16 hrs ago
31-Member Panel to Examine Contentious FCRA Amendment Bill
Parliament has created a group of 31 lawmakers to study a proposed law about money received from other countries.
Sanjay Jaiswal will lead this group.
The members come from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
The proposed law would give the government more oversight of charities and other organisations receiving foreign funds.
It would also create an authority to manage an organisation’s assets if its licence is cancelled.
Opposition parties worry that the rules could hurt some NGOs and minority-run institutions.
The government says the law does not target any religion.
The committee must give its report before the last day of the first week of Parliament’s Winter Session.
A 31-member joint parliamentary committee will examine the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026.
BJP Lok Sabha member Sanjay Jaiswal was appointed chairperson by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
The panel has 21 Lok Sabha members and 10 Rajya Sabha members, representing several political parties.
The Bill proposes tighter oversight of NGOs and foreign contributions, including authority to manage assets after licence cancellation.
Opposition parties allege the Bill could affect NGOs and minority institutions, while the government says it is religion-neutral and prevents misuse of funds.
- Who
- A 31-member joint committee of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members, chaired by BJP's Sanjay Jaiswal.
- What
- The committee will examine the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026.
- Where
- The legislation is being examined by the Parliament of India in New Delhi.
- When
- The committee was constituted on September 3; the Bill was introduced on March 25 and referred to the committee on August 12.
- Why
- The Bill was referred for detailed examination amid opposition concerns about its effects on NGOs, minority institutions and foreign funding.
Opposition parties
Government
Impact on NGOs and minorities
Opposition parties
Congress, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress and other opposition parties allege that the proposed changes could target NGOs, Christian organisations and minority-run welfare and educational institutions.
Government
The government says the Bill is not religion-specific and has challenged opposition parties to identify a provision that discriminates against minorities.
Government oversight
Opposition parties
Opposition parties argue that the changes could increase government control over organisations receiving foreign contributions and restrict legitimate funding.
Government
The government says the amendments are intended to strengthen oversight and prevent foreign contributions from being misused or diverted in ways that could affect national interest.
Future of the legislation
Opposition parties
Congress and several opposition parties have said they will continue opposing the Bill after the committee completes its review.
Government
The government supports examination by the joint committee before the legislation is brought back before Parliament.
Key facts
- Committee size
- 31 members
- House composition
- 21 Lok Sabha members and 10 Rajya Sabha members
- Chairperson
- Sanjay Jaiswal of the Bharatiya Janata Party
- Reported party representation
- 14 Bharatiya Janata Party members, five Congress members, two each from Janata Dal (United), Trinamool Congress and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and one each from several other parties
- Bill introduced
- March 25, 2026
- Committee referral
- August 12, 2026
- Report deadline
- The last day of the first week of Parliament's Winter Session
- List discrepancy
- One report's headline and initial list referred to 25 members, while the PTI report listed 31 members, including six additional Rajya Sabha members
Sources
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