A US Congressman has criticised the proposed amendments to India’s Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), alleging that the changes could enable government control over churches and religious charities and warning that the issue could become a point of concern in India–US relations.
Republican Congressman Riley Moore of West Virginia said the proposed amendments represented “a clear attack against Christians” and urged India not to move forward with the legislation in its current form.
In a post on X, Moore noted that Christianity has a long history in India dating back to the arrival of St. Thomas the Apostle on the Malabar Coast. He claimed that the proposed changes would permit government takeovers of churches and religious charities, adding that if the bill is enacted in its present form, it could affect bilateral ties between India and the United States.
The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 proposes the creation of a Designated Authority to manage foreign contributions and assets acquired using such funds when an organisation’s FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered, or expires without renewal.
The proposed legislation also specifies that if the assets include a place of worship, the Designated Authority must ensure that its religious character is preserved.
In addition, the Bill seeks to reduce the maximum punishment for violations of the Act from five years’ imprisonment to one year.
The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) governs the receipt and use of foreign donations by non-governmental organisations, charitable trusts, educational institutions, religious bodies, and other associations in India.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, 13,520 organisations received foreign contributions amounting to ₹55,741 crore between 2019 and 2022. Government data further shows that, as of July 15, 2026, India had 14,449 active FCRA registrations, while 22,498 registrations had been cancelled and 15,212 had expired.
