The government’s decision to send the controversial Foreign Contributions (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, to a joint parliamentary committee for scrutiny is a welcome gesture. Given the far-reaching implications of the proposed changes for civil society organisations, charities and other institutions receiving foreign contributions, the Bill should not be rushed through Parliament. Particular attention is needed on provisions concerning the cancellation or surrender of FCRA registrations and the subsequent treatment of an organisation’s assets. Under the amendments, when an organisation loses its registration either because of a lapse or a refusal by the government to renew it, and the organisation fails to restore it within a prescribed period, the government can take over its assets built with foreign contributions. The new provisions offer limited scope for judicial remedy in such situations. The NDA government at the Centre must therefore ensure that any action against an organisation is subject to transparent procedures, independent oversight and meaningful opportunities for appeal. Regulatory enforcement is necessary, but it must not become a mechanism for arbitrary seizure of property or the disruption of legitimate public-service institutions that have done benevolent work among the poor and needy in remote areas.
GREGORY FERNANDES, Mumbai
