3 weeks ago
Centre moves to break Parliament deadlock, may soften FCRA Bill
Today's news is like a big box of different stories from India.
The government in Delhi has been stuck in talks with the Opposition in Parliament, with meetings getting disrupted.
To fix this, it said a new bill about foreign money would not punish people for things they did in the past.
Some churches and charity groups worry the bill could let the government take away buildings and funds built with foreign donations.
In Jammu and Kashmir, leader Omar Abdullah held a protest in Delhi because he wants his region to get back its special status.
In Jharkhand, seven people have stopped eating for four days to ask for fair government job exams, and the police have arrested 16 people.
The former leader of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, who now lives in India, said she wants to go back home in December.
India's central bank kept its main interest rate the same, at 5.25 per cent, to stay careful about world problems.
A company called Meta also said sorry for briefly taking down a video by Prime Minister Modi by mistake.
The government signalled to the Opposition on Wednesday that the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 will not contain any penalising retrospective provision.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah held his first protest in Delhi demanding restoration of statehood, marking seven years since the abrogation of Article 370.
Seven people in Jharkhand have been on a hunger strike for four days over irregularities and alleged paper leaks in the JPSC's 14th Combined Civil Services Examination; 16 people have been arrested.
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said she plans to return to Bangladesh in December, calling it 'our victory month'.
The Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.25 per cent, raising the FY27 growth forecast to 6.7 per cent and lowering the inflation projection to 5 per cent.
- Who
- The Indian government and Opposition parties, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the RBI's Monetary Policy Committee, and protesters in Jharkhand.
- What
- The government signalled a softening of the FCRA Amendment Bill to break the Parliament deadlock, while protests continued over Jammu and Kashmir statehood and JPSC exam irregularities, Sheikh Hasina announced plans to return to Bangladesh, and the RBI held the repo rate at 5.25 per cent.
- Where
- Delhi (Parliament and Omar Abdullah's protest), Jharkhand, West Bengal and other parts of India; Sheikh Hasina's planned return concerns Bangladesh.
- When
- On Wednesday, around the seventh anniversary of the August 5, 2019 abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status; the Jharkhand hunger strike had been running for four days.
- Why
- To end the Parliament deadlock and address concerns from civil society and religious groups over the FCRA Bill, to press for restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood, to demand reforms after alleged irregularities in the JPSC exam, and to exercise caution amid global economic uncertainties.
Opposition and Protesters
Government and Ruling Dispensation
FCRA Bill and foreign-funded assets
Opposition and Protesters
Opposition MP Shashi Tharoor and civil society and Christian groups say the Bill threatens institutional autonomy, property rights and constitutional freedoms, and rules on vesting assets could penalise past investments built with foreign contributions.
Government and Ruling Dispensation
The government says it is trying to break the Parliament deadlock and signalled that the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 will not have any penalising retrospective provision.
Jammu and Kashmir statehood
Opposition and Protesters
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah hardened his stance and held his first protest in Delhi demanding restoration of statehood, seven years after special status was stripped.
Government and Ruling Dispensation
The Centre has kept Jammu and Kashmir a Union Territory and has not restored statehood; Abdullah's government had previously maintained a cooperative relationship in hopes statehood would follow.
JPSC recruitment examination
Opposition and Protesters
Protesters demand sweeping reforms in Jharkhand's recruitment and education system after allegations of irregularities and paper leaks in the JPSC examination.
Government and Ruling Dispensation
The Hemant Soren government says it stands with the youth and has acted quickly, with 16 people arrested so far.
Key facts
- FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026
- Government signals no penalising retrospective provision; aimed at breaking the Parliament deadlock
- Parliament status
- Proceedings have mostly remained disrupted
- J&K abrogation anniversary
- August 5, 2019; seventh year marked with first statehood protest by Omar Abdullah
- JPSC 14th Combined Civil Services Examination
- 2,204 candidates shortlisted for Main exam against 103 vacancies; around 3.5 lakh took the exam
- Jharkhand hunger strike
- Seven people fasting for four days; 16 people arrested so far
- RBI repo rate
- Unchanged at 5.25 per cent
- RBI FY27 forecasts
- Growth raised to 6.7 per cent from 6.6 per cent; inflation lowered to 5 per cent from 5.1 per cent
- Sheikh Hasina return
- Plans to return to Bangladesh in December, which she called 'our victory month'
Quotes
The Prime Minister
Meta’s global affairs head
“"I apologised to the minister on behalf of Meta for the error restricting PM Modi’s post."”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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