A 31-member joint committee of the two Houses of Parliament was constituted on Thursday to examine the contentious Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, with BJP’s Sanjay Jaiswal named as its chairperson.
The government rejected the charge and challenged the opposition parties to identify even one provision that discriminated against minorities. The government has maintained that the proposed legislation is not religion-specific and is aimed at regulating foreign contributions. On August 12, Parliament had sent the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill to a joint committee amid protests by opposition parties, which alleged that the proposed law targeted minorities and NGOs, and demanded its withdrawal. The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25 and proposes tighter government oversight over non-governmental organisations and foreign funding in the country.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma had earlier urged the Centre to refer the Bill to a joint committee for detailed examination, while Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had also raised concerns over its provisions with the Centre.
Opposition Concerns Over Bill’s Impact on NGOs
Opposition parties are raising alarms about a Bill that they claim could jeopardize legitimate foreign funding for Christian NGOs and minority-run educational and social welfare institutions. They argue that certain provisions within the legislation may hinder the operations of these organizations, which play a crucial role in supporting vulnerable communities.
