Riley Moore

Synopsis

India's Ministry of External Affairs stated proposed FCRA amendments are an internal legislative matter. US Congressman Riley Moore criticised the bill as an attack against Christians. The proposed amendments empower the government to manage foreign contributions and assets. This legislation aims to ensure religious character of places of worship is maintained. The government also reduced penalties for violations of the Foreign Contribution Act.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said the proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) are an internal legislative matter for India, responding to criticism from a US lawmaker who called the bill "a clear attack against Christians."

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, addressing the issue at a press briefing, said, "We have seen the comments on FCRA. Legislative matters concerning India are our internal affairs on which decisions are taken by the Parliament of the country. I would also like to point out that there are several nations, including the United States, which regulate the flow of foreign funds."

What did the US lawmaker say?

US Congressman Riley Moore, a first-term Republican from West Virginia, on Tuesday said the FCRA amendments would allow the Indian government to take over churches and religious charities. In a post on X, Moore invoked India's Christian history dating back to the arrival of St Thomas the Apostle on the Malabar Coast, and said the bill amounted to "a clear attack against Christians."

Also read: We are in contact with all stakeholders over Chabahar Port operation: MEA

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He added that if the legislation proceeds in its current form, it "would be a point of major concern" in India-US bilateral relations.

What does the FCRA Amendment Bill propose?

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 seeks to empower the government to set up a "Designated Authority" to take over management of foreign contributions and assets created from such contributions when an organisation's FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered, or lapses due to non-renewal.

Also read: FCRA 2026: Three regulatory changes reshaping foreign funding in India

The bill also provides that where the asset in question is a place of worship, the Designated Authority must ensure its religious character is maintained. Separately, the proposed legislation reduces the maximum penalty for violations of the Act from five years' imprisonment to one year.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, 13,520 organisations received ₹55,741 crore in foreign contributions between 2019 and 2022. As of July 15, 2026, the FCRA portal shows 14,449 active FCRA certificates, 22,498 cancelled, and 15,212 deemed expired.

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