FCRA (Amendment) Bill, 2026
Prelims:
Indian
Polity
Mains:
GS
Paper II-Government Policies and Interventions
Current relevance:
The Press
Information Bureau (PIB) has highlighted the role of the Foreign
Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) in ensuring transparency, sovereignty,
and democratic accountability.
Highlights:
1.
The FCRA (Amendment) Bill, 2026 has recently
attracted attention due to concerns raised by religious and
charitable institutions regarding the proposed Designated Authority
provision.
2. In
response, the Government clarified that the amendment does not empower the
government to permanently seize or repurpose religious institutions or their
assets. Instead, the objective is to establish a clear legal mechanism
for managing assets created using foreign contributions when an
organisation's FCRA registration lapses, is surrendered, or is cancelled.
3.
Recent Proposal (2026)
i.
Designated Authority for Foreign-Funded Assets: A
Designated Authority will temporarily manage foreign-funded assets of
organisations whose FCRA registration expires or is cancelled.
ii.
Protection of Religious Institutions: The
Designated Authority cannot alter the religious character, ownership, or religious
practices of places of worship.
iii.
Provisional, Not Permanent Vesting: Asset
vesting is initially provisional and becomes permanent only if FCRA
registration is not restored within the prescribed period. After which assets
are applied for public purposes, with sale proceeds credited to the Consolidated
Fund of India.
iv.
Judicial Safeguards: Organisations can
challenge the Designated Authority's orders through revision within 90 days and
appeal before the District Judge.
Source: PIB - https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2287897®=48&lang=1