Washington: US Congressman Riley Moore has expressed concern over proposed amendments to the law governing foreign donations to non-governmental organisations (NGOs), trusts, educational institutions and religious organisations in India, saying they could impact bilateral relations between the two countries. Moore, a Republican from West Virginia, said on Tuesday that the proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) would allow the Indian government to take over the management of churches and religious charities and would be a “clear attack on Christians”.
What is the American MP afraid of?
“St. Thomas arrived on the Malabar Coast of India just decades after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and Christians have had a presence in India ever since,” Moore wrote on the social media platform X. “Despite this long history, India’s Parliament is considering changes to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment (FCRA) rules that would allow the government to take over the management of churches and religious charities.” He said, “This is a clear attack on Christians. If this bill moves forward in its current form, it will be a matter of serious concern in our bilateral relations with India.”
What is FCRA?
The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, proposes to empower the government to constitute a designated authority. This authority would take over the management of foreign contributions and assets created by them in cases where an organization’s FCRA registration is cancelled, voluntarily surrenders its registration, or expires due to non-renewal.
Changes in FCRA
The bill also provides that if the property in question is a place of worship, the designated authority will ensure that its religious character is maintained. It also proposes reducing the maximum punishment for violations from five years’ imprisonment to one year.
What do the statistics say about FCRA?
According to the Home Ministry, 13,520 organizations received ₹55,741 crore in foreign contributions between 2019 and 2022. According to the FCRA portal, as of July 15, 2026, FCRA certificates of 14,449 organizations were active, while 22,498 certificates had been cancelled and 15,212 certificates were considered expired.