‘Even the US’ regulates foreign funding: India hits back at Republic lawmaker's remarks – 'Our Parliament decides'
India on Friday responded to a remark made by a US lawmaker on the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment (FCRA) Bill, stating that the matter
India on Friday responded to a remark made by a US lawmaker on the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment (FCRA) Bill, stating that the matter is India's 'internal affair.' Various countries including the United States, enforce regulations on foreign monetary inflows, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. "Regarding the issue you are referring to, we have seen it, and several comments have been made on it. As far as legislative matters are concerned, and particularly matters relating to India's own legislation, this is an internal matter for us, on which our Parliament takes the decision," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday, addressing a bi-weekly media briefing. Quick answers to key questions • 5 QUESTIONS 1 What is the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 in India? ⌵ The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 seeks to regulate foreign donations by establishing a Designated Authority to oversee foreign contributions, particularly when an entity's FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered, or lapsed. 2 Why did India respond to US lawmaker Riley Moore's remarks about the FCRA? ⌵ India's Ministry of External Affairs stated that the proposed amendments to the FCRA are an internal matter and emphasized that several countries, including the US, regulate foreign monetary inflows.
3 How does the FCRA Amendment Bill affect foreign funding for religious institutions in India? ⌵ The Bill mandates that if foreign contributions are linked to places of worship, their religious character must be maintained by the Designated Authority, addressing concerns of government takeovers of churches and charities. 4 Should NGOs in India be concerned about the FCRA Amendment Bill? ⌵ Yes, opposition parties have expressed concerns that the amendments could harm NGOs, particularly those operated by minority communities, due to potential excessive government control over foreign funding. 5 What changes does the FCRA Amendment propose regarding penalties for violations? ⌵ The FCRA Amendment proposes to reduce the maximum penalty for statutory violations from five years' imprisonment to one year, thereby making it less severe for NGOs caught in infractions. "I would also like to tell you that there are several countries in the world, including the United States, that regulate foreign funds and foreign financing," he added. US lawmaker Riley Moore's criticism The response comes following remarks from US lawmaker Riley Moore, who raised objections to proposed modifications to India's Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), claiming the provisions could enable state control over churches and philanthropic institutions, while cautioning that the development might strain bilateral ties.
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