Trump Ally Targets India’s FCRA Bill, Calls It ‘Attack on Christians’; Warns of Impact on India-US Ties

New Delhi: The proposed amendments to India’s Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) have sparked international attention after US Congressman Riley Moore, a Republican aligned with former US President Donald Trump, strongly criticised the legislation. Moore alleged that the proposed changes amount to a “direct attack on the Christian community” and warned that the issue could affect bilateral relations between India and the United States.

Amid the ongoing debate over the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 during Parliament’s Monsoon Session, Moore claimed that the proposed law could enable the government to take control of churches and religious charitable organisations if certain conditions are met.

In a post on X, Moore referred to the long history of Christianity in India, stating that the Christian community has existed in the country since the arrival of St. Thomas the Apostle on the Malabar Coast. Expressing concern over the proposed amendments, he argued that they could allow government control over churches and faith-based charitable institutions.

Calling the proposal a “direct attack on the Christian community,” Moore added that if the bill is passed in its present form, it could become a matter of concern in India-US bilateral relations.

What Does the FCRA Amendment Bill Propose?
The proposed legislation seeks to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, which governs how NGOs, charitable trusts, educational institutions, religious bodies and other associations receive and utilise foreign funding.

Under the current law, organisations must register with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to receive foreign contributions, and the registration is renewed every five years.

According to the bill’s background note, India had 14,449 active FCRA registrations as of July 15, 2026, while 22,498 registrations had been cancelled and 15,212 had expired. Between 2019 and 2022, FCRA-registered organisations received foreign contributions worth ₹55,741 crore.

A key proposal in the amendment is the creation of a Designated Authority, appointed by the Central Government, which would have the power to manage foreign contributions and assets created using such funds under specified circumstances.

The bill also proposes that organisations receiving or utilising less than ₹10 lakh in foreign contributions during the previous two financial years may not be eligible for FCRA registration renewal. Other provisions include tighter restrictions on fund transfers, stricter timelines for utilisation of foreign funds, and expanded disclosure requirements covering projects, activities, websites and social media accounts.

Why Is the Bill Controversial?
The proposed powers of the Designated Authority have become the centre of the controversy.

Opposition parties, NGOs and several civil society groups argue that the amendments could give the Central Government excessive control over organisations dependent on foreign funding. Several church bodies and religious organisations have expressed concern that if their FCRA registration is cancelled or lapses, assets such as schools, hospitals and welfare institutions built with foreign donations could potentially come under government administration.

These concerns have been particularly prominent in states such as Kerala and Mizoram, where many Christian organisations operate major educational and healthcare institutions.

The Central Government, however, has defended the proposed amendments, stating that the objective is to improve transparency, strengthen monitoring of foreign funds and ensure greater accountability in their utilisation.