Lok Sabha Secretariat Issues Press Communique on FCRA Amendment Bill

The Lok Sabha Secretariat issued a press communique on Wednesday concerning the Joint Committee examining the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, formally notifying the panel’s ongoing review of proposed changes to the law governing foreign donations to Indian organisations (PRS India).

The communique serves as the official parliamentary record of the committee’s constitution and mandate. The bill under scrutiny seeks to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, which regulates the acceptance and utilisation of foreign contribution or foreign hospitality by individuals, associations, and companies. The legislation has been a focal point of debate regarding the operational space for non-governmental organisations and civil society groups receiving overseas funding.

Parliamentary procedure dictates that once a bill is referred to a Joint Committee—comprising members from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha—the panel examines the legislation clause by clause, invites memoranda from stakeholders, and hears expert testimony before submitting a report with recommendations to the House. The Secretariat’s release confirms this legislative machinery is in motion for the amendment bill.

The current amendment proposal follows previous tightening of the FCRA framework, notably the 2020 amendments which barred sub-granting of foreign funds, reduced the administrative expense cap for NGOs to 20 per cent, and made Aadhaar mandatory for office-bearers of registered entities. Those changes drew criticism from international human rights bodies and domestic civil society groups who argued they constrained legitimate philanthropic and advocacy work. The government had defended the 2020 measures as necessary for national security and to prevent the diversion of funds for activities detrimental to the national interest.

The Joint Committee’s eventual report will shape the final text of the legislation before it returns to Parliament for passage. The timeline for the committee’s deliberations and the date for the presentation of its report were not specified in the communique.