Shillong: The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, has given organisations consulted in Meghalaya 15 days to submit written responses to questions raised by the panel.
The committee held a consultation in Shillong, hearing nearly 40 organisations from Meghalaya, as well as representatives from Nagaland, Manipur and Assam. Participants included religious institutions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and organisations working for persons with disabilities.
Speaking to reporters after the consultation, JPC member and BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal said the committee had sought additional information from participating organisations and would examine their submissions before proceeding with further deliberations.
He said the committee had not yet reached a consensus on the proposed amendments and that its recommendations would be finalised collectively after consultations with stakeholders across the country.
Religious institutions’ concerns over the proposed legislation were among the issues discussed during the consultation. Jaiswal said the amendments would ensure that places of worship, including temples, churches and mosques, could continue functioning without interference.
He cited figures suggesting that religious organisations account for around six per cent of foreign contributions received in India, while NGOs and other organisations receive the remaining 94 per cent.
The committee also heard concerns from organisations working for persons with disabilities, particularly regarding the proposed registration and re-registration procedures. Jaiswal said their suggestions would be considered during the drafting process.
On the proposed banking arrangements, he said foreign contributions would initially be routed through a designated State Bank of India account in New Delhi to facilitate monitoring of the source of funds. Organisations would subsequently be allowed to transfer the money to their accounts with any bank across the country.
India receives approximately Rs 22,000 crore in foreign contributions annually, Jaiswal said.
The JPC plans to consult around 84 organisations as part of its nationwide exercise, including more than 40 from the Northeast. The committee will also undertake study visits to Kochi and Chennai.
Jaiswal said political parties, judges and journalists are among those barred from receiving foreign contributions under the existing legal framework.