worship
The proposed legislation also contains a specific safeguard relating to religious institutions.
According to the Bill, if any asset taken over by the Designated Authority includes a place of worship, the authority will be required to preserve its religious character while managing the property.
This provision has been included to ensure that religious sites continue to retain their intended purpose even if the organisation responsible for managing them loses its FCRA registration.
However, despite this safeguard, critics including Congressman Moore have expressed concerns about the broader implications of government oversight over assets belonging to religious organisations.
Penalty provisions proposed to be eased
Apart from provisions relating to management of assets, the Bill also seeks to reduce the maximum punishment for violations under the FCRA.
Under the proposed amendments, the maximum imprisonment for offences under the Act would be reduced from five years to one year.
This represents a significant change in the penal provisions governing FCRA violations and is aimed at rationalising punishments under the law.
The amendment Bill continues to be discussed in Parliament and may undergo further debate before its final passage.
FCRA data highlights
Data released by the Ministry of Home Affairs provides an overview of the scale of foreign funding regulated under the Act.
According to official figures, 13,520 organisations received foreign contributions amounting to ₹55,741 crore between 2019 and 2022.
As of July 15, 2026, India had 14,449 active FCRA registrations. During the same period, 22,498 registrations had been cancelled, while 15,212 registrations had lapsed after being treated as expired.
These figures underline the extensive reach of the FCRA framework and the significance of the proposed amendments for thousands of organisations operating with foreign funding.
Debate likely to continue
The proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, has generated debate both within India and abroad. While the government has presented the amendments as measures to strengthen oversight of foreign-funded assets and improve regulatory mechanisms, critics have questioned the implications for religious and charitable institutions.
As Parliament continues deliberations during the Monsoon Session, the final shape of the legislation will determine how these provisions are implemented and whether additional safeguards or modifications are introduced before the Bill becomes law.
US lawmaker criticises proposed FCRA amendments in India
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