India Refers Controversial Foreign Funding Bill to Parliamentary Committee

The Indian government has paused the passage of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, opting instead to refer the legislation to a 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee. The bill, which would grant the government authority to seize assets and properties of organizations that lose their foreign funding registration, has faced significant opposition from Christian groups who fear it could lead to the state taking control of church-run schools, hospitals, and community centers.

While the government maintains the bill is intended to ensure transparency and national security, Hindu nationalist groups have frequently alleged that foreign funds are used to facilitate religious conversions, a claim Christian leaders consistently deny. The referral to the committee, which is expected to report its findings by the winter parliamentary session, provides a temporary reprieve for faith-based organizations.

Christian bodies, including the Evangelical Fellowship of India and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, have cautiously welcomed the move as an opportunity for necessary scrutiny. The delay follows sustained advocacy from church leaders and the chief ministers of Christian-majority states like Mizoram, Nagaland, and Meghalaya, who urged the federal government to reconsider the potential impact of the proposed law.