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FCRA Amendment Bill 2026: The Opposition and ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are at loggerheads over the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25. The bill became a key issue in the election-bound Kerala as state Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday expressed concerns over the Centre's move to hastily amend the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), saying it could affect the functioning of social service organisations and limit support to the poor and marginalised.

What Is FCRA Amendment Bill 2026?

The FCRA Bill, 2026, seeks to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, aiming at enhancing the transparency and accountability of foreign contributions in India. The government said the bill stops individuals from engaging in forced religious conversion through foreign funding. Introducing the controversial bill, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai had stated that the legislation aims to enhance transparency and ensure proper utilisation of funds received from abroad. The government asserted that the FCRA amendment Bill only seeks to stop the use of foreign funding against national security and interests and not to target any religious organisation.

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What Is Government's Stand?

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accused the Congress and Communist Party of misleading people in Kerala over the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026. Rijiju said there was "misinformation" around the FCRA Amendment Bill, asserting that it is not against any religion or organisation and is aimed at regulating foreign funding in the national interest.

Speaking at the Lok Sabha, Rijiju said, "Kerala MPs are under a serious misunderstanding. The FCRA Amendment Bill was introduced earlier, which is why it has come up now. I had informed senior Congress leaders yesterday and again today that the FCRA would not be taken up for consideration today. There is indeed misinformation being spread about the FCRA."

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"The amendment is aimed at regulating foreign contributions, ensuring proper utilisation in the national interest and national security, and preventing misuse of funds. It is not against any religion or organisation. Congress and the Communist Party are misleading the people of Kerala in view of the elections. They should not mislead the House or the people of Kerala for the sake of elections," he said.

BJP MP Gulam Ali Khatana accused the Opposition of marginalising minorities and treating them as a vote bank, while asserting that those working within the law have full freedom. Khatana said, "The Opposition has marginalised minorities. For 70 years, they have turned them into a vote bank; now they intimidate and threaten them. Whoever works within the framework of the law has freedom."

BJP MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat said, "Regarding foreign funding, there was a question in everyone's mind about all the NGOs operating in the country. After the 2010 bill, there have been two amendments."

Why Is Opposition Protesting the FCRA Amendment Bill 2026?

Several Opposition MPs led by the Congress staged a protest in Parliament House complex on against the FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026, and demanded that the proposed legislation be withdrawn. Displaying a huge banner which had 'Stop Targeting NGOs and Institutions' written on it, the MPs raised slogans against the government and demanded the withdrawal of the Bill. Several Congress MPs, SP's Dimple Yadav and Ram Gopal Yadav, IUML's ET Mohammad Basheer, NCP(SP)'s Supriya Sule and RSP's NK Premchandran, among others, participated in the protest.

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The Congress claimed that the BJP is planning to "bulldoze" FCRA amendments in Parliament and said it would not allow the "blatantly unconstitutional" and "draconian bill" to be passed. Congress general secretary in-charge organisation KC Venugopal had said party MPs have been urgently asked to reach Delhi and attend Parliament on Wednesday.

Why Is There Controversy Over FCRA Amendment Bill?

The Opposition claimed that the new amendments aim to target NGOs which are working for the marginalised people. The strongest voice against the amendments came from Kerala, which is set to vote on April 9. CM Vijayan claimed the FCRA amendment is politically motivated, threatens democracy and social justice, and urged the Centre to withdraw it.

"This move appears to be part of a political agenda aimed at controlling social activities and suppressing dissenting voices. Such an amendment goes against the spirit of democracy and social justice. We strongly urge the Central government to withdraw it immediately," said CM Vijayan.

Akhilesh Questions BJP Over Foreign Funds

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav questioned the ruling party over its alleged foreign funding and accused it of attempting to "control" NGOs through legislation. In a post on X, Yadav noted that there was a "serious contradiction" in the BJP's stand on foreign funds and demanded clarity before bringing the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026. "Before regulating foreign funding of NGOs, the BJP must explain whether the money received from abroad in the PM CARES Fund will be returned or given special exemption like audit relaxations," he said.

(With PTI inputs)


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