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Lok Sabha (Img: Pinterest)
New Delhi: The government on Wednesday decided to refer the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 to a Joint Committee of Parliament for detailed scrutiny. The move comes amid political debate over proposed changes in the rules governing foreign contributions received by organisations and institutions in India.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah moved a motion in the Lok Sabha to send the bill to a 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee. The proposed panel will consist of 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 members from the Rajya Sabha.
The Joint Committee of Parliament will examine the provisions of the FCRA Amendment Bill and review various aspects before submitting its recommendations. As per the proposal, the committee will submit its report by the last day of the first week of the Winter Session of Parliament 2026.
The Rajya Sabha has also been requested to nominate its members to the committee and participate in the joint review process.
The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, commonly known as FCRA, regulates the acceptance and utilisation of foreign funds by individuals, associations, NGOs and other organisations in India.
The law plays a major role in monitoring overseas donations received for activities related to education, healthcare, social welfare, research and other sectors. Any changes to the legislation can impact thousands of organisations dependent on foreign contributions.
The proposed amendments have triggered a political debate, with opposition parties raising concerns over the possible impact on civil society organisations and NGOs.
Opposition leaders have questioned whether stricter regulations could increase government control over organisations receiving foreign funding.
The government, however, has maintained that the amendments are aimed at strengthening transparency, improving accountability and preventing misuse of foreign contributions.
By referring the bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee, the government has opened the way for a detailed examination before any final decision is taken.
The committee will study the proposed changes, analyse their impact and may suggest modifications before presenting its report to Parliament.
The development comes during the ongoing Monsoon Session, where several major legislative issues and political disputes are being discussed between the government and Opposition parties.
