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NEW DELHI: Ministry of external affairs on Friday rejected criticism of India’s foreign funding law, saying the issue is an internal matter on which Parliament will take a decision.During a bi-weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said several countries, including the United States, regulate foreign funds and foreign financing.“Regarding the issue you are referring to, we have seen it, and several comments have been made on it. As far as legislative matters are concerned, and particularly matters relating to India’s own legislation, this is an internal matter for us, on which our Parliament takes the decision,” Jaiswal said.“I would also like to tell you that there are several countries in the world, including the United States, that regulate foreign funds and foreign financing,” he added.The remarks came days after a US lawmaker criticised the proposed amendments to India’s foreign funding law, alleging they could allow the government to take over churches and religious charities and warning that the issue could affect India-US ties.US Congressman Riley Moore said the proposed changes to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) amounted to “a clear attack against Christians” and urged India not to proceed with the legislation in its current form.In a post on X, the Republican Congressman from West Virginia said Christianity had a long history in India dating back to the arrival of St Thomas the Apostle on the Malabar Coast.“But despite this long Christian history, India’s Parliament is considering amending the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act to permit government takeovers of churches and religious charities,” Moore wrote.“This is a clear attack against Christians. If this bill proceeds in this way, it would be a point of major concern in our bilateral relationship with India,” he added.The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 proposes the creation of a Designated Authority to take over the management of foreign contributions and assets created using such funds if an organisation’s FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered or lapses after not being renewed.
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The Bill specifies that where such assets include a place of worship, the Designated Authority must ensure its religious character is preserved.It also proposes reducing the maximum punishment for violations of the Act from five years’ imprisonment to one year.The FCRA regulates the receipt and utilisation of foreign contributions by NGOs, charitable trusts, educational institutions, religious bodies and other associations. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, 13,520 organisations received foreign contributions worth Rs 55,741 crore between 2019 and 2022.Government data shows that as of July 15, 2026, there were 14,449 active FCRA registrations, while 22,498 had been cancelled and another 15,212 had expired.
