Keralam Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan criticised the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, on April 2, describing it as a "severe" measure that increases anxiety within minority communities.
The Bill mandates the cessation of an organisation's FCRA certificate upon its expiry, non-renewal, or refusal of renewal by the government. It also establishes a designated authority responsible for a "comprehensive framework for vesting, supervision, management and disposal of foreign contribution and assets, including provisional and permanent vesting."
Introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25, the Bill aims to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, with the objective of enhancing the transparency and accountability of foreign contributions in India.
However, Chief Minister Vijayan expressed that the Bill fosters suspicion towards a section of society. He stated, "The stance on FCRA has already been made clear earlier. This is a country where all its people must be taken into confidence; viewing a section of the population with suspicion is in no way beneficial. However, the current situation in our country is that there is deep concern among certain sections of people, especially among the minority communities. This did not arise at a specific moment; it has been ongoing for some time. The positions taken [by the Centre] have not been ones that alleviate these concerns. Only measures that increase anxiety have come from the government's side, and the aforementioned FCRA is the most severe among them."
Earlier, on the social media platform X, Vijayan described the Bill as a "direct assault" on civil society and criticised the role of the designated authority, stating it creates a tool for "arbitrary control."
He wrote: "The Union Govt's move to push through the FCRA Amendment Bill 2026 is a direct assault on the functioning of civil society. Granting sweeping powers to seize assets over technicalities, it creates a tool for arbitrary control against those serving the poor. This will severely impact education & healthcare for minority communities and the downtrodden. Democratic & secular forces must unite to ensure the withdrawal of these draconian provisions that will stifle social justice."
The Bill has sparked significant debate ahead of the Keralam Assembly elections, as the state has a substantial Christian population and numerous NGOs and organisations that receive funds under the FCRA.
According to the Bill's statement of objects and reasons, approximately 16,000 associations are registered under the Act across India, receiving around Rs 22,000 crore annually.