Christian groups got bulk of foreign funding: Home Ministry
From Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Sep 18: The Joint Parliamentary Committee examining the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, held its first sitting here on Friday even as Chief Ministers and Church leaders from the Northeast pressed the Centre to drop clauses they say would choke legitimate welfare work.
The 33-member panel, headed by BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal, must submit its report by the last day of the first week of the Winter Session. Special invitees and Rajya Sabha members James P.K. Sangma and Javed Ali Khan attended the meeting. Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan briefed the committee on the objects of the Bill, its likely impact on NGOs, schools and think tanks, and the government's case for tighter watch over foreign money.
Introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25 and sent to the JPC on August 12 after Opposition pressure, the Bill would create a designated authority to take over and dispose of assets when an organisation loses its FCRA licence, surrenders it or shuts down.
Several Opposition MPs objected to that takeover power after Friday's sitting. The government insists the law is not religion-specific and is meant only to improve transparency.
Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai has said the Bill is "dangerous" solely for those who use foreign funds for forced conversion or personal gain.
Critics argue the clauses will dry up money for Christian NGOs and minority-run schools and hospitals.
Figures placed before the JPC explain both the government's urgency and the Northeast's alarm. Active FCRA NGOs have fallen from 29,022 in 2015 to 14,466, led by Tamil Nadu (2,102), Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. In the same decade, receipts rose from Rs 17,832 crore to Rs 22,974 crore. The United States sent Rs 12,113 crore last year, far ahead of the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland and Singapore.
Of Rs 5,150 crore that went to religious associations in 2024-25, Christian organisations received Rs 1,345 crore against Rs 328 crore for Hindu NGOs. Christian associations led in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka; Delhi drew the most money overall at Rs 5,834 crore. Officials said Rs 21,140 crore of Rs 35,968 crore in unutilised foreign contribution sat in fixed deposits, and that 21,983 registrations have been cancelled, mostly for not filing returns.
Jaiswal said the meeting was cordial and the committee would meet its deadline.
Despite attempts, James was not available for comment. (With PTI inputs)