The Lok Sabha recently sent the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 to a 31-member Joint Parliament Committee amid strong opposition protests. The bill was adopted despite the Opposition’s demand for its withdrawal, claiming it targets minority institutions.
The motion to refer the bill to the committee was introduced by Minister of State Nityanand Rai instead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The process was rushed, as the motion was added last minute before the Lok Sabha reconvened.
The Joint Committee includes 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan will nominate the members. The committee must submit its report by the end of the first week of Parliament’s winter session.
Opposition leaders, such as Congress MP K.C. Venugopal, argued the bill aims to restrict foreign funding for minority NGOs, particularly Christian groups. Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav echoed these concerns, demanding the bill be withdrawn.
Union Minister Rijiju defended the bill, challenging opponents to find any clause targeting minorities and inviting them to discuss it in the committee. He emphasized the bill’s purpose is to regulate foreign contributions, not discriminate against minority communities.
The bill was first introduced in March but not passed during the budget session. It proposes creating a new authority to manage assets of organizations losing their FCRA licence, which critics argue could disrupt funding for minority-run institutions.
Following the motion’s adoption, the Lok Sabha briefly adjourned and then passed another bill without debate. Earlier, Speaker Om Birla appealed for order, urging opposing MPs to allow Parliament to function smoothly.