Guwahati: The Centre is expected to take up the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 during the Monsoon Session of Parliament beginning on July 20, despite sustained opposition from the Meghalaya government, church organisations and civil society groups, who have raised concerns over its potential impact on institutions funded through foreign contributions.
The proposed legislation was first introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25 by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai. Its consideration was postponed after Opposition parties staged protests outside Parliament in early April.
One of the key provisions of the Bill proposes appointing a designated authority empowered to assume temporary and, subsequently, permanent control over the foreign contributions and assets of organisations whose FCRA registrations are cancelled, surrendered or allowed to lapse.
Under the proposal, schools, hospitals, land and other properties created wholly or partly with foreign funding could be transferred to government agencies or sold, with the proceeds credited to the Consolidated Fund of India.
The Bill has drawn particularly strong reactions in Meghalaya, where Christians account for nearly three-fourths of the population and church-run institutions play a major role in delivering education, healthcare and welfare services, especially in remote areas.
In an effort to convey the state’s concerns, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma led a delegation of church representatives to New Delhi on July 5 for a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The delegation included leaders from the Presbyterian Church of India, North East India Christian Council, Catholic Archdiocese of Shillong and the Garo Baptist Convention.
During the meeting, Sangma urged the Centre to ensure that any legislative changes do not adversely affect institutions that have long complemented government services in the state. He called for an approach that recognises Meghalaya’s unique social and institutional landscape.
Church representatives later described the meeting as constructive, saying the Union Home Minister assured them that the concerns outlined in their memorandum would be examined and that another round of consultations with stakeholders would be held.
They also noted his assurance that the proposed law would not be implemented with retrospective effect.
Despite those assurances, opposition to the Bill has continued.
The Khasi Jaintia Christian Leaders Forum (KJCLF) has appealed to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly to adopt a resolution seeking the withdrawal of both the proposed legislation and the FCRA Amendment Rules, 2026, following the example set by the Kerala Assembly on July 1.
KJCLF secretary Rev. Edwin H. Kharkongor warned that the proposed changes could severely affect welfare programmes operating in regions where government services remain limited.
He also appealed to Chief Ministers across the Northeast to raise similar objections.
Senior BJP MLA Alexander Laloo Hek has also favoured broader consultations, saying the proposed amendments could adversely affect charitable and non-profit organisations.
The Congress and the Voice of the People Party have likewise opposed the Bill, alleging that it could give the government greater control over institutions such as schools, hospitals and other community assets.
Several civil society organisations have also criticised the proposal, arguing that it extends government oversight beyond the regulation of foreign funding.
The Union government, however, has maintained that the amendments are intended to close legal loopholes, safeguard national interests and prevent misuse of foreign contributions. It has also said that organisations engaged in legitimate public welfare activities have no reason for concern.
With Parliament’s Monsoon Session set to begin soon, political parties, church bodies and civil society organisations in Meghalaya are closely watching whether the Centre introduces changes to address the concerns raised in the Northeast or proceeds with the Bill in its existing form.
The legislation could have a far-reaching impact on students, patients and communities that depend on church-operated institutions for education, healthcare and social welfare.