Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma and several prominent Christian organisations have urged the Centre to refer the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for detailed examination and wider consultation before it is considered for passage in Parliament.
The demand comes amid concerns among Christian organisations over proposed changes to the rules governing foreign contributions received by non-governmental organisations (NGOs), charitable institutions and other organisations.
Lalduhoma said the Bill was currently under consideration and called for a parliamentary committee to examine the concerns and suggestions raised by stakeholders from different parts of the country.
The Mizoram Chief Minister recently met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi along with representatives of the Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitu Committee (MKHC) and the Council of Churches in Mizoram (CCM). The delegation submitted a memorandum to the Union Home Ministry outlining its concerns over specific provisions of the proposed legislation.
“In the spirit of democratic consultation, we respectfully appeal to the Union Government to refer the Bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee,” Lalduhoma said, expressing hope that the request would be considered in the interest of inclusive and transparent policymaking.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) has also called on the government to reconsider the proposed legislation and refer it to a JPC for detailed scrutiny and structured discussions with civil society organisations.
Archbishop of Delhi and CBCI Secretary General Most Rev Anil Joseph Thomas Couto said the Catholic Church supported financial transparency and national security but expressed concern that some of the proposed provisions could create significant operational difficulties for grassroots charitable organisations.
Couto also pointed to the contribution of Christian institutions in the fields of education, healthcare and humanitarian services across the country and urged the government to reconsider the proposed changes in view of their possible impact on such institutions.
The FCRA Amendment Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25, 2026, and is expected to be taken up for discussion during the last week of the ongoing Monsoon session.
Concerns among faith-based organisations have also increased following amendments to the FCRA rules notified by the government on June 22. Under the amended rules, NGOs seeking to receive foreign contributions are required to select their purposes and areas of operation from a predefined list.
While several faith-based activities are permitted under the revised framework, proselytisation has been excluded from certain categories eligible for registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act.
The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) has separately appealed to the Centre to hold back the Bill until stakeholders are given adequate opportunity to study its provisions and submit suggestions.
NCCI General Secretary Asir Ebenezer said Christian representatives had submitted several representations to the government, including one to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on August 6.
He urged the Home Ministry to ensure that the proposed legislation was not passed until stakeholders had been given a fair opportunity to participate in discussions on the regulatory framework.
Ebenezer also raised concerns over provisions relating to cessation and the proposed vesting mechanism. He questioned how the proposed vesting authority would be constituted and function and called for appropriate administrative and judicial review mechanisms to be incorporated into the system.
The All India Christian Council has also demanded withdrawal of the Bill and its referral to a JPC. Its president Joseph D’Souza described referral to a parliamentary committee as the “only sensible way” forward.
Several other Christian leaders and organisations have also supported the demand for wider parliamentary scrutiny and consultation. They include National Church Mission Association chairman Richard Howell, United Christian Forum national coordinator A C Michael, Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Rev Dr Sunil M Caleb and Aizawl Bishop Most Rev Stephen Rotluanga.
Howell said institutions working for vulnerable sections of society often take generations to build and urged Parliament to ensure that civil society organisations and community representatives are given an opportunity to present their views before the legislation is finalised.
Cardinal Gracias also appealed to the government not to “rush” the matter and suggested that the Bill be referred to a parliamentary committee for detailed study.
Aizawl Bishop Stephen Rotluanga urged the Centre not to pass the Bill in its present form and asked the government to consider suggestions from different sections of society before taking a final decision.
