Joint Parliamentary Committee to Begin Scrutiny of FCRA Amendment Bill on September 18

The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, is scheduled to hold its first official meeting in New Delhi on September 18. The 31-member panel, headed by Bharatiya Janata Party MP Sanjay Jaiswal, was constituted following intense parliamentary debates and opposition resistance during the Monsoon Session. The Lok Sabha Secretariat issued a formal bulletin confirming that officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs will brief the committee during the inaugural session regarding key legislative proposals and administrative mechanisms. The FCRA Amendment Bill 2026 seeks to significantly tighten regulatory oversight over non-governmental organisations and charitable trusts receiving foreign funds in India. Under the proposed provisions, if an organisation's FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered, or lapses, its foreign contributions and assets will vest in a government-designated authority. Critics and opposition lawmakers have voiced serious concerns, alleging that the bill could compromise civil society autonomy and disproportionately affect minority-run institutions and social welfare organisations. The government maintains that the legislation is necessary to enhance financial transparency, prevent foreign influence, and ensure that overseas contributions are utilised strictly for intended developmental objectives. The JPC comprises 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha, representing diverse political parties. The committee is tasked with conducting extensive consultations with civil society representatives, legal experts, and government bodies before submitting its comprehensive findings and recommendations to Parliament by the first week of the Winter Session.