एफसीआरए (FCRA) दुरुस्ती विधेयक २०२६ पुढील पडताळणीसाठी ३१...
परदेशी अंशदान (नियंत्रण) दुरुस्ती विधेयक २०२६ च्या सखोल पुनरावलोकनासाठी लोकसभेने हे विधेयक ३१ सदस्यांच्या संयुक्त संसदीय समितीकडे (JPC) पाठवण्याचा...
By GT24x7 Reporter··GlobalToday24x7
In a significant legislative move, the Lok Sabha approved a motion on August 12, 2026, to refer the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, to a 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for comprehensive examination. The motion was moved by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai after the House resumed proceedings following a temporary adjournment. The decision to send the proposed legislation to a parliamentary panel comes amid structured debates between the treasury benches and opposition lawmakers regarding the regulatory oversight of foreign funds received by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society groups.
The JPC has been tasked with conducting a clause-by-clause review of the bill and submitting its report to the Lok Sabha by the last day of the first week of the Winter Session of Parliament in 2026. The referral reflects a consensus-building effort within the legislative process, providing an institutional forum for lawmakers across party lines to deliberate on compliance mechanisms, asset management, and administrative transparency under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010.
Government Motion and Panel Composition
Under the terms of the motion introduced by Minister Rai, the Joint Parliamentary Committee will comprise 21 members nominated from the Lok Sabha by Speaker Om Birla, and 10 members nominated from the Rajya Sabha by Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan. The quorum for the committee's official sittings has been set at one-third of its total membership. The Lok Sabha officially recommended that the Upper House join the committee and communicate the names of its selected representatives.
Moving the motion, Minister Rai stated that referring the bill to a joint committee would facilitate wider consultations with legal experts, institutional stakeholders, and civil society representatives. The government maintained that the primary objective of the proposed amendments is to enhance transparency, streamline administrative procedures, and ensure that foreign contributions received in India are utilized strictly for their declared socio-economic and educational purposes.
Key Provisions of the Proposed FCRA Amendment
The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, which was originally introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25, 2026, seeks to introduce structural updates to the existing 2010 statute. A central feature of the bill is the creation of a government-designated 'Designated Authority' tasked with the custody, management, and supervision of assets created through foreign funds in cases where an organisation’s FCRA registration certificate is cancelled, surrendered, or deemed to have ceased due to non-renewal.
Additionally, the bill addresses procedural compliance and penalty structures. It proposes to adjust the maximum penalty for certain technical violations of the Act from imprisonment of five years to one year. The bill also places a statutory responsibility on key functionaries of defunct or non-operational organisations to inform the central government regarding their foreign assets. Proponents of the legislation argue that these measures prevent the misuse of untracked foreign assets while providing clear legal guidelines for asset management.
Political Perspectives and Parliamentary Debate
During the parliamentary proceedings, representatives from various political parties expressed distinct views on the legislation. Congress MP K. C. Venugopal, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, and DMK MP T. R. Baalu raised objections regarding specific provisions of the bill, with some members calling for its complete withdrawal or expressing concerns about its potential impact on civil society institutions and minority-run welfare organisations. Regional leaders, including Chief Ministers from northeastern states, had previously requested a detailed review of the legislation by a parliamentary committee.