3 weeks ago
FCRA Amendment Bill Referred to JPC Amid Parliament Deadlock
There is a law in India called FCRA that decides how groups inside the country can accept money from people and groups in other countries.
The government wants to change this law, so it made a new bill called the FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026.
Because many politicians disagree about the new bill, the government decided to send it to a special committee called the Joint Parliamentary Committee.
This committee has 31 people—21 from one house of Parliament and 10 from another—and they will study the bill carefully.
Some politicians, like Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, think the special committee should look at it.
But other politicians, from the Samajwadi Party, say the bill should never have been made at all.
They say the bill would hurt minorities and small groups that help poor children go to school.
The government's minister, Kiren Rijiju, said the bill does not target minorities and that foreign funds need a legal framework.
Parliament has been very noisy lately because the Opposition is also upset about how police treated student protesters.
The special committee has to finish its report by the first week of the next Winter Session.
The Modi-led Union government referred the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 to a Joint Parliamentary Committee; the motion was moved by Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai and adopted by voice vote amid Opposition protests.
The JPC will have 31 members—21 from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha—nominated by the Speaker and Rajya Sabha Chairman respectively, and must report by the last day of the first week of the Winter Session 2026.
Both houses were adjourned till 2 PM amid uproar, with the Opposition demanding a reply from Home Minister Amit Shah over alleged police atrocities during the July 20 students' protest and the Ram Mandir donation theft row.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the bill 'should be sent' to a JPC, while sources said the Opposition actually wants the bill scrapped; Congress MP KC Venugopal demanded its withdrawal.
Samajwadi Party MPs Akhilesh Yadav and Ram Gopal Yadav opposed the bill, alleging it targets minorities and would deprive poor and tribal communities, including in Jharkhand and Gujarat's Dang region, of NGO-provided education and facilities.
- Who
- The Narendra Modi-led Union government, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party MPs Akhilesh Yadav and Ram Gopal Yadav, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju.
- What
- The Lok Sabha referred the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 to a Joint Parliamentary Committee; the motion was moved by Nityanand Rai and adopted by voice vote amid Opposition uproar.
- Where
- Indian Parliament, New Delhi (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha).
- When
- Wednesday, during the Monsoon Session 2026, which ends on 13 August; the motion was moved after the House resumed at 2 PM.
- Why
- To allow a parliamentary committee to scrutinise the bill, which amends the FCRA regulating foreign contributions to organisations in India, amid Opposition allegations that it targets minorities and harms NGOs serving tribal and poor communities.
Opposition
Government
FCRA Bill referral
Opposition
Sources say the Opposition wants the bill scrapped; Congress MP KC Venugopal demanded its withdrawal. Samajwadi Party MPs allege the bill aims to suppress minorities and would deprive poor people and children of education and facilities provided by NGOs in tribal areas such as Jharkhand and Gujarat's Dang region.
Government
The government referred the bill to a JPC for detailed examination, with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju saying there was no question of targeting minorities and that foreign funds could not be allowed to flow without a legal framework.
Parliament deadlock
Opposition
The Opposition demands a reply from Home Minister Amit Shah over alleged police atrocities during the July 20 students' protest and the Ram Mandir donation theft row.
Government
Amit Shah has said the government is ready for debate on the student protests, and the government proceeded with business such as the JPC referral motion despite the uproar.
Key facts
- Bill
- Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026
- Introduced in Lok Sabha
- March 25
- Revised FCRA Rules notified
- June 22, 2026
- JPC composition
- 31 members (21 Lok Sabha + 10 Rajya Sabha)
- JPC report deadline
- Last day of first week of Winter Session 2026
- Motion moved by
- Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai (voice vote)
- Monsoon Session ends
- 13 August
- FCRA purpose
- Regulates acceptance and utilisation of foreign contributions by individuals, associations and organisations in India
Quotes
Mallikarjun Kharge
Congress president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha
“This bill should never have been brought. The amount of work done by NGOs in Jharkhand, Gujarat's Dang area, and other tribal areas in the country has not been done by many governments till now.”
republicworld.com
“"I want to ask the honourable minister, tell us, which bill has this government brought so far that was not against minorities?"”
thehansindia.com











