The proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, is likely to be referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for detailed scrutiny amid concerns raised by opposition parties and Christian groups, government sources said on Tuesday.
Political Context
The government had earlier indicated that it could be taken up on August 12.
Christian representatives urged the government either to withdraw the Bill or refer it to a JPC for further examination, according to sources. Lalduhoma later said he had raised six issues with Shah and was assured that the proposed amendments would not have retrospective effect. 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.
The Bill has not yet been listed on the Lok Sabha agenda for consideration and passage. The legislation further proposes changes to the penalty structure. The maximum imprisonment for violations of the FCRA would be reduced from five years to one year. It also proposes that state agencies obtain prior approval from the Central Government before launching investigations under the Act. The proposed amendments have triggered concerns among Christian and minority organisations. A delegation of Christian and minority groups met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and sought changes to the Bill. Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma also met Shah to present concerns and recommendations from the state. He was accompanied by Reverend John Raldosanga, Chairman of the Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitu Committee (MKHC), and Reverend Lalhmangaiha, General Secretary of the Council of Churches in Mizoram (CCM). “The only thing that is very clearly mentioned to us is that it’s not going to be retrospective.
