India rejects allegations over the FCRA Bill and points out that the US also regulates foreign funds entering the country
India on Friday pushed back against criticism from US Congressman Riley Moore over the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, asserting that legislation governing foreign funding in India is an internal matter for Parliament to decide.
Responding to questions on Moore’s criticism, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said several countries, including the United States, have regulations governing the flow of foreign funds.
“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,” Jaiswal said. He added that the US and several other countries also regulate foreign fund inflows.
US Congressman raises alarm over proposed FCRA changes
The MEA response followed criticism from US Congressman Riley Moore, who had raised concerns about the proposed legislation and alleged that some provisions could enable the Indian government to take over churches and religious charities.
Moore described the proposed changes as a “clear attack against Christians” and warned that moving ahead with the legislation in its current form could become a major point of concern in India-US relations.
Christians have been in India since St. Thomas the Apostle traveled to the Malabar Coast just decades after the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
But despite this long Christian history, India’s Parliament is considering amending Foreign Contribution Regulation Amendment…
— Rep. Riley M. Moore (@RepRileyMoore) August 4, 2026
His remarks have added an international dimension to what is otherwise a domestic political and legislative debate over India’s rules governing foreign contributions.
What does the FCRA Bill propose?
The FCRA regulates the receipt and utilisation of foreign contributions by organisations operating in India. Its ambit includes NGOs, charitable organisations, educational institutions and religious bodies that receive foreign funding.
One of the most contentious proposals in the amendment bill is the creation of a government-appointed “Designated Authority”. Under the proposed framework, the authority could take over the management of foreign contributions and assets created from such funds when an organisation’s FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered or ceases because it is not renewed.
The provision has become a major point of contention among organisations and political groups opposing the bill.
Centre defends India’s right to regulate foreign funding
The government’s response underlines its position that regulating foreign donations is a sovereign legislative function and that India is not an outlier in imposing controls on overseas funding.
The MEA’s reference to US regulations is likely to become a key part of the government’s defence as criticism of the bill grows both domestically and internationally.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs data cited in the report, 13,520 organisations received foreign contributions totalling ₹55,741 crore between 2019 and 2022, highlighting the scale of overseas funding covered by the regulatory framework.
FCRA debate gathers pace ahead of Parliament discussion
The controversy comes as the Centre steps up efforts to push the FCRA amendment bill through Parliament. The government has also been reaching out to political and religious stakeholders amid concerns over the proposed changes.
The latest exchange with Washington adds another layer to the debate, with the Centre making it clear that it intends to treat the legislation as an Indian parliamentary matter while defending its broader regulatory approach to foreign funding.
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USA is trying to bully the world to its way & should note every day is not Sunday and that India is no banana republic while some of its politician can get sold for peanuts, it does not matter now, they will fall in line soon.